2024-03-31-accounts - St Korkos Orthodox Church And Eritreans' Community

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ANNUAL REPORT St. Korkos Orthodox Church and Eritrean Community in Birmingham

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Contents: wa

Legal and Administration Charity Information .......................................................................................3 Charity Name: .....................................................................................................................................3 Charity Registration Number: .............................................................................................................3 Charity Address:..................................................................................................................................3 Elected Trustees:.................................................................................................................................3 Independent Examiner: ......................................................................................................................3 Bank: ...................................................................................................................................................3 Structure Governance and Management: ..............................................................................................3 Background: ............................................................................................................................................4 Property: .................................................................................................................................................4 Yearly Overview: .....................................................................................................................................5 Charitable Purposes:...........................................................................................................................5 Overview of activity conducted throughout the year: .......................................................................5 Daily Program Breakdown: .................................................................................................................6

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Legal and Administration Charity Information wa

Charity Name:

St. Korkos Orthodox Church and Eritreans' Community in Birmingham

Charity Registration Number:

1174445

Charity Address:

37 Broomfield Road, Edrington, Birmingham, B23 7QA.

Elected Trustees:

Dawit Belay

Father Amine Gebremariam (Priest)

Biniyam Eyasu Mebahtom Weldemikall Gherezghimer Kflemariam

Tsige Tekhle

Independent Examiner:

Sigma Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisors Wilding Building, 864 Wash wood Heath Road, Ward End Birmingham,

B8 2NG

Bank:

NatWest and Barclays in Birmingham

Structure Governance and Management:

The St. Korkos Orthodox Church congregation currently gathers at 37 Broomfield Road Erdington in Birmingham. The trustees, who oversee the charity's operations in accordance with the internal memorandum and regulations established by the charity commission, are responsible for managing its affairs. The trustees are elected by the members, who are encouraged to enroll on the electoral roll and participate in trustee elections.

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Background: wa

The influx of asylum seekers and refugees into the United Kingdom has been steadily increasing over the years. Having fled due to various forms of persecution, they often struggle with homesickness and therefore seek a community that can help them settle and thrive in the UK. This is especially important given that many have endured traumatic experiences both in their home country and in their perilous journey to the UK. Fortunately, there are compassionate members within our community who have taken it upon themselves to offer voluntary support to these individuals by providing them with essential information and guidance to help ease their transition.

The community has made significant progress in establishing an initiative aimed at organizing its members and establishing a registered charity with the charity commission in August 2017. Our primary focus is to assist the community by offering religious and various other community services. In addition, we have taken the initiative to support children in their home learning, providing essential guidance for their 11+ entrance examinations and GCSEs. Furthermore, we have devised plans to offer a diverse range of services to both our charity members and individuals who may require our assistance.

Property:

Our congregation has been fervently praying and patiently waiting for a considerable amount of time to acquire a dedicated space for worship. To achieve this goal, we diligently collected funds from our church members for nearly six years. After a long and arduous journey, we have finally accumulated the necessary funds to purchase the property we had been eyeing. On the 10th of December 2021, we successfully acquired our very own place of worship located at 37 Broomfield Road, Erdington, Birmingham.

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Yearly Overview: wa

Charitable Purposes:

The primary objective of the charity, as stated earlier, is to assist asylum seekers in adapting and assimilating into British society. This is primarily achieved through the provision of religious and cultural services that are specifically designed to support individuals during challenging and distressing periods.

Overview of activity conducted throughout the year:

This year, our programs and services have experienced significant growth as a result of acquiring our own property. Throughout the week, we organize a variety of religious activities, including worship and liturgy, which are specifically designed to accommodate individuals with different schedules. Our aim is to ensure that there is always ongoing assistance and engagement available to support individuals with diverse timetables. Additionally, we extend our help and support to newcomers in the country, addressing their various needs such as language assistance, form filling, and providing advice on various matters. We consider this support to be of utmost importance, as we firmly believe that newcomers have a tremendous potential to become valuable and contributing members of society when provided with appropriate guidance and steered in the right direction. Moreover, we strive to guide individuals away from potential addictions, recognizing that the stress and trauma they have endured may make them susceptible to such paths. The church also supports university students who arrive from other cities, offering them a welcoming community away from home.

Daily lessons are conducted from Monday to Thursday to educate students on the practices of the Eritrean orthodox church. This is crucial as it prepares the upcoming generation of leaders and servants with the necessary knowledge and skills through bible studies, hymns, and other relevant teachings.

In addition, young people and children receive lessons on Saturdays covering a wide range of subjects. These subjects encompass both academic and religious teachings. The significance of these lessons lies in their ability to impart knowledge about the church, Christian values, and academic guidance, including tutoring in areas where assistance is required. It is crucial to instill the right values in children from a young age, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, as we witness the detrimental impact of gangs on their lives. Therefore, we customize the lessons to steer them away from such influences and set them on a positive trajectory.

On Sundays, the church community gathers for the liturgy, during which a variety of church books are read, hymns are sung and sermons are delivered. Once the liturgy has ended, there is an opportunity for individuals to connect and engage in conversation whilst enjoying cultural food and beverages. This aspect holds great significance as it enables newcomers to establish connections with individuals who share similar backgrounds, fostering the formation of meaningful friendships beyond the church environment.

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Daily Program Breakdown: wa

Monday - Friday: Lessons for Sunday School Students Saturday: Lessons for the Young Children

Sunday: Divine Liturgy, Choir Practice and Fellowship Gathering

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					
					
					

					
					



 



                  	             	         
		
		 
		



  



 







     

  



 



       	    	    	            	  
				
				        









 







             	         	               	  
			 
			
			       
			



 




				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				


				
				
				

				
				



 






				
				
				

				
				









			
			
			
			
			

			
			
			
			
			









 





          	                   
	   
	                   
	   



 



        	        	   
		  
		
		













	
	
	
	
	
	















 



					
			
					

					
					

					
					
					

					
					



 



                  	             	         
		
		 
		

  



 











       	    	    	            	  
				
				        









 







             	         	               	  
			 
			
			       
			



 




				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				


				
				
				

				
				



 






				
				
				

				
				







			
			
			
			
			

			
			
			
			
			









 





          	                   
	   
	                   
	   



 



        	        	   
		  
		
		



