IKEILIEASE {R]tTKEA
Annual Report
and
Financial Statements
Release Eritrea
Year ended 29th of February 2024
Charity Number: 1136627
Company Number: 06815078

Contents
Page
Legal and administrative Tnfonnation
Page 1
Trusteeg report
Page 2-7
Independent Examiner's report
Page 8
Statement of financial activities
Page 9
Balan￿ sheet
Page 10-11
Notes to the finanaal statements
Page 12-15

Release Eritrea
(A company limited by guarantee)
Legal and administrative information
Registered Charity Number:
1136627
Company House Number:
6815078
Business Address:
152 Kirkham Street
London
SE18 2EN
Registered Office:
152 Kirkham Street
London
SE18 2EN
Director:
Director:
Dr. Berhane Asmelash
Selam Kidane
Board of Trustees:
Fecadu Abraha
Eyassu Ukbai
Selam Kidane
Selam Bahat Tesfamichael
Yohannes J Alula
Eyob Haile
Chair
Treasurer
Bankers:
Barclays Bank Plc
1 Northend
East Croydon
CRO 1T
Page 1

Release Eritrea IA company Limited by guarantee)
Trustees Report (Incorporati ng the Directors. Report)
Year ended 29 February 2024
The Trustees present their report and the finanaal statements for the year ended 29 February
2024. The Trustees, who are also directors of Release Eritrea {RE) for the purposes of company law
and who Served during the year up to the date of this report, are set out on the preceding pages.
Structure• sovernance and n￿nagen￿nt
Governlng Document
The Organization is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 10 February 2009
and reg7stered as a charity on 29 June 2010. The company was established under a Memorandum
of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is govemed
under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are
required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 .
Recnrftment and Appolntment of Alanagement Commlttee
The Board of Trustees of the company are also Charity Trustees for the purposes of Charity Law;
they receive no financial incentives except what is eligible for a Trustee. The Operational Directors
manage the day to day activities of the organisation, supported by a team of staff and volunteers
for each project. The charity has a Supporters Group that meets annually to receive the report of
activities and plan for the forthcoming year.
Organtsatlonal Structure
The Board of Trustees consist of Six people all of Eritrean origin. They meet on a quarterly basis to
monitor the working progress of the organisation. Two members of the Board are also the
Operational Directors of the company responsible for the implementation and execution of the
action plan approved by the Board of Trustees. The responsibility for running the charity's activity
and ensuring the provision of se￿ICeS rests on the Operational Directors, and project team
manager5. The Operational Directors are responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the
ServI￿S specified and that key performance indicators are met.
Page 2

Relthqse Eritrea { A Company Limited by guarantee)
Trustees Report (Incorporating the Di rectors. Report)
Year ended 29 February 2024
Objectlves and actlvltles
Key objectlves
The objectives of the compony are .'
1) The promotion of equalty and diversity for the public benefit by:
a) advancing educatK)n and raising awareness in equalty and diversity;
b) activities to foster understanding bebNeen people from diverse backgrounds;
c) cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity
2) The promotion of religious harmony for the benefit of the public by educating the public of
different religious beliefs, including an awareness of their distinctive features and their common
ground to promote good relations between persons of different faiths;
3) The promotion of human rights (as set out in the Universal Declarath)n of Human Rights and
subsequent Uniled Nations conventK)ns and declarations) throughout the world by all or any of the
following means:
a) Monitoring abuses of human rights;
b) Relieving need among the victims of human rights abuse.
c) Raising awareness of human rights issues;
Release Eritrea continues to promote freedom of religious worship in Eritrea and supports victims
of such abuse by offering support and advocacy as well as prayers and spiritual guidan￿.
Through the period under report there hasn't been an improvement to human rights violations
including freedom of religious worship in Eritrea. All churches not belonging the 'recognised'
groups are still closed and those that are 'recognised' are also put under various forms of pressure
and their operations continue to be heavily controlled.
The UN continues to be seriously concerned by the human rights violations in the country and
particularly the implications for the outflow of refugees who seem to be leaving Eritrea at an
unprecedented rate, to Sudan and Ethiopia and then further afield.
Release Eritrea continues to be active in all three areas of work namely:
1) Prayer and inter￿Ssion
2) Practical assistance for victims of hurnan rights violations and refugees
3) Advocacy
Below we provide a brief outline of the achievements in each of the above areas of work outlined
above.
Prayer and Intercession
Members of Release Eritrea have led and participated in various prayer events, here at home in the
UK through zoom because of Covid 19.
Page 3

Release Eritrea (A Company Llmited by guarantee)
Trustees Report (Incorporati ng the Directors. Report)
Year ended 29 February 2024
2. Practical assistance
Refugees
Release Eritrea continue5 to provide finanaal and spiritual support and guidan￿ to individual
refugees, families, as well as groups and churches in the refugee communities in Ethiopia. In this
finanaal year there were some new developments for the Eritrean refugees in Sudan. In 2023 a
new war flared up in Sudan. Sudan has been home for tens of thousands of Eritrean refugees.
after the war broke out Eritrean refugees became targets of human traffickers and bandits. So it
had a devastating effect on the Eritrean refugees.
Because of that many were displaced some of them died and others kidnapped. The rest fled to
Egypt, some to Ethiopia and others to South Sudan and Uganda. Currently 25,000 refugees are
settled in North West Ethiopian refugee camp and on the Sudan Ethiopian t)order, Metema. Due to
civil war and lawlessness on the Amhara region in Ethiopia, these refugees have become targets of
kidnapping for ransoms and human traffickers. The number of Eritrean refugees in Addis Ababa is
more than 100,000. Our charity has been supporting those who still remained in Tigray and those
who run to Addis Ababa. We are providing support to thousands of urban refugees in the capitsl.
Some of the refugees are forced into commercial sex woth and become victims of human
trafficking. Release Eritrea has continued the ongoing project in Addis Ababa, supporting
vulnerable women by providing vocational training, such as cooking, tailoring, hair dressing,
filmlng and video editing, mobile phone repairing, computer training, and accounting. In this
financial year we supported 202 women to tske vocational training and we supported 5 of them to
start their own business. Others were hired in different business sectors, such as restaurants, photo
shops, coffee shops, hair salons and beautiaans. We also provide shelter, food, and transport for
pregnant women and for tho* with little children.
We also provide transport fees for the students until they finish their course. The course lasts from
three to six months. We also provide food packages to families in need. During this projett year,
We have provided food packages to over 119 families, most of them are single mothers with two
to three children
we also provide shoes, clothes and stationeries to more than two hundred needy children, each
package consists, school bag, writing pads, pens and penals. These are 254 children.
We also provide financial assistan￿ to needy families, helping them with paying their house rents
and medical costs
We donated 300 pairs of wellington boots for thildren under ten in the Alemwach refugee camp in
Ethiopia. This camp located in North Westem Ethiopia is tnuddy and flooded during the rainy
season of June to septamber.
Page 4

Release Erftrea IA Company Limited by guarantee)
Trustees Report (Incorporati ng the Di rectors. Report)
Year ended 29 February 2024
Tlgray Internally displaced people {IDPs)
The war in figray is over, after the November 2022 peace deal between the warring
parties; the Ethiopian government and the Tigray Liberation Forces. The ￿SsatiOn of
hostilities is holding and the guns have been silenced, but thousands of IDPS of vulnerable
people, women, thildren, the elderly and people with speaal need are still suffering and
have not returned to their villages. So we are still running our feeding program in Shire and
also Adwa towns. Through this project over hundreds of people have been supported in
Adwa aty and people are continuing to get our support. This program was also an on-going
program until this report was written, we have also secured enough fund for this project
year. In our program we also supported people with insulin dependent diabetes and the
elderly. Since January 2023 we have also started to support Eritrean refugees in Mekelle.
The number is not as big as in Addis Obaba but we heard that they are in desperate need.
The total number of Eritrean refugees in Mekelle 15 about 1270.
Prisoners and their families support
Release Eritrea continues to support hundreds of prisoners of Conscien￿ and their families
inside Eritrea. Currently, there are still hundreds of prisoners of faith whom we are aware
of. In the year of 2023124 there were about 160 newly arrested Christians and over 90 were
released. Some of the senior pastors have been in prison for 20 years, and about 20
prisoners are currently in prison for over 10 years. Most of the prisoners are members of the
banned faith groups by the Eritrean govemment, such as the Baptists, Pentecostals, Free
Evangelicals, and the Methodists. Although some of the sanctioned churches, such as the
Orthodox and Catholics have been targeted and subjected to harassment and prison, the
Protestants are the prime target of the abuse. In September 2023 a Catholic bishop was
arrested by the Eritrean security. Many members of the Orthodox are also face persecution.
There are three Orthodox clergies who have been in prison since November 2004. Most of
the released prisoners are suffering from PTSDS, so Release Eritrea is providing medical,
psychological, pastoral, and financial help. Our staff have been conducted trauma
counselling in Addis Ababa and several towns in figray. Release Eritrea is at present
providing financial and pastoral support for the needy families. We would like to take this
opportunity to thank all our supporters and volunteers without whose commitment and
dedication wouldn't have been able to fulfil our obligation to support those who are in
desperate need. We want also to give a special thanks to our volunteers and workers in
Eritrean, Ethiopia and other project sites.
Page 5

Release Eritrea (A Company Limited by guarantee)
Trustees Report (Incorporating the Directors. Report)
Year ended 29 February 2024
Radio broadcast
The two dajs a week Short wave radio Servi￿ have grown to a four days a week. This is due to
high demand from our listeners in the refugee camps, Eritrea and figray region in North Ethiopia.
Through this radio broadcast we focus on several soaal and educational issues; such as human
trafficking, modem day slavery, love, relationship and marriage, Bible teachings and spiritual
songs.. We also have sessions on health education suth as; HIV, TB, nutrition, sanitation. This
Shortwave broadcast ha5 wide audience in Eritrea and figray region. After evaluating our serVi￿S
from our listeners we are planning to add two more days in the coming year, so we viill have six
days a week.
3. Advocacy
One of the main objectives of Release Eritrea is being a voice to the vol￿-[eSS in Eritrea at the
moment there are tens of thousands of prisoners of conscience. A lot of them have been in prison
for over 10 years. Some of our members of trustee5 and directors of Relea￿ Eritrea have the
opportunity to highlight the causes of the prisoners of conscience to the international community.
The opportunities we had was presentations to members of the UK parliament, during the
parliamentary prayer moming. Our directors had also numerous occasions to speak on the BBC
world and several Christian media outlets. We had also the opportunity to share our visions and
programs to several churches and charity organisations. Our travel and speech engagement have
been restricted due to the covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, most of our team have the
opportunity to make contacts and conferences on-line. We have also a few travel engagements
and speech opportunities in some European countries. We wilL continue to engage the
international community until we see changes in Eritrea.
Page 6

Release Eritrea ( A company Ilmited by guarantee)
Trustees Report (IncorporatTng the DI rectors. Report)
Year ended 29 February 2024
Statement of Trustees, Responslbllltles
The Trustees (who are also dirertors of RELEASE ERITREA for the purpose of Company Law) are
responsible for preparing the Trustees. Annual Report statements in accordan￿ with applicable
law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practi￿.
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare finanaal statements for each finanaal year which
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming
resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the tharitable
company for that period. In preparing these finanaal statements, the Trustees are required to:
• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
•make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
•state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any
material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. and
"prepare the financial ststements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable
accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and which enable them to
ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hen￿ for taking reasonable
steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Small compary provlslons
This report has been prepared in accordance viith the special provisions for small companies under
Part 15 of the Companies Att 2006.
On behalf of the board
Fecadu Abraha
Chair. Board of Trustee5 Release Eritrea
Page 7

Release Eritrea { A Company limited by guarantee)
Independent examiner's report to the trustees on the unaudited flnancial statement of
Release Eritrea.
I report on the account of Release Eritrea for the year ended 29 February 2024 set out on pages 2 to
14.
Respectlve responslbllltles of trustees and Independent examlner
The charity's trustees (who are also the directors of the cornpany for pu￿￿ of company law) are
responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for
this year under section144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Att), and that an independent
examination is needed. It is my re5pJnsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011
Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission
under settion 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and to state whether particular matters have come to my
attention.
Basts of Independent examlner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordan￿ with the General Directions given 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 records. It also includes consideration of any unusual
items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees conceming any such
matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit
and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view, and the
report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examlner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1 . which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
•to keep proper accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Company Att 2006; and
•to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting
requirements of section 396 of the company Act 2006 and with methods and prinaples of the
Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met. or
2. to whith, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the
accounts to be reached
pendent e
Dawit Araya
7 Hasted Close, DA9 9HS
iner
Page 8

Rel&qse Eritrea { A company Ilmrted by guarantee)
Statement of financlal activities (incorporating the Income and expenditure account)
For the year ended 29 February 2024
Unrestricted Restrlcted
Notes funds
funds
2024
2023
Inconiing Resowces
Incoming Resources from generating funds:
Voluntary income
tivities for generating funds
Other Income
Total incoming resources
407,530
407,530
424,069
412 530
412 530
424 069
Resources Expended
Charitable attivities
Total resowce expended
433 239
433,239
447 920
447.920
384.840
384.840
Net Incomlngl(outgoing)resources for the yearl
Net income l (expenditure) for the year
(14,680)
(20,710)
(35.390)
39,229
Total funds brought forward
Totsl funds carrfed forward
158 326
137 616
183 495
148 105
183 495
The statements of flnandal actfvltles Includes all gains and los*s In the year and therefore a separate
starnent of total recognl*d galns and lossess has note been prepared.
All of the above amounts relate to continuing actiwties.
Page 9

Release Erftrea ( A company limited by guarantee)
Balance Sheet
as at 29 February 2024
2024
2023
Notes
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
478
1,654
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
147,627
181,841
Creditors: amounts fallings due within one year
Net current assets
147 627
181.841
Net assets
148.105
183.495
Funds
Restricted income fund5
Unrestricted income funds
137,616
158,326
Total funds
148 105
183 495
Page 10

Release Etitrea ( A company Ilmited by guarantee)
Balance Sheet (conti nued)
Trustees statements requlred ty the Conyinles Act 2006 for the year ended
29 Febniary 2024
In approvin£ these financial statements as trustees of the company we hereby confirm:
a) that for the year stated above the company was entitled to the exemption conferred by
section 477 of the companies act 2006
b) that no notice has been deposited at the registered Off1￿ of the company pursuant to
section 476 of the companies Act 2006 requesting that an audit be conducted for the year
ended 29 February 2024
c) that we acknowledge our responsibilities for:
i) ensuring that the company keeps proper accounting records which comply with section
386 of the Companies Act 2006, and
ii) preparing finical statements which are true and fair view of the state if affairs of the
company as at the end of the finanaal year then ended in accordance with requirements of
section 394 and 395, and which otherwise comply with the provision of the Companies Act
relating to finanaal statements, so far as applicable to the company.
iii) The finanaal statements are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part
15 of the Companies act 2006 relating to small companies.
iv) The financial stattements were approved by the board on 22nd Oct 2024 and signed on
its behalf by
Eyassu Ukbai
Treasurer
Page11

Rel&3se Bltrea ( A company limited by guarantee)
Notes to flnanclal statements for the year ended 29 Febnmry 2024
Accounting policies
The prinapal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have
been applied consistently throughout the year and proceeding year.
Basis of accounti ng
The finanaal statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in
accordance with the statement of Recommended Prattl￿ ' knounting and Reporting by
Charities, issued in Marth 2005 (SORP 2005) and the Companies Act 2006.
Cash flow
The charity has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS1 from the requirement to
produ￿ a cash flow statement because it is a small charity.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of finanaal attivities when the
charity is entitled to the income and the arnount can be quantified with reasonable
accuracy. The following specific poliaes are applied to particular categories of income:
Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is induded in full in
the statement of financial activities when receivable. Grants where entitlement is not
conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity are recogni*d when
the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
Donated servi￿$ and faalities are included at the value to the charity where this can be
quantified. The value of the seNices provided by volunteers has not been included.
Grants, including grants for the purchase of fixed asset, are recognised in full in the
statement of finanaal activities in the year in which they are receivable.
Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes
any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to
which it relates.
Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income
and the costs of trading for fundraising purposes.
Page 12

Release Eritrea ( A company limited by guarantee)
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its
activities and services for the benefiaaries. It indudes both costs that can be allocated
directly to such activities and tho* costs of an indirect nature ne￿SSary to support
them.
Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is
provided at rates calculated to write off the cost le55 residual value of eath asset over its
expected useful life, as follows:
Fixtures, fittings and equipments - 25% straight line
Voluntary income
Unrestricted Restricted
Fund
Fund
2024
Totsl
3,684
3,684
389,452 389.452
13,145
13,145
1,248
1,248
Total
4,359
379.386
10.833
28,491
Donation
Release Intemational
Church in Chains
Penuel Entrustin
CAM International
407,530 407,530
424,069
Voluntary income comprises donations and grants re￿iVed from various donors to carry
out projects and other charitable attiwties.
Other Income
Unrestricted Restricted
Fund
Fund
2024
2023
Total
Total
Bank Interest
Refund
5,(K)O
5.000
Costs of Charitable activities - by fund type
Unrestricted Restricted
2024
Fund
Fund
2023
Total
433,239 433.239
Total
381,933
Charitable Expenditure
Management & Admin.
cost
14.680
433.Z39 447 920 384 840
Page 13

Release Eritrea ( A company limlted by guarantee)
Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted
Fund
Fund
Total FurKIs
Fund balan￿ at 29 February 2024
as represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
478
10,489
478
147,627
£0
148 105
137,139
137 139
Unrestricted fund
At
01103/2023
At
Outgoing 2910212024
resources
Incomlng
resources
Voluntary Income
Other Income
Charitable Activities
25,169
25,169
25,169
(14,680)
10,489
Purposes of unrestricted funds
Incoming resources generated from gifts, donations and grants which provide funding
for the general use of the tharity.
Resources expended on tharitable activities comprise all the resources applied by the
charity in undertaking its work to meet its charitable objectives as opposed to the
cost of raising funds.
7 Taxation
The charity's activities fall within the exemption afforded by the provision of the
Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. Accordingly, there is no taxation charge in
these accounts.
Page 14

Release Erftrea ( A company limited by guarantee)
Restricted funds
At
At
0110312023 Incoming Outgolng 2910212024
resources resources
Voluntary Income
Charitable Attivities
158,326 407,530
565,856
1381.933)
183.923
1381.933
158.326 407,530 1381,933)
Purpose of restricted funds
8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Cost
Office Equipment
Total
At 0110312023
Additions
Disposal
At 2910212024
4,704
4,704
4,704
4,704
Depredation
At 01 /03/2023
Additions
Disposal
At 2910212024
3,050
1,176
3,050
1,176
4,226
4,226
Net Book Value
At 01 /0312023
At 2910212024
1,654
478
1,654
478
9 Company limited by guarantee
Release Eritrea is a company limited by guarant￿ and accordingly does not have a share capital.
Every member of the company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be requires not
exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of it being wound up while he
or she is a member, or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member.
Page15