## **Charity registration number:1169819**
## **The Roma Project**
**Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2025**
1
## **The Roma Project**
## **Contents**
## **for the year ended 31st March 2025**
|Reference and Administrative details|3|
|---|---|
|Trustees’ report|4|
|Objectives and activities|4|
|Achievements and Performance|4-5|
|Financial Review|5-6|
|Structure, Governance and Management|6|
|Trustee’s Responsibilities|6|
|Independent Examiners Report|7|
|Statement of Financial Activities|8|
|Balance Sheet|9|
|Statement of cash flows|10|
|Notes to the financial statements|11 - 13|
2
## **The Roma Project Reference and Administrative Details for the year ended 31st March 2025**
**Trustees Dave Faires - Chairperson Rosamaria Kostic Cisneros - Vice-Chair Michelle Webb – Treasurer Stanislava Yassmin Vilcekova Lydia Elizabeth Nash Secretary Amanda Rawlings Principal Office 124 Broad St, Coventry CV6 5BG, United Kingdom Charity Registration Number 1169819 Bankers Barclays Bank Independent examiner Wendy Stanyon**
3
## **The Roma Project**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report**
## **for the year ended 31st March 2025**
The Trustees are pleased to present the annual report of The Roma Project which was registered as a charitable incorporated organisation number 1169819 on 20th October 2016.
## **Objectives and activities**
The Roma Project is a Coventry-based charity supporting Roma individuals and families in the UK. We work to reduce social exclusion, poverty, and marginalisation, providing culturally sensitive advice, advocacy, and practical support. Our mission is to empower Roma communities to live secure, healthy, and independent lives, while promoting understanding and inclusion within the wider society.
## **Main activities**
Our services are designed to meet the complex needs of the Roma community, including: **Immigration Support** : Guidance on EU Settled Status, family reunification, and navigating the UK immigration system.
**Housing & Homelessness Prevention** : Advice on tenancy rights, eviction prevention, and support accessing emergency housing.
**Financial Inclusion** : Assistance with Universal Credit, tax returns, income maximisation, and budgeting support to improve long-term financial resilience.
**Community Legal Education** : Workshops and resources on key rights, including housing, employment, and welfare benefits, delivered in languages accessible to Roma clients.
**Warm Hub & Essential Support** : Provision of food, clothing, and safe spaces during periods of hardship, particularly winter months.
**Education & Skills Development** : English language classes, digital skills support, and vocational training to improve employability and social integration.
4
**Community Empowerment** : Training Roma peer advocates and Community Champions to build resilience, confidence, and long-term leadership within the community.
Our service is delivered from community outreach venues across the city where we offer a mix of ‘drop-in’ sessions and pre-booked appointments. Our service model is focused on reaching Roma people where they live, in their own neighbourhoods, in areas of greatest need.
By offering high quality advice and information services within the city we will help the Roma people to make informed decisions and choices that affect their lives. We do not seek to create a dependency on our service for assistance; instead we strive to empower people to recognise their rights and entitlements, to claim the benefits they need and to help find realistic solutions to financial problems.
## **Long-time objectives**
- Strengthen Roma resilience through sustainable support in immigration, housing, and financial inclusion.;
- To seek opportunities for enhancing our service to Coventry Roma community;
- Expand community legal education to improve knowledge of rights and reduce vulnerability. ;
- To attract additional volunteers to support our service delivery ;
- To play a part in the life of the city through engagement with local initiatives, policy work and campaigns;
- Build community leadership by training Roma peer advocates and champions, ensuring the community can self-advocate and thrive.
## **Achievements and Performance**
We know that we made a real difference for the people who come to see us. We assisted people to secure income that they are entitled to. We helped people to take more control of their finances. We increased income security and stability. Our work has had wider impacts, such as improving health, self-confidence and employability. We opened and resolved over 3044 new case files in 2024/2025. Enquiries about welfare benefits remain the highest category and issues with debt, housing and money advice issues remain the second largest category of work. Settled status enquires have become one of the main issues due to Brexit Settlement Scheme. More than a half of our open cases have been about residence and settled status applications. Our service continues to have 1 day drop-in advice sessions per week and 5 days appointment
5
sessions per week. In addition to our ongoing efforts with the Roma community, the Roma Project has also established a Warm Hub to provide support for vulnerable individuals during the cold winter months. This initiative aims to offer a safe and welcoming space where people can access essential resources, warmth, and companionship during challenging times.
## **Financial Review**
We have received further funding from the National Lottery to continue our work until March 2027. We are actively seeking new funding opportunities from a range of trusts, foundations, and local partnerships to ensure the continuity and expansion of our work. This includes projects to support immigration, financial inclusion, and poverty prevention, enabling us to continue empowering Roma communities and safeguarding their wellbeing.
6
## **The Roma Project**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report**
## **for the year ended 31st March 2025**
The trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future (being over 12 months from the date of signing this report) and have therefore, used the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The Roma Project is constituted as a registered charitable incorporated organisation. Trustees of the charity are appointed following a skills-based audit and interview process with recommended appointments subject to election at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). At each AGM, one-third of the trustees must retire from office but are able to seek re-election. The trustees are also able to co-opt board members during the year, using the same skills-based approach.
## **Trustee’s responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law and regulations. Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 24[th] of October 2025 and signed on its behalf by;
Dave Faires
7
## **The Roma Project**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report**
## **for the year ended 31st March 2025**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with applicable requirements concerning the from and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulation 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not 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.
Wendy Stanyon
8
## **The Roma Project**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations
2
Charitable activities
3
Other
Total Incoming Resources
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable Activities
4
Total Resources Expended
**Net income/(expenditure) for the year**
Total funds bought forward
Transfers
**Funds Carried Forward**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
899
-
10,000
10,899
(3,409)
(3,409)
14,308
25,641
-
39,949|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
146,577
-
146,577
132,764
132,764
13,813
-
-
13,813|**2025**
**£**
899
146,577
10,000
157,476
129,355
129,355
28,121
25,641
-
53,762|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
30,405
30,405
34,352
34,352
(3,947)
32,242
(2,654)
25,641|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
52,108
-
52,108
93,723
93,723
(41,615)
38,961
2,654
-|**2024**
**£**
-
52,108
30,405
82,513
128,075
128,075
(45,562)
71,203
-
25,641|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year.
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 9.
Page 8
## **The Roma Project**
## **Balance Sheet**
## **at 31 March 2025**
|**Notes**
**Current Assets**
Debtors
6
Cash at bank and in hand
7
**Current Liabilities**
Amounts due within 1 year
8
**Net Current Assets**
**Total Assets less Current Liabilities**
**Net Assets**
**Financed by:**
Restricted Funds
9
Unrestricted Funds
9|**£**
**£**
16,211
40,185
56,396
(2,634)
53,762
53,762
53,762
13,813
39,949
53,762
**2025**|**£**
**£**
5,778
22,296
28,074
(2,433)
25,641
25,641
25,641
-
25,641
25,641
**2024**|
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on and were signed on its behalf by:
Signed ___________________________________ Director
Page 9
## **The Roma Project**
## **Statement of Cash Flows**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Note**
**Net cash provided by/ (used in) operating activities**
Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per statement of financial activities)
Increase in debtors
Decrease in creditors
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
7
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**|**2025**
**£**
28,121
(10,433)
201
17,889
22,296
40,185|**2024**
**£**
(45,562)
(650)
(1,506)
(47,718)
70,014
22,296|
|---|---|---|
Page 10
## **The Roma Project**
## **Notes to the accounts**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **Basis of the preparation of the accounts**
These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and the Financial Reporting Standard 102.
## **Income**
All material incoming resources have been included on a receivable basis – i.e. they are included if the date receivable falls within the period covered by these accounts.
## **Expenditure**
These have been analysed using a natural classification.
## **Depreciation**
There are no assets requiring capitalisation or depreciation.
## **2. Income from donations**
|Donations
**3. Income charitable activities**
The Big Lottery - Reaching
Communities|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
899
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
146,577
146,577|**2025**
**Total**
**£**
899
**2025**
**Total**
**£**
146,577
146,577|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
52,108
52,108|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
-
**2024**
**Total**
**£**
52,108
52,108|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 11
## **The Roma Project**
## **Notes to the accounts**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **4. Cost of Charitable Activities by Fund Type**
|Salaries
Rent
Accountancy fees
Equipment
Evaluation fees
Events
Insurance
Miscelaneous
Subscriptions
Sundry expenses
Telephone
Training
Travel expenses
Volunteer expenses
Webhosting|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
(5,000)
205
336
-
-
-
-
630
-
-
-
-
420
-
-
(3,409)|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
115,266
10,140
2,250
756
-
-
889
92
1,288
1,440
230
-
-
107
306
132,764|**2025**
**Total**
**£**
110,266
10,345
2,586
756
-
-
889
722
1,288
1,440
230
-
420
107
306
129,355|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
24,722
6,156
1,549
342
-
957
-
259
-
-
260
107
-
-
-
34,352|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
89,180
1,300
233
-
-
-
846
7
1,473
-
378
-
-
-
306
93,723|**2024**
**Total**
**£**
113,902
7,456
1,782
342
-
957
846
266
1,473
-
638
107
-
-
306
128,075|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## **5. Staff Costs and Emoluments**
|Total staff costs were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs|**2025**
**£**
105,339
4,927
110,266|**2024**
**£**
108,895
5,007
113,902|
|---|---|---|
No employees received employee benefits above £60,000 for the year
## **Particulars of employees:**
The number of employees during the year was as follows:
Number of administrative staff
## **6. Debtors**
Debtors
Prepayments & accrued income
## **7. Cash at Bank and In Hand**
Bank and cash balances
|**2025**
**No**
4
**2025**
**£**
15,228
983
16,211
**2025**
**£**
40,185
40,185|**2024**
**No**
4
**2024**
**£**
3,875
1,903
5,778
**2024**
**£**
22,296
22,296|
|---|---|
Page 12
## **The Roma Project**
## **Notes to the accounts**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**8. Creditors**
Other tax and social security
Other creditors
**9a. Movement in funds**
The Big Lottery - Reaching Communities
General Funds
**9b. Movement in funds (prior year)**
General Funds
The Big Lottery - Reaching Communities|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
-
-
25,641
25,641
**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2023**
**£**
38,961
38,961
32,242
71,203|**Incoming**
**Resources**
**£**
146,577
146,577
10,899
157,476
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**£**
52,108
52,108
30,405
82,513|**Outgoing**
**Resources**
**£**
(132,764)
(132,764)
3,409
(129,355)
**Outgoing**
**Resources**
**£**
(93,723)
(93,723)
(34,352)
(128,075)|**2025**
**£**
2,304
330
2,634
**Transfers**
**£**
-
-
-
-
**Transfers**
**£**
2,654
2,654
(2,654)
-|**2024**
**£**
2,433
-
2,433
**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2025**
**£**
13,813
13,813
39,949
53,762
**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
-
-
25,641
25,641|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 13