## **DEVON AND CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT** 2023 Financial Report ## Mission, Vission & Values ## **DCRS Vision** ## **A fair, humane and safe asylum experience for all** ## **DCRS Mission** **To promote independence, prevent destitution and support those seeking refuge to build their new home in the UK** ## **DCRS Values** - **Welcoming** – being inclusive, accessible and safe; working with empathy, understanding and integrity - **Experienced and persistent** – providing high quality advocacy and support to those seeking refuge, no matter how long the process takes - **A lifeline** – helping people when they have no- one else to turn to - **A place of hope** – fostering resilience and supporting people to use and develop their skills to become part of the wider community, keep active and build a new life - **Connected** – providing the best possible service by collaborating with other organisations and supporters whilst sharing best practise - **Responsive** – adapting to the evolving needs of our community - **Well informed** – developing and maintaining excellent standards of knowledge for staff and volunteers ## Mission, Vission & Values ## **DCRS Vision** ## **A fair, humane and safe asylum experience for all** ## **PRINCIPAL ADDRESS** 7 Whimple Street, Plymouth, Devon PL1 2DH ## **BANKERS** The Co-operative Bank pic. Head Office, PO Box 101 1 Balloon Street, Manchester. M60 4EP ## **Independent Examiner** Mr John Gilding, 104 Lucas Lane, Plymouth PL7 4EY **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1130360 COIIIIPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE, NUMBER: 06271122 DISC EXEMPTION NUMBER: N200100427** ## **DEVON AND CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT** ## **PRINCIPAL ADDRESS** 7 Whimple Street, Plymouth, Devon PL1 2DH ## **BANKERS** The Co-operative Bank pic. Head Office, PO Box 101 1 Balloon Street, Manchester. M60 4EP ## **Independent Examiner** Mr John Gilding, 104 Lucas Lane, Plymouth PL7 4EY **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1130360 COIIIIPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE, NUMBER: 06271122 DISC EXEMPTION NUMBER: N200100427** ## Trustees **Ian Gasper** Chair of Trustees **John Stephens** Vice-Chair **Jane Barkes** Trustee Secretary **Andrew Eccleston** Interim Treasurer **Alana Hunter** Safeguarding Lead **Poorna Dias Gunaswkera** **Azeb Mengisteab** **Abbas Mohammed** **Sana Murrani** ## **DEVON AND CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT** ## Staff Members |**Alexander Vessis**|CEO| |---|---| |**Abimbola Adeosun**|Finance and Business Administrator| |**Azza Gasim**|Communications & Fundraising Officer| |**Maia Walton**|Volunteer Co-ordinator and Development
Officer
for
Cornwall
Refugee
Resource
Network| |**Suvi Rehell**|Befriender Project Manager| |**Craig Walker**|Activities Co-ordinator| |**Tressa Thomas**|Activities Co-ordinator| |**Waleed Abdallah**|Casework Manager and OISC Level 1 Casework
Supervisor| |**Camilla Bostock**|OISC Level 2
Asylum and Protection Caseworker| |**Vincent Ibekwe**|Caseworker| |**Tom Rose**|Caseworker| |**Yeshi Adhanom**|Complex Asylum and Immigration Caseworker| |**Henry Kong**|Complex Asylum and Immigration Caseworker| ## Chair’s Introduction **DCRS has had a year of meeting the challenges that a ‘hostile environment’ yields for asylum seekers and refugees. We have provided a space where individuals are safe and feel supported in their journey. This has been true of those who arrive in Plymouth whether sent by the Home Office or other ways or have been housed in hotels in Devon and Cornwall.** We started the year as an organisation reviewing our vision, aims and values. We recommitted ourselves to providing “A fair, humane and safe asylum experience” and “to promote independence, prevent destitution and support those seeking refuge to build their new homes in the UK”. A successful financial year in terms of grants received has allowed us to carefully expand to meet the organisation’s needs. Devon & Cornwall Refugee Support (DCRS) is managed by its trustees who meet regularly. Day to day administration is in the hands of the CEO. New recruits are found through local contacts or Reach Volunteering. DCRS aims to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees receive the full benefit of their entitlements under UK and international law. We aim to provide a culturally sensitive and practical response to the needs of the 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 **2023 has been a year of change, growth and development for Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support with the year wrapping up in a strong financial and staffing position to enter 2024.** **The organisation has seen a tripling of need across the region with 5 hotels opening to accommodate an additional 943 people. Staff had to adapt to the need and offer our support where possible with caseworker phone and email services being utilised more for service users in more remote regions. HealthPoint conducted over 500 health assessments to support the tenants in the hotel alongside the frontline GP practices and we offered training to external stakeholders looking to support those we commonly serve.** There was a changing of the guard with Jackie Otunnu and Alex Miranda moving on to new adventures as we welcomed Waleed Abdallah, Abimbola Adeosun, Azza Gasim, Maia Walton, Rebecca Van Der Veer, Vincent Ibekwe and Tressa Thomas to our organisation. This has brought new opinions and ways of working to help grow the organisation into the coming years. The Nationality and Borders Act and Illegal Migration Act came into existence changing the landscape of claiming asylum in the UK. This has made our organisation understandably uneasy as we try to understand what this will mean for those we serve. We have forged strong partnerships to enhance our impact within our networks. Locally, collaborations with entities like the Pickwell Foundation and Torbay Community Development Trust (TCDT) have enabled us to provide training and assistance to our remote clientele. Additionally, securing a contract with the local authority has allowed us to work alongside the Olive Project and Plymouth and Devon Racial Equality Council, offering support to the tenants in the Exeter hotel. On a broader scale, our involvement in NACCOM (The No Accommodation Network) links us with housing initiatives and organizations nationwide, facilitating both collaboration and training opportunities. Similarly, as members of the South West Immigration Alliance (SWIA), we are collaborating with partners throughout the region to enhance OISC capacity. In Plymouth, participation in the Resettlement Contract, initiated by Plymouth City Council, strengthens our efforts in supporting the refugee community. Our partnership with Plymouth University is thriving, marked by the engagement of two social work students, three PhD students, and multiple trustees. Moreover, improved referral processes with the Law Clinic have bolstered our organization's efficacy. In Cornwall, our alliance with the Cornwall Refugee Resource Network (CRRN) has united community sponsorship groups under a single banner, amplifying our efforts. This collaboration, backed by Cornwall Council, enhances our ability to assist those we commonly serve. We placed a large amount of work to training our caseworkers with Camilla and Georgia gaining their OISC Level 2 Asylum and Protection and have started representing clients. We are further developing our casework team to take on a legal aid contract with the hope that we will have the contract start date by September 2024. Our wellbeing department developed the HealthPoint and Befriending Projects with HealthPoint seeing over 250 patients in 2023. We also recognised the value of our activities running through the winter as the days became shorter and with social isolation growing so continued to develop our music, creative clubs and indoor activities. We believe all these developments are helping towards plugging a gap in the inhumane asylum system, opening more doors and opportunities. Everyone at DCRS remain humbled, honoured and lucky to serve and be a part of a community of people with the resilience, strength and courage to forge a new life here and we look forward to many more positive decisions and stories of success. Alex Vessis, CEO ## Financial Report **TThe financial status of DCRS in 2023 has remained strong, marked by the receipt of substantial grants resulting in a surplus for the year amounting to £136,652.** Key funders include The National Lottery Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Blue Thread, Bristol Law Centre (JTI) , the Postcode Lottery, and Ministry of Justice. Expenditure for the year exceeded the budget slightly, totalling £329k compared to the budgeted £296k. This variance can be attributed to slightly higher than anticipated staff costs, offset by funding received from the Livewell Foundation and Cornwall Refugee Resource Network Project for activity and volunteer coordinator positions. Additionally, investments were made in new computer systems for both existing staff members and new additions to our team. In preparation for commencing advanced legal work and expanding our operations, we also incurred expenses for rent, repairs, and office furniture related to our new office location at 93 New George Street. ## £466K Gross Income at end of 2023 **£329K** Gross Expenditure at end of 2023 **£136K** Surplus The charity's reserves policy dictates maintaining reserves equivalent to three months of operating costs and dissolution expenses. Currently, this amount stands at £69k and undergoes quarterly review. The charity's annual reserve target is set at £100k, well above the mandated reserve level. This target will be subject to periodic review in alignment with updated official reserves requirements. As of the year-end, the charity held £238k in unrestricted reserves and £322k in cash. The difference of £84k is restricted income which has not yet been used. ## **Statement of Financial Activities** ## **For the period from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023** ## **Balance Sheet** ## **For the period from 12 December 2022 to 31 December 2023** INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE DEVON AND CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2023 RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER The Charity 'S Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Chaiity's Trustees consider that an audrt is not required for this year under Section 145(5)(b) Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination t8 needed. It is my responsibility to: Examine the account urKler 8ection 145(5)(b) of Ihe 2011 Act To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directlon8 2017 given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) To State whelher particular matter8 have come to my attentlon BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT My examlnatlon w88 ￿rrIed out in accordance ￿th th8 General Directions glven by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those record. It also includes consideration of any unu8ual items or disclosure8 in the accounts and seeklng explanations from you as Trustees conceming any such matter8. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldence that would be requlred In an audit and consequently no opinion 18 given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view, and th8 report18 limited lo those matter8 set out in the 8tatement below. In connection wSth my examinatSon. no matter ha8 come to my attentlon: whth glves me a reasonable cau88 to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. to keep accounting record8 In accordance with Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act . and to which, in my opinion, attentions should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of accounts to be reached. Dated: o ZLt- Signed: .... Indepen Mr John Gilding 104 Lucas Lane Examln ## Our Partners We couldn't do this without the help and support from our partners! ## Our Funders We’d like to say a big thank you to all our supporters, both individuals and organisations, for the generous contributions. ## **DEVON AND CORNWALL REFUGEE SUPPORT** ## Follow us on Social Media ## - communications@dcrs plymouth.org https://dcrs-plymouth.org/ 7 Whimple Street PL1 2DH ## @DevonandCornwallRefugeeSupport ## @DCRSPlymouth ## @dcrsPlymouth # Thank you for your ongoing support **----- Start of picture text -----**
Readers appreciate
accurate information
**----- End of picture text -----**