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2023-08-31-accounts

Annual Report 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3 Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants

Table of Contents

1

Message from our Patron, CEO and Chair

4

Vision, Mission and Values

5

Strategy

6

Programmes

9

14

16

18

19

Our Impact Case Study Partner Highlight Fundraising Report List of Funders

Trustee Annual Report

Financial Statements

20 26

Message from our Patron

In a year which has seen increasing hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers, the Centre has offered a community where people can make friends, find comfort and laughter, feel they belong, and where they are never judged.

Within this community, whether it is online or in person, astonishing individuals are freed from the label “refugee” or "asylum seeker” and are able to plan ahead and dream again.

I am immensely proud to be a part of this efficient and effective organisation where people are offered many kinds of support – practical, legal, linguistic and psychological; as well as given a warm welcome, good food and – perhaps most importantly – a sense of home.

The Centre’s register grew by 43% in 2022-23

I would urge anyone in a position to do so, to give the Islington Centre all the financial and logistical support it needs and profoundly deserves.

JULIET STEVENSON CBE, ACTOR

P A G E 0 1

A Word from our CEO

At the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants (the Centre), our purpose is to offer the activities and services that help people seeking sanctuary in the UK on the difficult journey to becoming settled in our society and, in time, being able to contribute.

2022-23 has been another full year and I hope you can get a sense of our progress and achievements through reading this report.

One of our highlights from the year has been our ongoing work with destitute asylum seekers. Our Support Packages for people in destitution began during the pandemic and remain a lifeline – we are so proud to be in a position to continue to provide this essential support.

Alongside the Support Packages, we offer so much more and are constantly refining our work, listening to clients and responding to what they tell us they need.

I really hope you can sense the compassion and drive of the Centre and all its people through this report and whoever you are, I hope we have the chance to meet and share these experiences together.

ANDY RUIZ PALMA CEO

P A G E 0 2

Message from our Board Chair

During this year we have responded to increasing needs and greater complexities of refugees and asylum seekers seeking support.

This year, we have had significantly more interactions with clients and prospective clients compared to the previous year. This reflects the growing challenges our clients are facing in the world out there. Yet through the Centre, whether online or in person, they find a welcoming community and a hand of friendship; a place where they matter.

That we are able to do this is thanks to the generosity of our funders for their support and the dedication and skills of our staff team and volunteers who demonstrate care and compassion in all they do. We have also welcomed in the year a number of new Trustees who bring strong experience and energy to our Board. Together I believe we are confident in our impact and proud to provide the work outlined in this Annual Report that can and does make a deep difference to our community.

VICTORIA RAE, BOARD CHAIR

Our Board recruited new members with lived experience of migration and seeking asylum

P A G E 0 3

Vision, Mission and 2020 at a Glance Values

VISION

We envisage a world where refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are integrated fully into their new communities with equal access to opportunities to progress their lives and fulfil their potential.

MISSION

To offer people the emotional support, practical tools and sense of community they need to build a happy life in the UK.

VALUES

P A G E 0 4

Strategy

Our strategic priorities for 2022-2025 are:

What we have achieved so far:

Recruited 6 new trustees

Achieved OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) accreditation

Increased our fundraising capacity

Reviewed organisational structure and created a leadership team

Developed our Support Service through increased capacity

Further diversified our income streams

Made new partnerships to further the Centre’s work

Developed our HR policies to strengthen the organisation

P A G E 0 5

Strategy

Our strategic priorities for 2022-2025 are:

What we have achieved so far:

Recruited 6 new trustees

Increased our fundraising capacity

Further diversified our income streams

Reviewed organisational structure and created a leadership team

Achieved Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner accreditation

Made new partnerships to further the Centre’s work

Developed HR policies to strengthen the organisation

Developed our Support Service through increased capacity

P A G E 0 5

Programmes

English Classes

Our highly experienced English teachers offer 20 free online English classes every week, including English at two levels, conversation classes and English community/citizenship classes.

Our hybrid model features classes both in-person and online, which continues to be popular, allowing increased access for many.

Support Packages

Since the pandemic, the Support Packages scheme has provided biweekly grants to asylum seekers struggling to get food and basics: Maximum £39 per fortnight to those in destitution.

Maximum £24 per fortnight to those not in destitution for digital and travel reimbursements.

P A G E 0 6

Support Service

The Support Service programme offers expert advice and referrals to help people overcome practical issues and access free legal representation, healthcare and counselling, education, accommodation, college and university and more.

Centre Days

On Wednesdays the Centre operates as a community hub with activities, community, and support, including dance, choir, art, English, Support Service, hot lunch, and more. Additionally, on Tuesdays in-person activities are available at Christ Church Community Centre with tea, snacks, Support Service, and English with our partner Speak Street.

P A G E 0 7

Physical Wellbeing Activities

Our weekly exercise sessions are therapeutic spaces that focus on health and wellbeing:

Art Classes

Arts activities offer a safe space to process past experiences and express emotions:

P A G E 0 8

Activities and Attendances

Between September 2022 and August 2023 we offered 186 people compassionate, long-term support to begin to build a life in the UK.

We are so proud that, thanks to our funders who put their trust in us, we were able to grow our classes and services and offer:

1,359 Online Classes

11,230 attendances 1,079 English classes 280 arts / wellbeing

1,474 Support Service Appointments

186 people

83 In Person Centre Days

2,448 Support Packages

1,867 attendances 1,700 lunches served

92 people

P A G E 0 9

91% 83%

Of new starters feel their life is going in a better direction after joining us

Of new starters feel more empowered after their first six months with us

Positive Outcomes

Improved Reduced Mental + Sense of Physical Isolation Wellbeing Access to Improved Food and English Essentials Access to Housing

Access to Food and Essentials Confidence to Negotiate Asylum System

P A G E 1 1

56

People accessed healthcare e.g. GPs, HC2 certificates and dentists

68

People supported to access emergency and long term accommodation

92

People helped to negotiate the asylum system with 10 gaining refugee status

76

People came to us for support to access college and university

92

People experiencing destitution were kept from hunger

Measuring Our Impact

Over the last 26 years, we have come to know our community well. We closely monitor the services we offer to ensure that they are genuinely the services our community needs.

Across 2022-23 we used a variety of methods to gather both quantitative and qualitative impact data, such as:

This year we introduced an information management system, which enabled us to gather and share information more efficiently. We are very grateful to Cloudesley, an Islington-based funder, for its ongoing support and for providing a special one-off grant to enable this.

In the coming year, with guidance from a consultancy firm funded through a grant with the Lloyds Bank Foundation, we seek to develop a theory of change, articulate our client journey and are introducing new client surveys and evaluation meetings.

We are always striving to improve.

P A G E 1 2

Our Community

Our approach is not institutional, but compassionate and human. We have been in London for 26 years and have built many longstanding relationships with our 186 students and clients who originate from 43 countries.

----- Start of picture text -----
The top 7 countries of origin were: The gender split was:
Cameroon
3% Turkey Angola Nonbinary
3% 3% 0.7%
Iran Male
5% 35%
Other Ethiopia
32% 5%
Female
64.3%
Nigeria
6%
Those considered destitute
were:
Destitute
40%
Non
Destitute
60%
Democratic Republic of the Congo
43%
----- End of picture text -----

People came to us from all over London. The top 5 boroughs were:

----- Start of picture text -----
Barnet
Hackney
Barking
Haringey
Islington
0% 5% 10% 15% P A G E 1 320%
----- End of picture text -----

Eric’s story Eric’s Story

I came from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the UK in 2015.

It was very hard for me because I didn't know where to start as a newcomer in the country. I heard a friend talking about the Islington Centre for Refugees and decided to register.

I started learning English at the Centre and I participated in many activities such as yoga, gym, English classes, Speak Street activities. I have visited London's most important and precious places, such as Buckingham Palace. It was good for me at the Centre and I made friendships and the Centre helped me to access painting and decorating at college. This was my ambition.

During the Covid 19 Lockdown, my case was rejected. It was very hard for me. I had to stop my studies and didn’t have any place to stay or support.

Islington Centre was there for me. It helped me to find accommodation and find a lawyer. While I was receiving no money from NASS or the government, the Centre supported me with Support Packages. These were essential as I had nothing at this time.

After Covid things became very stressful with my court hearing. Some members of the Centre’s community, Andy and Jane, came to be witnesses for my final appeal hearing. I am happy to say that my court appeal was successful and recently I had a positive decision from the Court. I won my case. I had a Positive Decision.

I am now ready to start my life again. I am studying painting and decorating, I am on level 2 and hopefully next year I will find a job. I will keep coming back to the Centre when I need help and I hope I can give back to the Centre.

The Islington Centre is my home. Again and again, thank you.

P A G E 1 4

Meeting the Increasing Need

The Centre has been working to be responsive to the growing need as more people are seeking our services. The Centre increased the number of people registered with us last year and offered more activities, which led to a significant increase in total attendances to our activities and services.

The Centre saw a 43% increase in total people served last year.

----- Start of picture text -----
2021-22
|
2022-23
0 50 100 150 200
----- End of picture text -----

The Centre saw a 53% increase in total attendances last year.

----- Start of picture text -----
2021-22
2022-23
0 5000 10000 15000
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
20000
----- End of picture text -----

P A G E 1 5

Our Partners

Our work has only been made possible by the tireless work and generosity of our volunteers and community partners, including:

P A G E 1 6

Volunteers and Partnerships

Over the last 26 years we have built relationships with organisations locally and within the sector. Our partners provide the people who come to us with advice and support around housing, counselling and law and also with activities like dance, gym and much more. Here we focus on two of the organisations in our network.

The Centre is a long time partner with Bloody Good Period, working together to ensured accessibility of period products to people in our community. Last year we disbursed 350 orders including 20,000 individual items.

Lawyers Against Poverty leads a weekly online session providing information to our community on individual rights in the areas of employment, criminal and family law with 43 sessions across the year.

VOLUNTEERS

Our work was supported and made possible this past year by 20 online volunteers as well as 92 in-person volunteers, totalling 112 volunteers across the year.

P A G E 1 7

Funding Overview

Where our funding came from in 2022-23.

Our income increased from £327,733 in 2021-22 to £475,157 in 2022-23, an increase of just over 45%.

----- Start of picture text -----
2021-22
2022-23
£0 £ 100000, £ 200000, £ 300000, £400000, £500000,
----- End of picture text -----

This increase was brought about by the successful recruitment of a second part-time fundraiser and our work to continue to build our fundraising portfolio. We saw impressive results in our grant fundraising, including securing a multi-year grant with the Garfield Weston Foundation and renewing multi-year grants with Islington Council and with local funder, Cloudesley. Our increased social media output and growing presence in the community attracted new funders and our supporter base grew.

Our income of £475,157 came from the following sources:

Trusts and Foundations - 91% came from more than 30 Trusts and Foundations.

Individuals - 5% came from the generous donations of individuals. Corporate Partners - 3% came from corporate partners as match funding.

Community Partnerships - 1% came from our community partners.

P A G E 1 8

Our Funders

We rely entirely on the kindness and generosity of our supporters. Listed here are the trusts, foundations and companies which made our work possible in 2022-23. There are also many individuals who make our work possible. A huge thank you to each and every supporter!

Albert Hunt Trust Apple C. Hoare and Co. Community Fund CAF Keystone Fund Calypso Browning Trust City Bridge Foundation Cloudesley Cripplegate Foundation Diana Parker Charitable Settlement Forrester Family Trust Google Garfield Weston Foundation

Green Investment Group Hillcote Trust Irving Memorial Trust Islington Council (via the VCS fund) Leathersellers’ Company Lloyds Bank Foundation London Catalyst London Churches Refugee Fund Macquarie Group Michael and Harriet Maunsell Charitable Trust Microsoft Mishcon Family Charitable Trust National Lottery (Reaching Communities) Not Actual Size

Peter Stebbings Memorial Charity Porta Pia 2012 Foundation Postcode Society Trust Reel Fund (via the London Community Foundation) Souter Charitable Trust St Mary’s Islington Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation

Swan Mountain Trust The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust Together for London - London Community Foundation Tyl/Pennies Waylan Trust

Thanks to the Graduate Volunteers and Macquarie Group for their ongoing support

P A G E 1 9

Reference and Administrative Details

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 07076199

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1135205

TRUSTEES:

REGISTERED OFFICE:

Victoria Rae (Chair) Teresa Dodgson (Secretary) Imran Malik (Treasurer) Charlotte Lilley Francis Bowondo Gabrielle Samuels Ghadeer Al-Seragi Gladys Jusu Sheriff Kathy Margerison Victor de Waal Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants Cross Street Baptist Church 16-18 Cross Street London N1 2BG islingtoncentre@gmail.com www.islingtoncentre.co.uk

PRIMARY BANKERS:

The Co-operative Bank PO Box 250, Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:

Mr J P Foxwell FCCA FCIE independent-examiner.net 39 Enfield Road Poole BH15 3LJ

PAGE 20

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

The Trustees of the charity for the purposes of UK Charity Law are also the directors of the company for the purposes of UK Company Law. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the management of the Centre and delegate day-to-day management to the CEO and the leadership team. The Trustees set the strategic direction of the Centre, agree the financial plan, and maintain with the CEO a comprehensive risk register.

The Trustees of Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants (“the Charitable Company” or “Centre”) for the purposes of the Companies Act, submit their report and the financial statements for the year ending 31 August 2023.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the governing document, the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

STATUS: The Charitable Company, Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants is:

The Articles of Association is the governing document of the Charitable Company. The limit of the members’ guarantee is £10. No provision for taxation has been made on the basis that the Charitable Company is exempt from Corporation Tax on its charitable activities.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY : The principal activity of the Charitable Company in the year under review was Education - Adult and other education.

CHARITABLE PURPOSES: The Objects as described in the Articles of Association read as follows:

  1. To advance education and relieve financial hardship amongst those seeking asylum and those granted refugee status by the provision of advice, training and support.

  2. To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum.

  3. To advance the Christian religion by living out our love for neighbour and bringing the stranger of any or no faith into our community.

All work of the Charitable Company has been dedicated to the furtherance of these purposes.

BANK ACCOUNTS

The Centre’s main bank account is with the Cooperative Bank. The Centre has a savings deposit account with Triodos Bank UK and no further bank accounts were opened throughout the year. The Centre has an account with PayPal in order to receive online donations. Donations are also received via Charities Aid Foundation.

PAGE 21

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT (CONTINUED)

PUBLIC BENEFIT

Trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission guidance on Public Benefit - SORP reference 1.18.

Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants is committed to its charitable purposes in all its activities. The principal activities, in line with the Charity Commission’s public benefit description are:

On completing activities at the Centre many of our Clients progress onto further education courses in their chosen subject area, volunteer roles in the community or to paid employment positions. Asylum seekers who are prohibited from working are welcomed to continue attending the Centre while they await the outcome of their asylum application.

The Centre has a comprehensive website and internet profile in order to present its work and the wider impact of its activities and services on refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. It shines a light on the struggles of its service users in order to educate the public on the issues faced by its Clients.

Volunteering is a critical element in the development of a strong community and it is this which mutually benefits the wider community and the Centre. At any given time there are around 40 volunteers contributing to the work of the Centre undertaking activities as varied as preparing food parcels, supporting Clients with their everyday or more complex problems, facilitating craft groups and furthering their experiences of British life through our enrichment programme.

We welcome people who have been displaced from their countries of origin, wherever they have come from, whatever has happened in their lives. The refugees and migrants who come to us have been through extremely difficult times. Leaving your country because of war, persecution or incarceration takes real grit, determination and courage. But for many, arriving in London is just the beginning of a long journey towards settled status and a decent life.

At the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants, we welcome people, talk with them, listen to what they need and respond to that. Whether someone tells us they need English lessons, advice on housing, accessing healthcare, applying to college or any of the many challenges of being a migrant in London – we are here for our Clients.

PAGE 22

THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE

We work to ensure positive, sustainable change for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants.

Our Centre is a place where:

We support our Clients to:

We do this through providing the following services and activities:

TRUSTEES

The Trustees (who also act as directors for Companies Act purposes) who served during the year 2022-23 are as follows:

2022-23 are as follows:
Appointment Start Appointment End
Victoria Rae (Chair) 17/01/22 Continuing
Teresa Dodgson (Secretary) 21/06/12 Continuing
Imran Malik (Treasurer) 15/05/23 Continuing
Rev Victor de Waal 01/09/10 Continuing
Beverley van der Sluis 21/06/12 20/11/22
Gladys Jusu-Sheriff 21/06/12 Continuing
James Fletcher 04/10/12 20/11/22
Richard Nicholson 26/11/18 21/07/23
Kathy Margerison 14/03/22 Continuing
Francis Bowondo 13/03/23 Continuing
Gabrielle Samuels 15/05/23 Continuing
Charlotte Lilley 15/05/23 Continuing
Ghadeer Al-Seragi 10/07/23 Continuing
Alice Billin 10/07/23 26/01/24

PAGE 23

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of the Charitable Company’s affairs and of the surplus or deficit for the year.

In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for:

The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include:

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Trustees have developed and work closely with an active risk register in order to manage any issues and to minimise disruption in the event of a realised risk.

The Centre has insurance policies as follows:

The Centre has in place a Safeguarding Policy for vulnerable adults and children that it works with.

The Centre has in place a Health and Safety policy which includes a Risk Assessment.

The Trustees have prepared and agreed to comply with a Code of Conduct.

PAGE 24

RESERVES

Reserves Statement:

The net current assets at year end 31 August 2023 of £247,445 (at year end 31 August 2022 £219,941 (See Note 11)) comprise restricted funds of £58,082 and unrestricted reserves of £189,363. The unrestricted reserves represent 4.5 months (year end 31 August 2022 was 4.1 months) of the total projected costs for the year from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 (“year 2023-24”).

Designated Redundancy Fund:

£28,000 has been designated to a redundancy fund giving free undesignated reserves of £161,363. The free reserves element of the current assets represents approximately 3.9 months’ running costs of the expenditure budget for year 2023-24.

Reserves Policy:

The policy is to maintain unrestricted funds of between 3 to 6 months of average operating costs as an Operating Reserve Fund to ensure the sustainability of the Charitable Company and future delivery and development of services.

This report was approved by the Board on 11 March 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Victoria Rae Chair of Trustees

PAGE 25

Independent Examiner’s Report To The Trustees Of Islington Centre For Refugees And Migrants

I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023 which comprise a Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet and related notes.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s Trustees of the Charitable Company (and also its Directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Charitable Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your Charitable Company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the Charitable Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Association of Charity Independent Examiners (ACIE), both of which are listed bodies.

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charitable Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

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

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice (“SORP”) for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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.

Mr J P Foxwell FCCA FCIE independent-examiner.net

39 Enfield Road Poole BH15 3LJ Date: 11 March 2024

PAGE 26

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2023 (including an Income and Expenditure Account)

----- Start of picture text -----
Notes Unrestricted Restricted 2023 2022
(restated)
£ £ £ £
INCOME
Donations and legacies 155,219 21,102 176,321 95,859
- -
Activities for generating funds 1,496 1,496
Charitable activities 2 39,250 258,055 297,305 231,692
Other income 35 - 35 181
Total income 196,000 279,157 475,157 327,733
EXPENDITURE
Costs of generating income 984 - 984 -
Charitable activities 3 151,693 294,976 446,669 385,442
Total expenditure 152,676 294,976 447,652 385,442
Net income/(expenditure) and net 43,323 (15,819) 27,504 (57,709)
movement in funds
Funds brought forward 146,040 73,901 219,941 277,649
───── ───── ───── ─────
Funds carried forward £189,363 £58,082 £247,445 £219,941
----- End of picture text -----

The Statement of Financial Activities reflects the results of continuing activities for the year.

There are no recognised gains and losses other than those shown in the Statement of Financial Activities.

PAGE 27

Balance Sheet at 31 August 2023

Notes £ 2023
£		 £ 2022
(restated)
£
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors and accrued income 5 24,524 8,236
Cash at bank and in hand 247,683 218,047
────── ──────
272,207 226,283
CREDITORS –amounts falling due in
less than one year		 6 (24,762) (6,342)
────── ──────
NET CURRENT ASSETS £247,445 £219,941
══════ ══════
FUNDS
General fund 161,263 124,040
Designated fund 7 28,000 28,000
────── ──────
Total unrestricted funds £189,363 152,040
~~Pp~~ ~~Pp~~ ~~Pp~~
~~ff~~		 ~~ff~~ ~~ff~~
Restricted funds
~~Pp~~		 10
~~Pp~~		 ~~Pp~~
~~ff~~		 £58,082
~~ff~~		 ~~ff~~ 67,901
────── ──────
Total funds £247,445 £219,941
══════ ══════

The Directors are satisfied that the Charitable Company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2023 by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the 2006 Act.

The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the 2006 Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Approved by the Trustees on 11 March 2024. and signed on their behalf by:

Victoria Rae

PAGE 28

Chair of Trustees Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 August 2023

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (“SORP”) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015) – Charities SORP (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

There have been no change in accounting policies or application of such policies during the year.

(a) Company status

The Charitable Company is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The members of the company are those persons included in the register of members and include the Trustees named on page 20.

In the event of the Charitable Company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member.

(b) Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charitable Company and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

(c) Income

All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charitable Company is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

(d) Pensions

During the financial year ending 31 August 2023 pension provision continued with the employer’s contribution being 8% for all eligible staff. The Centre adheres to the Auto Enrolment Scheme and is compliant with the requirements as set out by the Pensions Regulator. The Centre's pensions’ service provider is The Pensions Trust.

(e) Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Governance costs, now included within charitable activity costs, are those incurred in connection with administration of the Charitable Company and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

PAGE 29

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 August 2023

2. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted 2023 2022
funds funds (restated)
£ £ £ £
Comic Relief (London Together) - - - 3,778
Garfield Weston Foundation - 25,000 25,000 30,000
CAF Keystone Fund 10,000 - 10,000 -
City Bridge Foundation - 27,251 27,251 -
Cripplegate Foundation - 8,000 8,000 -
Islington Council VCS - 20,000 20,000 20,000
Leathersellers’ Company - - - 10,000
Islington Council Local Initiative Fund (LIF) 1,000 1,000 -
London Catalyst - 3,000 3,000 -
London Churches Refugee Fund - 1,850 1,850 2,500
Lloyds Bank Foundation 29,250 - 29,250 -
National Lottery - Reaching Communities
England 78,000 78,000 60,000
Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund
(National Lottery Community Fund) 14,524 14,524 -
Postcode Society Trust - - - 16,335
Cloudesley (Catalyst) - 5,000 5,000 5,000
Cloudesley (Welfare) - 15,000 15,000 17,000
Cloudesley (Support Service) - 30,000 30,000 30,000
Cloudesley Training Grant - 4,760 4,760 -
Cloudesley Welfare Grant Uplift - 5,000 5,000 -
Cloudesley Support Service Uplift - 5,000 5,000 -
Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation 2 - - - 17,090
Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation 3 - - - 19,989
Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation - 4,670 4,670 -
Together for London – London Community
Foundation and Hardship - 7,600 7,600 -
Together for London - London Community
Foundation - 2,400 2,400 -
£39,250 £258,055 £297,305 £231,692

PAGE 30

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 August 2023

3. COSTS OF ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE CHARITABLE OBJECTS

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Client Activities 5,058 - 5,058 12,468
Client Hardship Payments 13,245 60,200 73,445 63,120
Client Travel and Subsistence 1,374 1,000 2,374 3,282
Governance Costs 1,533 650 2,183 1,842
Running Costs 23,552 8,856 32,408 26,337
Salaries and Associated On-Costs 94,514 200,178 294,693 257,461
Sessional Workers 3,903 17,099 21,003 19,502
Staff and Volunteer Development 8,270 6,793 15,064 1,170
Volunteer Costs 242 200 442 259
£151,693 £294,976 £446,669 £385,442
----- End of picture text -----

4. STAFF COSTS

STS
Total Total
2023 2022
£ £
Salaries and wages 255,531 221,666
Social security costs 17,605 17,446
Pension costs 20,460 17,410
£293,595 £256,521

Staff costs excludes payroll service provider costs.

No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2022 – nil).

The average monthly headcount was 7 staff (2022 – 7 staff).

PAGE 31

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 August 2023

5. DEBTORS AND ACCRUED INCOME

Total Total
2023 2022
£ £
Prepayment - 3,236
Accrued grant income 24,524 5,000
£24,524 £8,236
6. CREDITORS AND DEFERRED INCOME
Total Total
2023 2022
(restated)
£ £
Creditors 1,762 1,582
Deferred grant income 23,000 4,760
£24,762 £6,342

7. DESIGNATED FUND

The Trustees have designated £28,000 as a contingency against unexpected staff costs. (year 21-22 £28,000).

8. TRUSTEES

No Trustee received any remuneration during the year. No expenses were reimbursed to any Trustee during the year ending 31 August 2022 (21-22) or 31 August 2023 (22-23).

9. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds 2023 2022
(restated)
£ £ £ £
Current assets 214,125 58,082 272,207 226,283
Creditors (24,762) - (24,762) (6,342)
£189,363 £58,082 £247,445 £219,941

PAGE 32

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 August 2023

10. RESTRICTED FUNDS

Balance b/f Income Expenditure Balance c/f
(restated)
£ £ £ £
Islington Council VCS 417 20,000 (20,030) 387
London Churches Refugee fund - 1,850 (1,850) -
Together for London – London Community
Foundation and Hardship - 10,000 (10,000) -
Cloudesley - Training Grant - 4,760 (4,760) -
Islington Council Local Initiative Fund (LIF) - 1,000 (1,000) -
Cloudesley – Catalyst fund 1,667 5,000 (5,000) 1,667
Cloudesley – Welfare fund + Uplift - 20,000 (20,000) -
Cloudesley – Support Service + Uplift 2,500 35,000 (35,000) 2,500
City Bridge Foundation - 27,251 (24,223) 3,028
Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation - 4,670 (4,670) -
Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation 3 19,989 - (19,989) -
London Catalyst Welfare Calls - 3,000 (3,000) -
Leathersellers’ Company 8,333 - (8,333) -
Reel Fund - 10,000 (10,000) -
Cripplegate Foundation - 8,000 (8,000) -
National Lottery Reaching Communities 15,000 78,000 (78,000) 15,000
National Lottery Cost of Living Uplift Fund - 14,524 (14,524) -
Postcode Society Trust 5,435 - (5,435) -
Garfield Weston Foundation 17,560 25,000 (17,560) 25,000
St Mary’s Islington - 2,102 (2,102) -
The French Huguenot Church of London
Charitable Trust - 6,000 - 6,000
Swan Mountain Trust 3,000 3,000 (1,500) 4,500
£73,901 279,157 £(294,976) £58,082

PAGE 33

Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 August 2023

11. RESTATEMENT OF PRIOR YEAR FIGURES

£3,000 of grant income should have been included in 2022 accounts rather than being deferred to 2023. The 2022 comparatives have been amended to include the £3,000 to restricted donations in Donations and Legacies and removing £3,000 from the deferred grant income included in creditors. There is no other impact of this change.

A reclassification between Donations & Legacy and Incoming resources from charitable activities has been conducted to better reflect the nature of the donations. There is no change in the overall revenue.

An amount of £59,411 has been reclassified from Donations and Legacies to Charitable Activities in 2022 to better reflect the income on the SOFA.

PAGE 34

Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants

Address: 16-18 Cross Street London N1 2BG General enquiries email address: info.islingtoncentre@gmail.com Website: islingtoncentre.co.uk

Facebook: @IslingtonCentre X (Twitter): @IslingtonCentre Instagram: @IslingtonCentre

Charity registration number: 1135205 Company limited guarantee number: 07076199