Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: 1st of April 2023 Period start date To: 31st March 2024 Period end date
Charity name: Herts for Refugees
Charity registration number: 1167716
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | We collect vital aid to support asylum seekers and refugees wherever there is need. We undertake fundraising activities to support these vulnerable people and to provide donations to grass roots organisations working on the ground with asylum seekers, primarily in France, Ukraine and neighbouring countries, Lebanon or wherever there is need. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Collection of items donated for asylum seekers and refugees (clothing, shoes, hygiene products, sleeping bags, tents and other items as required). Shipment of donated items to grass roots organisations.. Information sharing with local schools to support their fundraising and learning with regard to the refugees. Educational activities relating to the wider refugee situation globally. Festival salvage program: During the summer months, we work with large music festivals to recover some of the enormous amount of camping equipment that is abandoned after the events have ended. From May to August we collected from festivals across England and in September, we delivered around 5,000 tents and sleeping bags to partner organisations in northern France. The program is a major logistical challenge and requires us to work with festival organisers, partner organisations in France and the UK and local charities and support groups. We continue to build these relationships and we are now the |
| largest organisation collecting from some of the festival sites. We rely heavily on volunteers to help collect the equipment with some events requiring over 100 people to do the work. We work hard to engage the local communities at each event which we see as a great opportunity to help not just refugees but also local groups and charities who benefit from collecting for their own needs while helping us. The impact on the environment is also significant as the thousands of items we collect would otherwise go to landfill or be incinerated. We estimate the number of refugees who benefit from the equipment we provide to be between 10,000 & 15,000. This is based on feedback from our partners who distribute the items. In winter, this aid can be life-saving. Volunteer trips: We make several trips to Calais throughout the year with volunteers to help them gain an understanding of the reality of the situation for displaced people in northern France. We work with partner organisations such as Refugee Community Kitchen, who provide hot food to people and the Calais Woodyard, who process, pack and supply firewood for warmth and cooking. We feel it’s important for people to get a ‘hands-on’ experience as it provides the best way to understand the situation and be better able to help. The trips are very popular and we have many people returning multiple times. |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees have been reminded of and read the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
● Para 1.38 |
We continue to be a charity run by trustees & volunteers who take no salary. Our volunteers are an invaluable part of our team with a very large number helping at festival salvage each summer. We are also immensely grateful to the people who give up their time to go to Calais and Dunkirk to volunteer on the ground there. Our volunteers also contribute by: ● Sharing and building awareness through social media ● Helping at in person events ● Collecting donations ● Organising shipments to other countries ● Developing and running fundraising events ● Sorting donations prior to shipment ● Accounts ● Helping educate people on refugee issues at school assemblies |
|---|---|---|
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Despite challenging conditions due to the cost of living crisis, with reduced donations and volunteer numbers, we continued to provide our core services. ● Came to an agreement with GAIN UK to supply us with new training shoes in bulk for a nominal amount, enabling us to supply several refugee support organisations in the UK and France with hundreds of pairs of new shoes. ● Expanded our festival salvage operation to Leeds festival for the first time and overall, collected 12.5 tonnes of camping equipment that would otherwise have been disposed of. The delivery to our partner organisations in France required a 40 foot articulated truck & two 7.5 tonne trucks. It was the largest single delivery ever received and formed |
the bulk of winter stock, without which, vulnerable people would be left without shelter or warmth in winter. ● St Albans Cathedral invited us to their Community Showcase event to bring our work to the attention of the local community. ● We paid for the delivery of two full articulated trucks of aid to Ukraine. ● We collected two tonnes of gravy granules from a major UK food manufacturer. 250kg was delivered locally to a Foodbank who supports refugees, asylum seekers and local people in need in time for Christmas. The remainder was sent out to Ukraine. ● We organised several volunteer trips to France where people could work with Refugee Community Kitchen and other support organisations to better understand the reality of life for refugees in northern France.
It was a difficult year with an increasingly negative narrative around refugees in the media and from politicians. We continue to build on our efforts locally in schools to counter the negativity with facts and positive engagement. We believe this will be even more important going forward.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other | ||
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Opening balance: £8,634.33 Income during the year: £26,979.71 Spending during the year: £25,055.23 Closing balance: £10,558.81 |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We retain funds in order to be able to respond to emergency requirements. We aim to keep a minimum of £5,000 in reserve. |
Amount of reserves held |
Para 1.22 | Closing balance at the end of the financial year: £10,558.81. Well above the parameters as set out above. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Donations through JustGiving, Facebook, Paypal and directly to our bank account. Birthday fundraisers on Facebook. A small number of regular supporters pay nominal amounts via monthly Direct Debit. Fundraising activities – JustGiving campaigns, St Albans Cathedral -award from congregational giving fund. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | N/A |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Difficulties created by the departure from the European Union with regard to the shipment of aid to Europe continue to be problematic and expensive to overcome. The increasing cost of living crisis has impacted greatly on donations and volunteer availability.This also affects our partner organisations who we deliver to and depend on to distribute the aid we supply. Finding enough volunteer time to run social media sites, run campaigns, manage volunteers. The deliberate negative narrative surrounding refugees and asylum seekers is a growing threat thatmust be challenged. It |
impacts on every level, affecting donations and ability to deliver services. Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO foundation as registered on 20th June 2016. |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Discussion amongst trustees and noted in the trustee minutes that agreement had been reached. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
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| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The charity has a horizontal hierarchy. All strategic decisions are discussed and agreed by trustees. The charity collaborates with, and is part of, the Refugee Charity Network, which is a national network of similar charities. The aim is to pool resources and expertise and to increase awareness of the plight and needs of refugees and maximise effectiveness of fundraising and aid. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | N/A |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Herts for Refugees |
|---|---|
Other name the charity uses |
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| Registered charity number | 1167716 |
| Charity’s principal address | 178 Bishops Rise Hatfield Herts AL10 9QY |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year Nam e of pers on (or bod y) entit led to app oint trust ee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angus Clark | CEO (day-to-day runningof the charity |
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| Susan Billington | Chair of Trustees & SafeguardingLead |
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| FelicityPike | |||
| Mark Lampert | |||
| Salma Khanum | |||
| Helen Furse | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
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| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | |||
| Angus Clark |
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Susan Billington M.A. C.Q.S.W. Angus Clark ~~es~~ Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) ~~————~~[Chair, Board of Trustees ] Chief Executive Date ~~Yl~~
- Herts for Refugees Income and Expense Statement to 31.03.24
| Metro Bank Paypal Total Bank Balance Income Subscription Donation Campaign Donation Other Income Total Income Expenses Gift Purchases Expenses Travel Training Rental Insurance Branded Website Marketing Just Giving Bank Charge Miscellaneous General Currency Conversion Total Expenses |
Opening Balance 01.04.23 Closing balance 31.03.24 |
Opening Balance 01.04.23 Closing balance 31.03.24 |
|---|---|---|
| 8,535.11 10,538.81 99.22 20.00 8,634.33 10,558.81 Movement in year 1,924.48 |
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| 1,057.00 6,829.60 19,078.11 15.00 |
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| 26,979.71 14,404.87 115.62 7,555.22 715.12 0.00 142.64 647.94 176.00 0.00 67.99 216.00 10.00 89.23 914.60 0.00 25,055.23 |
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| Total Income over Expenses | 1,924.48 |
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Herts for Refugees (Charity number 1167716)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Herts for Refugees for the year ended 31 March 2024
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Charity, Herts for Refugees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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 a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Cotw2| Name: Elizabeth Russell (CIMA) Address: Chouans Barn, Hawridge Lane, Bellingdon HP5 2XX Date:21.01.2025