FINANCE REPORT 2022 DEVON & CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT
DCRS Annual Finance report 2022
Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support, 7 Whimple Street, Plymouth PL1 2DH
Charity no.1130360 Company Limited by Guarantee no. 06271122 OISC Exemption no. N200100427
Trustees:
Ian Gasper Appointed September 2014 - Chair April 2022 Emma Stevenson Appointed May 2021 - Treasurer Bridget Bimha Appointed July 2021 - Safeguarding Jane Barkes Appointed June 2022 - Secretary Poorna Dias Gunaswkera Appointed June 2022 Andrew Eccleston Appointed November 2022 Alana Hunter Appointed January 2022 Timothy Nyahasha Appointed January 2023 John Stephens Appointed January 2022 Diana Bale Retired June 2022 Hazel Poad Retired April 2022 Marie Hull Resigned July 2022 John Jebb Retired November 2022 Elizabeth Hardinge Retired February 2023 Christine Reid Retired February 2023
Devon & Cornwall Refugee Support (DCRS) is overseen by the trustees who meet regularly. Day to day administration is in the hands of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alex Vessis. New recruits are found through local contacts or Reach Volunteering.
DCRS ensures that asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) , seeking help, receive the full benefit of their entitlements under UK and international law. We provide a culturally sensitive and practical response to the needs of the ASR community.
The board of trustees are satisfied that the service provided to a under-supported section of the population constitutes a public benefit.
Ian Gasper – Chair
CEO Report January 2022
January 2022 started with DCRS re-finding its feet after the difficulties and barriers that the COVID pandemic caused. We re-opened to the public, focusing on our core work and word quickly spread through the community. Based on learning what the major changes in our society meant we decided to have a hybrid triage service, offering both face to face, email and telephone services. This was gratefully received as we started to cover the entire geographic region with this additional method of communication.
Activities started to build with new colleagues joining the service. This involved holding Mental Health days offering a variety of different things from paddleboarding to wild cooking on Dartmoor. We have built new relationships and rekindled old ones so that we could make sure our offer was the best it could be with the funding available to us.
Our core activities of English classes and Music continued gaining good traction with our English classes receiving an average of 20+ students three times a week. The English classes continue to give our users the building blocks required whilst they wait for spaces with the ESOL qualified provision in the city.
We developed our website, social media channels and newsletter with the help of new volunteers and existing staff members. This has resulted with weekly updates available, a more cohesive straightforward website and quarterly newsletters that are sent out to all our supporters and service users enabling them to stay up to date.
Three new projects began at DCRS to complement our core services. The Fresh Claims Project supporting failed asylum seekers to find a new chance to re-enter the asylum system and move out of destitution. The A.R.E Home provides wrap around support for the same group to have short term accommodation, subsistence support, one to one mental health support and access to our existing services. Finally, Health Point began in June, offering a triage service with dedicated GP and mental health professionals available every Tuesday between 10am and 2pm.
In February, we saw the beginning of the Initial Accommodation Hotels in Tiverton and subsequently an additional 6 hotels were included, across both counties increasing the capacity of those that we serve by an additional 943 people. This has again meant our service has needed to adapt to an increased demand. Logistically, we are unable to access the area from Ilfracombe to Newquay, so we trained existing voluntary sector groups wishing to help in each region instead. We continue to offer specialist support.
The political and legislative landscape in 2022 appeared to become more hostile towards refugees with the introduction of the Nationality and Borders Act being introduced. As a result our partnership working has continued to be imperative, and we have developed stronger links with our main partners in Plymouth and forged many new relationships across both counties.
Through all these changes we have developed a strong core team with a dedicated group of 40 volunteers who continue to work towards creating a fair, humane and safe asylum experience for all.
Treasurer’s Report:
The financials of DRCS in 2022 have remained strong, with a surplus in year of £2,967. Income came in from ongoing funders including the Lottery Community Fund, Aurum Trust, AB Charitable, Blue Thread and Lloyds Bank Foundation, as well as smaller grants and significant donations of £40.3k, over £7k higher than in 2021.
In year expenses were slightly higher than anticipated, with increased expenditure on computers as it was discovered much of the existing hardware needed replacing. The demand for translators also increased, which is an increasingly expensive resource. The charity is looking at alternatives to the current pay per minute service. Staffing costs were also slightly higher than budget.
The charity has no ongoing debtors or creditors.
The reserves policy of the charity is to have three months of running costs as well as dissolution costs. This amount is currently £66k and is reviewed on a quarterly basis.
As at the end of the year the charity held £101k of unrestricted reserves. The charity held £172.5k, including £71.5k of restricted income which has not yet been used.
Moving forward, it is the aim of the charity to maintain a surplus and have at least £100k of unrestricted reserves at the end of the year, leaving headroom above the required reserves.
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total 2022 | Total 2022 | Funds | Funds | ||
| £ | £ | 2022 £ | 2021 £ | ||
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||||
| Income from donations and legacies | 2 | 189,678 | 26,235 | 215,913 | 306,369 |
| Charitable Activities Income | 3 | 2,592 | 2,592 | 703 | |
| Investment Income | 4 | 8 | |||
| TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES | 192,278 | 26,227 | 218,505 | 307,080 | |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||||
| Direct Charitable expenditure | 5 | 204,120 | 11,220 | 215,340 | 239,962 |
| Governance Costs | 198 | 198 | |||
| TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED | 204,318 | 11,220 | 215,538 | 239,962 | |
| NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | -11,716 | 14,684 | 2,967 | 67,117 | |
| BALANCES BROUGHT | |||||
| FORWARD | |||||
| AS AT 1st JANUARY 2021 | 98,627 | 0 | 98,627 | 31,510 | |
| BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD | 86,911 | 14,684 | 101,594 | 98,627 | |
| AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2022 |
| Total CURRENT ASSETS Investments Cash at bank Cash in hand Accounts Receivable (deferred funds) LIABILITIES Amounts falling due within one year NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS FUNDS Surplus for the year Funds brought forward |
2022 £ 67,002 106,010 96 -71,513 101,594 101,594 2,967 98,627 |
2021 £ 66,354 51,329 24.91 -21,654 |
|---|---|---|
| 117,708 | ||
| 2,573 | ||
| 98,627 | ||
| 67,117 31,509 |
||
| 101,594 | 98,627 |
2. INCOME FROM DONATIONS & LEGACIES
| Unrestricted Total 2022 Donations 40,311 Grants 151,967 Total 192,278 3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES INCOME J2 Fax Refund Improving Lives Plymouth 0800 - Social Change 985 0901 - Other Funds Generated 1608 Total 2,592 |
Restricted Total 2022 £ 26,277 26,277 |
Total 2022 £ 218,505 Total 2022 985 1608 2,592 |
Total 2021 £ 34,936 110,188 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 307,080 | |||
| Total 2021 90 500 |
|||
| 590 |
2022 £
Total
| Expenditure | |
|---|---|
| 1501: English Class Expenses | 928 |
| 1510: Volunteer Expenses | 905 |
| 1901: Staff Salary | 153,820 |
| 1902: Staff Expenses | 1,604 |
| 2120: Council Tax | 1,060 |
| 2130: Building Lease | 6,500 |
| 2135: Building Repair Costs | 825 |
| 2140: Utilities - Water | 292 |
| 2141: Utilities - Electricity | 2,413 |
| 2142: Utilities - Phone & Broadband | 5,159 |
| 2150: Photocopier | 716 |
| 2160: Computer Expenses | 8,843 |
| 2170: Postage | 341 |
| 2201: Training | 1,847 |
| 2301: Insurances | 2,037 |
| 2340: Office Expenses | 3,824 |
| 2360: Subscriptions | 1,233 |
| 2370: Translation | 5,549 |
| 2501: Communications & Marketing | 995 |
| 2900: SU Food | 4,314 |
| 2920: SU Relief | 2,085 |
| 2950: SU Activities | 3,665 |
| 2960: SU Computer Courses | 3,456 |
| 2961: SU Travel Costs | 2,436 |
| 9004: Health & Safety | 66 |
| 9005: Equipment & Stationery | 428 |
| 9011: Audit and Governance | 198 |
| Expenditure totals | 215,538 |
| 1501 English Class Supplies 1830 Relief 1901 Staff Costs 1902 Staff Expenses 1905 66354 2001 Volunteer Expenses 2120 & 2130 Rent, Rates 2140 & 2401 Heat, Light & Water 2145 Health & Safety 2150 Equipment & Stationery 2170 Postage 2201 Training 2301 Insurances 2310 Telephone, Fax & Broadband 2330 Computer Expenses 2331 Photocopier 2340 Office Expenses 2360 Administration 2501 Newsletter and Website 2701 Repairs & Renewals 2710 RTP/Solicitors Travel Costs 2900 SU Food Programme 2950 SU Sports & Activities 2960 SU Computer Courses Other |
2021 £ 1,706 918 128,946 8 2,883 113 9,428 1,979 5,897 642 478 2,680 2,123 5,061 3,550 288 3,550 441 29 55,949 113 - 9,850 3,330 239,962 |
2020 £ 555 1,591 140,413 289 4,168 98 7,316 3,237 4,048 266 520 150 1,250 5,600 4,174 268 2,267 1,191 132 313 509 5,266 853 3,276 10 |
|---|---|---|
| 187,760 |
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE DEVON aThl CORt4WALL REFUGEE SUPPORT I report on thg accounts of the Chaiity lor the year end 31 December 2022 RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILMES OF TRiISTEES AND EXAMINER The charfvs Tte95 are respOble for the preparatton of the acwunts. The chari$ Trustees consider that an audit is not required lor this year under SectKJn 14515llbl Charities Act2011 (the 2011 Act) aNJ that an InI examination is needed. It is my responsiblity to.. exarnino the accounts 8tiCti)n t45{5llbl ol the 2011 Act to follow tho procedures laid down in the General Direchons 2017 gwen by Charty CommTrsSn under Section 14515llb} to stste wheiher partscukr matters havo com& to my attenti(¥) BASIS OF INDEPENDEKf EXAPAINER'S STATEMENT My examinaticm W8s tsied out in accordanc8 with th8 Ganeral DirgCtKJns gwgn by the Chaiity Commission. An exafflination indudes a rthew ol the accounting records kept by the charity and a ccffiparison ol the accounts presented with those records. Italso indude5 conSideratn of any unusual items or disdosur&s in ihe acwunts and seeking explanations liom you as Trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures und8rtaken (kn not prowde all lh8 evklence that wout(I be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is gNen as to whether the accounts present a Ifue and fair view. aThd the report is limited to those mattern set oul in the statement bdow. In o)nrnction wilh my 8xaminatlon, M matter has come to my attention.. l. wch gives m& reasonable cause to bdigV9 that Mi any malgilal fespectth& reqtjirements: to keep accounting rd5 in accorthnce with Seckn 14515)Ibl of thè 2011 Act.. and 2. to vA)ich, in my cyinion. attentions shoukl be drawn In 01(1 to anab a proper undèrstanln9 of the . accounts to be reached Signed.. Indopendont Examlnor MT John Gilding 104 Lucas Lane Plympton Plymouth PL7 4EY