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2020-12-31-accounts

1 1 2020 To 31 12 2020

Trustees' Annual Report for the period

Period start date

Period end date

From

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name CHARIS

Other names charity is known by Christian Help and Action for Refugees in Somerset Registered charity number (if any) 1169400

Charity's principal address 2A Church Square Taunton Somerset Postcode TA1 1SA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

----- Start of picture text -----
Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee
whole year
(if any)
1 Simon Billington Chair Resigned 1/9/20
2 Phil Hindle Treasurer
Rathika
3
Chinnadurai
4 Lisa Westlake
5 Gordon East
6 Ralph Bullock Acting Chair
7 Tobie Osmond
8 Richard Austin
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
----- End of picture text -----

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

March 2012

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1

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Name Address

Type of adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Gordon East, CEO

Lisa Westlake, Operations Director

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

CIO – Foundation Registered 28/9/2016 Type of governing document

Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the charity is constituted

(eg. trust, association, company)

Approved Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

CHARIS has a number of governing policies in addition to its constitution that are approved by the Trustees and in place. These include the Safeguarding policy, Data Protection policy, Confidentiality Policy, Volunteer Management and Recruitment policy, Social Media policy, Media policy, Health and Safety policy and Complaints procedure. These policies are reviewed and updated by the Board on a regular basis.

Training procedures and vetting/reference procedures exist for all volunteers.

A formal risk assessment for the activities of the charity and its governance has been conducted by the Trustees and can be found attached.

Section C Objectives and activities

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2

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

For the public benefit and in accordance with Christian principles, to provide relief to those granted refugee status and their dependents being resettled in Taunton, Somerset and the rest of the UK by providing support services so as to advance them in life and assist them with the adaption within a new community, with the objects of: - 1. Preserving and protecting their physical and mental health

  1. Advancing their education and training; and

  2. Relieving them from financial hardship and unemployment.

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

CHARIS works to resettle refugees in Somerset and across the South West providing for them the opportunity of a new life. These refugees are primarily drawn from the most vulnerable groups and are identified through the UNHCR programs and arrive in the UK via the UK Government’s Community Sponsorship Scheme.

CHARIS seeks to support each family and in particular their integration into local communities and gaining independence. Through this CHARIS works with community groups to enable a greater understanding, education and acceptance, ultimately aiming to create better social cohesion and transforming communities for the better. CHARIS has seen many positive examples of this already from working with their first three sponsored refugee families and continues to plan to directly support further families in 2021 as resettlement flights reopen again after the temporary suspension due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

During 2020 CHARIS continued in its role as the South West Regional Coordinator for Community Sponsorship as a Partner of Reset (the organisation that holds the UK Government grant for developing and expanding the infrastructure to support Community Sponsorship’s growth nationally). In this role, CHARIS works with many other Community Sponsorship Groups across the South West, helping and supporting them through their application process and in addition raising awareness of the scheme to attract more groups to apply.

Alongside this, CHARIS has continued the formal provision of English classes for refugee families based in Taunton and the “drop-in” style support service for local refugee families and continued support for another young refugee couple through this service during the year.

Finally, CHARIS has been active throughout the year in its role as an advocate and promoter of the Community Sponsorship Scheme nationally and internationally and participates in discussions with UK Government and other interested parties to discuss ways the scheme and refugees as a whole can be better supported and integrated.

The Trustees have reviewed the aims, objectives and impact of the charity’s activities with regards to the statutory guidance on public benefit and are satisfied that these are in line with guidance.

March 2012

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3

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

During 2020 CHARIS received income from a number of sources including individual and corporate donations and various grants.

The provision of grants has allowed CHARIS to employ two parttime members of staff during the year, which have enabled it to conduct and expand its activities as indicated above. CHARIS also engages two further individuals on a part-time selfemployed basis to support delivery of the English programme and the “drop-in” service, and a third individual as an occasional consultant on specific projects.

The remainder of CHARIS personnel in 2020 have all been volunteers and their contribution in time, energy and expertise, particularly during the COVID 19 pandemic and consequent restrictions, has been enormously valuable and is recognised by the Trustees. This continues to mean that only a small proportion of funds raised goes towards administration of the charity, namely insurance, accounts inspection etc, allowing the majority of funds to go directly to support families, increase awareness, help improve integration within their communities and provide support to other community sponsorship groups within the South West.

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4

Section D Achievements and performance

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5

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main Family Resettlement Programme achievements of the charity during the year CHARIS started planning to resettle its first refugee family shortly after becoming a CIO in September 2016. Resettlement of refugee families is carried out under the UK Government’s Community Sponsorship scheme. Under this scheme, CHARIS is responsible for providing a complete wrap around support service for the families for a minimum of one year and to provide accommodation for at least two years. The support provided includes, welcome on arrival, finding and furnishing a suitable property, English language tuition using ESOL qualified teachers, Arabic translators, registration and support for schooling, transport, assistance with benefit claims and opening bank accounts, befriending, showing the family how to get around and where to buy necessary foods, assistance with health appointments, and enrolment in local activities. The refugee families are matched to the accommodation, schooling provision and context in which they are to be resettled and are selected from the UNHCR list of vulnerable refugees. CHARIS seeks, prepares and trains a group volunteers to undertake the tasks and activities outlined above. For each refugee family it supports, CHARIS signs a legal agreement with the UK Government Home Office and is committed to support the family for 2 years. Over the past four years CHARIS has successfully welcomed and supported three refugee families from Syria and Iraq through this scheme. Two families have been resettled in Taunton and one family in Exeter in partnership with three churches in Exeter. The scheme was effectively on hold on 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic, however, with resettlement flights planning to reopen in 2021, CHARIS has now submitted further applications to support two new families in 2021 (one in Taunton and one in Exeter). South West (SW) Regional Coordinator In this role, CHARIS has been working with over 35 separate community sponsorship groups across the SW (from Wiltshire to Cornwall). CHARIS spends time meeting with these groups, encouraging them, supporting them through the application process and after their families arrive, and organising both formal and informal training and peer to peer workshops. During the COVID 19 pandemic restrictions much of this work has been carried out online and in virtual meetings. CHARIS initiated and set up a region wide community sponsorship network for all groups across the South West in 2019 and has continued to expand this network in 2020 and

March 2012

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6

Section D Achievements and performance

through it developed further resources and online training. The network now has attendance from over 35 groups and has spawned several sub-groups on topics of mutual interest amongst community groups.

Provision of Local Services for Refugees

CHARIS has continued to teach a formal ESOL programme to refugees in Taunton. The programme in 2020 included three classes and between 15-20 students and will run through the academic year to July 2021. During 2020, the programme moved largely online due to COVID 19 restrictions.

CHARIS started its “drop-in” service based in Taunton in 2019. This staffed by a part time support worker and continued to operate through 2020.

Summary

As CHARIS reflects at the end of 2020, despite the COVID 19 pandemic restrictions, it feels privileged to have been able to continue to support its existing families, prepare applications for new families in 2021, continue to develop its services for local refugee families and further expand its work with other groups across the South West.

It has been truly encouraging to see resources both in terms of funding, staffing and volunteers come together to enable CHARIS to undertake and complete its tasks and objectives.

The Trustees have reviewed the work of CHARIS and are pleased to be able to report that all the activities are in line with the objectives and aims of the charity. The value of Community Sponsorship as a preeminent tool in refugee resettlement has become stronger and clearer and CHARIS is delighted to play a part in this global movement. Each day, CHARIS sees the real transformation of vulnerable refugee families, the volunteers that work with them and significantly the communities in which they are resettled.

Section E Financial review

March 2012

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7

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The Board of Trustees have reviewed the status of the accounts and confirm that CHARIS has sufficient reserves to cover all commitments. The Trustees will continue to monitor the accounts in this respect.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

CHARIS has received income of £53,099 (broadly in line with £61,000 in 2019) in the reporting period. Donations and corporate giving have also been largely in line with the previous year. During 2020, grant and other external funding was received from Reset and Somerset County Council for the program of English classes.

At the close of 2020, CHARIS had net funds of £73,888.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Ralph Bullock Phil Hindle Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)[Acting Chair] Treasurer Date

March 2012

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8

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Registered Charity: 1169400

Page 1

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

2020 2019
£ £
RECEIPTS
Per Schedule 1 52,637 61,592
PAYMENTS
Per Schedule 2 38,015 55,079
______ ______
NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) 14,622 6,513
CASH BALANCE AT 1 JANUARY 2020 59,796 53,283
______ ______
CASH BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2020 74,418 59,796
______ ______
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020
CASH FUNDS
Per Schedule 3 74,418 59,796
LIABILITIES - -
______ ______
74,418 59,796
______ ______
Signed as approved by the Trustees on ……………………………………….
Signature……………………………………….. Signature…………………………………
Name: …………………………………………… Name: ……………………………………………
Office held: ……………………………......... Office held: …………………………….........

Page 2

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SCHEDULE 1 – RECEIPTS
Churches
Grants
Donations
Coffee Scheme
Corporate
Receipt for CHARIS Exeter
Less Payment to CHARIS Exeter

Total Receipts		 £
5,087
41,479
3,795
1,029
1,247
-
-		 2020
£
52,637
52,637		 2019
£
4,716
52,055
3,273
872
500
1,494
(1,318)
61,592

Page 3

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SCHEDULE 2 - PAYMENTS
Clients
Rent Subsidy
Interpretation and Translation
Grants to Family
Furniture and Equipment

Charity
Insurance
Fundraising
Office Supplies
Professional Fees

Volunteers
Telephone
Travelling and Subsistence
Training

Staff Costs
Consultancy Fees
Salary
Pension

ESOL Course
Teaching
Event costs

Support
Drop In Centre
Finance
CAF Bank Charges
Total Payments		 £
-
1,108
344
-
590
1,696
1,931
2,561
332
242
412
-
15,930
1,506
9,256
-		 2020
£
1,452
6,778
986
17,436
9,256
2,047
60
38,015		 2019
£
300
288
3,188
3,447
_
7,223
589
1,513
1,376
5,111

8,589_
420
4,573
629

5,622_
2,000
14,897
1,471
___
18,368		 2019
£
300
288
3,188
3,447
_____
7,223
589
1,513
1,376
5,111
_____
8,589
420
4,573
629
_____
5,622
13,783
48
_____
13,831
1,386
_____
60
55,079

Page 4

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SCHEDULE 3 – CASH FUNDS
£
CAF Bank - Cash Account
Represented by:
General Fund
Designated Funds
SCC Educational Grant
ESOL Program Grants
Home Office Grant
Reset Grant
Total Funds		 2020
£
74,418
74,418
28,707
16,303
10,328
3,628
15,452
74,418		 2019
£
59,796
59,796
18,626
16,363
12,162
4,808
7,837
59,796

Page 5

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS’ REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

We report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 1 to 4.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Independent Examiner

As Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of S144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply and that an Independent Examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act and to follow the procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under S145 (5) (b) of the Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiners’ Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of 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 Examiners’ Statement

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

………………………………………………… Rev Geoff Bowyer FCA CTA Geela Accountancy Limited 36 Bakers Close Bishops Hull Taunton TA1 5HD

Date: 15 March 2021

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Registered Charity: 1169400

Page 1

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

2020 2019
£ £
RECEIPTS
Per Schedule 1 52,637 61,592
PAYMENTS
Per Schedule 2 38,015 55,079
______ ______
NET RECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) 14,622 6,513
CASH BALANCE AT 1 JANUARY 2020 59,796 53,283
______ ______
CASH BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 2020 74,418 59,796
______ ______
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020
CASH FUNDS
Per Schedule 3 74,418 59,796
LIABILITIES - -
______ ______
74,418 59,796
______ ______
Signed as approved by the Trustees on ……………………………………….
Signature……………………………………….. Signature…………………………………
Name: …………………………………………… Name: ……………………………………………
Office held: ……………………………......... Office held: …………………………….........

Page 2

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SCHEDULE 1 – RECEIPTS
Churches
Grants
Donations
Coffee Scheme
Corporate
Receipt for CHARIS Exeter
Less Payment to CHARIS Exeter

Total Receipts		 £
5,087
41,479
3,795
1,029
1,247
-
-		 2020
£
52,637
52,637		 2019
£
4,716
52,055
3,273
872
500
1,494
(1,318)
61,592

Page 3

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SCHEDULE 2 - PAYMENTS
Clients
Rent Subsidy
Interpretation and Translation
Grants to Family
Furniture and Equipment

Charity
Insurance
Fundraising
Office Supplies
Professional Fees

Volunteers
Telephone
Travelling and Subsistence
Training

Staff Costs
Consultancy Fees
Salary
Pension

ESOL Course
Teaching
Event costs

Support
Drop In Centre
Finance
CAF Bank Charges
Total Payments		 £
-
1,108
344
-
590
1,696
1,931
2,561
332
242
412
-
15,930
1,506
9,256
-		 2020
£
1,452
6,778
986
17,436
9,256
2,047
60
38,015		 2019
£
300
288
3,188
3,447
_
7,223
589
1,513
1,376
5,111

8,589_
420
4,573
629

5,622_
2,000
14,897
1,471
___
18,368		 2019
£
300
288
3,188
3,447
_____
7,223
589
1,513
1,376
5,111
_____
8,589
420
4,573
629
_____
5,622
13,783
48
_____
13,831
1,386
_____
60
55,079

Page 4

CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET)

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

SCHEDULE 3 – CASH FUNDS
£
CAF Bank - Cash Account
Represented by:
General Fund
Designated Funds
SCC Educational Grant
ESOL Program Grants
Home Office Grant
Reset Grant
Total Funds		 2020
£
74,418
74,418
28,707
16,303
10,328
3,628
15,452
74,418		 2019
£
59,796
59,796
18,626
16,363
12,162
4,808
7,837
59,796

Page 5

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS’ REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF CHARIS (CHRISTIAN HELP & ACTION FOR REFUGEES IN SOMERSET) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

We report on the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 1 to 4.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Independent Examiner

As Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of S144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply and that an Independent Examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act and to follow the procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under S145 (5) (b) of the Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiners’ Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of 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 Examiners’ Statement

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

………………………………………………… Rev Geoff Bowyer FCA CTA Geela Accountancy Limited 36 Bakers Close Bishops Hull Taunton TA1 5HD

Date: 15 March 2021