2021-12-31-accounts - St Albans For Refugees

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Charity number: 1167679

Company number: 09899830

(England and Wales)

St Albans for Refugees

Report of the Trustees and the Unaudited Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2021

St Albans for Refugees Contents Page For the year ended 31 December 2021

Report of the Trustees	1 to 3
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees	4
Statement of Financial Activities	5
Statement of Financial Position	6
Notes to the Financial Statements	7 to 9
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities	10

St Albans for Refugees Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2021

The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2020. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).

Chair's report

This has been a quiet year for St Albans for Refugees (StAR) due to Covid-19 restrictions, but when permitted we continued the receiving and distribution of donations and putting in place strong foundations for the future which will allow us to do more in the years ahead to support refugees around the world.

It is important to remember that none of what we achieved in the year would have been possible without the ongoing support of a strong trustee group and the amazing team of volunteers who helped in the year, some of whom gave an hour and some of whom gave lots of hours, but all of whom are crucial to the continuing work of StAR.

StAR is in a good position to continue its work in the future and we look forward to working with our volunteers in the future.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Our charity objects, as laid out in our Memorandum and Articles, are:

To collect and distribute emergency aid for refugees from war, oppression, natural disasters, climate change, and those being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, or membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

The relief of financial hardship amongst those granted refugee status and their dependants living (temporarily or permanently) in St Albans and the surrounding area.

To preserve and protect the physical and mental health of those granted refugee status and their dependents.

To advance the education and training of those granted refugee status and their dependents in need thereof so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within a new community.

To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum.

The provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of those persons who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances.

The relief of sickness and financial hardship amongst those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom or who are refugees, and who reside in St Albans and the surrounding area.

The relief of unemployment of those granted refugee status and those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, and in particular St Albans and the surrounding area, by the provision of vocational and skills training, advice and support.

Objectives and aims

The trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.

St Albans for Refugees Report of the Trustees Continued For the year ended 31 December 2021

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

St Albans for Refugees (StAR) had a quiet year in 2021, primarily due to Covid-19 and logistical problems caused by Brexit. However, we were able to provide aid in the following areas:

France – We were able to travel to Calais and Dunkirk, distributing clothing, tents and sanitary products. We helped with food preparation and distribution of meals and we provided some telephones to refugees.
Greece – We co-operated with an aid distribution company to send aid in the form of clothing, sanitary products and toys to refugee camps in Greece.
Syria - We co-operated with an aid distribution company to send aid in the form of clothing, sanitary products and toys to refugee camps in Greece.
Afghanistan/Pakistan – We provided financial assistance to Afghan refugees who arrived in Pakistan in August 2021. We also provided clothing and other essential items to Afghan refugees arriving in the UK.
Asylum Seekers – We have a Memorandum of Understanding to provide clothing and other essential items to asylum seekers in a local hotel.

Community outreach

We were able to run our Reverse Father Christmas event at the St Albans Museum in December. The event allows everyone child to see Father Christmas free of charge but they are usually asked to bring a present for distribution to refugees. For 2021 we asked for very specific items. St Albans Museum have invited us back for 2022.

Work with other groups

We worked with management teams in a local asylum hotel to provide clothing and other essential items to asylum seekers located locally.

We worked with a local organisation in Pakistan to provide assistance to Afghan refugees arriving into Pakistan

We worked with Distribute Aid to ensure that we were able to distribute items to Greece, Syria and France. Worked with our Volunteers – When permitted between lockdowns we continued to work with volunteers in the St Albans community who have helped to ensure that at least once a week our garages were open for donations and sorting.

Political pressure - We have worked with other organisations to keep up the political pressure on the UK and European governments to work to resolve refugee concerns.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

StAR's finances consist of a general unrestricted fund. This fund comes from donations and fundraising. These donations are funded through our bank account, Justgiving, Paypal and the occasional cash donation. StAR has also noted an arbitrary figure of £25,000 in respect of donated goods. Due to Covid-19 we were unable to distribute all donated goods this year and we were left with stock to be distributed in the future.

Reserves

At the end of December 2021 there was a reserve of £18,458, which includes stock of £15,000.

Going concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

For the year ended 31 December 2021

St Albans for Refugees Report of the Trustees Continued

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of St Albans for Refugees, a company (no. 09899830) limited by guarantee incorporated on 2 December 2015.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Name of Charity St Albans for Refugees Charity registration number 1167679 Company registration number 09899830 Principal address C/o Needham Accountancy Ltd Berkeley House Barnet Road London Colney Hertfordshire AL2 1BG Trustees The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows: Elizabeth Needham Farhat Zia Deborah Playford Jacqueline Freeman Elizabeth Lincoln Independent examiners Catherine Borel-Saladin Bankers Metro Bank St Peter Street St Albans Hertfordshire AL1 3ED

Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by

............................................................................. 09/08/2022 Elizabeth Needham Trustee

St Albans for Refugees Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2021

I report on the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2021, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Statement of Financial Position and the related notes.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is required.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charitable company and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:

to keep accounting records in accordance with 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006; and
• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of section 394 and 395 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities

have not been met, or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts

Catherine Borel-Saladin

............................................................................. Catherine Borel-Saladin ACMA

09 August 2022

St Albans for Refugees Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 December 2021

Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Other trading activities 3 Total Expenditure on: Raising funds 4 Charitable activities 5/6 Total Net Income Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Funds 2021 2020 £ £ 32,555 32,180 0 0 32,555 32,180 (1,623) (1,597) (15,150) (28,538) (16,773) (30,135) 15,782 2,045 15,782 2,045

St Albans for Refugees Statement of Financial Position For the year ended 31 December 2021

Current assets Stock Cash at bank and in hand Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Net assets The funds of the charity Unrestricted income funds Total funds	Notes 8	2021 15,000 3,458 18,458 18,458 18,458 18,458 18,458	2020 2,676
			2,676 2,676
			2,676
			2,676
			2,676

For the year ended 31 December 2021 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476,
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:

…………………………………………………………………… Elizabeth Needham Trustee

09 August 2022

St Albans for Refugees Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2021

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘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) (effective 1 January 2015)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.

St Albans for Refugees meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

Going concern

2. Income from donations and legacies

Unrestricted funds Donations received Donated goods and services	2021 £ 7,555 25,000 32,555	2020 £ 12,180 20,000
		32,180

3. Income earned from other activities

	2021	2020
	£	£
Unrestricted funds
Fund raising events	0	0
	0	0
Expenditure on generating donations and legacies
	2021	2020
	£	£
Unrestricted funds
Donations	0	0
Support Services	1,623	1,597
	1,623	1,597

4. Expenditure on generating donations and legacies

St Albans for Refugees Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 December 2021

5. Costs of charitable activities by fund type

Unrestricted funds Supporting Asylum Seekers in UK Supporting Refugees in France Supporting Refugees in Greece Supporting Refugees in Syria Logistic cost of goods to Cape Verde Supporting Refugees in Pakistan

6. Costs of charitable activities by activity type

	Activities undertaken directly	Support Costs	2021
	£	£	£
Supporting Asylum Seekers in UK	6,500	383	6,883
Supporting Refugees in France	4,500	383	4,883
Supporting Refugees in Greece	870	383	1,253
Supporting Refugees in Syria	780	384	1,164
Logistic cost of goods to Cape Verde	0	90	90
Supporting Refugees in Pakistan	2,500	0	2,500
	15,150	1,623	16,773

7. Analysis of support costs

Travel Finance General Admin Costs	General Support Costs £ 39 1,584
	1,623

St Albans for Refugees Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 December 2021

8. Movement in funds

. Movement in funds
Unrestricted funds General Brought forward General 2021	Incoming Resources £ 32,555	Outgoing Resources £ 16,773	Balance at 31/12/2021 £ 2,676 15,782
			18,458

Purpose of unrestricted Funds

General

Unrestricted funds are spent or applied at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity’s purposes.

9. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted funds General General	Net current assets / (liabilities) £ 18,458 18,458	Net Assets £ 18,458
		18,458

St Albans for Refugees Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2021

INCOME AND ENDOWMENT Donations and legacies Donations Donated goods and services Other trading activities Fund raising events Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Raising donations and legacies Donations Charitable activities Supporting Asylum Seekers in UK Supporting Refugees in France Supporting Refugees in Greece Supporting Refugees in Syria Supporting Refugees in Pakistan SUPPORT COST Travel Finance General Admin Costs Total resources expended Net Income	2021 £ 7,555 25,000 32,555 0 0 32,555 0 0 6,500 4,500 870 780 2,500 (15,150) 0 (39) (1,584) (1,623) (16,773) 15,782	2020 £ 12,180 20,000 32,180 0 0 32,180 0 0 (15,478) (6,050) (28,538) (191) (203) (1,203) (1,597) (30,135) 2,045