Migrant Workers Sefton Community Registered Charity 1155318
2024-2025 REPORT Introduction
MWSC was registered in 2009 and converted into a Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) 2014. The charities’ main objective is to integrate and support international workers and their dependents in Sefton & the surrounding areas. Clients may have been experiencing discrimination, unfair treatment, financial hardship (particularly in the fields of access to employment), housing issues, healthcare issues, welfare entitlements and financial services problems.
Services provided include translators / interpreters in 7 languages, helpline, one to one appointment, drop – In – sessions, legal referrals, letters of merit family Law. The work takes place in Mwsc office which is open 5/6 days a week. Case workers regularly escort vulnerable clients to appointments.
Our approach is to understand the client’s problems, agree to a personalized action plan and support them to achieve their goal.
Key outcomes achieved include enabling clients to claim £3.753.000 extra income, which includes £3.370.000 benefits to which they were entitled and £200.000 through employment. 5 clients successfully made home purchases. Income Debt • Benefits £3.370.000 • £137.700 • Extra Income £127.552 • Employment £200.000 • Grand Total £3.753.000 • Voluntary Hours 3000 • Volunteers Value £45.000 (min wage) Outcomes frequently achieved ~~|[|]~~ A reduction in physical Improved communication skills Economically better off health problems Improved job search skills Increased ability to budget & pay Knowledge of benefits and entitlements bills A greater feeling of selfAn ability to give something Increased self confidence esteem, self-worth, and back to the community value ~~————~~ Positive Outcomes (Theory of change) Health behaviour; Reduced physical debt, employment stress or sub-standard housing At ude and Self -perception: Reduced debt or domestic violence or inadequate housing, or being taken advantage of or knowing rules-regulation Knowledge and Skills: Increased self-confidence, Increased knowledge of benefits, local services Circumstance: Increased job-search skills, service users achieve more opportunities, more service users access suitable accommodation, decent employment, in-work benefits, ~~—~~ NHS appointments secured
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Migrant Workers Sefton Community Registered Charity 1155318
Services Facilities Referrals
| Office opening 5/6 days a week. Translators/Interpreters in 7 languages Helpline Appointments Drop – In – Sessions Letters of merit family Law Assessments for accredited ESOL Work certificate Referrals 1 Full time, 5 Part-time 4 Volunteer staff |
4 Desks 4 PC’s Private interview rooms Telephone and internet access Printing facilities Helpline |
Home for Ukrainian team Refugee women Probation office Talbot family (Early Help) Sefton Council departments CAB Job center Food banks Various Sefton charities Salvation Army Local schools & Family center’s Light for Life, Sefton advocacy Sefton social care & social workers |
|---|---|---|
Benefits of funded activities
Our Approach
in resolving the Immigration Pre-settled & Settled issues was to achieve a certificate in ‘Immigration Advice OISC Level 1’ enabling Mwsc staff to support clients completing the ‘Pre-Settled & Settled Status certificates online including the facial ID process for Gov.uk, assisting clients to create Gov.uk ‘Profiles’ enabling clients to view the legal codes. Gov.UK online ‘Profiles’ was an unexpected added process migrants needed to complete to access a legal code. 85% of clients were unaware of the Gov.UK ‘Profile’ required for Employment or interviews for employment. 30% of clients do not have the IT skills to complete this legally required code.
The BRP/E-Visa will change to an UPE. 5[th] April 2025 Ukrainian permission to extend visa’s needs to be completed online the extensions will extend by 18 months.
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Mwsc is currently engaged in studying for the level 2 ‘Immigration Advice OISC Level 2’, level 1 achieved.
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Benefits & Settled Status clients proved to be more difficult to deal with by telephone as clients needed to log into Government online services completing facial ID and uploading documentation. 80% of clients struggled to complete applications due to poor English and IT skills.
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Employment advice includes HMRC issues - Self-Employment applications completing SelfAssessment, Employment & CVs. Arranging interviews with required Gov.Uk codes.
Debt issues are resolved by negotiations with creditors process includes authorities from client combined with income and expenditure sheet for creditor agreeing affordable payment plans, creating workable budgets.
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Food vouchers and referrals to local food banks provided to clients who are struggling along with food deliveries. Mwsc uses discretion to allocate supermarket vouchers to clients in desperate critical needs.
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Legal & police issues are dealt with on the day by referral or reporting.
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Migrant Workers Sefton Community Registered Charity 1155318
Data 2024
The following is a brief snapshot of the work completed 2024
| Benefits advice & applications | 445,including250 universal credit applications,44 housing& council tax |
|---|---|
| Legal & Police issues | 97 including,51 Legal & Solicitors,6 hate crime,12 familylaw,3 Small claims |
| Housingissues | 128 including6 homeless & 34 Private Landlords,4 mortgage,55 Social housing |
| Debt | 79 including19 Hmrc,9 Benefits,22 Utilities,17 Bailiffs |
| Surplus food collections-deliveries | 4. tons collected/sorted/delivered from local supermarkets |
| Employment issues | 58 including,findingemployment for 9 unemployed citizens,20 CVs,22 interviews |
| Immigration & Brexit | 682 including 179 settled status applications, 15 naturalization, 11 citizenship, 101 Ukrainian,9 leave UK |
Ukrainian, 9 leave UK
Clients 1075 Including 525 new clients including 109 Ukrainians Children 161 Calls in 1058 Calls out 1491 Female 523 Male 542 ~~———~~ Food pickup – Sorted – Delivered 4 Tons Achievements: Achievements Included the engagement of the migrant community A8 Other clients include Asylum Seekers & Refugees • Czech Republic • Lithuania. • Ukraine • Asian • Estonia • Poland. • Russian • Afghanistan • Hungary • Slovakia. • African • Iran ~~TT~~ • Latvia • Slovenia. • Chinese • Nepalese • 2019 Achieved ‘Immigration Advice OISC Level 1’ ~~- .~~ • World cake integration day event took place on the 29th of April 2017 at the Salvation Army Centre this was attended by 350 attendees (volunteers, migrants, the MP, the Mayor, councillors, and representatives of various organizations). The event was in collaboration with Edgehill Media University department and Sefton Council.
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Mwsc is a 3rd party reporting center for Merseyside police
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Members of Sefton Operation’s town hall committee
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Loan shark video in partnership with Sefton Council https://vimeo.com/161895506
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June 2017 Included in the publication ‘Guidance developed by School Readiness Service Early Years providers Sefton Council> the project target was Sefton and will be rolled throughout Merseyside if proved successful.
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Working in collaboration with Merseyside Community Foundation providing clients for the magazine article in Vital Signs 2019-20 Community Foundation for Merseyside invited Year Third Sector Trends Study. Study shows how the structure and dynamics of the third sector responds to political, social and economic change.
Significant Outcomes
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Community cohesion positively impacted upon, as various citizens mixed from a range of cultures
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Social support was very evident as clients and volunteers work together in positive ways The charity does not advertise its service, mostly people hear of the service through word-of-mouth recommendation and referrals from statutory and voluntary agencies.
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Migrant Workers Sefton Community
Registered Charity 1155318
- Where appropriate the charity signposts or refers clients to other agencies, both in the statutory, legal & voluntary sectors.
The charity is extremely grateful to its volunteers without whom it could not carry out its activities.
Benefits & employment income breakdown
| Pension Credit £9.000 avg ~~OG~~ |
x 30 ~~OG~~ |
£270.000 ~~OG~~ |
|---|---|---|
| State Pension £4.000 avg ~~OSC~~ |
x 15 ~~OSC~~ |
£60.000 ~~OSC~~ |
| Carer’s £3.500 avg ~~OSC~~ ~~OSS~~ |
x 3 ~~OSC~~ ~~OSS~~ |
£10.500 ~~OSC~~ ~~OSS~~ |
| PIP £8.000 avg ~~Ca~~ |
x 23 ~~Ca~~ |
£184.000 ~~Ca~~ |
| DLA ~~Oa~~ |
X 5 ~~Oa~~ |
£25.000 ~~Oa~~ |
| Universal Credit £12.000 avg ~~Oa~~ ~~Oa~~ |
x 250 ~~Oa~~ ~~Oa~~ |
£3.000.000 ~~Oa~~ ~~Oa~~ |
| Sure start £500 ~~Oa~~ |
X 2 ~~Oa~~ |
£1.000 ~~Oa~~ |
| Maternity £8.000 ~~Oa~~ |
X 4 ~~Oa~~ |
£32.000 ~~Oa~~ |
| Child Benefit £1.200 ~~Oa~~ ~~OSS~~ |
x 20 ~~Oa~~ ~~OSS~~ |
£24.000 ~~Oa~~ ~~OSS~~ |
| Housing Benefit £6.000 avg ~~OSS~~ |
x 18 ~~OSS~~ ~~ee~~ |
£108.000 ~~OSS~~ |
| Attendance allowance £4.899 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
x 4 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
£19.200 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
| Council Tax £1.500 avg ~~ee~~ |
x 26 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
£49.000 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
| Benefits Total ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ |
= ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
£3.370.000 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
| Employment full time ~~ee~~ ~~a~~ |
X 33 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
£200,000 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
| Extra Income ~~a~~ |
~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
£127.552 |
| TOTAL ~~a~~ ~~ee~~ |
~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ |
£3.697.552 ~~ee~~ |
Mwsc organisational development challenges included
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completing registration forms for telephone clients due to language barriers • Counting indirect clients and children
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When clients have received ‘Settled Status’ certificates they falsely believe that they do not have to take any further actions, which is incorrect. The ‘Settled Status’ certificates must be updated each time the client renews passports or ID. This process involves relogging into Gov.Uk, facial scanning and inserting new information. Failure to do this, will result in clients not being able to renter the UK in the future. Clients need to be informed of this additional process that has been added to the UK systems. Clients also need to log into Gov.Uk to secure share codes for employments purposes
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Understaffed
Funding Grants 2024
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Migrant Workers Sefton Community Registered Charity 1155318
| 20.03.24 | P H Holts | £13.000 |
|---|---|---|
| 02.02.24 | Lottery | 18.720 |
| 16.05.24 | Kens Emporium | £500 |
| 24.01.24 | Abbingdon Global | £500 |
| 25.01.24 | Mayor’s fund | £570 |
| 27.09.24 | Elanor Rathbone | £3.000 |
| 27.12.24 | Sefton Council | £20.000 |
| 03.10.24 | John Moore’s foundation | £5.000 |
| 08.10.24 | Financial Planning MFC | £1500 |
| 13.09.24 | ACC MFC | £598 |
Beneficiary demographics
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Number direct beneficiaries reached face to face clients Indirect family members have not been counted.
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BAME beneficiaries 98% of clients
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Disabled beneficiaries’ clients attend appointments in wheelchairs or with disabilities.
| Ages | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 0-17 | 6.7% |
| 18-24 | 5% |
| 25-64 | 73.9% |
| 65 | 8.40% |
| EU CLIENTS | 72.3% |
| OTHER WORLD CLIENTS | 27.7% |
Case studies 2024-2025
.
Mr A Z X offender received a deportation letter a month before release from a 12-month prison sentence. Client had no income or savings and was unable to engage a solicitor. Clients’ family made an appointment with Mwsc to discuss the situation and make an appointment for the client the week of his release.
Client needed to lodge an appeal within three days of his release or face deportation. Appeal included evidenced documentation from his X partner, family members and employers that he had supported his three children with time and child maintenance also being a trusted member in his employment.
If the client was to be deported the family would be in financial difficulty and the children would be deprived of a father who they loved and spent time with them every week.
Client was collecting his children for the weekend when he observed his X Partner being abused by her new boyfriend upsetting his children. The altercation became fraught, and the police were called to the scene.
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Migrant Workers Sefton Community Registered Charity 1155318
As time was so short Mwsc launched the appeal information on account, as the home-office did not have the information that our client had three children born in the UK and he was supporting his children, we supported all the evidence we collected. Explaining that we were not legally trained and would locate a solicitor asap who would write to them with a complete appeal. Home office accepted the Mwsc letter.
Mwsc made 15 + calls contacting immigration solicitors asking them if they would accept at least 4 staggered payments to clear the bill as his employer had saved his job and he would start work immediately. A solicitor was contacted and found in Preston.
In 2025 client’s deportation order was overturned.
“Client returned to the Mwsc with his letter and a bag of coffee-tea and sweets for the office to say thank yo. “(Mr A Z 2025)
Setled Status informaton
The BRP/E-Visa will change to an UPE. 5[th] April 2025 Ukrainian permission to extend visa’s needs to be completed online the extensions will extend by 18 months.
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Original deadline to apply for Pre - Settled Status 1[st] January 2021 this was extended to 1[st] July 2021, Mwsc continued completing application’s up to 8[th] August 2023 for family members.
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Clients who received pre-settled status will be entitled to Settled status certificates up to 7[th] August 2028.
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The rules around the Settled Status are complicated and need careful consideration when supporting clients, Mwsc holds level 1 immigration certificate with Home-Office and is studying for level 2.
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Ukrainians who have entered the UK on Sponsored Visa’s are now in their own right Sponsoring family members to the UK.
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Dependant family members can apply for Settled Status with proof of financial documents, NHS letters, or in the case of family member who is sick in native country all medical evidence translated into English by Notary.
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Children are entitled to Settled Status.
Mwsc Clients Debt 2024 pie chart
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2024-DEBT
Written off/Mistaken
57.8; 44% Payment plan
72.9; 56%
2024 Stats 1/3
300
250
200
150
CLIENT
100
EXTRA ACTIONS
50
0
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Benefit AppealsState Pension PIP ESA C/ACWTCAttendanceMaternityCouncil TaxTax RebateSelf EmployedPrivate pensions Nino
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Migrant Workers Sefton Community Registered Charity 1155318
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----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2/3
120
80
40 CLIENTS
0 - thet... h tad ot EXTRA
2024 3/3
600
500
400
300
200 New Clients
100 EXTRA
0
Bank Advice FOS CV Interviews Police Legal/SolicitorsRoad Traffic AccidentsHousing AdviceSocial Housing EvictionDis-repair
Debt UtilitiesDebt Benefits DebtFoodPantryS Care/S WorkersSchool AdmissionsNHSStudent LoansImmigration adviceLeave UKNaturalisaton Uk passportVisa CitizenshipBlue badge
----- End of picture text -----
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Migrant Workers Sefton Community
Registered Charity 1155318
HOUSING REPORT UPDATE
y AN= PROPERTY 09 PANDA >
Email: admin@propertypanda.co.uk www.propertypanda.co.uk
MWSC, Suite 5, Shakespeare House, 37-39 Shakespeare Street, Southport,
Merseyside, PR8 5AB
Report on Housing Issues in the Sefton Migrant Community
For the past 2-years, demand for housing has outstripped the supply of property stock available. As migrants have little in the way of previous references and must comply with UK migrant rules, properties advertised by agencies, tend to demand higher rents from migrants for less decent accommodation due to the need for housing from this community.
Ukrainians do not have the necessary references and are charged a higher premium for deposits, month in advance and rents.
Such ethics within the residential letting sector has left many migrants vulnerable, resulting in them paying overpriced rents and dependent on unfit homes. It is also in my opinion that many migrants are not aware of their rights under the Housing Act 1988, and therefore do not exercise their rights, or complain to landlords and agencies for fear they will be evicted.
Kind Regards,
Madalena Penny Director
8 | 8
Charity Number: 1155318 Migrant Workers Sefton Community Unaudited Accounts For The Year Ended 28th February 2025
INDEPENDEKfEXAMINERSREPORT To Mlgrant WoFker5 Sefton Communlty I report to the tnstees on my examination of the accounts of Migrant Workers Sefton Communityfor the year ended 28th February 2025. Re5ponslbllltles and Basls of Report As the tharities trustees of Migrant Worker5 Sefton Community you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities A 2011 {'the 2011 ACV). I report Fn respect of my examination of the Migrdnt Workers Sefton Community accounts as cartied oirt under section 145 of the 2011 ACL In fdrrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5}(b) of the Act. Independent Examinerfs Statsment l am a member of the Instltirte of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and l am bound by the ICAEW Code of Ethics. Accounts preparatlon services were provided by Sefton CVS, my employer, and l as examiner have applied the ethical stsndard to my work. I have completed my examlnation. I confinn that no materfal matters have come to my attention in connection with examination giving me (ause to believe that in any material respect." l. Accounting records were not kept in respect of Migrant Worker Sefton Community as required by section 130 of the Act: or 2. The accounts do not accord with those records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts reached. lan Wright FCA CommunityAccountant Sefton Council ft)r Voluntary Service 3rd Floor, Sulte 3b, Burlington House, Crosby Road North, Wateiloo, Liverpool. L22 OLG Signed:
Mlgrant Workers Sefton Community Unrestricted Funds Restrirted Funds Totsl 2025 rotsl 2024 Recelpts John Moores Foundatlon Open Philanthropy Sefton MBC Communlty Foundation Investment Fund Big Lottery Fund Donations receivable Abbingdon Global PH Holt Foundation Elizabeth Rathbone Trust Mayor of Sefton Fund 5,000 10,000 20,000 20,1 2.098 21,147 500 18,720 500 13,IX)O 3.000 23,000 23,(NJO 570 570 Total Recelpts 500 74.815 75.315 70220 Payments Rent payable Sessional fees Food Vouchers Gifts Travel Computer expenses Fitness Projett Accountsncy Insurance Cleaning Postage Stationery Telephone and internet Refreshments Total Payments 2,510 46.421 1.262 139 126 490 2,510 48,839 1,262 139 2,418 2.400 55.348 300 120 610 100 156 202 38 29 159 627 67 138 156 202 31 156 203 21 54 627 63 164 639 82 3.525 51.720 55,245 S966 Net Recelpts For Perlod {3,025) 23.095 20,070 10255 Net Cash Funds BIF 8.632 32.578 41.216 30.961 Net Cash Funds C/F 55.673 61.286 41,216
Migrant Workers Sefton Community Total 2025 Total 2024 Monetary Assets Cash at Bank Cash in hand 61,630 (344) 61.286 40,369 847 41,216 Cash In bank is represented by: Unrestricted funds Sefton MBC PH Holt Foundation John Moores Foundation Main Grants Eleanor Rathbone 5.598 18,595 12,228 1,628 23,237 61.286 The accounts have been prepared under the Receipts and Payments b3SIS. These financial statements have been approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: Chalr ofTrustees: Ei SfvutOD Date: 11. IO'"1016
Charity Number: 1155318 Migrant Workers Sefton Community Unaudited Accounts For The Year Ended 28th February 2025
INDEPENDEKfEXAMINERSREPORT To Mlgrant WoFker5 Sefton Communlty I report to the tnstees on my examination of the accounts of Migrant Workers Sefton Communityfor the year ended 28th February 2025. Re5ponslbllltles and Basls of Report As the tharities trustees of Migrant Worker5 Sefton Community you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities A 2011 {'the 2011 ACV). I report Fn respect of my examination of the Migrdnt Workers Sefton Community accounts as cartied oirt under section 145 of the 2011 ACL In fdrrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5}(b) of the Act. Independent Examinerfs Statsment l am a member of the Instltirte of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and l am bound by the ICAEW Code of Ethics. Accounts preparatlon services were provided by Sefton CVS, my employer, and l as examiner have applied the ethical stsndard to my work. I have completed my examlnation. I confinn that no materfal matters have come to my attention in connection with examination giving me (ause to believe that in any material respect." l. Accounting records were not kept in respect of Migrant Worker Sefton Community as required by section 130 of the Act: or 2. The accounts do not accord with those records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts reached. lan Wright FCA CommunityAccountant Sefton Council ft)r Voluntary Service 3rd Floor, Sulte 3b, Burlington House, Crosby Road North, Wateiloo, Liverpool. L22 OLG Signed:
Mlgrant Workers Sefton Community Unrestricted Funds Restrirted Funds Totsl 2025 rotsl 2024 Recelpts John Moores Foundatlon Open Philanthropy Sefton MBC Communlty Foundation Investment Fund Big Lottery Fund Donations receivable Abbingdon Global PH Holt Foundation Elizabeth Rathbone Trust Mayor of Sefton Fund 5,000 10,000 20,000 20,1 2.098 21,147 500 18,720 500 13,IX)O 3.000 23,000 23,(NJO 570 570 Total Recelpts 500 74.815 75.315 70220 Payments Rent payable Sessional fees Food Vouchers Gifts Travel Computer expenses Fitness Projett Accountsncy Insurance Cleaning Postage Stationery Telephone and internet Refreshments Total Payments 2,510 46.421 1.262 139 126 490 2,510 48,839 1,262 139 2,418 2.400 55.348 300 120 610 100 156 202 38 29 159 627 67 138 156 202 31 156 203 21 54 627 63 164 639 82 3.525 51.720 55,245 S966 Net Recelpts For Perlod {3,025) 23.095 20,070 10255 Net Cash Funds BIF 8.632 32.578 41.216 30.961 Net Cash Funds C/F 55.673 61.286 41,216
Migrant Workers Sefton Community Total 2025 Total 2024 Monetary Assets Cash at Bank Cash in hand 61,630 (344) 61.286 40,369 847 41,216 Cash In bank is represented by: Unrestricted funds Sefton MBC PH Holt Foundation John Moores Foundation Main Grants Eleanor Rathbone 5.598 18,595 12,228 1,628 23,237 61.286 The accounts have been prepared under the Receipts and Payments b3SIS. These financial statements have been approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by: Chalr ofTrustees: Ei SfvutOD Date: 11. IO'"1016