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2022-12-31-accounts

HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION GROUP ANNUAL REPORT

Trustees Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

Charity number: 1149652 Company number: 08186281

CONTENTS

CONTENTS
HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION GROUP 1
ANNUAL REPORT 1
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS 4
ANNUAL REPORT 5
INTRODUCTION TO THE HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION GROUP 6
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 7
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CHAIR OF TRUSTEES 8
HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION GROUP’S VISION, MISSION & THEORY OF CHANGE 9
HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION GROUP’S ACTIVITIES 10
DELIVERING SERVICES – MOIC 12
CREATING SYSTEM CHANGE – STRATEGIC CHALLENGE, POLICY, RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICE
PARTNERSHIP 22
FINANCIAL REVIEW 31
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES 35
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION 36

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 3

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

FOUNDER

Helen Bamber OBE (1925 — 2014)

PRESIDENT

Emma Thompson DBE

TRUSTEES

Charlotte Seymour-Smith – Chair (reached end of term July 2022) John Scampion – Treasurer and Interim Chair from July 2022 Adam Epstein – Chair from March 2023 Sir Nicolas Bratza Patricia Chale (appointed October 2022) Daniel Colton (appointed October 2022) Olivia Curno (appointed October 2022) Nina Kowalska Nancy McCartney Elizabeth Mottershaw Samantha Peter Professor Ian Watt

MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVES

Gareth Holmes — Fundraising and Communications Director Professor Cornelius Katona — Medical & Research Director (honorary since July 2022) Anne Muthee — Finance and Operations Director Katy Robjant - Executive Director of Clinical and Counter-Trafficking (appointed July 2022) Kerry Smith — Chief Executive Officer

CHARITY NUMBER 1149652 COMPANY NUMBER 08186281

REGISTERED OFFICE AND OPERATIONAL ADDRESS

Bruges Place, 15-20 Baynes Street London NW1 0TF AUDITOR Sayer Vincent LLP Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane London EC1Y 0TL

BOARD OBSERVERS

appointed January 2022) (appointed January 2022)

BANKERS

Coutts & Co, 440 The Strand, London, WC2R 0Q

4 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

ANNUAL REPORT For the year ended 31 DecembeT 2022

INTRODUCTION TO THE HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION GROUP

Who we are

The Helen Bamber Foundation (HBF) is a pioneering human rights charity supporting refugees and asylum seekers who are survivors of extreme human cruelty. The people we work with have been subjected to many atrocities, including state-sponsored torture, human trafficking, religious and political persecution, forced labour, sexual exploitation, and gender-based and ‘honour-based’ violence.

The bravery and resilience of our clients is an inspiration to all the team at HBF. In the words of our founder:

We find our reward in the eyes of those to whom we owe nothing.

Helen Bamber, OBE (1925-2014)

The Helen Bamber Foundation provides expert support for survivors of torture and trafficking. Whatever is needed – be it therapy or education; legal or medical advice; housing or employment – our services enable survivors to thrive independently. However, our work does not stop there. The expertise built with our clients generates the influence to improve global best practice so that all survivors may lead better lives with confidence and in safety.

In 2020, HBF formed the Helen Bamber Foundation Group (the Group), welcoming Asylum Aid, another human rights charity focused on survivors, which was in danger of not being able to continue its work of providing legal advice and representation. In an environment where finding any legal help, let alone expert legal help, is increasingly difficult, the expanded group offers more survivors with the support they need to protect them from persecution. Asylum Aid works with separate individuals to those supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation, ensuring that as a Group we help more people.

Asylum Aid is a committed, professional and collaborative charity dedicated to protecting people from persecution by providing legal representation and access to justice for refugees and those seeking asylum. Asylum Aid concentrates on complex cases of people who would struggle to get appropriate legal representation elsewhere: survivors of trafficking and torture, stateless persons and separated children. It is a key change-maker, and makes a significant contribution to policy and strategic legal review. The team also provides welfare advice to migrants and other vulnerable members of the community in Westminster, London.

Together we are innovative, ambitious and compassionate.

6 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

HBF’s staff & volunteers: a community effort

We can only provide the level of services required by our clients thanks to the dedication, professionalism and vision of our staff and volunteers. During 2022, on an average head count basis, 55 staff members (36.5 full time equivalent) of the Helen Bamber Foundation team handled the daily business of the charity, providing services directly to — and on behalf of — our clients. By the end of December 2022, the Asylum Aid team had 13 members. We were fully operational throughout 2022, delivering face to face services from our offices in Camden and in Westminster. The staff were supported by 38 volunteers, among them doctors, therapists, barristers, solicitors, administrators, artists, musicians and other specialists. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers, without whom we would not be able to give the same breadth and depth of support to our clients. We are also grateful that Professor Cornelius Katona continues to be a member of the Helen Bamber Foundation team on a voluntary basis as our Honorary Medical and Research Director.

Management and governance

HBF is an independent charity. We are developing a group structure to maximise impact for survivors of trafficking and torture by aligning efforts with other charities that also provide much-needed support. Asylum Aid became the first member of our Helen Bamber Foundation Group (the Group) during the pandemic, due to its own financial difficulties. We will be supporting Asylum Aid as a charity to sustainably grow its impact and increase its reach. The Asylum Aid Board continues to have independent oversight, but with alignment and efficiency created through a minority of three shared board members out of a total of seven board members, joint committees and back-office support, including executive support, finance, HR, volunteer management, facilities and fundraising. The intention is to continue this incubation over the next strategy period and therefore in May 2022, HBF became the sole member of Asylum Aid. We also took the opportunity to update our Objects in September 2022 in line with changes in Charity Law. We are grateful to our lawyers at Bates, Wells and Braithwaite for their advice and assistance with this process.

To ensure independence, as well as greater impact for the group, HBF and Asylum Aid do not share clients. The Managing Executives’ day-to-day management of the Group continued with the introduction of a Management Group made up of the Chief Executive, Executive Directors, Directors and Heads of Teams. A Finance and Fundraising Committee, bringing together trustees and management team members, meets at least quarterly to provide financial and fundraising governance and oversight of both HBF and Asylum Aid.

The HBF board of trustees, under the Chair, Charlotte Seymour-Smith, up until July 2022 and our interim Chair, John Scampion, thereafter, and supported by the Asylum Aid trustees, provided strong strategic oversight and governance of the Group throughout 2022. John Scampion is the Treasurer of both HBF and Asylum Aid. New trustees to both organisations are recruited externally, with their appointment approved by the Board of Trustees. An induction follows, ensuring that each new trustee is briefed as required on the Group’s governance structure and decision-making processes, its obligations under charity law, the activities of HBF and Asylum Aid, and the Group’s financial performance. Trustee meetings are held every quarter and sequentially. In 2021 we recruited two Board Observers with Lived Experience, who started in their posts on 1 January 2022.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 7

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

During 2022, the Helen Bamber Foundation Group supported more than 700 survivors of trafficking and torture and 870 vulnerable individuals with welfare advice. Of the latter, more than 80% had backgrounds of migration or asylum or were people of colour, and 45% had a disability or long-term ill health.

122 of our clients were granted some form of protective status and 69% of the survivors that had been provided with the Helen Bamber Foundation’s model of integrated care saw improvements in their wellbeing and mental health.

We also grew our support of the wider sector by building partnerships and providing training to other organisations and statutory services, enabling them to deliver the trauma-focused care and high-quality representation that survivors need. Our strategic commitment to improving the environment for survivors here in the UK and globally, beyond those we support directly, has only become more important as the impact of multiple conflicts and the cost of living crisis take effect. We have now become the home of Narrative Exposure Therapy in the UK and look forward to increasing access to this evidenced based and agile trauma treatment across the UK and internationally.

The system that survivors of trafficking and torture are placed in while they seek protection from the persecution and harm they would face if returned, is a treacherous one. More and more, the Helen Bamber Foundation sees the risk of violence, abuse, exploitation and re-trafficking amongst survivors rise because of the lack of access to basic and appropriate support. The latest move, one that punishes survivors for seeking help – the ‘illegal migration’ bill – challenges international human rights law and UK principles of justice as well as avoiding accountability for the ill treatment of others. However, as our founder said: “It is easy to be a bystander and I vowed never to be one” . Our clients, our team and our supporters refuse to forget the lessons of history, and we will remain steadfast in our humanity and our recognition of the humanity in others.

Thank you all for your ongoing support. Knowing that we are not on our own enables us to do the fantastic work laid out in this report, and also builds the spirits of the whole team and the survivors we work with. We would not be able to do any of our vital work without you, and we look forward to continuing our journey together.

Kerry Smith, CEO & Adam Epstein, Chair of Trustees, Helen Bamber Foundation

8 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION GROUP’S VISION, MISSION & THEORY OF CHANGE

We believe our society will be judged by how we care for those to whom we owe nothing. We operate as human rights organisations that focus on ensuring that survivors of extreme human rights abuses have everything they need to make a sustained recovery. We know that dignity restored is strength regained.

Vision

All survivors of trafficking, torture and extreme human cruelty have safety, freedom and power.

Mission

TO SUPPORT

Our Model of Integrated Care will directly or indirectly support survivors of trafficking and torture across the UK and beyond. We will also protect survivors from persecution, re-trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

TO ADVOCATE

As human rights advocates , we are uniquely placed as a result of our expertise, research and influence. We will bear witness to the suffering of survivors and fight for their rights.

TO COLLABORATE

We collaborate with others, especially those with lived experience, to find solutions to the challenges facing all survivors. We support the delivery of best practice to improve the chances of recovery and prevent re-trafficking. We are a valuable partner for those seeking to influence UK, European and Global policy.

Theory of Change

POLICY

The survivors we reach through positive policy change

SHARING GOOD PRACTICE

The survivors we support and reach through shared learning with organisations and statutory institutions

DIRECT DELIVERY

The survivors we support directly

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 9

HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION GROUP’S ACTIVITIES

The environment survivors face

The women, men and young people we work with typically suffer from acute psychological health conditions, severe physical injuries and medical conditions. Critically, the previously scarce resources available in NHS mental health services are no longer present – referrals from mental health services and GPs to our services have increased significantly over the past two years. Being of imminent risk to oneself is no longer a guarantee that you will be given a place in a psychiatric unit.

Compounding this, and hindering their recovery, is a fear of persecution if returned to their country of origin or other countries where they have experienced harm. The collapse of Legal Aid advice providers, and chronic and growing delays in decision-making, has left the majority of survivors without access to the specialist legal help they need to obtain protection – half of all people seeking asylum do not find legal representation and it is getting harder and harder for the Helen Bamber Foundation to find legal aid representatives for our clients.

Banned from working, survivors experience frequent and extended periods of destitution and homelessness, often multiple times, during their journey through the UK’s legal systems. Furthermore, the majority of our clients are at the frontline of the collapse of the welfare net across the UK and the normalisation of precarity.

Many of our clients have spent a long time, often a lifetime, in slavery, while others have been trafficked after fleeing from human rights violations. This leaves the survivors we work with increasingly vulnerable to being re-targeted for further trafficking, exploitation and harm. HBF helps survivors to gain certainty in a challenging environment and to confront and overcome the multiple and complex traumas they have suffered, to improve their mental health, and to move forward with their lives. Given the drastically deteriorating external environment, we have to provide increased and repeated support for each client in helping them gain the strength to move on from their trauma.

We therefore bear witness, alongside the survivors we work with, to deliver meaningful policy and practice change that improves the asylum and trafficking systems, and we strive to ensure that all survivors receive the appropriate standard of care from government services and non-government services nationally and internationally. Our 20222024 strategy is focused on maintaining our high-quality service while driving change in the systems and services that should be giving survivors of trafficking and torture the protection and support they need.

Our response

A UNIQUE VOICE

The number of people seeking protection globally has increased significantly in 2022, not least due to the war in Ukraine. We conservatively estimate that the number of survivors who have experienced trafficking and torture in Europe is over 2 million and based on the number of people seeking asylum and those entering the National Referral Mechanism, that more than 20,000 survivors arrived in the UK in 2022.

10 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

While the majority of survivors would benefit from Helen Bamber Foundation’s Model of Integrated Care and Asylum Aid’s representation, not all are able to become our clients. Therefore, it is our responsibility to use the expertise we have gained, through the time spent with, and generosity of, our clients, to bear witness and:

PARTNERING WITH OTHERS

Our work is collaborative – we strengthen, and are strengthened by, the work of others. Our Chief Executive supports an informal women’s leadership group for leaders of small- to medium-sized charities that facilitates time together for learning and peer support. HBF’s clinicians offer peer discussion groups for other medico-legal report writers and Asylum Aid runs the Refugee Legal Group, an online peer advice system.

Creating the HBF Group with Asylum Aid has enabled both charities to support a further focus on protection from persecution. Critically, Asylum Aid works with different women, men and children to those supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation, ensuring that, as a Group, we help more people. Asylum Aid ensures that these survivors are protected and can rebuild their lives in safety and with freedom by providing high-quality legal representation for as long as it takes. In 2022, Asylum Aid worked with more than 130 vulnerable individuals and secured grants of protection for more than 70 clients.

A MODEL OF INTEGRATED CARE (MOIC)

We recognise the complexity of each client’s suffering and needs, which is why HBF offers specialist services within a Model of Integrated Care. This encompasses:

THERAPY MEDICAL ADVICE LEGAL PROTECTION COUNTER-TRAFFICKING SUPPORT HOUSING & WELFARE COMMUNITY & INTEGRATION

HBF crafts a bespoke care plan for every individual we work with, designed to enable positive recovery, protection and integration. We provide support for as long as our services are needed. The goal of the Model of Integrated Care (MOIC) is to build a lasting and sustained recovery for each of our clients. We measure the success of our Model of Integrated Care using the CORE outcome measures. In 2022, based on measures taken over the previous three years, 69% of our clients saw an improvement in their mental health.

“Today l remember the people that transformed my life. I can never forget you in my life and l am always praying for you. Thank you, 100 times.”

HBF Client

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 11

DELIVERING SERVICES – MOIC

“I was stuck in a cage. So many bad things had happened to me. I was too scared to leave my body, to make plans, to go forward into my future. I just stayed, stuck, at home. I thought if I tried to do anything, something else bad would happen to me. My therapist, she just laid out my whole life for me. I saw it all before me, all the good and the bad, the flowers and the stones. We went through it all, and I saw that these things were in my past and I could go forward into my future. I could make plans, I could live and do the things I wanted to do.”

HBF Client

Our commitment to those we work with directly is to place their needs at the centre of our service and continue to support them for as long as each survivor needs. This can be as short as one or two years or as long as ten or more, as recovery and safety is impacted by poor housing, lack of legal protection, inability to reunite with loved ones, and multiple other external factors.

Becoming a Helen Bamber Foundation Client

In 2022, we were able to welcome only 15%, that is 70, of the 471 survivors referred to us for our integrated service. In addition, we provided 44 survivors with Medical Legal Reports outside of our Model of Integrated Care service to support their protection claims.

The referral process requires gathering information regarding the survivor’s asylum and/or trafficking claim as well as up-to-date information on their mental health. This allows our multidisciplinary team to make the best decisions with the information to hand as to which referred individual they recommend undertake assessment. Each individual is then invited for an Initial Assessment and Medical Care Assessment to confirm whether we are best placed to support them or whether another service might be better suited. Following both assessments, the case is discussed and our multidisciplinary team makes the decision to formally accept the survivor as a new client.

Once accepted, the survivor is asked to come to our office to formulate a Client Care Plan. The Client Care Plan appointment is survivor-centred and allows the client to lead in formulating a personalised care plan that takes into account their legal and mental health priorities, but which is informed by advice from our multidisciplinary team. It is also a space to express aspirations and goals for the future while gaining a clearer understanding of how HBF will provide support under our Model of Integrated Care.

During her Client Care Plan appointment, Delilah was told about the groups run by the Community & Integration team, such as Yoga, English club and Choir. Delilah said that she had always dreamed of being a teacher but she never learned to read or write because she couldn’t go to school from a young age due to conflict. This left her with negative thoughts and doubts about her abilities. Delilah was invited to the English club after her Client Care Plan meeting and has since attended the classes in person each week and feels much more confident in her abilities and looks forward to enrolling in college.

12 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Legal Protection

The Legal Protection team works determinedly with other departments to ensure that survivors get the specialist legal advice that enables them to receive protection in the UK. We have seen a huge increase in the number of survivors without legal representation.

George’s legal status was unclear when he was referred to us, as were the details of his legal case. He had received pro bono advice previously but due to memory issues as a result of his ill-treatment and torture, could not recall what he had been advised. Once George was accepted, we obtained his file from the Home Office and previous legal representatives. We discovered that he had been refused asylum and an appeal had been lodged on his behalf. We explained the urgency to George – that he had a live appeal but no lawyer to represent him or help obtain the required medical evidence to win his case, he then gave us permission to find a lawyer. However, ut owing to the crisis in legal aid and the lack of legal aid lawyers, and despite our contacts across the sector, four urgent referrals were turned down for lack of capacity. After six months of searching we secured quality legal representation and George is now able to attend his appeal hearing, having obtained vital evidence in his claim and with greater confidence that he will get the protection he needs.

We provided 362 survivors with legal protection services in 2022; 49 clients received legal protection such as refugee status, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave. We continued to train expert clinicians in remote methods of examination and produced 91 expert medico-legal reports for 83 clients, to support their claims for asylum and international protection.

During 2022, HBF’s Legal Protection Team continued to support survivors in their protection cases, primarily by ensuring clients had good quality, reputable legal representation, and offering second-tier immigration advice to the legal representatives representing our clients. We also supported clients to understand their legal position and gave help and advice on other emergencies surrounding legal protection needs. Additionally, we supported the clinical, counter-trafficking and other teams in writing 544 letters or supporting statements on behalf of our clients.

Medico-legal reports document the long-term physical and psychological impact of traumatic experiences and are used as evidence for international protection in the UK. Our expertise in preparing them continues to be recognised by the courts and tribunal and by the Home Office.

Our review of outcomes in 2022 showed that, following the provision of medico‑legal reports in 2021, in 83% of cases the client was granted a form of leave to remain in the UK where the final outcome was known.

“I am pleased to confirm that my client’s claim for asylum has been successful, and she has been granted refugee status directly from the Home Office, without the need for appeal. I have no doubt that your MLR was a significant contributing factor to the positive outcome.”

Legal Representative

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 13

Therapy

The therapy team supports survivors when they are ready, and should they wish to, with evidence-based, therapeutic interventions to enable their recovery from trauma. For a multitude of reasons, including preoccupation with their asylum status, housing, the need to develop trust, a lack of childcare, or a preferred focus on low mood or emotional regulation, many individuals are not immediately ready for intense trauma work. We offer reviews, monitoring and stabilization to manage symptoms of low mood, develop a trusting relationship, and other interventions, such as managing panic attacks and advocating and negotiating relationships with statutory services in order to keep clients safe. These earlier interventions often meant that clients are ready to do the more intense work when their situation stabilizes. We also enable clients to move directly to trauma focussed treatment where desired. Finally, we also encourage the building of community-first with HBF and other trusted partners, and then with communities local to individuals’ places of residence.

Unfortunately, due to the reduced capacity in NHS mental health provision, we have found ourselves more and more relied upon to provide critical incident response despite our non-emergency care status. We are clinical advocates who work collaboratively with other departments to resolve associated challenges such as the destitution and legal adversity that affect mental health. We advocate by calling GPs and mental health services, by attending social care meetings, by providing safeguarding information and training on clinical risk to NHS services, as well as writing 138 clinical letters in support of our clients’ rights.

During 2022, the HBF therapy team offered survivors access to a range of evidence-based therapies for PTSD, including:

In 2022, the therapy team provided essential support to 363 survivors with more than 2000 appointments. These included:

We are building up our monitoring of clients, although it remains a challenge to capture post therapy measures with many of those we have treated, due to numerous other complexities in their lives. The recent longer delays in case determinations are also significantly affecting clients’ mental health, and their ability to safely engage with trauma work. The therapy team is also frequently required to provide additional clinical evidence to document the impact of delays on our clients.

Of a sample of 10 individuals who completed evidence‑based trauma therapy in 2022, and for whom we have data, 90% showed a clinically significant reduction in their PTSD symptoms.

14 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Lisa was trafficked and endured re-trafficking on two separate occasions in the UK. Lisa was first trafficked into sex work in her country of origin to pay for medicine for an unwell relative, a situation that extended into years. In the UK, she endured many more years of exploitation, including re-trafficking by different abusers. Taken into immigration detention, Lisa felt safe, but her identity as a survivor of trafficking was missed and upon her release she was re-trafficked. When Lisa came to the Helen Bamber Foundation, she could not stop crying and had no confidence. Scared to speak, she would agree to whatever was suggested to her. Lisa was also pregnant; and while HBF supported her with her pregnancy and birth, sometimes Lisa was unable to look after her child safely and would run out of the house when she had flashbacks. Lisa and the child were taken into care. After receiving support to work with social services, and securing evidence to support her claim for asylum, Lisa was after some months able to live alone with her child again. Following therapy, Lisa no longer experiences dissociation and flashbacks; she says she no longer feels her body shutting down. Lisa is a kind and attentive parent and has been discharged from social care due to her rapid progress. Her goal is to give her child the happy childhood she was denied.

Medical Advice

In 2022, the main parts of HBF’s medical advice services were separated into two distinct strands: the Medical Advisory Service (MAS), and the Medico-Legal Report (MLR) writing medical services. The aim is to continue to develop the work of the Medical Advisory Service but to allow for the development of a stronger community of medical practitioners with HBF’s medico-legal services, particularly in the supervision, training, retention and consideration of the wellbeing of MLR writers.

The MAS service is run by our Head of Medical Advisory Service, who leads four volunteer GPs as well as a volunteer physiotherapist and psychiatrist. MAS’s routine work helps clients to understand, stabilise and improve their health by carrying out medical assessments and allowing time for comprehensive discussions and explanations of their health concerns, as well as liaising with external services, particularly the NHS, to support their needs. In 2022, MAS has continued to adapt and grow as it balances remote and face-to-face work with clients. During the course of 2022, MAS supported 142 clients.

MAS also continued to work closely with HBF’s volunteers to overcome the huge barriers to healthcare that remote working within the NHS – alongside language barriers and digital and phone poverty – created for our clients.

“I just want to say hello to you and to thank you for all the help that you did for me last year, I really appreciate your effort in my life. You turned my life around and you made me comfortable among people. I can’t thank you enough.”

HBF Client

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 15

Housing and Welfare

HBF’s specialist housing and welfare casework ensures that clients’ practical, everyday needs are met and that social deprivation, including street homelessness and destitution, are avoided through timely and often emergency interventions. The impact of delays in decision-making is also having a terrible impact on the housing of our clients, with many more people housed indefinitely in unsuitable hotels, left isolated and with very limited financial support. This, coupled with the impact of the cost of living rises in basic goods, means that more and more of our clients are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain basic nutrition and good health. During this year, the Housing and Welfare team provided more than 10,000 interventions with, or on behalf of, our clients,

The team remains focused on resolving homelessness and destitution, but we act on a wide variety of issues affecting our clients. We use compassion, expert knowledge and experience to navigate and succeed in this often complex casework. During 2022 we resolved 558 instances of 323 survivors being threatened with homeless or actively homeless people being threatened with destitution or actively destitute, or people in situations of unsuitable accommodation (including disrepair, shared bedrooms, risk of violence and abuse from others).

In 2022, the Housing and Welfare team raised a total of £55,204.32 from small grants provided by other charities on behalf of clients in need. This benefited 75 clients, whose households encompassing 150 people in total, and has provided these people with a lifeline in many ways. They have received subsistence support where the state has no duty to support them (i.e. for those refused asylum entirely) or where they are impacted by punitive welfare reform measures (i.e. the benefit cap, two-child limit), and where people are finally housed somewhat stably and safely but in unfurnished accommodation, and so will likely either live without essential household furniture for some time, or not meet their basic needs (especially for families) without additional support. One such grant was from a funder we had not previously applied for, Cash for Kids. We applied for a block grant to distribute among clients with children and we were issued with £980. To clients with children, we issued vouchers of £35 per child, prioritising those without immigration status, and single parents affected by the benefit cap and other punitive welfare reform. This provided a lifeline to 18 households, benefiting 28 children in total.

Finally, in addition to helping clients to claim more than £100,000 in benefits owed, without needing to formally challenge the DWP’s decisions made on their case, we also assisted clients to legally challenge and appeal incorrect decisions made about their claims, usually for disability benefits. We did the initial work of requesting a mandatory reconsideration and then drafted and lodged the grounds of appeal itself, and then worked closely with good legal advice agencies who advised and represented clients before the Social Security Tribunal.

In 2022, we helped 21 clients successfully challenge incorrect benefit decisions, leading to just over £80,000 being paid out in backdated payments.

“Every day, l wake up in my studio flat. l am very happy and l sit down and remember when l was sleeping rough in the street. This makes me know that Helen Bamber Foundation has turned my life to good, because l did not know that my life could be good like this. What surprises me the most is that everybody in my church keeps on telling me “you look so much better than before”. Also, one lady told me that she has known me for a long time, but she has never seen my laugh, but now I do laugh. Everybody says it.”

HBF Client

16 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Counter-Trafficking

The HBF Counter-Trafficking Programme delivers intricate, intensive and person-specific contact and safeguarding for survivors to support them through the many difficulties they face. The Counter-Trafficking department is also central to HBF’s strategy to prevent and end re-trafficking.

We support survivors to re-build lives, emphasising personal strength and resources to meet the many challenges they face, including building self-esteem and agency for use against those who would re-traffic, exploit and abuse survivors. At the core of the Helen Bamber Foundation’s Counter-Trafficking Programme is the principle of ensuring that our clients – adults who have suffered all forms of human trafficking – remain safe from any traffickers or abusers. We achieve this by building trusting relationships and proactively working with survivors to continuously identify, understand and monitor their specific risks and fears. In this way, we can more easily detect and address any concerning change of circumstances with the survivor in a trauma-informed way.

It is important to note that the likelihood and severity of a client’s risk is rarely static; a person’s situation can rapidly change, requiring a trusting, long-term professional relationship to recognise the nuances of their presentation during each interaction. We create a safe and collaborative ‘circle’ of professionals around each of our clients. This enables each person to feel empowered and supported in whichever way is most suitable for them. As part of this, our team regularly supports survivors to overcome the difficult step of engaging with the police and/or victim navigators, as well as advocating with Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract support workers for positive outcomes. In 2022, just under half of all survivors supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation were survivors of trafficking. Across the Counter-Trafficking Programme:

Arben is a young Albanian who was referred to HBF by NHS mental health services due to his significant mental health symptoms and risk of further exploitation. Arben had been trafficked by a criminal gang as a child into the UK and suffered sexual and labour exploitation for many years. When Arben was referred to HBF, he was homeless and destitute, leading him to stay occasionally with people whom we considered posed a serious risk to his safety. Having received negative asylum decisions as a child, Arben believed no-one could help; his self-esteem was very low and he frequently felt suicidal. Due to his high risk of suicide and absence of any legal processes, Arben was unable to secure accommodation through hosting organisations. To address this key problem, HBF spent months working with a solicitor to have the negative decision regarding his identity as a trafficking survivor overturned. This was successful and lead to, with considerable advocacy due to limited spaces, safe house accommodation and financial assistance.

During 2022, the counter-trafficking team made 221 interventions on Arben’s behalf. Arben is now successfully engaged in HBF’s therapy and started attending several classes provided or arranged by our Community and Integration team. His confidence has grown hugely and both his perceived and real sense of safety has improved. Recently, Arben was recognised as a survivor of trafficking and given limited leave to remain, while his asylum claim is considered.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 17

Community and Integration

Through the Community and Integration Programme, our clients can engage in activities unrelated to their trauma, and form safe and positive relationships with others in a similar position. They learn new skills and develop confidence and independence. This is a key part of our model of integrated care that ensures our clients have the strength to move on. We continued to increase our face-to-face activities in 2022.

In 2022, HBF’s community and integration activities supported a total of 239 clients. With many other social opportunities closed off due to the pandemic, the team focused on providing access to further and higher education, resulting in:

Since the pandemic we have been working in consultation with our clients, to build attendance at our groups. This work is vital in breaking down isolation and enabling our clients to build the networks that are key to their recovery and is a key asset in our clinical work.

When Alex came to HBF five years ago, he did not feel ready to re-engage with formal education as he had a lot on his mind due to the stress around his application for asylum. Instead, we suggested he use our partnership to access a Better Gym membership. Exercise has been hugely significant in Alex’s recovery and he has also been a regular member of our yoga group and was helped to access a bicycle. After a couple of years, Alex felt ready to get back into education, even though there was still no progress in his asylum application and we supported him to enroll in a Level 1 Information, Computing and Technology course at the African Community School and find funding to cover his fees. We also helped him find a scheme to access refurbished laptops and Alex became one of our Ambassadors for Change [see below]. In 2022, Alex was supported to progress to Level 2 English at the African Community School and also received refugee status. He is now considering Higher Education and a career as a Quantity Surveyor.

“These groups have taken me out of a stressful feeling. It is a way to busy my time and to feel more relaxed. It helps me through my difficult times. Gives me a positive mind and makes me proud. I go to yoga, make friends, and meet people with the same background as me. It’s like you’ve got someone to share the pain with you, you feel like they understand you. The Community Group gives me the chance to make friends, meet people and talk to people. It is because of this that my mental health is better now – otherwise I would be in a worse situation.”

Alex, HBF Client

18 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Graduation

Through the Model of Integrated Care, HBF clients are offered trauma-informed and specialist support. There is no set period of time for how long the foundation works with survivors; the care they receive from our service is specific to their needs and is for as long as required. We believe that regaining independence is an important aspect of moving forward and we provide ongoing assistance and support until we are confident that individuals are on their feet again. We work with survivors to ensure that by the time they are ready to leave our service, they have the power, safety, and freedom to successfully move on. It is at this point that survivors are graduated from our service. We hold a monthly graduation meeting to consider which clients meet our graduation criteria. After this, a decision will be made regarding extending an invitation to attend a pre-graduation review meeting, where the client will have the chance to speak to their readiness for graduation. Successful completion of the review results in a formal graduation, with the client receiving a graduation letter outlining the support they have received from HBF and tailored signposting information. This process allows us to assure ourselves of recovery but also to provide support to more individuals at the beginning of their journey. In 2022, 60 clients graduated from our service.

“I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve received from Helen Bamber over the years, it really has been like a family too me. I’m glad that someone else will be given the same opportunities I was lucky enough to receive”

HBF Client

Engagement and Activism

Engagement at HBF exists to recognise survivors’ expertise by experience, and we work to ensure that survivors have increased power in the face of the inequalities they experience. We amplify their voices so that they can participate in decisions that affect them. We are committed to supporting survivors to advocate for the policy changes that matter most to them, and to ensuring survivors can engage in the design and shaping of the service we offer.

SERVICE DESIGN

Since 2017, the Helen Bamber Foundation’s dialogue with survivors about service design has centered around a Service User Group, now called the Client Voices Forum. Since the pandemic, we have ring-fenced capacity for engagment work with clients, to actively involve survivors in service design and to ensure their views are considered by organisational decision-makers. Since the pandemic, recent matters on which we have consulted with survivors have included:

Between 2022 and 2024, we intend to conduct a comprehensive client-services review in tandem with the survivors that we support, to ensure that the client journey offered by the HBF is fit for purpose. This will be coordinated to ensure the lived experience of survivors is included at each stage of the review.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 19

In January 2022, we brought two people into a new role onto the Board of Trustees – that of Board Observer. The Board Observers contribute their knowledge, experience and expertise to support Trustees’ strategic decision-making. This has provided much-needed direct insight, helping Board members to understand the potential impact of their proposals for the client group at HBF. Originally, these roles were to last for two years but have been extended to three, based on the learning in the first year of this programme. The Board Observers have successfully advised on key strategic processes including, but not limited to, key decisions around HBF’s new premises and also as members of the recruitment panel for the new Chair of Trustees.

AMBASSADORS FOR CHANGE

In 2022, the Ambassadors for Change leadership programme, which was launched in 2021, undertook a mapping, including consulting with other HBF clients and attending workshops to support their understanding of Londonbased services and stakeholders across the areas of housing, disability support and mental health provision for survivors. In March 2022, the Ambassadors attended a three-day intensive residential meeting, where they established their objectives. They then worked on creating broad advocacy plans to support these objectives. Initially, the Ambassadors undertook research and scoping themselves. However, following a progress review, the group decided to spend resources on bringing in a consultant to undertake the necessary research and analysis to enable fortnightly decision-making on the final advocacy plan and strategy. In addition, the Ambassadors decided to recruit new members and also undertook training to develop their leadership, project management and meeting skills, including interpersonal communication, time management, meeting planning/preparation, objective-setting, and accountability training.

Asylum Aid Services –protection from persecution

To increase the scope of our work and protect more people at a time when securing quality Legal Aid representation is increasingly difficult for survivors, bringing Asylum Aid into the HBF Group enabled us to support our aim of increasing protection for survivors. Asylum Aid ensures that survivors are protected and can rebuild their lives by providing high-quality legal representation for survivors in order to establish their safety and freedom. Asylum Aid works with separate individuals to those supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation, ensuring that as a Group we help more people.

In 2022, the team provided legal representation to more than 130 survivors of trafficking, torture and genderbased violence, refugees and people seeking asylum, and stateless persons. Through the hard work of our expert team of caseworkers, 73 of our clients were granted protection during the year, and 15 clients were recognised as victims of trafficking.

Recognising that complex cases require time, the Asylum Aid team listen closely to every individual client to make sure we understand as much as we can of their experiences. As a result, we have an above-average success rate for our clients – 79% of initial decisions we received from the Home Office were grants of status (slightly above the national success rate of 76%) – giving them the best chance of securing the protection they need.

The team also provided welfare advice to more than 879 individuals through the Westminster Advice Services Partnership. Asylum Aid’s welfare advice team specialises in providing advice to migrant communities in Westminster, many of whom do not have English as a first language. Our advisers and volunteers are multilingual and we work with volunteer community interpreters. In 2022, 80% of those receiving welfare support from Asylum Aid were either migrants and/or people of colour, and more than 45% had a disability or long-term ill health. Across the year, Asylum Aid secured more than £962,000 in additional support for its clients.

20 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

May is an asylum seeker whose nationality is disputed. She was born in Eritrea and believes herself to be Eritrean national, but the Home Office considers her to be Ethiopian. She came to the UK in 2011 and claimed asylum. Her initial application was refused, her appeal dismissed, and a subsequent four further submissions rejected without a right of appeal. The Home Office did not accept that her life would be in danger in Eritrea, and did not consider her to be at risk if removed to Ethiopia. She struggled to find legal representation to make a judicial review application, which was her only legal remedy. Asylum Aid assisted her in making an application for a judicial review, challenging the Home Office’s refusal of her fresh application for asylum on the basis of the Home Office’s failures and flaws in the decision-making process. The Tribunal granted permission on all grounds and the Home Office agreed to reconsider the decision to refuse May’s asylum and agreed to make a new decision. Asylum Aid also assisted May in her modern slavery claim. Despite clear indicators of being subjected to labour exploitation as a child disclosed in her Home Office interview in 2011, May had not been identified as a victim before she was referred to Asylum Aid. We ensured that she was referred into the National Referral Mechanism, and she subsequently received a positive initial decision on her trafficking claim. She is now receiving essential support as a potential victim of human trafficking.

In 2023:

Despite the increasingly uncertain environment that survivors find themselves in, and the changing legal environment in which our team provide support, the HBF Group will continue to increase our direct impact through delivery of best practice services and collaborate with others to:

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 21

CREATING SYSTEM CHANGE – STRATEGIC CHALLENGE, POLICY, RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICE PARTNERSHIP

Strategic Legal Work

The Helen Bamber Foundation group engages in strategic legal work where it seeks to improve the legal systems (for international protection and counter-trafficking), further the rights of our clients and increase their access to justice. At a time when the right to challenge executive power through the rule of law is being actively undermined by this government, the Helen Bamber Foundation Group is committed to ensuring scrutiny of government policy and practice when there are negative impacts upon the survivors we work with.

To this end, in April 2022 Asylum Aid took the lead in c hallenging the Home Office’s policy of relocating ‘inadmissible’ asylum seekers to Rwanda for their asylum claims to be processed there. Rather than simply attempting to replicate the expected policy of “offshoring” (on the lines practiced in Australia for several years with disastrous effects), this policy is more radical, effectively shifting responsibility for considering asylum claims and for providing protection to those who need it away from the UK altogether by transferring such responsibility to the Rwandan authorities.

As the policy began to be implemented through April and May 2022, we became increasingly concerned about the way in which the Home Office was rushing people through the system towards being sent to Rwanda. Newlyarrived asylum seekers, often in detention, were given as little as seven or 14 days to respond to a ‘Notice of Intent’ to send them to Rwanda. This impossibly short period was manifestly inadequate for asylum seekers to understand what was being proposed, get effective access to legal advice, and make representations on all the myriad issues raised by the Notice. Once the seven-day period had expired, the Home Office could go ahead and make a series of decisions leading to removal, giving only five working days for asylum seekers to get access to court to challenge their removal.

In June 2022, Asylum Aid commenced judicial review proceedings, arguing that this process is inherently unfair and incompatible with the right to access to justice. We worked collaboratively with other NGOs and lawyers representing individuals threatened with removal, sharing our legal arguments and collating evidence of the unfair outcomes that resulted from this rushed procedure. The judicial review proceedings were linked with a series of other challenges to the Rwanda policy and heard by the High Court in September and October 2022. Our claim was unfortunately dismissed in December 2022 but Asylum Aid were given permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal and the hearing took place in April 2023.

In 2022, HBF continued to be involved with strategic litigation that looks to challenge various government policies affecting our client group. Some of these challenges related to trafficking survivors whose asylum claims were deemed inadmissible, effectively penalizing them for ‘not coming directly’ to the United Kingdom even though they would have been under the control of traffickers. Other challenges related to the detention of our client group and, in particular, the intersection of their vulnerabilities as a result of their trafficking experiences and any disabilities they may have.

22 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

We were also involved at the Court of Appeal stage in providing guidance and understanding in a follow-up case to KV (Sri Lanka), which considered specifically how psychiatric evidence should be treated in asylum claims. In most of these challenges, we were asked to provide witness statements or information to help the lawyers formulate their legal arguments, however many settled before a hearing. However, one case in which we provided a witness statement related to differential support rates for those in various types of accommodation (i.e. asylum support accommodation, safe houses etc...). The statement was provided by Zoe Dexter, HBF’s housing and welfare manager, and led to a successful challenge to the Home Office’s unequal treatment of asylum seekers. This resulted in the support rates for survivors of trafficking being aligned so that all survivors received the highest level of financial support available to them, irrespective of their accommodation status.

Asylum Aid has also developed a legal challenge against the growing backlog in asylum decision-making that we have witnessed over the last few years. This has now become acute – by December 2022, there were more than 100,000 people who had waited longer than six months for a decision on their asylum claims. As well as the serious impact, both on survivors’ wellbeing and their ability to secure protection and rebuild their lives in dignity, the long delays and uncertainty over when decisions would be taken affects the legal sector’s capacity to take on more clients. It undoubtedly contributes to the challenges of securing safe and decent accommodation for those waiting for asylum decisions. We therefore identified challenging delays as a priority. Working with counsel and our clients, Asylum Aid developed a legal case challenging the Home Office’s systemic failure to comply with the requirement in the Immigration Rules to provide an explanation for a delay of more than six months and to give a realistic timescale for a decision on request. To demonstrate the systemic nature of the issue, we provided evidence relating to 22 of our clients. This claim was issued on behalf of one of Asylum Aid’s clients in December 2022 and is pending.

Policy Influencing

In 2022, this government pushed through legislation that fundamentally undermined the systems of protection for refugees and survivors of trafficking in this country, while ramping up hostile rhetoric about those arriving in the UK by small boat and claiming that people were ‘abusing’ the modern slavery system. Additionally, in its response to the war in Ukraine, the government made a clear separation between the need to support fleeing Ukrainians and the punitive system provided for others seeking asylum.

Much of our efforts were therefore focussed on lobbying to try mitigate some of the worst parts of the Nationality and Borders Bill. We briefed as HBF and in collaboration with the Asylum Reform Initiative, as well as leading on raising the concerns of the Taskforce on Victims of Trafcking in Immigration Detention (‘Detention Taskforce’) and the Refugee and Migrant Children’s Consortium, both of which we co-chair. Our Ambassadors for Change also spoke to Peers about the risks of re-trafficking if refugees are given lesser protection and support.

We worked with cross-party parliamentarians to keep the pressure on the government and hold it to account through media articles, letters from the sector, briefing events, meetings with Ministers and amendments to the Bill. Our briefngs were cited repeatedly by MPs and Peers during Bill debates and we saw an unprecedented number of amendments passed in the House of the Lords, a really strong sign of opposition.

The Bill passed but a few small wins were secured as a result of the anti-trafficking sector’s lobbying, such as additional protection of child victims of trafficking; confirmed survivors of trafficking being given 12 months of tailored support; and improvements to the offer of legal aid. In addition, on age assessments, the subsequent draft Home Office guidance took a much more measured approach than the Bill, a reflection of the strength of opposition, which also led to the government committing to a number of safeguards around the possible use of ‘scientific methods’.

Our influencing strategy is focused on key areas of relevance to the survivors we work with:

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 23

LEGAL PROTECTION

The Nationality and Borders Act introduced a ‘two-tier’ system whereby refugees whose asylum claims are successful are treated differently based on how they reached the UK, with ‘group 2 refugees’ (in essence those who came to the UK by land and boat) granted only a temporary form of status with restricted rights to family reunification and financial support.

In June, the Home Office published guidance implementing this and other changes. HBF and Asylum Aid had submitted detailed comments on drafts of this guidance and were pleased to see that nearly all of our comments were incorporated, including: a new section on ‘The effect of trauma on memory and disclosure’; details of how to rebut a finding that you are a ‘group 2’ refugee; and clarity that ‘group 2’ refugees will be granted temporary refugee protection with recourse to public funds. This was a significant improvement on the draft guidance, and a huge relief for HBF clients.

HBF shared two briefngs outlining ongoing problems with the asylum interview process and recommendations for improvement with the Home Office and we worked with civil servants to develop a traumainformed approach to interviews.

The Home Office’s new policy on immigration reporting included significantly reduced obligations on people seeking asylum to report face to face, after campaigning from HBF, Migrants Organise, Bail for Immigration Detainees and the Public Law Project.

Jointly with Asylum Aid, HBF submitted evidence to the House of Lords International Agreements Committee inquiry on the Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – we were pleased to see the Committee then strongly criticise the MoU, for containing assurances and protections that are not enforceable, and also the government, for using an MoU rather than formal treaty to avoid parliamentary scrutiny.

HBF and Asylum Aid also responded to the ‘Bill of Rights Bill’ and worked on the crisis in the provision of legal aid-funded advice for both asylum and trafficking cases.

24 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

HBF has continued to oppose the opening of a new accommodation centres while engaging with the Home Office to ensure that in Napier, and in any centres that do open, the most vulnerable are not accommodated ‘ ’ and that all residents have access to face-toface legal advice and healthcare – our new report, Like a prison , summarised HBF’s learning from Napier and Penally and research on the impact of this form of accommodation. During the Nationality and Borders Bill debates, HBF’s evidence of the health implications of putting people in barracks and the need for appropriate medical care was repeatedly cited.

Creating a new working group with the Home Office, we secured a number of operational improvements to the provision of legal advice in Napier , including improved information and facilities for residents, and highlighted the need to ensure face-to-face advice is available to everyone. And

In August, it was announced that the plans for an accommodation centre in Linton‑on‑Ouse were being abandoned. As HBF, we had worked as part of a small coalition to raise concerns in parliament and with the Home Office and to share information with local campaigners – this was a significant victory for all involved. We were also pleased to see that the planning application for the change of use of buildings at RAF Coltishall in Norfolk to an initial assessment centre for the accommodation of asylum seekers was withdrawn. HBF had repeatedly highlighted concerns that this accommodation is inherently unsuitable.

With Asylum Matters, Medical Justice and Ripon City of Sanctuary, we aired concerns regarding the new Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill , which would give substantial powers to the Secretary of State to approve development on Crown Land in England (such as asylum ‘accommodation centres’ or immigration detention facilities) and bypass current local planning controls.

HBF also worked with the Home Office on plans for alternatives to accommodation centres. In response to the Home Ofce consultation on asylum accommodation and dispersal, we outlined what needs to be considered when looked at providing community accommodation in new areas, and called on the Home Office to establish a set of minimum standards for dispersal areas to be used as an ongoing reference tool.

The low rates of financial support provided to our clients can cause them considerable distress and add to their low self-esteem and mental health problems. We submitted detailed evidence to a Home Office consultation on asylum support rates in the Summer and we were very pleased to see the High Court rule in December, in a judgment that recognised the role of NGOs in calling for rates to be increased, for support to increase to £45 per week (£9.10 in full board accommodation). The change is welcome but does not go far enough and we will continue to push a level of support that meets our clients’ needs.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 25

RECOVERY AND INTEGRATION

Working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists, we drafted amendments to the Nationality and Borders Bill that would place a duty on the Home Secretary to introduce codes of practice for assessing the mental and physical health needs of any asylum seeker, and for a trauma-informed approach to the assessments of people subject to immigration control. These were supported by the Labour and Liberal Democrat Home Ofce frontbenches and allowed for debate on the ways in which the Home Office is currently failing to address the physical and mental health needs of people seeking asylum. The government’s response cited HBF’s Trauma-informed Code of Conduct and committed to “build on this approach in updated published guidance, ensuring that decisionmakers have the tools to recognise the effect that ttraumatic events can have on people’s ability to accurately recall, share or recognise such events”.

THE PREVENTION OF RE-TRAFFICKING

HBF has delivered key international and national publications and research projects, as well as the development of a wider counter-trafficking community of practice with national and international experts from fields connected to counter-trafficking.

As well as producing briefngs on the impact of the Nationality and Borders Bill on survivors of trafficking who are held in immigration detention, as the Detention Taskforce we also highlighted concerns regarding the introduction of the Immigration Enforcement Competent Authority. Together, these reflect a desire by government to detain and remove, rather than identify and protect, more survivors of trafficking.

Over this period, we also saw a ramping up of hostile Tory rhetoric about survivors of trafficking. Just as the concept of ‘bogus asylum seekers’ has been used over the years by successive governments to justify punitive laws and policies, the Conservative government has now decided that it is victims of slavery that are ‘abusing the ’ system , with a particular focus on Albanian men arriving in small boats. We have consistently pushed back on this, including with letters that resulted in the Statistics Regulator publicly reprimanding the Home Ofce for misusing modern slavery data, and the UN Special Rapporteurs issuing a strong joint statement on the government’s hostile rhetoric and unevidenced claims about survivors of trafcking.

HBF’s new report on survivors of trafcking in detention offered a timely rebuttal of the government’s hostile rhetoric – highlighting that more than 90% of cases referred to the National Referral Mechanism are confirmed to be victims of trafficking. There is no evidence of a process being abused – rather, people who have already been exploited and mistreated are experiencing further abuse by an immigration system that is not fit for purpose.

The report, which was co-badged by Medical Justice, FLEX and ATLEU, highlighted that the number held in immigration detention each year has tripled from 500 in 2017 to over 1,600 last year. Even when identified as possible victims of trafficking, people are not being released and are detained while waiting for a final decision in their case. The average time for making these decisions is a staggering 17 months.

We also provided evidence to the Justice Select Committee on the Victims Bill, calling for protections for all victims and secure reporting for those with uncertain immigration status, and were pleased to see the Committee call for a firewall between police and Immigration Enforcement in its fnal report on the Bill.

26 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

In 2022, Asylum Aid and HBF took over co-chairing the Refugee and Migrant Children’s Consortium, a coalition of more than 80 organisations working to promote and protect the rights of young refugees and migrants. This group has worked on age disputes, delays in children’s cases and inappropriate accommodation for children. Data we collected was used in The Guardian and The New Statesman; in evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee; and by Baroness Lister to secure a debate in the House of Lords on the risk that some of these children could also be removed to Rwanda.

As well as providing detailed comments on the draft Home Office guidance on ‘Processing Children’s Asylum Claims’, the RMCC secured a regular standalone meeting with the Home Office to discuss practical steps to improve decision-making in children’s cases, including the simplification of the ‘Statement of Evidence’ form that children need to complete; recruitment of specialist senior caseworkers; and more decisions made on the papers (so without the need to interview children).

RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION

We spoke at several conferences during the year. Critically, our feasibility and pilot study of Narrative Exposure Therapy in the treatment of survivors of trafficking has been published. The results provide strong support for a full-scale trial.

We currently have the following projects ongoing:

In 2022, we also published the following articles:

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 27

Partnership and Best Practice Collaborations

Our work is collaborative – we strengthen, and are strengthened by, the work of others. Our partnership with Young Roots continues to go from strength to strength. A review of the work that had taken place between April 2019 and March 2022 showed the majority of young people presented with moderate, moderate to severe or severe clinical symptoms. Following interventions, we saw significant reductions to symptoms of mood and anxiety. In 2022, we secured funding to extend the project to include additional support into South London. We continue to be proud of the work taking place under this partnership and continue to look to extend the learning to other partners.

In 2022 HBF completed the survivor-driven Modern Slavery Core Outcome Set (MSCOS) academic study alongside partners, Kings College London, Survivor Alliance, University of East London and University of Nottingham Rights Lab. The study was funded by the Modern Slavery Policy and Evidence Centre (MSPEC) which is known for its fusion of academics, practitioners and survivor leaders, for UK funded research studies. The study arrived at a Modern Slavery Core Outcome Set, which includes 7 key Core Outcomes, all selected by survivors and practitioners as being vital for the recovery, well-being and integration of survivors of modern slavery.

The MSCOS Community of Practice is co-led by the MSCOS Research Advisory Board which is comprised of a diverse range of Survivor-Leaders. It is a community of practitioners, based nationally and internationally which provides content on a subscription basis for sector partners and is based on the National Referral Mechanism Handbook – and it represents a ‘theory into practice’ approach. The MSCOS Community of Practice provides weekly email updates for subscribers which feature interviews, quotes and information on best practice in current operation.

The MSCOS website, MSCOS.co.uk, showcases practice models and frameworks which are multi-agency, multidisciplinary, trauma-informed and which are focused on action. It enables sector practice at a time when practice needs to be ‘held together’ as the situation for victims and survivors erodes politically.

28 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

We continued to support in an advisory capacity on the Respond project hosted by University College Hospital. This is an integrated model of NHS care for newly-arriving asylum seekers, delivering services either directly into initial or contingency accommodation or indirectly to primary care practices in Camden, Islington and Barnet. With our experience of integrated care for asylum seekers, the HBF clinical team has been able to provide a series of training sessions to frontline healthcare professionals. The therapy team were subsequently invited to provide psychological consultation to a series of fortnightly multi-disciplinary meetings, helping clinicians to identify appropriate services and providing suggestions about the timing, relevance, and delivery of mental health interventions. This work is ongoing. Thoughtful prioritising of interventions is frequently a focus, as is promoting choice with families: in one, case a family member was supported to advocate effectively for the right support for a child.

TRAINING

HBF provides training across three broad areas:

Internationally, we have started piloting the provision of Narrative Exposure Training and Trauma informed Code of Conduct training for those working with survivors of trafficking. Our first training happened in Myanmar in November 2022 with 22 people supporting trafficking of survivors with therapeutic and other interventions.

Our UK-focused training programme continues to expand, partly due to the willingness post pandemic to receive and deliver online training.

In 2022, we delivered training to more than 250 individuals in statutory services and more than 400 individuals in non‑statutory services.

Highlights from our training programme and outreach, which has expanded due to the willingness to receive training online, included training on:

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 29

We also provided trauma-informed, anti-trafficking training for a wide range of service providers for the UK Government Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract, utilising the Trauma informed Code of Conduct and setting out information on our Counter-Trafficking Programme, featuring our evidential documentation for decision-makers and the NRM Handbook.

‘The Trauma-Informed Code of Conduct for All Professionals Working with Survivors of Trafcking and Slavery’ (2021) (TiCC), authored by Rachel Witkin and Dr Katy Robjant was first published in 2018 and updated in 2020 to include further information on working with ‘cultural mediators’. It was then re-published and re-designed to include safe and trauma-informed methods of working online.

The TiCC is a simple, accessible guide for all professionals who may find themselves working with survivors of trafficking. It has a firm basis in the combination of specialist trauma care and experiential multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary work with survivors of trafficking. TiCC is concise and easy to follow for busy people, enabling them to:

This training has been seen as very helpful to many of the statutory professionals we have provided it to, as this feedback shows:

“You have taught a policeman of many years experience, new methods with the TiCC which have made a real difference to my work with victims of trafficking; even the way I accompany them to an interview room now has made a difference”

Student from the St Mary’s University Skills for Care Course on Identification and support for victims of trafficking – TiCC module.

In 2023:

Over the coming year, we will increase our impact through research, training and policy, and collaborate with others to:

30 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial Framework

Our policies relating to reserves and the need to generate an annual operating surplus provide a financial framework within which the Helen Bamber Foundation Group seeks to function.

Reserves policy

Forming part of our reserves, the unrestricted general fund is the working fund of the charity. Unlike the other funds, it is not restricted or designated for a defined purpose. The unrestricted general fund provides for activities not funded by earned income or restricted funding and for the general administration of the charity. It also provides working capital for operations and helps to provide resources to ensure that the charity is able to continue with its obligations.

Our Group policy is to maintain an unrestricted general fund of between three (£870,630) and six months (£1,741,261) of gross expenditure for the next financial year. Given the importance of being confident that the group can maintain its support to our very vulnerable clients, the trustees aim to increase the sum in the unrestricted general fund.

In December 2022, Helen Bamber Foundation Group ended the year positively with unrestricted reserves of £930,932 after allowing for designated funds (note 15a) which is equivalent to 4.4 months cover.

Summary of results

In 2022, activities resulted in a group surplus of £421,693, a fantastic result given the continued challenges in the fundraising environment, such as the cost of living crisis and the increased demand for support in the sector due to the impact of the Covid-19. The organisation continued to focus on expenditure to make sure we could adapt our services to the needs of our clients as well as make savings and efficiencies where possible.

HBF group ended 2022 in a good financial position with Total Funds available of £1,706,023 (1,284,330 in 2021) comprising of unrestricted fund of £1,513,620 (£1,189,760 in 202)1, restricted funds of £192,403 £94,570) in 2021). From unrestricted funds The Trustees have set up a New Premises Move designated fund and transferred a further £75K, in addition to the £250,000 transferred in 2021, in order to meet planned expenditure during 2023 and 2024 on securing an exciting new premises from which to increase our impact upon survivors of trafficking and torture. Additionally, a further £235,541 relating to casework in progress has also been moved to designated funds, a further £22,147 represents a designated fixed assets fund leaving unrestricted general funds of £930,932 (£705,122 in 2021). The casework in progress is an asset which we have reasonable expectation will become convertible into cash at a future date but have not included it in the free reserves due the timing uncertainty. We are pleased that in 2022 we maintained the unrestricted general fund within our target, and we will continue to work towards increasing our general fund towards the top end of the range of £1,741,261. A budget showing a small surplus has been set for 2023.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 31

Risks

The significant risks to which the HBF group is exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate these risks. Among the risks identified, the most significant are considered to be:

These risks are mitigated in part through close operational monitoring and application of the reserves policy.

Subsequent events and going concern

In the last two years the Government has introduced 2 significant legislative changes to the asylum system and a further administrative change in the Rwanda scheme. This has created increasing difficulties for the population we serve with uncertainties about how these changes will be implemented.

Therefore the trustees have put in place measures to mitigate the risks to the HBF Group from the ongoing delays in decision-making by the Home Office and by the courts, which has pushed back the closure of cases and therefore income from the Legal Aid Authority for work done. The trustees continue to focus on fundraised income during this period, and kept an eye on the rising cost of living and it’s impact on renumeration, retention and recruitment. In particular the trustees have kept an eye on the fundraising undertaken to support the costs of a capital appeal and are reassured with the amount of funds secured as well as pledged, while acknowledging there is more to be done.

Having regard to these steps and the reserves held at the year-end by the Helen Bamber Foundation Group, the trustees consider it reasonable to expect that HBF has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the trustees continue to adopt the ‘going concern’ basis in preparing the accounts. The trustees and senior management have increased the regularity of financial forecasts in both the short and medium term. We continue to strengthen our financial processes and systems so we can monitor financial risk, and where required, take appropriate management action.

Related Parties and Relationships with other Organizations.

During the year the HBF foundation received a total of £103,883 unrestricted donations from six Trustees.

32 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Summary Results of the subsidiary (Asylum Aid)

HBF is an independent charity. We are developing a group structure to maximise impact for survivors of trafficking and torture by aligning efforts with other charities that also provide much-needed support. Asylum Aid became the first member of our Helen Bamber Foundation Group (the Group) during the pandemic, due to its own financial difficulties. The Asylum Aid Board continues to have independent oversight, but with alignment and efficiency created through a minority of three shared board members out of a total of seven board members, joint committees and back-office support, including executive support, finance, HR, volunteer management, facilities and fundraising. In May 2022, HBF became the sole member of Asylum Aid. We also took the opportunity to update both charities’ Objects in September 2022 in line with changes in Charity Law. To ensure independence, as well as greater impact for the group, HBF and Asylum Aid do not share clients. The Managing Executives’ dayto-day management of the Group continued with the introduction of a Management Group made up of the Chief Executive, Executive Directors, Directors and Heads of Teams. A Finance and Fundraising Committee, bringing together trustees and management team members, meets at least quarterly to provide financial and fundraising governance and oversight of both HBF and Asylum Aid.

Asylum Aid has had another successful year in 2022, which ended in a surplus of £242,873 (£227,175) in 2021. Total Reserves as at 31st December 2022 were £537,955 (2021: £295,082) which consist of unrestricted free reserves of £229,940 (2021: £67,092), which represents three months of unrestricted expenditure, and restricted reserves of £47,474 (2021: £18,141). The casework work in progress (WIP) designated fund £235,541 (2021: £209,849) is income that is recognized in our accounts, but which is an illiquid asset that cannot be relied upon as part of our reserves policy. We also have a designated premises fund £25,000 (2021: Nil) towards planned expenditure of securing new premises in 2023-2024.

Remuneration policy

The objectives of HBF’s remuneration policy are to:

Remuneration is reviewed on an annual basis and agreed by the Board of Trustees. When setting pay levels, the charity gives consideration to external benchmark comparators, changes in the national average earnings index, affordability and other internal and external pressures, including recruitment and retention. The policy applies to all staff, including the charity’s executive team. The total remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer and 4 directors, including employer’s NI and employer’s pension contributions, was £312,085.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 33

Fundraising

HBF’s fundraising team produces an annual Income Generation Strategy against which performance is regularly monitored by senior management and trustees. In 2022, HBF continued to adapt to the challenging fundraising environment due to the pandemic, and successfully raised £2,697,311 thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

HBF’s fundraising approach reflects the principles published on the HBF’s website www.helenbamber. org. The charity’s fundraising programme is delivered using internal resources and in 2022 did not involve external professional fundraisers or commercial participators. HBF does not generate merchandise for fundraising purposes.

HBF is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. Registration represents a commitment to the highest standards of practice and ensures that all fundraising activity is open, legal and fair. As a registered participant, HBF commits to the Board’s Codes of Fundraising Practice, which is the standard set for fundraisers in the UK. Registered participants also commit to abide by its Fundraising Promise, which is based on six key pledges that reflect the core values of respect, honesty, accountability and transparency. HBF is strongly commited to recognised sector standards and is actively working to protect vulnerable people and other members of the public from behaviour which:

HBF has received no complaints in regard to its fundraising activities in 2022.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

In setting HBF’s objectives and planning its activities, the Board of Trustees has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit. In particular, the Board of Trustees considers how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set. The benefits that HBF brings to the public are:

34 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees of the Helen Bamber Foundation (who are also directors of the HBF for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). This report includes information contained in Asylum Aid’s annual report, it is the trustees of Asylum Aid who are responsible for preparing their annual report and the financial statements contained therein.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year that 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 charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and 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 group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far as the trustees are aware:

The trustees of the Helen Bamber Foundation are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the Helen Bamber Foundation in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31 December 2022 was ten (2021: seven). The trustees are members of the Helen Bamber Foundation but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

Auditor

Sayer Vincent LLP was re-appointed as the charitable company’s auditor during the year and has expressed its

2

Adam Epstein

Adam Epstein, Chair of Trustees

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 35

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF HELEN BAMBER FOUNDATION

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Helen Bamber Foundation (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiary (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 December 2022 which comprise the consolidated statement of financial activities, the group and parent charitable company balance sheets, the consolidated statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the group financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on Helen Bamber Foundation’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the

relevant sections of this report.

36 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Other Information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the group financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the group financial statements does not cover the other information, and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the group financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the group financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent charitable company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 37

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and section 151 of the Charites Act 2011 and report in accordance with those Acts.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below.

Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

38 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc. org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Joanna Pittman (Senior statutory auditor)

Date: 6 September 2023

for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TL

Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 39

Consolidated statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) for the Helen Bamber Foundation Group (comprising the Helen Bamber Foundation and Asylum Aid)

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Income from:
Donations - legal protection
Donations - therapy and
casework
Donations - community
integration
Donations - counter
trafcking
Donations - research, policy,
dissemination
Donations - general
Charitable activities
Fees from medical legal
reports - Legal protection
Other legal services
Westminister ASP
Other income
Bank interest
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Legal protection
Therapy and casework
Community integration
Counter trafcking
Research, policy and
dissemination
Total expenditure
Net income for the year
Net income and movement
in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Note
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
4		 Unrestricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
1,894,415
106,895
154,848
-
22,656
2,223		 Restricted
£
292,598
179,233
87,969
147,929
40,198
54,969
-
-
61,306
-
-		 2022
Total
£
292,598
179,233
87,969
147,929
40,198
1,949,384
106,895
154,848
61,306
22,656
2,223		 Unrestricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
1,230,973
85,190
255,799
-
61,307
81		 Restricted
£
147,080
142,113
94,912
19,653
55,961
15,701
-
-
61,306
-
-		 2021
Total
£
147,080
142,113
94,912
19,653
55,961
1,246,674
85,190
255,799
61,306
61,307
81
2,181,037 864,202 3,045,239 1,633,350 536,726 2,170,076
270,930
613,844
391,659
34,470
359,232
187,042		 -
350,059
195,332
78,493
114,691
27,794		 270,930
963,903
586,990
112,963
473,922
214,836		 175,678
659,069
436,712
35,091
127,305
183,388		 -
201,746
102,984
82,224
17,479
55,453		 175,678
860,815
539,696
117,315
144,784
238,841
1,857,178 766,368 2,623,546 1,617,244 459,886 2,077,130
323,860 97,833 421,693 16,106 76,840 92,946
323,860
1,189,760		 97,833
94,570		 421,693
1,284,330		 16,106
1,173,654		 76,840
17,730		 92,946
1,191,384
1,513,620 192,403 1,706,023 1,189,760 94,570 1,284,330

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 15a to the financial statements.

40 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Company No. 08186281

Balance sheets

As at 31 December 2022

Note
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets
8
Current assets:
Debtors
11
Casework-in-progress
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
12
Net current assets
Total Net Assets
Funds:
15a
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted income funds:
Designated fxed asset fund
Designated Casework-in-Progress
Designated- New Premise Fund
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 The group
2022
£
2021
£
22,147
24,789		 The group
2022
£
2021
£
22,147
24,789		 The charity Helen Bamber Foundation
2022
£
2021
£
19,531
23,856		 The charity Helen Bamber Foundation
2022
£
2021
£
19,531
23,856
22,147
439,101
235,541
1,384,326		 24,789
247,557
209,849
1,028,766		 19,531
471,689
-
817,242		 23,856
336,067
-
772,269
2,058,968
(375,093)		 1,486,172
(226,631)		 1,288,931
(140,394)		 1,108,336
(142,949)
1,683,876 1,259,541 1,148,537 965,387
1,706,023 1,284,330 1,168,067 989,243
192,403
22,147
235,541
325,000
930,932
1,513,620		 94,570
24,789
209,849
250,000
705,122
1,189,760		 68,501
19,531
-
300,000
780,035
1,099,566		 76,429
23,856
-
250,000
638,958
912,814
1,706,023 1,284,330 1,168,067 989,243

Approved by the trustees on 13 July 2023 and signed on their behalf by

John Scampion Treasurer

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 41

Consolidated statement of cash flows for the Helen Bamber Foundation Group (comprising the Helen Bamber Foundation and Asylum Aid)

For the year ended 31 December 2022

Note
2022
£
£
Cash fows from operating activities
Net income for the reporting period
(as per the statement of fnancial activities)
421,693
Depreciation charges
16,917
(Increase) / decrease in debtors
18,305
Increase in casework-in-progress
(235,541)
(Decrease) / increase in creditors
148,462
Net cash provided by operating activities
369,835
Cash fows from investing activities:
Purchase of fxed assets
(14,275)
Net cash used in investing activities
(14,275)
Change in cash and cash equivalents in
the year
355,560
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of
the year
1,028,766
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of
the year
a
1,384,326
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt
At 1 January 2022
£
Cash fows
£
Cash at bank and in hand
1,028,766
355,560
a Total cash and cash equivalents
1,028,766
355,560		 2022
£
£
421,693
16,917
18,305
(235,541)
148,462
369,835
(14,275)
(14,275)
355,560
1,028,766
1,384,326		 2022
£
£
421,693
16,917
18,305
(235,541)
148,462
369,835
(14,275)
(14,275)
355,560
1,028,766
1,384,326		 2021
£
£
92,946
18,309
(137,291)
(209,849)
(99,006)
(334,891)
(9,823)
(9,823)
(344,714)
1,373,480
1,028,766		 2021
£
£
92,946
18,309
(137,291)
(209,849)
(99,006)
(334,891)
(9,823)
(9,823)
(344,714)
1,373,480
1,028,766
369,835
(14,275)
355,560
1,028,766		 (334,891)
(9,823)
(344,714)
1,373,480
1,384,326 1,028,766
At 1 January 2022
£
1,028,766		 Cash fows
£
355,560		 Other non-cash changes
£
-		 At 31 December 2022
£
1,384,326
1,028,766 355,560 - 1,384,326

42 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Notes to the financial statements for the Helen Bamber Foundation Group (comprising the Helen Bamber Foundation and Asylum Aid)

For the year ended 31 December 2022

1 Accounting policies

a) Statutory information

Helen Bamber Foundation is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

The registered office address is Bruges Place, 15-20 Baynes Street London NW1 0TF.

b) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

These financial statements consolidate the results of the charity and its subsidiary Asylum Aid on a line by line basis. Transactions and balances between the charity and its subsidiary have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Balances between the two entities are disclosed in the notes of the charity’s balance sheet. A separate statement of financial activities, or income and expenditure account, for the charity itself is not presented because the charity has taken advantage of the exemptions afforded by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.

c) Reporting period

The financial statements cover the year to 31 December 2022.

d)

Public benefit entity

The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 43

1 Accounting policies (continued)

e) Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

f) Recognition of income

Recognition of income takes place in accordance with applicable accounting policies and results are presented in accordance with the SORP. All incoming resources are included in the Statement of financial activities when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably. Grants and donations are recorded in the period in which they are received or the charity is entitled to the income.

Donations receivable for the general purposes of the charity are credited to Unrestricted funds and donations tied to a particular purpose are credited to Restricted funds.

Revenue grants are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when received or receivable, whichever is earlier. Where unconditional entitlement to grants receivable is dependent on fulfilment of conditions within the charity’s control, the incoming resources are recognised when there is sufficient evidence that conditions will be met. Where there is uncertainty as to whether the charity can meet such conditions, the incoming resource is deferred. When funding received is designated by the donor to be used in a specific future period, income is deferred.

Income from medico legal reports is recognised when the report has been completed and submitted to the customer and an invoice has been raised.

Contractual income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Work in Progress is valued at the average hourly rate paid by the Legal Aid Agency. Provision is made where necessary for irrecoverable amount of work in progress.

All other income, such as training fees, is recognised in the period in which the charity is entitled to receipt and the amount can be measured with reasonable probability. Legacies are included when there is reasonable probability of receipt, amount and timing.

Where income is received in advance of its recognition, it is deferred and included in creditors. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued and included in debtors.

44 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

1 Accounting policies (continued)

g) Donations of gifts, services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised so refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

On receipt, donated gifts, professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

h) Recognition of expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis in the period to which the cost relates and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Where costs cannot be directly attributable to particular activities, they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources. Overheads, salaries and governance costs are allocated between the activity headings on the basis of attributable employment cost, and an element of judgement is involved. Costs of raising funds are those costs, including fundraising expenditures, incurred by the charity to obtain funds. Support costs are those costs incurred which are not directly an output of the charitable activity. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with enabling the charity to comply with external regulation, constitutional and statutory requirements and in providing support to the Trustees in the discharge of their statutory duties.

i)

Tangible fixed assets

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £250. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. Major components are treated as a separate asset where they have significantly different patterns of consumption of economic benefits and are depreciated separately over its useful life.

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Only individual assets costing £250 or more and not forming part of a larger project are capitalised. This level is periodically reviewed, along with the need for a formal impairment review.

Provision is made for depreciation of fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less the estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over 3 years and other fixed assets over 4 years.

j) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 45

1 Accounting policies (continued)

k) Recognition of liabilities and constructive liabilities

Liabilities, including constructive obligations, are recognised at the point at which the charity is deemed to have entered into a binding commitment. Provisions are recognised when there is a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of the obligation.

l) Leases

Rental costs under operating leases are charged to expenditure as incurred. Lease incentives received by the charity are released on a straight line basis to the Statement of Financial Activities over the period until the first break clause or, in the case of leases already existing, until the rent review.

m) Pensions

The charity contributes to a stakeholder pension scheme on behalf of its staff, and the cost is recognised as incurred.

n) Taxation status

As a charity, Helen Bamber Foundation is exempt from taxation of income and gains falling within Section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent these are applied charitably. No tax charge has arisen in the year.

o) Funds

The charity’s financial statements are a consolidation of individual funds. These divide into two distinct categories: unrestricted and restricted.

Unrestricted funds

The use of these funds has not been restricted to a particular purpose by the donor. The unrestricted funds comprise the General fund and Designated funds.

General fund

The General fund is the working fund of the charity. It is not tied or designated as are the other funds for use for a particular or defined purpose. The General fund has to provide for the net deficit of any activities that have inadequate income of their own and for the general administration of the charity. It also provides working capital for operations and helps to provide resources to ensure that the charity is able to continue with its obligations in the event of a shortfall in income or unexpected upturn in expenditure. The current target level for the unrestricted general fund is between three and six months of the higher of projected gross income or gross expenditure for the next financial year.

Designated funds

Designated funds are those which have been allocated by the charity for particular purposes. The Fixed Asset reserve represents the net book value of the investment by the General fund in fixed assets.

46 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

1 Accounting policies (continued)

Restricted funds

These are income funds tied to particular purposes. They include gifts made to the charity to be used in accordance with the wishes of the donors. Until funds are expended, they are placed on deposit or held in cash.

p) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due, after provision for doubtful debts.

2 Income from donations

Donations - trusts and foundations
Donations - individuals
Donations - corporate
Other		 Unrestricted
£
1,254,127
222,814
174,607
242,867		 Restricted
£
646,394
-
114,000
42,502		 2022
Total
£
1,900,521
222,814
288,607
285,369		 Unrestricted
£
855,576
221,106
116,733
37,557		 Restricted
£
403,420
-
72,000
-		 2021
Total
£
1,258,996
221,106
188,733
37,557
1,894,415 802,896 2,697,311 1,230,973 475,420 1,706,393

The “other” donations comprise income from community fundraising and a fundraising campaign comprising one main event in 2022.

Restricted and unrestricted donations from trusts and foundations of £2,000 or greater in 2022 were as follows:-

2022 2021
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
The A. B. Charitable Trust 50,000 - 50,000 50,000 - 50,000
Access for Justice Foundation 12,196 - 12,196 - 31,000 31,000
Anti-Slavery International - - - - 2,026 2,026
Roddick Foundation - 30,000 30,000 - - -
The Bryan Guinness Charitable 3,000 - 3,000 - - -
Trust
Two Magpies Fund - 15,000 15,000 - - -
Comic Relief - 63,759 63,759 - 123,601 123,601
Eva Reckitt Trust Fund - 2,500 2,500 - 2,500 2,500
The Evan Cornish Foundation - 12,000 12,000 - 12,000 12,000
ORR Mackintosh Foundation - - - 5,000 - 5,000
Garfeld Weston Foundation 25,000 - 25,000 25,000 - 25,000
Robert Luf Foundation 10,000 - 10,000 10,000 - 10,000
Susan Gibson - - - 2,000 - 2,000
John Coates - 5,000 5,000 - - -
Survivors of Torture Foundation - 6,000 6,000 - - -
The Henry Smith Charity - 30,000 30,000 - 12,500 12,500
ILPA - 19,005 19,005 - - -
The Leigh Trust - 4,000 4,000 - 4,000 4,000
The Marwyn Trust - 159,278 159,278 16,728 - 16,728

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 47

2 Income from donations (continued)

The McCartney Foundation
Moynitrust
The National Lottery Community
Fund
Oak Foundation
McPhail Trust
Samworth Foundation
Pilkington Charities Fund
Postcode Equality Trust
The Souter Charitable Trust
British Humane Association
Trust for London
Transport for London
The United Nations Voluntary Trust
Fund on Contemporary Forms of
Slavery
Wellcome Community Support
Fund
William Brake Charitable Trust
The Wright Family Foundation
29th May 1961 Charitable Trust
Britford Bridge
Bloomberg
Adfal Trust Culver House Farm
Harkness Family
Volant Charitable Trust
London Legal Support
Disrupt Foundation
Unbound Philanthropy
Justice Platform Crowdfunder
Open Society Foundation
Goodlaw Ltd
Choose Love
Ramfel
Kings College
Other trusts - Trusts under £2,000
Anonymous
Total		 Unrestricted
£
75,000		 Restricted
£
-		 2022
Total
£
75,000		 Unrestricted
£
50,000		 Restricted
£
-		 2021
Total
£
50,000
3,000
133,334
70,000
-
100,000
-
500,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
110,000
3,000
-
-
-
50,000
30,000
-
-
-
6,650
26,627
-
11,321
35,000		 -
-
-
40,000
100,000
-
-
-
-
37,230
-
-
10,000
4,000
-
3,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
20,454
36,154
17,649
1,350
-
7,999
7,515
14,500		 3,000
133,334
70,000
40,000
200,000
-
500,000
-
-
37,230
-
-
10,000
4,000
-
3,000
-
110,000
3,000
-
-
-
50,000
30,000
20,454
36,154
17,649
8,000
26,627
7,999
18,836
49,500		 5,000
91,667
120,000
-
80,000
3,000
125,000
10,000
4,000
50,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
110,000
4,000
5,000
50,000
20,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
19,181
-		 -
-
-
40,000
83,759
-
-
-
-
20,000
30,000
10,590
10,000
2,000
-
3,000
10,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,444
-		 5,000
91,667
120,000
40,000
163,759
3,000
125,000
10,000
4,000
70,000
30,000
10,590
10,000
2,000
-
3,000
10,000
110,000
4,000
5,000
50,000
20,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25,625
-
1,254,127 646,394 1,900,521 855,576 403,420 1,258,996

48 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

3a Analysis of expenditure (current year)

Staf costs (Note
5)
Legal protection
Therapy and
casework
Community
Integration and
creative arts
programme
Counter
Trafcking
Education, policy
and research
Fundraising costs
Premises costs
Audit
Trustee expenses
Ofce and
supplies costs
Irrecoverable VAT
Depreciation
Movement on
doubtful debt
provision
Support and
Governance costs
allocation
Total
expenditure
2022
Total expenditure
2021		 Ch aritable activit ies
Cost of raising
funds
£
138,722
-
-
-
-
-
84,756
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Legal
protection
£
608,658
147,042
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Therapy and
casework
£
374,624
-
84,219
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Community
Integration
£
64,537
-
-
26,350
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Counter
Trafcking
£
345,348
-
-
-
10,441
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Research,
policy and
dissemination
£
138,055
-
-
-
-
29,557
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Support and
Governance
costs
£
129,569
-
-
-
-
-
-
209,318
16,680
201
131,441
63,867
16,917
3,244		 Support costs
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2022 Total
£
1,799,512
147,042
84,219
26,350
10,441
29,557
84,756
209,318
16,680
201
131,441
63,867
16,917
3,244		 2021 Total
£
1,523,445
42,755
88,547
10,491
4,046
30,054
10,445
190,007
15,265
253
103,244
49,198
17,970
(8,591)
223,478
47,453		 755,700
208,204		 458,843
128,147		 90,887
22,076		 355,789
118,133		 167,612
47,224		 571,237
(571,237)		 -
-		 2,623,546
-		 2,077,130
-
270,930 963,903 586,990 112,963 473,922 214,836 - - 2,623,546 2,077,130
175,678 860,815 539,696 117,315 144,784 238,841 - -

Governance costs are included above under audit fees and trustees’ expenses.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 49

3b Analysis of expenditure (prior year)

Staf costs (Note 5)
Legal protection
Therapy and
casework
Community
Integration and
creative arts
programme
Counter Trafcking
Education, policy
and research
Fundraising costs
Premises costs
Audit
Trustee expenses
Ofce and supplies
costs
Irrecoverable VAT
Depreciation
Movement on
doubtful debt
provision
Support and
Governance costs
allocation
Total expenditure
2021
Total expenditure
2020		 C haritable activiti es
Cost of raising
funds
£
125,614
-
-
-
-
-
10,445
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Legal protection
£
621,908
42,755
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Therapy and
casework
£
342,974
-
88,547
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Community
Integration
£
81,210
-
-
10,491
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Counter
Trafcking
£
106,992
-
-
-
4,046
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Research,
policy and
dissemination
£
158,725
-
-
-
-
30,054
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Support and
Governance
costs
£
86,022
-
-
-
-
-
-
190,007
15,265
253
103,244
49,198
17,970
(8,591)		 2021 Total
£
1,523,445
42,755
88,547
10,491
4,046
30,054
10,445
190,007
15,265
253
103,244
49,198
17,970
(8,591)		 2020 Total
£
1,195,997
75,150
116,661
19,186
7,087
27,559
32,246
187,174
12,100
-
83,491
63,864
16,547
(15,942)
136,059
39,619		 664,663
196,152		 431,521
108,175		 91,701
25,614		 111,038
33,746		 188,779
50,062		 453,369
(453,369)		 2,077,130
-		 1,821,120
-
175,678 860,815 539,696 117,315 144,784 238,841 - 2,077,130 1,821,120
254,273 461,574 570,156 133,083 153,211 248,822 -

Governance costs are included above under audit fees and trustees’ expenses.

50 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

4 Net income for the year

This is stated after charging:

This is stated after charging:
Depreciation
Operating lease rentals:
Property
Auditor’s remuneration (excluding VAT):
Current year audit
Independent examination of Asylum Aid		 2022
£
16,917
142,321
10,900
3,000		 2021
£
18,309
141,919
9,975
2,725

5 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Employer’s contribution to defned contribution pension schemes
Recruitment costs
Interim stafng costs
Redundancy costs (paid as at 31.12.22)		 2022
£
1,523,496
152,607
103,255
11,184
5,655
3,314		 2021
£
1,327,067
119,924
49,130
9,918
10,062
7,344
1,799,511 1,523,445

Three employee earned between £60,000 and £70,000 during the year (2021: one). One employee earned between £80,000 and £90,000 (2021: none)

The total employee benefits, (including pension contributions and employer’s national insurance) of the senior management executive were £312,085 (2021: £278,455).

The Trustees were not paid or in receipt of any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2021: £nil). No Trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2021: £nil).

The Trustees were not paid or in receipt of any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2021: £nil). No Trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2021: £nil).

£201 Trustee expenses were incurred by the charity in the year and relate to online training for one new Trustee (2021: £218).

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 51

6 Staff numbers

The average number of employees based on the average headcount employed during the year was as follows:

follows:
Fundraising
Charitable activity
Support
Governance		 2022
No.
4.0
42.0
7.0
2.0		 2021
No.
4.0
32.0
5.0
2.0
55.0 43.0

7 Related party transactions

There were management charges of £74,000 relating to HBF staff costs recharged to AA in 2022 (2021: £77,451).

There were no donations from related parties which were outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties. The total amount of donations received in 2022 from Trustees or parties related to them was £103,883 (2021: £55,000).

52 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

8 Tangible fixed assets

The group

Cost
At the start of the year
Additions in year
Disposals in year
At the end of the year
Depreciation
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At the end of the year
Net book value
At the end of the year
At the start of the year		 Leasehold Improvement
£
113,376
-
-		 Fixtures and fttings
£
34,163
-
-		 ICT and medical equipment
£
66,792
14,275
-		 Total
£
214,331
14,275
-
113,376
111,826
1,550
-		 34,163
30,198
3,470
-		 81,067
47,519
11,898
-		 228,606
189,542
16,917
-
113,376 33,667
496		 59,416
21,651		 206,459
22,147
1,550 3,965 19,274 24,789

All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.

The charity Helen Bamber Foundation

Cost
At the start of the year
Additions in year
Disposals in year
At the end of the year
Depreciation
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At the end of the year
Net book value
At the end of the year
At the start of the year		 Leasehold Improvement
£
113,376
-
-		 Fixtures and fttings
£
34,163
-
-		 ICT and medical equipment
£
65,435
11,963
-		 Total
£
212,974
11,963
-
113,376
111,826
1,550
-		 34,163
30,198
3,470
-		 77,398
47,094
11,269
-		 224,937
189,118
16,289
-
113,376 33,667
496		 58,364
19,035		 205,407
19,531
1,550 3,965 18,341 23,856

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 53

9 Subsidiary undertaking - Asylum Aid

The charity controls the subsidiary, Asylum Aid, a company registered in England. The company number is 2513874 and charity number is 328729. The registered office address is that of the parent company. It is a subsidiary of the Helen Bamber Foundation ( parent company) as the parent company board have majority control of Asylum Aid.

The subsidiary is used for the primary purpose of providing legal representation and access to justice for refugees and those seeking asylum. All activities have been consolidated on a line by line basis in the statement of financial activities.

A summary of the results of the subsidiary is shown below:

Income from:
Donations and legacles
Charitable Activities
Other trading activites
Ramfel
Legal income
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable Activities
Total Expenditure
Net income for the year
Total funds brought forward
Total Funds carried forward		 Restricted
277,343
-
-
-
277,343
-
248,010		 Unrestricted
363,247
129,157
61,306
26,627
25,692
606,029
25,856
366,633		 2022
£
640,590
129,157
61,306
26,627
25,692
883,372
25,856
614,643		 2021
£
390,401
45,950
61,306
209,849
707,506
21,859
458,472
248,010 392,489 640,499 480,331
29,333
18,141
47,474		 213,540
276,941
490,481		 242,873
295,082
537,955		 227,175
67,907
295,082

Subsidiary Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)

Tangible fxed assets
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 December 2022		 General unrestricted
£
2,616
227,324
229,940		 Designated
£
-
260,541
260,541		 Restricted
£
-
47,474
47,474		 Total funds
£
2,616
535,339
537,955

Subsidiary Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)

Tangible fxed assets
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 December 2021		 General unrestricted
£
933
66,159
67,092		 Designated
£
-
209,849
209,849		 Restricted
£
-
18,141
18,141		 Total funds
£
933
294,149
295,082

54 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

10 Parent charity - Helen Bamber Foundation

The parent charity’s gross income and the results for the year are disclosed as follows:

Gross income
Result for the year		 2022
£
2,161,868
178,824
2021
£
1,462,570
(134,229)

11 Debtors

Trade debtors
Amounts due from group undertakings
Prepayments & other debtors
Accrued income		 The group
2022
£
2021
£
105,610
47,861
-
-
32,165
13,798
301,326
185,898		 The group
2022
£
2021
£
105,610
47,861
-
-
32,165
13,798
301,326
185,898		 The charity Helen Bamber Foundation
2022
£
2021
£
74,957
47,816
72,416
116,321
22,989
11,359
301,326
160,571		 The charity Helen Bamber Foundation
2022
£
2021
£
74,957
47,816
72,416
116,321
22,989
11,359
301,326
160,571
439,101 247,557 471,689 336,067

12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Accruals
Deferred income (note 13)
Other creditors		 The group
2022
£
2021
£
60,012
80,184
41,942
34,339
100,254
48,146
101,228
-
71,657
63,962		 The group
2022
£
2021
£
60,012
80,184
41,942
34,339
100,254
48,146
101,228
-
71,657
63,962		 The charity Helen Bamber Foundation
2022
£
2021
£
37,106
70,574
31,652
26,025
35,176
37,916
32,167
-
4,293
8,435		 The charity Helen Bamber Foundation
2022
£
2021
£
37,106
70,574
31,652
26,025
35,176
37,916
32,167
-
4,293
8,435
375,093 226,631 140,394 142,949

13 Deferred income

Deferred income relates to three restricted donations. Income is deferred as it relates to future periods

Balance at the beginning of the year
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at the end of the year		 The group
2022
£
2021
£
-
138,139
-
(138,139)
101,228
-		 The group
2022
£
2021
£
-
138,139
-
(138,139)
101,228
-		 The charity Helen Bamber Foundation
2022
£
2021
£
-
107,139
-
(107,139)
32,167
-		 The charity Helen Bamber Foundation
2022
£
2021
£
-
107,139
-
(107,139)
32,167
-
101,228 - 32,167 -

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 55

14a Analysis of group net assets between funds (current year)

Tangible fxed assets
Net current assets
Net assets at the end of the year		 General unrestricted
£
-
930,932		 Designated funds
£
22,147
560,541		 Restricted funds
£
-
192,403		 Total funds
£
22,147
1,683,876
930,932 582,688 192,403 1,706,023

14b Analysis of group net assets between funds (prior year)

Tangible fxed assets
Net current assets
Net assets at the end of the year		 General unrestricted
£
-
705,122		 Designated funds
£
24,789
459,849		 Restricted funds
£
-
94,570		 2022
£
24,789
1,259,541
705,122 484,638 94,570 1,284,330

15a Movements in group funds (current year)

Restricted funds:
Legal protection
Therapy and casework
Community integration
Research, policy and dissemination
Counter Trafcking
Westminster ASP
General
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated fxed asset fund
Designated Casework-in-Progress
Designated- New Premise Fund
Total designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At 1 January 2022
£
21,520
47,384
15,495
7,400
2,771
-
-		 Income & gains
£
353,904
179,233
87,969
40,198
147,929
-
54,969		 Expenditure &
losses
£
(324,950)
(181,321)
(72,863)
(25,800)
(106,464)
-
(54,969)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total funds
£
50,474
45,295
30,601
21,798
44,236
-
-
94,570 864,202 (766,368) - 192,403
24,789
209,849
250,000		 -
-
-		 (14,739)
-
-		 12,097
25,692
75,000		 22,147
235,541
325,000
484,638 - (14,739) 112,789 582,688
705,122 2,181,037 (1,842,439) (112,789) 930,932
1,189,760 2,181,037 (1,857,178) - 1,513,620
1,284,330 3,045,239 (2,623,546) - 1,706,023

The narrative to explain the purpose of each fund is given at the foot of the note below.

56 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

15b Movements in group funds (prior year)

Restricted funds:
Legal protection
Therapy and casework
Community integration
Research, policy and dissemination
Counter Trafcking
Westminster ASP
General
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
Designated fxed asset fund
Designated Casework-in-Progress
Designated- New Premise Fund
Total designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds		 At 1 January 2021
£
7,992
4,738
-
5,000
-
-
-		 Income & gains
£
147,080
142,113
94,912
55,961
19,653
61,306
15,701		 Expenditure &
losses
£
(133,552)
(99,467)
(79,417)
(53,561)
(16,882)
(61,306)
(15,701)		 Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total funds
£
21,520
47,384
15,495
7,400
2,771
-
-
17,730 536,726 (459,886) - 94,570
33,275
-
-		 -
209,849
-		 (17,970)
-
-		 9,484
-
250,000		 24,789
209,849
250,000
33,275 209,849 (17,970) 259,484 484,638
1,140,379 1,423,501 (1,599,274) (259,484) 705,122
1,173,654 1,633,350 (1,617,244) - 1,189,760
1,191,384 2,170,076 (2,077,130) - 1,284,330

Purposes of restricted funds

Legal protection

The restricted funds for protection work are to fund legal protection and advocacy support work; providing refugee and asylum seeking clients with a fair chance at seeking justice against the perpetrators of the interpersonal violence they experienced, international protection from the government and appropriate welfare support and housing provision. This includes legal staff salaries, client travel and interpreter costs and any other associated costs of administrating and providing legal protection and advocacy support to clients.

Therapy and casework

The restricted funds for therapy and casework are to fund our therapeutic care for survivors of gross human rights violations, helping individuals and families to overcome the psychological impact of interpersonal violence and achieve sustained recovery from acute trauma symptoms, Complex PostTraumatic Stress Disorder and other resultant mental health issues. This includes clinical staff salaries, client travel and interpreter costs and associated costs of administrating referrals for our services and providing tailored support and counselling for clients.

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 57

Purposes of restricted funds (continued)

Community integration

The restricted funds for community integration are to assist clients to become valued members of society and combine work from different areas. Mind and body work are to fund therapies which use the mutual influence of body on mind, and mind on body to facilitate healing and recovery from trauma. The programme includes acupuncture, cranio-sacral therapy, hakomi and internal family systems, movement, pilates, yoga (including pre- and post-natal), massage, breathing training and osteopathy. The restricted funds are for clinical staff salaries, equipment, volunteer costs and client travel.

The restricted funds for social wellbeing work are to fund the Creative arts programme, which includes language and skills classes and artistic and social groups for clients of the Foundation, to break isolation and aid recovery. This includes the costs of materials, client travel, volunteer expenses and the salary of the coordinating staff member.

Research, policy and dissemination

These restricted funds are to fund work on research, policy and dissemination.

Counter Trafficking

The restricted funds for counter trafficking are to enable the foundation to fund a model of integrated care for victims of human trafficking. This includes clinical staff salaries, client travel and interpreter costs and associated costs of administering referrals for our services and providing tailored support and counselling for clients.

Westminster ASP

Westminster Advice Services Project (WASP) is a consortium led by Westminster Citizens Advice, which Asylum Aid has been a member of since 2016. It is a consortium put together by NGOs based in Westminster and funded by Westminster council on a 3-5 year rolling contract, to provide advice and support services on welfare legal matters. Asylum Aid’s USP input to this project is a multi-language volunteer advisor system, in which we train and supervise local people to interpret for us when providing advice to Westminster residence for whom English is a second language. The yearly funding covers the cost of two specialist advisors (part time), and rental costs for Derry House from where we provide outreach and drop in advice services as well as associated costs of administering our services.

Other income

We continued our partnership with Young Roots , an organisation that supports hard to reach separated asylum seeking children and young people, who often face greater barriers in accessing mental health and other support. The funds (£12,170.50,) were for clincal staff time who provided assessments, stabilisation interventions and also treatment.

We formed a new partnership with Women for Refugee Women to offer clinical support to the women in their network. The funds (£4,083.95) were for clincial staff time who provided clinical assessments that facilitated access to mental health services, as well as delivering therapeutic interventions designed to help women to stabilise and manage their mental health.

58 Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022

Purposes of designated funds

Fixed assets fund

A designated fund has been established to represent the net book value of the charity’s fixed assets.

Casework in progress fund

Value of work in progress relating to legal cases as of year-end as this is a relatively illiquid asset.

New Premise fund

A desginated fund to meet planned expenditure on securing new premises over 2023 and 2024.

16 Operating lease commitments payable as a lessee

The group’s total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods:

Less than one year
Two to fve years		 Property
2022
£
2021
£
201,227
185,716
3,397
270,183		 Property
2022
£
2021
£
201,227
185,716
3,397
270,183
204,624 455,899

17 Post Balance Sheet Event

In March 2023 Asylum Aid begun negotiations with the Islington Law Centre (ILC), to transfer the Migrants’ Law Project (MLP), to Asylum Aid. The Board of Trustees of both organisations signed an agreement on 16 June 2023 which provides for the transfer to take place in July 2023, subject to the satisfaction of certain preconditions relating to client, staff and funder consent. Under this agreement Asylum Aid will work with the MLP team to maximise the benefits from our joint work to further the protection and access to justice of people seeking asylum, refugees and others with insecure immigration status in the UK, and their family members or other dependents (whether in the UK or abroad), as well as their fair and dignified treatment. Three solicitors employed to work on the MLP will transfer to Asylum Aid in July 2023. The agreement includes a financial settlement comprising £200,000 cash, the value of restricted grants paid and not spent, and legal aid income on MLP matters received by ILC after 1 May 2023. The total value of the financial grant, which will be restricted to the MLP’s work, is not yet known but is estimated to be sufficient to meet the staff and other running costs of MLP (including a contribution to Asylum Aid’s overheads) for at least 18-24 months

Helen Bamber Foundation Group: Annual Report, for the year ended 31 December 2022 59

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