ANNUA REPQ 2020-21 j,. .pf AJ After ' **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** ## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT** After18 is a Leicester based charity, charity number: 1158210. It is registered at Saxby Street, Leicester LE2 0ND. There are four Trustees: - [Sheila Mosley – Chair ] Our current Trustee team is diverse, and we have a range of experiences between us, but we seek Trustees with skills in the field of human resources, and with experience of fund-raising. The search for such people continues. - [Najat Ali – Treasurer ] - [Helen Everett ] - [Ashraf Hamzah. ] We have three staff members: The inspiration behind After18 is its Coordinator, Alison Birch, who manages the project. In so doing she responds to the needs of the young people and provides direction to the work, in liaison with Trustees. She is supervised by the Chair of Trustees. During this year, the Coronavirus pandemic took a hold and, in response, the country was put into varying degrees of lockdown from March 2020. While lockdown restrictions in other areas of the country were relaxed, Leicester remained in special measures throughout. This effectively has had a major impact on the work of After18, closing the building where many of our activities had taken place, and limiting what could be offered. Project Worker, Michele Benn runs the Education Project. Project Assistant, Ramela Mills supports our team of volunteers. In response the work of After18 moved online, taking advantage of the communication technologies provided → by Zoom and WhatsApp. **Page 1** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** **“We wish to express our great appreciation of the dedication and creativity the team has given to meeting the needs of the young people at this time.”** The Trustees acknowledge that this has been an incredibly turbulent, demanding and frustrating time, and we wish to express our great appreciation of the dedication and creativity the team has given to meeting the needs of the young people at this time. We extend our appreciation to all the staff and volunteers for their continued support. We recognise too that the pandemic has had a significant impact on the lives of young people who would usually engage with After18, and applaud their tenacity and understanding. As we approached the end of 2020, we were very thankful to receive confirmation from the Tudor Trust that they would continue to support our work going forward. We wish to thank all those individuals and organisations who have made donations or otherwise funded After18 through this year. Trustees confirm that they have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. ## **Sheila Mosley** **Chair, on behalf of After18 Trustees. July 2021** **Page 2** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** ## **REVIEW OF THE YEAR** ## **By Alison Birch, Coordinator** This year has had unique challenges! In March 2020 the country went into lockdown and Leicester remained with significant restrictions for the whole year. Our venue at St Martin’s has been closed the entire time and we had to significantly and repeatedly adapt our operations according to changing restrictions. Despite all of these changes we have been able to be flexible in delivering our objectives: ## **Improving educational opportunities for young refugees** Our busy drop-in was unable to operate this year but our volunteers were adaptable and within weeks we had a full online programme of small group-study sessions for homework support. These sessions continued for the whole year. Thanks to some additional funding and advocacy, we were able to support students to access laptops and internet connections so they could stay in touch with their colleges and participate in online lessons. In the autumn in line with youth work guidance, we were able to open face-to→ face at a new venue for small support **Page 3** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** groups focusing on social interaction and improving English for new arrivals. In the summer exams were cancelled and there was much lobbying to be done to ensure a fair process for private candidates to access grades and to progress to their next courses. In November the students we entered as private candidates were finally able to sit the exams. We entered six students for GCSE Arabic, Urdu and Persian. All students achieved the top 8 or 9 grade. Also for the first time we entered a student for English language GCSE and were very pleased with the grade achieved. ## **Increasing skills, knowledge and understanding to participate in life in the UK** During the pandemic staff have been disseminating and explaining NHS information about how to protect themselves and others from Covid as well as information about government restrictions and rules/laws. We also distributed hygiene packs to our service users to ensure they had access to masks and hand sanitiser. A small group of young people have contributed to Leicester’s Young People’s Council, and two young women presented at an online conference about their experiences of climate change. One of the girls also inspired a competition run by Sustrans, the cycling charity, where students were invited to design a hair style or **Page 4** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** ## **Improving social support networks** ## **Encouraging confidence in own cultural identity** During the national lockdowns After18 was sourcing information on health and restrictions in the home languages to share with the young people so they were fully aware of the restrictions. When the lockdown applied only to Leicester, a group of young people worked together to write and translate local information into the young people’s community languages. We shared this on our website and disseminated it through our WhatsApp groups and social media to ensure everyone understood the situation. During Ramadan we still managed to provide Iftar for young people but this year a home cooked meal was dropped off to them and we ate together over Zoom. **Page 5** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** **----- Start of picture text -----**
DIANA’S
STORY
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When I first arrived in the UK, I wasn’t sure how I was going to apply for university. The problem was that I had no proof of my previous qualifications from school and university. At first, I tried to handle things on my own, but that didn’t work out. That is why I did some research on the internet and found out about After18. After18 planned numerous activities like drama classes, painting, photography, and drum classes were available as well. We went to a live orchestra concert at De Montfort Hall which I enjoyed very much. I enjoy listening to classical music and I love reading books. Alison gifted me books on philosophy and religion and they were very enlightening. And even in the difficult period of lockdown, Alison still checked to make sure I was doing fine. Finally for the first time I had a sparkle of hope for my future. I contacted the organisation and spoke to Alison and since then she has supported me through everything. It was lovely meeting all the other people from all over the world and learning more about their culture and background. I felt at home **“Now I’m studying, and I see a bright future ahead of me.”** I regularly met with Alison to discuss everything and see what could be done. We considered every possible option from A-levels to all different alternatives to apply for university. and not like a stranger. Everyone was very kind and welcomed me with open arms. I am grateful for everything; without the support I would not have been able to achieve my goals. Alison was prepared to give me a chance because she believed in me. She encouraged me to keep on trying even though I was let down at the beginning. Finding a way to apply for university wasn’t easy, especially because I had no way of showing my qualifications. But with the help and support of Alison, I was accepted into Leicester University and I was able to receive the scholarship. I cannot express in words how grateful I am for everything. In the future, I hope to be able to help others who were in the same situation as me, because I know how crucial support and help are in those moments of life. A colleague of Alison also instructed me on how to write a CV that would be useful for my university application. Now I’m studying and I see a bright future ahead of me. **Page 6** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** ## **FINANCES** |**INCOME**|| |---|---| |Grants|£47,995| |Grants to individuals|£0| |Donations|£4,842| |Fundraising activities|£0| |Gift Aid and Interest|£527| |Job Retention Scheme|£1,015| |**Total**|**£54,379**| |**EXPENDITURE**|| |---|---| |Activities|£1,430| |Core running|£4,519| |Equipment|£948| |Grants to individuals|£91| |Staffng|£39,955| |Development|£4,300| |**Total**|**£51,243**| We carry forward some restricted income to continue to deliver on funded projects and our reserves to secure ongoing running of the organisation. If you would like our full financial report please contact us. **Page 7** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** ## **GOVERNANCE INFORMATION** ## **After18 Reserves Policy** ## **After18 is a Charity Incorporated Organisation (CIO)** The Trustees have established a Reserves Policy. The purpose of the policy is to safeguard the charity’s service commitment in the event of delays or shortfall in grant funding or other income and to protect the charity against risk and uncertainty. The Trustees review the policy annually and have agreed to aim to maintain unrestricted reserves at the equivalent of three months’ running costs. At 31/03/2021, unrestricted reserves were £18,060, equivalent to four months’ running costs. This includes a designated amount of £12,500 for a post for strengthening volunteer support. If an emergency arose, both the unrestricted reserves and designated reserves could be called upon. The objects of the CIO are: - [To act as a resource for young people, ] mainly up to the age of 25, who do not have appropriate family support, including but not limited to providing information, support, assistance and activities as a means of developing their knowledge, skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society. - [To advance the education of the ] public in general and raise awareness about the issues relating to young people in transition to adulthood including young asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Main activities this year were: - [Education project: including online ] English Lessons, homework support, additional qualifications and advice and advocacy - [Young Women’s Group ] _Date policy reviewed: 6 September 2021_ - [Online arts/sports activities.] **Page 8** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** ## **ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS** **We are grateful to the funders who contributed to our work in 2020/21, namely:** We are also grateful to the following organisations who have generously made accommodation available to enable us to work with young people: - [Barrow Cadbury Trust ] - [Charity Aid Foundation ] - [Choose Love ] - [Lloyds Bank Foundation ] - [Bishop Street Methodist Church ] - [Christians Aware ] - [The Greater Meeting Unitarian Chapel ] - [National Emergency Fund ] - [The Tudor Trust ] - [Vicars Relief Fund ] Also for their commitment and support for our activities: - [The Curator Educator ] - [Charnwood Arts ] - [DMU Local ] - [Heath Lane Academy ] - [Ian Calcutt ] - [Leicester City Football Club in the ] Community - [Leicester City of Sanctuary ] - [Joss McAuley Forest School ] - [Oadby Trinity Methodist Church ] - [Phosphorus Theatre ] And a big thank you to all our volunteers for contributing expertise, skills and time to enable the young people to fulfil their potential. This report and images were originated by After18 volunteers. **Page 9** **After18 Annual Report 2020-21** ## **ABOUT US** **Trustees:** - **[Sheila Mosley ]** - **[Helen Everett ]** - **[Ashraf Hamzah ]** - **[Najat Ali ]** **After18** **2 Saxby Street Leicester LE2 0ND** - **Telephone 07851 022125 Twitter @after18uk Instagram @after18_uk Facebook/ After18Leicester www.after18.org.uk** **After18 helps unaccompanied young people in Leicester** **Page 10** I CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Afterf8 11S8210 Recei ts and ments accounts CC16a Ftsr the period from 0110412020 3110312021 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrfcted funds Re$tri¢ted lunds Endowment funds Total funds Last year loth• n•4r•#t ¢0 ¢h• nMrest£ toth• n•afVJt£ to th• n￿r•￿t£ Ic*the noarwt£ A1 R¢¢ei Grantfundin Twst 24.500 2.672 7,010 24.Sfy) 2,672 7,010 Iloyds B8rr¢)wCad￿ry Chanty Foundab Efflergency Cho¢tse Lov Donations Job Retention Scheme Grants lor Individual 3,965 4,ll41 4,842 4,391 1.015 10 366 GrfIAid $27 527 tots ss irfrcome AR) 5.369 48.010 54,379 41774 set an 8ee table . nve5tment 8a Total rne•ipts 5,369 49.010 54,379 ,774 A3Pa ments Core¢oEts siaffing 10 4.509 39.95$ IN30 91 4.30D 4,S19 39.955 1,430 gt 4,709 29.620 8.2S9 769 t*V￿QQ￿nt EquipmEnt Sub total 10 51.233 $1.243 46.163 A4 Asset and Investrnent Sub tot41 10 51.233 51,243 46,163 Net of r•Ceipt￿(payments) A5 Transfèrs between funds A6 C•$h lunds last year end Cash funds this yearend 5,359 2.223 3.136 2.389 16,124 21,483 32.209 29,986 48.333 51.469 50,722 48,333 CCXX R1 atr￿U￿ts ISSI 2211112021 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted fundB to ngarest£ Restricted funds Endowmgni luTrds to nearest £ Cat•gorle8 Detalls 81 Cash funds Grw 29.986 21.403 Total cash funds 21,483 29,986 Unrestdcted funds to É Restrfcted funil$ to noar•st £ Endowrnent funds lo nearest E Detsils Fund lowhlch c￿￿ent ￿lue Detall8 Costloptionaii 83 Investmènt 488et8 Fund towhich assèt ￿lart Currnnt val t)¢tail$ 84 Assets r•tain8d for tho charity's own use Fund to which r¢1• Amountduo When du• ional DÈto11$ BS Llabllltl•s Signed by one or iwo tnJ5tees on bfrha￿ of 811 the trustees Dalè of roval Signature Print Name 54ilLA ty1(SL&" CCXX R2 aLrounts ISSI 22111f2021 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Seclioii A Indepei)deTrt Exawifier 5 Report R•port to th• tru•t•• memb•rn of AfTcRI8 On •¢counts for the y•ar •nd•d 31/311031 Charlty no (If ¥nyl Ilf6alO Sot out on pag•• I ￿[#￿t to the trustB8s on my examlnation ofthe 8¢counts of the above ¢h8rity Ilhe Tru8t"l.for ￿ year endéd R•spon¥lbllld•s and bas1$ of r•port As the charivs trustè8s. y¢Ju are Tasponsible for the preparatlon ofthe aco)unts in acc4Jrdance the requirements of the Chariti'es Act 2011 Ilhe Acr). I report in resw* of my èxamination of the Trust's ac¢ounts card811 (xrt under seCt￿n 145 of the 2011 Act and in (gryng OLrt my exarnination, I have followed all the app4irable Dir8etions given by the Charity Comm¢38lon nder Sec1￿ 145(5Xbl of the Act. Independent £260,4YJO and l am qual￿0 IG3￿￿. Oelete I I Ifnot 8ppliGablo. I have Ccth￿9ted my examination. l o)nfirm that r¢0 matsrial Matte￿ have yne to my attenuon in wnnection wth the examinath￿ loth8r thyn that dlsclosed below'l vthi¢h gives me cause lo belie￿ that in. any matsrial th• accojnting rO￿T￿5 rb)t kept in acetydarKe *ith sert￿n 130 of th8 Charibes Act., or thè ac(¥Junts did not aowrd wlth the aco)undng re¢ords" or the è¢wunts did not coM￿Y the applica￿& rwjuirements con¢eming th8 fom and contanl of arLounts sot wt in the Charities (A(￿Unts and Rgportsl Regul8tsons 2008 other Ihan any rgquirement that the aCc￿Unts gwe a Irue and fairf Y￿¥ whth is not a matter x)sidered as part of an indepèndent examination. I have ￿ concems and have com6 a￿￿ m other matt8rB in ojntwli vthh the examination to vthith attention shoukj be drawn In this report in ordw to enab￿ a proper undèrstsnding of thè 8(xounts to be rethed. ' Please delete the worf$ the br8ekot$ rftheydo not 8ppIy. Slgn•d: 21 If Ekt R•hvant profo¥slonal qualincatlon{sl or body | A IER Oct 2018 {Ilany}: LEL Section 8 DisclosLirÈ Only complete if the ex8miner needs to highlight matenal Fnatters of concern Isa* CC32. Independent examination of dwnty accounts". diTgth)ns and guidance for examiners). Glv• h•rn brf•f d•tall$ of ny Item8 that tho examln•r wlsh•s to dlsclo8•. IER Oct 2018