]EIIELIEASE <]tuir]LA Annual Report and Financial Statements Release Eritrea Year ended 28th of February 2025 Charity Number: 1136627 Company Number: 06815078
Contents Page Legal and adminTstrative information Page 1 Trustees, report Page 2-6 Independent Examlner's report Page 7 Statement of finanaal activities Page 8 Balan sheet Page 9-10 Notes to the financiaL statements Page 11-14
Rel&qse &itrna (A company limited by guardntse) 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 knelash Selam Kidane Board of Trustees: Fecadu Abraha Eyassu Ukbai Selam Kidane Selam Bahat Tesfamichael Yohannes J Alula Eyob Haile Chair Treasurer Bankers: Bardays Bank Plc 1 Northend East Croydon CRO 1TY Page 1
Release Erftm (A company Llmlted by guarantee) Trustees Report (Incorporatlng the Directors. Report) Year ended 28 February 2025 The Trustees present their report and the financiaL statements for the year ended 28 February 2025. The Trustees, who are also directors of Release Eritrea (RE) for the PuOseS of company law and who rved during the year up to the date of this report, are set out on the preceding pages. Strncture. governance and management Governlng Document The Organization is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 10 February 2009 and registered as a charity on 29 June 2010. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which estsblished the objects and powers of the charitable company and is govemed under its Artides of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. Recrultment and Appolntment of IAonasement Commlttee The Board of Trustees of the company are also Charity Trustees for the purpos of Charity Law; they receive no financial InntIveS except what is eligible for a Trustee. The Operational Directors manage the day to day activitles of the organisation, 5UPPOrted 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 forthcomlng year. Organlsatlonal Strncture The Board of Trustees consist of Six peopLe all of Erftrean origin. They meet on a quarterly basis to monitor the working progress of the organisation. Two members of the Board are also the Operational Dirertors 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'5 activity and ensuring the provision of services rests on the Operational Directors, and project team managers. The OperationaL Directors are responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the ServIS specified and that key performance indicators are met. Page 2
Release &itspa ( A Company Limited by guarantee) Trustees Report (Incorporating the Directors. Report) Year ended 28 February 2025 Objectlves and acdvltles Kry objectlves The objectives of the company are .' 1) The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefrt by- a) advancing education and raising awareness in equality and diversity; b) activitES to foster understanding between 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, induding an awareness of their distinttive features and their common ground to promote good relations between persons of different faith5; 3) The promotion of human rvJhts (as set out in th8 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent United Nations conventions 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 rvJhts issues; Release Eritrea continues to promote freedom of religious worship in Eritrea and supports victims of such abuse by offering PpOrt and advocacy as well as prayers and spiritual guidance. Through the period under report there hasn't been an improvement to human rights violations induding freedom of relfgious worship in Eritrea. All churches not belonging the 'recognised' groups are still closed and tho* that are 'recognised' are also put under various forms of pressure and their operations continue to be heavlly 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 intercession 2) Practical assistan for victims of human rights Vbolations and refugees 3) Advocacy Below we provide a brief oudine of the achievements in eath of the above areas of work outlined al)ove. Prayer and Intercession Members of Release Erltrea have led and partiapated in various prayer events, here at home in the UK through zoom. Page 3
Release Eiitrea (A Company Limited by guarantee) Trustees Report (Incorporating the Directors. Report) Year ended 28 February 2025 2. Practlcal asslstance RefLgees ReLease Eritrea continues to provide financial and spiritual support and guidance to individual refugees, families, as well as groups and churches in the refugee communities in Ethiopia. In this financial year we continued to SUPPOrt fUgeeS who have been displaced from Sudan to Ethiopia, Egypt and Uganda. Sudan had been home for tens of thousands of Eritrean refugees for many years. Eritrean refugees are continued to become targets of human traffickers and bandits in Sudan and Libya. So it continued to have devastating effects on the Eritrean refugee communities. Because of that many continued to be dISplad and becoming victims of traffickers. Currently there are tens of thousands of Eritrean refugees settled in Northern Ethiopia Alem-wach and some on the Sudan Ethiopian border, Metema. Due to avil vRr and lawlessnes5 in the Amhara region these refugees have become targets of bandits and human smugglers. The number of Eritrean refugees in Addis Ababa is estimated more than 100,000. Ojr charity has been sUPPOrting those who still remained in Tigray and Addis Ababa. Some of the refugees are forced into commercial sex workers and become victims of human trafficking. ReLease Eritrea has continued the ongoing project in Addis Ababa, supporting vulnerable women by prowding vocational training, such as cooking, tsiloring, hair dressing, fiLming and video editing, mobile phone repairing, computer training, and accounting. In this financial year more than 160 men and women have enrolled in the skill training and graduated. Several of these have started thelr own business gjch as dress making, carpentry, laundry, key oJtting, thr wheeLed taxTS (tuktuk or bajaj) and other businesses. Others were hired in different business ttors, such as restaurants, photo shops, coffee shops, hair salons and beauticians. We also provide transport fees for the students until they finish their courses. The course lasts from four to six months. We also provtde food packages to families in need. During thls project year, We have provided food packages to over 200 families, most of them are single mothers with tsvo to three children and refugees displaced from Sudan. School chiLdren support: we also provide shoes, clothes and stationeries to more than two hundred needy chiLdren, each package consists, school bag, Writing padsj pens and pencils. These are over We al50 provtde fTnanaal assistan to needy families, helping them with paying their house rents and medical costs. Page 4
Release Eritrea (A Company Limited by guarantee) Trustees Report {Incorporatlng the Directors. Report) Year ended 28 February 2025 Prlsoners and their families support Release Eritrea continues to support hundreds of prisoners of Conscien and their families fnside Eritrea. Currentlyi there are still hundreds of prisoners of faith whom we are aware of. In the year of 2024125 there were about 220 newly arrested Christians and over 100 people have been released. Some of the senior pastors have been in prison for over 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 government, such as the Baptists, Pentecostals, Fr Evangelicals, and the Methodists. Some of the sanctioned churches, such as the Orthodox and Catholics have been targets of restriction and subjected to harassment and prison. There are three Orthodox dergies 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. 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 spedal thanks to our volunteers and workers in Eritrean, Ethiopia and other project sites. Radlo Prodcast The four days a week radlo broadcast is still running well. This radio serylce is reaching out to our listeners in the refugee camps, in Eritrea and Tigray region in North Ethlopia. Through thls radio broadcast we focus on several social and educational issues; such as human trafficking, modern day slavery, love, relationship and marriage, songs and bible studies. We also have sesslons on health education such as; HIV, TB, nutrition, sanitstion, PTSD, trauma counselling and other social and religious educations. This radio program has two part-time staffers. Advocacy One of the main objectives of Release Eritrea is being a voice to the voice-less in Eritrea. At the moment there are ten5 of thousands of prisoners of conscience in Erita. Some of them have been in prison for over 20 years. None of them have been charged. To highlight this gruesome situation of the prisoners of conscience, one of our directors has the opportunity to speak at the UN human-right commission in Geneva. In addition, some members of our trustees and directors have the opportunity to highLight the causes of the prisoners of conscience to the intemational community by engaging in several social and community gathering. Our directors had also numerous occasions to speak on social Medias and Christian radio stations and different religious and social gatherings" churches and mission conventions in the UK and some European countries such as Germany? The Netherlands and Poland. Our director has also written a book, highlighting his own prison experience and current situation in Eritrea. (X]r director has made several book tours all across the UK, in Scotland, Northem Ireland and in several regions within England and London. We will continue to engage the intemational community until we see changes in Eritrea. Page 5
Release Eritrea ( A company limited by guarantee) Trustees Report (Incorporating the Directors. Report) Year ended 28 February 2025 statennt of Tnistees, Responslbllltles The Trustees (who are also dlrectors of RELEASE ERITREA for the Purpo of Company Law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees. Annual Report statements in accordance with applicable Law and United Kingdom GeneralLy Accepted Accounting Practi. Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial 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, induding the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to: • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; • observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; •rnake judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. •stste whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial ststements; and 'prepare the financial statements 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 whith disdo* with reasonabLe accuracy at any time the finanaal position of the charitable company and which enable them to ensure that the finanaal statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonabLe steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularlties. Small compary pn?vlslons This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. On behalf of the board Fecadu Abraha Chair. Board of Trustees Release Eritrea Page 6
Release ErftsBa ( A company limited by guarantee) Independent examlner's report to the trustees on the unaudited financial statement of Release Eritrea. I report on the account of Release Eritrea for the year ended 28 February 2025 set out on pages 2 to 14. Respectlve responslbllltles of trustees and Independent examlner The charitys trustees (who are also the d7CtorS of the company for purpose of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not qUired for this year under section144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act), and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act, to folLow the prOdureS laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity commi70n under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act; and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent examlnerfs statement My examination was carried out in accordan with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination indudes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a compartson of the accounts presented with those records. It also indudes consideration of any unusual items or disdosures 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 t out in the statement below. Independent examIneS Statennt In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 1 . which gives me reasonable cau* to believe that in any material respect the requirements: •to keep proper accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Cornpany Act 2006. and •to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the company Att 2006 and with methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practi. Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met- or 2. to whith, in my opinion, attention thould be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reathed Independent Dawit Araya 7 Hasted Close, DA9 9HS xaminer Page 7
Release Eritrea (A company Ilmited by guarnntee) Statement of flnandal activities (Incorporatlng the income expenditure account) For the year ended 28 February 2025 Unrestrlcted Restrlcted Note5 fund5 funds 2025 2024 Incorning Re50urce5 Incoming Resources from generating funds: Voluntary income ivities for genernting funds Other Income Total incoming resources 1.277 405.406 406,683 407,530 405.406 406.683 412 530 Resources Expended Charitable activities Total resource expended 4.224 4,224 408 076 408 076 412.301 412.301 447.920 447.920 Net incomiJwl(outgoing)resources for the yearl Net income l (expenditure) for the year 12,9481 12,670} (5,618) (35.390) Total funds brought forward Total funds carrled forward 137 616 148.105 142.390 183.495 148.105 7.541 The statements of flnandal actlvltles Includes all galns and i0eS in the year and therefo a separate stament of total recognised gains and lossess has note been prepared. ALI of the above amounts relate to continuing activitie5. Page 8
Release Eritrea { A company limited by guardntee) Balance Sheet as at 28 February 2025 2025 2024 Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 478 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 142,390 147,627 Creditors: amounts fallings within one year Net current assets 142.390 147 627 Net assets 142.390 148 105 Funds Restricted income funds Unrestricted income funds 134,848 137,616 Total funds 142 390 148 105 Page 9
Release Eritrea ( A company limited by guarantee) Balance Sheet (continued) Trustees statements requlred by the Companles Act 2006 fvr the year ended 28 FebnMry 2025 In approving these finanaal statements as trnstees 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 off7 of the company pursuant to section 476 of the companies Att 2006 requesting that an audit be conducted for the year ended 28 Febnjary 2025 c) that we ad(nowledge our responsibilities for: i) ensuring that the company keeps proper accounting records whith comply with section 386 of the Companles Act 2006, and li) preparing fTnical statements which are true and falr vlew of the state if affalrs of the company as at the end of the financial year then ended in accordan with requirements of section 394 and 395, and which otherwise comply with the provislon of the Companies Act relating to financial statements, so far as appLicable to the company. iti) The financial statements are prepared In accordance wTth the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies act 2006 relatlng to small companies. iv) The financTal stattements were approved by the board on 22nd Oct 2025 and signed on its behalf by Mr Eyassu UkbaT Treasurer Page 10
Release Erftrea ( A company Ilmlted by guarantee) Notes to flnanclal statements for the year ended 28 February 2025 Accountlng policles The prinapal accounting policies are summarised beLow. The accounting poLicies have been applied consistently throughout the year and proceeding year. Basi5 of accounting The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the statement of Recommended Practi ' Accounting and Reporting by Charities. issued in March 2005 (SORP 2005) and the Companies Act 2006. Cash flow The charity has taken advantage of the exemptTon in FR51 from the requirement to Produ a cash fLow statement because it is a smaLI charity. Incoming resources All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial actiwties when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following speafic policfes are applied to particular categories of income: Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included In full in the statement of flnancial activities when receivable. Grants where entitlement is not conditlonal on the dellvery of a spedfic performance by the charity are recognised when the charity becomes uncondltlonally entltled to the grant. Donated ServIS and faalities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of the ServIS provided by volunteers has not been included. Grants, induding grants for the purchase of fixed asset, are recognised in fuLL in the statement of financial attiwties 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 relate5. Costs of generating funds comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of trading for fundraising purposes. Page11
Release &itrea ( A company limited by guarantee) Charitable expenditure Compri tho costs incurred by the tharfty In the delivery of its activities and serrfTces for the benefldaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an Indirect nature neSSary 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 less residual value of each asset over its expected useful Life, as follows: Fixtures, fittings and equipments - 25% straight line Voluntary income Unrestrfcted Restrlcted Fund Fund 2025 2024 Total 9,537 9,537 387,699 387,699 9,446 9,446 Total 3,684 389,452 13,145 Donation Relea International Church in Chains enueL Entrustin 406 683 406 683 407,530 Voluntary income COmpriS donatlons and grants received from various donors to carry out projects and other charftable activities. Other Income Unrestricted Restrlcted Fund Fund 2025 2024 Total Total Bank Interest Refund 5.000 Costs of Charitable activities - by fund type Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Fund Furrfl 2024 Total 398,076 398,076 Totsl 433.239 Charitable Expenditure Management & Admin. Cost 10 000 14224 076 412 301 Page 12
Release Erftrea ( A company limited by guarantee) Analysls of net assets between funds Unrestricted Restricted Fund Fund Total Fun(b Fund balan at 28 February 2025 as represented by: Tangible fixed aSts Current assets Current liabilities 7,541 134,848 142,390 £0 142 390 Unrestricted fund At 0110312024 Incoming resources At Outgoing 2810212025 resources Voluntary Income Other Income Charitsble Activitles 10,489 1,277 11,766 10,489 Purposes of unrestrlcted funds Incoming reSoUrS generated from gifts, donations and grants which provide funding for the general use of the charity. Resources expended on charitable 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 chariws attivities 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 13
Release Eritrea { A company Ilmltsd by guarantse) Restrlcted funds At At 0110312024 Incomlng Outgolng 2810212025 resources resources Voluntary Income Charitable Activities 137,616 405,406 543,022 (381,933) (381.933) 137,616 405,406 (381.933) 161.089 Purpose of restricted funds 8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Cost Office Equipment Total At 0110312024 Additions Disposal At 2810212025 4,704 4,704 4,704 4,704 Depreciation At 01103/2024 Additions Disposal At 2810212025 4,226 478 4,226 478 4,704 4,704 Net Book Value At 0110312024 At 2910212025 Company limited by guarantee Release Eritrea is a company limited by guarantee 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 as*ts 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 aSeS to be a member. Page 14