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St. Korkos Orthodox Church

and Eritrean’s Community in Birmingham

Annual Report

2020-2021

Legal and administration information

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors

Full Name of the Charity:

St. Korkos Orthodox Church and Eritreans' Community in Birmingham

Charity Registration Number

1174445

Charity current address

St. James Church 38 Florence Road, Handsworth Birmingham B21 OHN

Trustees:

Elected trustees

Dawit Belay Amanuel Fessahaye Binyam Eyasu Tsige Tekhle Gherezghiher kflemariam Mebahtom Weldemikall

Independent Examiner

Sigma Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisors Wilding Building, 864 Washwood Heath Road, Ward End Birmingham, B8 2NG

Banker

Natwest and Barclays in Birmingham

Structure Governance and Management

The members of St. Korkos Orthodox church are currently meeting at St James Church in Hands worth in Birmingham. The trustees’ are body that manage the charity’s activity in line with the internal memorandum and the rules set by the charity commission. The trustees of the charity are elected by the members. Members are encouraged to register on the electoral roll and stand for election to the trustees.

Our Charity

The number of Asylum seekers and refugees arriving in the UK has been increasing from time to time. Most of these asylum seekers experience home sickness and face difficulties in integration with the UK environment, mainly because of the trauma they have experienced back home and, on their way, overseas. Some members of our community have been voluntarily assisting them by providing the basic information and guidance. This initiative has been advanced to organise the community and managed to set up a charity which was registered with the charity commission in August 2017. We are working on assisting the community in providing religious and other community services. We have started to support some children with their home learning and give necessary guidance for their 11+ entrance examinations and GCSE’s. We have also planned to provide wide range of services for the members of our charity and others who may need it.

Our Despite of our plans, we have been challenged in fulfilling our objectives, mainly due to a lack of permanent place. At present we are using St James church in hands worth we are well settled and the people and the community members are very supportive. However to expand the service the trustees have intensively been working in fund-raising from the members and encouraged those who have not yet set up a direct debit to contribute any amount to the charity. This is explained to be made entirely based on their willingness. So far, we are doing very well, and we will continue to raise funds as may be necessary.

St. Korkos Orthodox Church and Eritreans' Community in

Birmingham

Annual General meeting

Held on Sunday the 26th of September 2021

Apologies

Apologies from: Mr Dawit Belay.

The meeting was delayed due to covid 19 and it was done virtually. Mr Amanuel Fessahaye, the Vice chair person of the charity, opened the meeting with a prayer and thanking everyone for the hard work done in the year. He has mentioned all the religious and other community activities completed during the year. As mentioned in the last general meeting he focused on promoting better service for the community and work hard in fund raising in the aim of buying a property for the charity.

Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes of the last year’s meeting were read out by Mr Fessahaye, the vice chair person of the charity. The minutes were accepted by all the trustees.

Activities

A report for the religious and other services provided in the year has been reported by Mr Eyasu and all the members agree to the report.

Health and safety

The issue of health and safety is one of the top priorities in the charity activity. The charity has been taking all necessary measures to ensure that every service user is safe and the

activities at the church are undertaken with diligence and due care. During the covid period all the government guidelines were strictly followed and Mr Fessahaye has highlighted that all who work with vulnerable people has been monitored in accordance to the guidelines. He stressed on, and any issues in relation to safety must be reported on time. He has reminded all that the necessary policies like insurance policies and DBS must be updated constantly.

Election of new trustees

The charity believes that the trustees have to be elected by the members of the congregation for the duration of three years. However the service time of all or any member of the trustee can be extended if he/she is re-elected by the congregation. In September 2021 the trustees has called up on a meeting to the congregation for an election of new trustees. The congregation has agreed to delay the election of new trustees up until the time the project of buying of a property is completed. However, the existing members demanded that the election of new trustees should definitely be made regardless of the acquisition of a property is completed or not. A meeting is planned to be made for early February 2022. Mr Amanuel stressed the need of young generation’s participation in the management body and he suggested that they need to assist in many tasks of the trustees so that they can we can handover the tasks to them easily in the future.

Our bankers

Our main bank is NatWest, where our most of our transaction is done through this bank. In addition we also have a bank account with Barclays bank.

Acquisition of property

We have been delivering our services at St James Church for few years now. The people and the committee members of St James have been extremely supportive in our weekly services. We have been welcomed at the church to undertake our services and events unconditionally. All members of the trustees has expressed their appreciation and proposed

to actively participate in any works carried out at the church. In spite of this, the need for acquisition of a property still remains. All the members of the congregation are in support of the plan and agreed to assist financially and by any other means as may be required. Based on the contributions made so far and the continuous contributions been made by the members, we believed that we are in a position to buy a property. In completion this task we had continuous meetings and we have set up a three members committee who will be in charge of the assignment. We found a property in Smethwick which we hoped to be a place for our charity. This process has took us almost one year as the Sandwell city council took long time to approve the change of use and finally they come up with a decision to provide us a licence for a only five years. We could not proceed this decision as our plan and expectations was to use the building unconditionally. In his process our charity has lost time and money. We never expected to face this challenge from the council as we believe we are working for a community which is in conjunction to what they are doing. Based on the last experience the trustees have made a decision to buy a property which is previously used for church or community activity. The trustees has instructed the building acquisition committees to work on finding new building and stressed to work hard on fund raising task and proposed a plan of action.

Financial report

Mrs Tekhle presented the finance report, she explained that the incoming fund to words the accusation of a property has been satisfactory and she mentioned a lot work need to be done to get to the desired target.

Mrs Tekhle indicated that the non refundable money paid in attempt of buying a property was the major expense of the year. She has also presented the report of the borrowing made from our members for the purpose of buying a property. She has indicated that all minor recurrent expenses have been covered by the members here and then.

Mr. Fessahaye has thanked the accounts team for their hard work in handling the funds and for keeping our records up to date. Mrs Tekhle asked if everyone accepted the accounts and this was proposed by Mr Fessahaye and supported by all the trustees.

St Korkos Church and Eritreans community Financial statement of Financial activities for the year Ended 31 March 2021

Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Total Total Funds	Restricted Total Total Funds
	2021	2020
Unrestricted 21,751.00 1,470.00 -	£ £ Restricted Total 140,228.00 161,979.00 37,475.00 1,470.00 1,120.00 600.00
23,221.00	140,228.00 163,449.00 39,195.00
(2,834.00) (2,834.00)	(10,000.00) (12,834.00) (4,522.00) - (10,000.00) (12,834.00) (4,522.00)
20,387.00 131,166.00	130,228.00 150,615.00 34,673.00 14,239.00 145,405.00 110,732.00
151,553.00	144,467.00 296,020.00 145,405.00

St Korkos Church and Eritreans community Statement of Financial position as at 31 March 2021

` Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand Creditors-current Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors-long term Net Assets Charity funds Restricted income funds unrestricted income funds Total funds	Total Total	Total Total
	2021	2020
	367,430.00 145,404.00
	367,430.00 145,404.00 (510.00) -
	366,920.00 145,404.00
	366,920.00 145,404.00
	(70,900.00) 0.00
	296,020.00 145,404.00
	144,467.00 14,239.00 151,553.00 131,166.00
	296,020.00 145,405.00

Sunday school

The number of families joined the charity has increased year after year so is the number of children attending the Sunday school. We have almost fifty children who regularly attend the Sunday school. Some of them are born in the UK and others are those who have come over from Eritrea and Ethiopia. Even though most of the children are from Eritrea our charity is open for everyone. In the Sunday service we try to put the children in classrooms according to their age and level of understanding in religious and other studies. The individuals who are mentoring the children have been DBS checked and all the necessary supervision is made by a designated person in every lesson.

As part of getting together we have taken a group of children to Canon Hill Park, swimming, foot ball and other activities. Most of the children found the trip engaging, our charity is planning to do more trips to other recreation centres. We have also made efforts to communicate with other churches to share experiences.

Some highlights

March - April 2020

During this period, we have observed the forty days lent which was followed by Easter. Our Easter service was carried on virtually in accordance to covid-19 guidelines. The ceremony was completed in unusual way than before but the whole congregation understood the circumstance and hoped to celebrate the next Easter as normal..

July 2020

In July we celebrated our annual mass virtually similar to Easter due to covid-19 rules. The event is one of the two big church events carried out in February and July.

January 2021

In January 2020 we celebrated our Christmas virtually. According to our church tradition, Christmas is celebrated in early January.

February 2021

In February we have celebrated our first annual event in which few people have been attended due to covid-rules, All the members has shown a great care to each other and to the entire community by following covid rules and it was blessing and has created a good opportunity for meeting few of the church members together.

Charity number.. 1174445 ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY Report of Ihe Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2021

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY Contents Page For the year ended 31 March 2021 Report ofthe TNste8S Independent Examine¢s Report to tho Trust Statement of Financial AciNibes Statement ol Financial P0son Notes to Ihe Finanal Slatemenls Sto9 Detailed s¢atement of Financial ALXMIES 10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY Report of the Tnjslees For the year ended 31 March 2021 The Tru$tees have pkasure in presenting their r8port the finawl sts1ents for the chanty for Ihe year ended 31 March 2021. The Trustees have adopted the prowisKJn$ of AccryJntirYJ and ReporbrYJ ty Charibes". Ststement of Recommended Practre applicable to thaMie$ ppaftj Iheir accounts in aCcoanCe wrth the Finanual Reporting Standard aF¥)licable in Ihe UK and the Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 leffe¢*'ve 1 January 20191. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and alms The trustees have considered Ihe Charity Cc¥nmi$ions guhYarKe on publ benefit, iluding the 9u18Ce 'public ban8ftt'. running a charity IPB21'. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMAnON Name of Charity Charity r8glstrat6on number prtnclpol address ST KORKOS ORTHOWX CHURCH AND ERITREANS, COMMUNrrY 1174445 38 Fknren Road Hand5WOrth Birmingham B210HN Tru5te8S Th8 trustees aThJ offi(xrs serying during the year 5iTh Ihe year eThJ We as I$". Amanuel Fessahaye Biniarn Eya5U Gherezghimer Kfiemariam Mebahtcffl Webjemikall T$ige Tekhle Dawit Be Independent eXaMir5 SKJrna Chartered Accountants 662.864 Wa$hwo(Kl Heath Road wa$lThv0 Heath Bim)in9ham BB 2NG Approved by the Board of Tru$tee$ and signe<l on its behaw by 24 January 2022 Tsige Tek 1 of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY Independent Examiners Report to the Twslees For the year ended 31 March 2021 I report to the tntstaas on rny exarninabon of Ihe aceowrts of the charity lor Ihe year eThYed 31 March 2021. Responsibllities and basls of AS the charity trustees. you a responsib fDr the preparation of xcovrts in xCOrdan wrth the requirents of the Charil$ A¢t 20111'the 2011 Acf l. I report in respect of my examinats.on of the tharty's accounls carried out under Section 145 of th8 2011 Act and in carrying out ry exarnination I have followEd all the applicab DiredK)ns gNen by the Charty Commission under seLon 14515llbl of the Act. IndenIent &xarnirs Statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no matters have ¢cne to rny attention in th the examination giving me cause to beIve that in any rnaterial respect. 1. accounting rerdS We not kept in resp8Ct of the Charrty as required by seCtn 130 of the 2011 A¢t." or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records". or 3. the a¢¢ounts do not cornply with the applicable requirerrnts concerniry the foryn and content of acc¥)unts set gut in the charits IAccounts and Reports) Re9tIonS 2008 other than any reqUirent that the a£Eount5 give a 'true and fair vie which is not a matter con5hlered as part ol an independent examinabon. I have no ¢oncerns and have corne acxo8$ no other mattws in ¢oThrln wrth the exarnination to which attentK)n Shk1 be drawn in this report in ord*r to enab a prOr UndendlJ ofth8 ac£¥JuThts to te reached. Jawaid Yakeob FCA184627071 Sigma Chartered Afxountsnts 862-884 Wa$hwood Heath Road washw0( Heath Birmingham B8 2NG 24 January 2022 2of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY ststen*nt of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 Marth 2021 Note5 2021 2020 fvwKIs lunds Income and gnilowments from.. DonatlOn5 and legacies Charrtable activities Other trading adivites Toial 21,751 1.470 140,228 161.979 1.470 37,475 1.120 600 23.221 140.228 163,449 39,195 Expenditure on.. Charrtable activities 12.8341 12,8341 110.0001 110.0001 112.8341 112.8341 14.5221 14.5221 Total Net income 130,228 150,615 34,673 Reconclllatlon of funds Total fund$ brought forward Total lund$ carrfod fonvard 131.166 14.239 145,405 296,020 110,732 145,405 151,553 144,467 3of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS, COMMUNir Slatement of Financial Position As at 31 March 2021 2D21 2020 Current assgts Cash at bank arKI in hand 367.430 367,430 15101 145.405 14S,405 Crodilors.. amounts lalling due wfjthin one yÈ•r 10 Net current asse 366.920 145,406 145,406 Total assets les$ ¢urr¢nt liabilities Creditors: amoun¢s falling due after morn than one y8ar Net assets 366.920 170.9)01 296.020 14S,405 The funds ofth• ¢hèrfty Restricted income fund$ Unrestricted incfft ftjnds 12 144.467 151,553 296,020 14.239 131,186 146,405 12 Total fund$ The financial statements were apwoved and auth15 for issue by Ihe Board and Sgned on it5 tehaw by." T$ige Tekhlg Trustse 24 January 2022 4of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2021 1. Ac¢ounting Policie5 Bas1$ ol accountlng The financial staternent5 have been prepared under Ihe hi"¢al c05t cDnventb)n, except for inveslments which are included at market value and the revaluaton of rtain fixed assets and in &¢¢x>rd8n with the Charities SORP IFRS 1021.ArunI1n9 and Reporting by Charities. Stawn&ni of Re¢ornnded PracUc8 applicable to charrties preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 leffeuive 1 January 20191,. Finanaal Reporting Stsndar(1102 Ihe Finanoal Repts'ra Standard app1Kae in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021. and the CharitEs AL2 2011. ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS, COMMUNITY rneets the ¢Jefin¢th)n ofa publi¢ benefit entity under FRS 102. A558ts and liabilities are Inrtialty renised at historal cost ortransaction valL unss otherwk%e stated in the relevant a¢¢ounting policy notelsl. 2. Incomo from donatlon5 and 18gacl8s Unrestricted funds R88tricted funds 2021 2020 DonatDns received 6,272 1S.479 140,228 146,500 15.479 21,933 15,542 Subscriptsons 1ve 21.751 140,228 161.979 37.475 3. Income from ¢harilaW a¢tivitie$ 2021 2020 Unrèstrf¢t*d fvnds S818S Income from ¢harrtable activrtits 1,470 1,120 4. Income eamed from othv a¢Y¥ttles 2D21 2020 Other actNItS for generatiry lund$ 1 600 5of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS, COMMUNITY Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2021 S. Costs of eharltable actlvluès by fund ty Unre5trlctod R85tri¢t•d funds 2021 2020 Sales 124 124 1,250 3,272 Support costs 2,710 10.000 12,710 2.834 10,000 t2,834 4.522 . Costs of charftable al¥ltieS activity type 2021 2020 Gryont funilln9 of o¢Uvltlès Sales 12,834 4,522 7. Analy$l$ of $upport ¢o$ts 2021 2020 Governan costs 12,710 3,272 8. W 1n¢omWl¢xnIture> for th¢ y This is Stated after tharg1ngllcdrtMgl." 2021 2020 Accountancy fees 510 6of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2021 9. Comparatlv8 for the Statsment of Finonrial Activities Unrestdcted fund5 Restricted funds 2020 In¢omo and endowments from.. Donatn9 ancl legaoes Charitable activitie$ other trading actNite$ Total 23.236 1,120 600 14,239 37,475 1,120 24.956 14.239 39,195 Expenditure on.. Charitable adNit18S 14.5221 14.5221 14,5221 14,5221 Totsl Net income 14,239 34,673 Reconclll8Uon of funds Total funds brought forward Totsl funds carried forvrnrd 110.732 110,732 131.166 14.239 145,405 10. Cr¢iiiiors'. amounts falling due withln one y88r 2021 2020 Other ¢reditors 510 510 11. Cr8dltors.' amounts falllng du• aft•r morn than y•ar 2021 2020 Loans and ov8rdrafts 70,900 70.9 12. Mov•mont in fund5 Uniestrfi¢ted Funds Bal•n¢* at 0110412020 In¢oming Outgdng resources Balan¢t at 3110312021 General General 131.1e6 23,221 P,8341 151,553 131.166 23.221 151,553 7of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS, COMMUNITY Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2021 Unrestrfctsd Funds. Pr•vlous yw Balance at 0110112019 Incomlng Outgolno r*sourtg$ Balance at 3110312020 General General 110,732 24.956 14.5221 131,166 110.732 24.956 14.5221 131,166 Purpose of unrestricted Funds General Unrestricted funds are donations Ihatthe charrty may use for any purpose to meet th8 ams and obj'ecti. Restrlctgd Funds Balance at 0110412020 Ineomlng Outgolng resources Balance at 3110312021 Re$tri¢ted Funds 14.239 140,228 110,0001 110,0001 144.467 14.239 140,228 144,467 Restrictsd Funds- Prevlolts year ealance at 0110112019 Incorning Outgojng resource5 Balance at 31103A020 Restricted Funds 14,239 14,239 14.239 14.239 Purp050 of restrictsd fund Restrictsd Funds Restricted fuTrSs are donatKsns used for a spe¢ffic F¥ge¢t. 8of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY Noles lo the Financial Sialemenls Continued For the year ended 31 March 2021 13. Analys1$ of as$ots bgtwoen funds 14*1 ¢urr•nt a88•ts 1 Crndltovl > Net As¥•t• ono yo•r Unre5trictsd funds Gener81 General 151,553 151,553 Restrlctsd fun¢ts Restricte¢J Funds 215.367 170.9001 144.467 366,920 170.9001 296.020 Pr¢vlous yoar N•t ¢urront a#$•ts i Ilabllttknl NetAssots •no yvar Unr8Strfctsd funds Gen&rnl General 131,166 131,186 Restrlcted lunds Restricted Funds 14,239 14,239 145,405 145,405 9of10

ST KORKOS ORTHODOX CHURCH AND ERITREANS. COMMUNITY Detailed Ststemenl of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 March 2021 2021 2020 INCOME AND ENDOWMENT Donations and legacies Donations Subscriptions 146,5 15.479 21,933 15.542 181.979 37,475 Charitable activitles Income from chantabk 1.470 1,120 1,470 1.120 Other tradlng actlvltkns from other adNitE5 for generating fvnds 6(K) 600 Total Incomlng resources 163,449 39,196 EXPENDITURE Charfitabl8 actl¥ltl89 Cost of grant funded ¢hantable athvrty 11241 11,2501 11241 11.2501 SUPPORT COSTS Governance costs Govemance costs 112,7101 13,2721 112,7101 13,2721 Totsl resourcos expended 112.8341 14.5221 Not In¢omv 150.615 34,673 10of10 Th15 page does not forrn part ofthe statutory finartial ststements