## **Croeso Teifi Annual Report** ## **February 9[th] 2022 –February 8[th] 2023** ## Reference and Administration CroesoTeifi charity registration number: 1173014. St Mary’s Old School Hall, Pontycleifion, Cardigan, Wales, SA43 1DR. Secretary Gail Storr (from September 2021) Trustees: Sharon Carter: Chair Rev. John Bennett: Vice-Chair (until May 2022) Ales MacKay (from May 2022, Vice Chair from October 2022) Vicky Moller: Project Director Louise O’ Neill John Myers Eric Sheldon Tim O’ Neill: Treasurer Structure and Management Croeso Teifi is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with voting members other than its charity trustees. ## Objectives: The objects of the CIO, for the public benefit are: To provide aid to refugees, those seeking asylum or granted leave to remain in the U.K., who reside or wish to reside temporarily or permanently in the town of Cardigan and the surrounding area, and to promote their harmonious integration into the local communities. The main activities undertaken to further these objectives are: - assistance with provision of accommodation, furnishings, clothing and other requirements essential for security and wellbeing. - arrangement with the refugees of education, providing English and Welsh language tuition, training and work activity leading to fulfilment, skills and employment. - facilitation of access to local services e.g. health, banking, schools, job centre, as well as social activities and the sharing of friendship, knowledge and skills leading to linguistic and social integration. - working with support organisations and members of the local community to share any or all of the above charitable purposes. ## For the Public Benefit: The trustees have understood the guidance on Public Benefit and use it to guide decisions, such as to ensure funds are used to maximise the number of people we can benefit. The activities of Croeso Teifi explained below have helped to build community cohesion through bringing diverse people to work together as volunteers. The publicity, fundraising and information events have extended awareness of global situations in particular the situation of Syrian refugees forced to leave their war-torn homes for camps in Lebanon and Egypt. Preparing for and bringing a refugee family to Cardigan has advanced cultural awareness, as has the provision of social opportunities for cultural exchange. The work of the charity has provided opportunity to extend welcome, empathy and kindness, which have enhanced individual self-esteem as well as pride in the local community. ## Achievements of Croeso Teifi: Our first two Syrian families are happy and thriving. Both fathers are working; the father of the first family is still working part-time for a local builder whilst the father of the second family is continuing to build up his barber’s business in Fishguard. A member of Croeso Teifi took advantage of the fact that the Red Dress was on exhibition in Swansea to take the mother of the second family to see it. The Red Dress is a world-wide collaborative stitching work, embroidered by people of varied cultural backgrounds. The mother of the second family is has started having driving lessons and a member of Croeso Teifi is taking her out to give her extra practice. The mother of the first family is still studying English and is also giving on-line Arabic tuition to three individuals. In November, our first family successfully applied for their Right To Remain, having arrived five years previously. Croeso Teifi members provided stellar support as they completed their on line application, and ensured that they were well prepared for the follow-up interview in Cardiff. Success. The third Syrian family arrived at the end of March 2022 and I wish to thank everyone in Croeso Teifi for their faith in seeing this through, following the hiatus as a result of the Covid pandemic. We have a committed team and have plenty of enthusiasm for supporting them. We were lucky enough to secure accommodation in premises next door to the first family and both of our settled families have provided friendship, help and advice in ensuring that they have a smooth start to life in Cardigan. The team worked hard to make sure that the apartment was clean and comfortable and had thought of everything in terms of what the family would need. It was heart-warming to have the help of our other two families. Amongst other things, the mother of the second family prepared a meal ready for their arrival and the first family ensured that the kitchen cupboards were stocked. Members of Croeso Teifi helped the family to become familiar with their surroundings and early trips included a visit to the circus, Barley Saturday , Swansea and Carmarthen, and Langrannog as well as visits to the beach and walks to the Wildlife Centre. Both adults are making great progress with their English lessons; the mother is following an IT course at the local college and the father is volunteering at outlets of the Repair Café Wales, where he is able to use his electrical skills. His qualifications have been officially recognised and translated into English. Their 2 year daughter has started nursery and is settling well, showing curiosity and confidence to explore her new environment. ## The Wider Community The wider community is a vital part of everything we do and we wish to especially thank those who have contributed in any way. In June, we hosted a welcome event for the third family. It was wonderful to have the attendance and support of some members of the wider community, including MP Ben Lake, Cylch Merched, Syrian families from Carmarthen, Lampeter and Narberth, members of the local council and police. To mark story-telling week in January, we invited a professional story-teller to come and tell some stories. A true professional, she gave us some tales from around the world, including one from Syria. It was lovely to see the two elder children of the first family speak confidently and assuredly to adults in both Welsh and English before the session began. The father of the third family had prepared a short speech in English in which he explained how he had been told to expect lots of steep hills, but in fact, on their arrival they were surprised to find Cardigan itself flat! ## Thank you to: As Chair, I would personally like to reiterate my thanks to you all for enabling these three families to feel very much at home here in Cardigan. I think that what we have as a community is very special and enables us to realise what is really important in our lives. Your support and friendship are priceless. I think that we can all say that being involved in Croeso Teifi has impacted on us in such a positive and meaningful way, and most importantly the deep friendships with people from a wholly different culture and religion that have developed as a result. Sharon Carter (chair of Croeso Teifi, February 9[th] 2023) CHARITY COMMISSION IOR FNCILAND AND WALES CPOESO TEIFI Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For thg Pgriod from To OPJ0212023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrgstrlcted lund• Restricted lund¥ Endowment fund• Totsi fund• Last y￿r 1¢ tr• E t•th• ￿r•8¢£ to th• r••r••t£ to th• M•Mt E A1 R•c•l t• Donaiiop5 Ewent¥Funth8i*nglC￿w ThirJ F8mily C Ich Mgrow CTICrc*so T•fi R F8mily 2 Tr*or￿ Office Grant ESOL E lish CCC 455 2.81 075 075 Sub tot•l(Gross income for ARJ A2 A•8et •nd InvMtm•nt •41M. l#e• t•blel. 1.07a Sub total 2.690 8,078 A3Pa m•nt• Tea(*ino A¢mini$tr•lbn Insur&nc• F4mil 2 Sup F8mily 3 Suwrt TE Relu Èe Suw1 Famil 3 Ev•nis 255 81 205 2,353 511 4734 480 100 Sub total 7.430 9,082 A4 A•8ot •nd Invwtm•nt ureha8è8. 8•• tAbl6 Sub total 7.430 9,082 Net of rYceIpt￿{paYments) AS Transf•rn bot￿0￿ fund8 Ae Ca•h lund• last y￿r end C•sh funds thls y••r •nd I,Q04 1.004 CCXX R1 attounts ISSI 0110512023 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unr9¥1rf￿*d R?8trlet•d fvnd• lund• n•Amt£ Endowm•nt fund• to rAw•yt £ IE* n•wrtst£ B1 C•8h fund• 733 Total cash funds •XWA(•ll NOTE CATAGQRIES B2 TO 85 P￿T AAPPUCABLE I IIOT USEO FOR ThIS AGM IIEPORT Slgn•d by on• or tNit•a6 on Signatu Pnnt Nama Date of roval Sharon Carter Timolhy O'N811 Trea•urerfs Nctes cn knounl¥ 1. Accowts propar•d on 8 R•c•lpts gn¢l Payn*nl8 bas1&. 2. Rgf8rence rn￿• to Charity Cornmsuthlgo¥ uk bul format •JWsurrrfn8rNed for AGM Report roquiTrnwnts 3. Vgdfied by Tom W6lls1151041231 CCXX R2 ace0￿ts Issi iosr2023