**T h e H u m m i n g b i r d R e f u g e e P r o j e c t** # A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 2 0 Registered Charity Number 1174970 ## welcome A video message from Naqeeb, our Young Leader Graduate View his video message here ## contents page - 4 our team - 5 the hummingbird spirit 9 from our chair about us - 10 from our founder-director - 12 changes in context - 15 our services - overview - 16 our services in numbers - 17 our covid-19 response what we do : overview - 18 hummingbird highlights - 21 be well be heard, 1:1 support - 23 young leaders - 27 learning space what we do : in detail - 29 global social club - 32 governance & legal - 33 objects & activities 34 treasurer's report legal & financial - 35 accounts - 36 our funders & supporters 37 contact us/support us ## our team Staff (Left to Right) Founder - Director Elaine Ortiz Specialist Support Worker Amber Daly Global Social Club Lead Sarah Bennett Education Lead Mick Taylor Young Leaders Project Lead Toby Moore Supervisor Dr. Reima Ana Maglajlic Youth Consultants (Young Leaders Graduates) Mohamad Aljasem Naqeeb Saide Trustees (Left to Right) Chair Chas Walker Treasurer May Beveridge Elisa Sandri Damien Robert Mark Doidge Richard Williams Jayne Grier Thom Hipwood Katie Tong Fabia Bates A community standing together for the rights and protection of young refugees ## the hummingbird spirit ## doing all we can ## our work is inspired by a simple story. . . Once there was an incredible forest, full of animals. One day, the forest caught fire and all the animals, feeling very overwhelmed and powerless, ran to escape from the flames. One little hummingbird, decided to fly to the nearest river, pick up as much water as it could carry in its beak, and fly back to the forest to drop water on the fire. It did this again and again, as fast as it could. The other animals called out “What are you doing? You’re just one little bird and the fire is so huge." The little hummingbird didn’t stop, just turned and replied…“I’m doing all I can”. ## our beginnings We began in June 2015 as a volunteer powered grassroots organisation in Calais. We worked with hundreds of incredible medics, builders and volunteers to respond to a humanitarian crisis less than 150 miles from our home town, Brighton. Working responsively to what was needed, we created safe spaces in the "jungle" camp for unaccompanied children and young people. Our work in Calais ended in Autumn 2016 with eviction of the camp. We returned to Brighton determined to continue working for the rights & protection of young refugees. Since 2017 we have focussed our work in the UK, transforming into an established Brighton based Charity (registered October 2017) delivering specialist services to young refugees locally & campaigning nationally. Read more of our story here. ## the hummingbird spirit ## our foundational ideas ## Collaboration not Competition Our vision is a community standing together for the rights and protection of young refugees. We know that we are stronger together and when we act collectively we can have a greater impact. We believe in the power of community action and seek to connect and collaborate with others creating positive change for young refugees. We strive to be open in our ways of working, sharing our knowledge where we can. We know that one little hummingbird can build a movement. ## We Respond & Learn Our services have been designed in direct response to requests from young people. We approach our work reflectively, with an eagerness to learn. Our services develop and evolve as we learn and respond to feedback from the young people who use them. ## Contexts to Thrive As well as supporting young refugees directly, we recognise the importance of doing all we can to create contexts in which they can thrive.This means we’re active in raising awareness and campaigning for change locally and nationally. We do this side by side with young refugees. Together we passionately campaign and advocate, for more inclusive, less hostile and traumatising, communities, systems & policies. ## we are five! 2015 - 2020 **----- Start of picture text -----**
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"We as refugees, as human beings, need to keep doing the small things to make a change" Hummingbird Young Leader When I came to the UK I was really struggling and scared and shy, especially at college. I found it hard to speak before I joined Hummingbird Young Leaders, they helped me feel belief in myself and confidence. If I didn't have the support I do at the moment with everything that is happening, I would be desperate. I would not know my rights and I would not know what to do. Hummingbird support is helping me with feeling safe at home and making change for me. I 'm proud to be part of Hummingbird and to have their support. Hummingbird Young Person ## from our chair ## Chas Walker Like all of us, much of our last year has been dominated by the Covid crisis. It has seen the organisation adapt its services to engage with young people digitally, with our staff team working remotely. It has reminded us again how marginalised young refugees in our community are, not having the same access to digital systems many of us take for granted. The Board would like to recognise the amazing work of our staff team in the way they have adapted to and ensured the organisation continues to provide essential services to young refugees. The Hummingbird Project celebrated its fifth birthday in 2020, and it was with pride that we looked back at our journey, from our activist origins as Elaine and group of volunteers responded to the humanitarian crisis in Calais to our subsequent development into a prominent young refugee Charity in Sussex with national reach through our campaigning and Young Leaders work. As we look ahead, we can see so much more important work to be done. We recognise the need to develop our services to support young refugees further. Like many refugee organisations, we have been shocked by the inhumane policy changes in the new Immigration Bill and we will continue to campaign in opposition to significant elements of the Bill. At the end of 2020 we hit a significant milestone in the development of The Hummingbird Project. With the growth of the Charity we have now established an employee work force, with staff now formally employed by the organisation. This is a fantastic milestone and will only add to the culture and ambition of the organisation. On behalf of the Board we would like to thank Dr Reima Ana Maglajlic, one of our formative Board members who has retired after three years of amazing service to the organisation. We would also like to thank all the Trusts, Foundations and our supporters for their ongoing generosity in such a difficult year. Your support has been invaluable to the work of The Hummingbird Project ## from our founder-director ## Elaine Ortiz Welcome to our Annual Report for 2020. We are now five years on from when we first started our work in the Calais ‘Jungle’ and it's three years since we became a registered charity, delivering services in Sussex and pushing for change nationally. I continuously remain in awe of the young people we work with and our incredible team of volunteers, staff and trustees. After the elections in 2019, we knew things were going to become much more difficult for the young people we work with. But what 2020 brought us could never have been anticipated. It has been a challenging year for all but in particular for those fleeing war, conflict and persecution. I would first like to acknowledge the context we have worked in during this year (explored in further detail as you read on in this report). The year that will always be remembered for the pandemic also brought other life changing events. The Black Lives Matter movement, after the public murder of George Floyd, compelled people out of the safety of their homes in the midst of the pandemic and onto the streets in a world wide protest, calling for an end to racial injustice. The movement inspired thousands of businesses, organisations, institutions and individuals to speak out, commit themselves to education and change and ally themselves publicly to the cause. Meanwhile, our new government cemented their anti refugee sentiment in a new Immigration Bill that removed the rights of lone child refugees in Europe who now cannot be reunited with their family in the UK. The Immigration Bill also continues the highly controversial indefinite detention of migrants and refugees, making our country the only country in Europe that detains without crime and without time limit. Despite the unique opportunity to learn from our history and our mistakes the global movement gave us the government’s own Race Report, (commissioned post the Windrush Scandal and in the wake of this new global racial justice movement) stated that there was “no evidence of institutional racism in the UK”. Against this background, what our young people and our team have achieved has been incredible to witness. Services were quickly adapted to be delivered online and held space for young people trying to get to grips with what was happening around them. Young Leaders, forever inspiring us, continued their good work in the community, volunteering their time to support charities and social work teams. They spoke out about the impact the Immigration Bill would have on the lives of child refugees, when not many other people did, due to the impact of Covid. Many of them, now young adults, did this not for themselves, but for the children trapped on borders, who are being denied reunion with their families here in the UK. “I don't want them to experience what we have been through”, Young Leaders Graduate, Naqeeb Saide told me . As we look forward to 2021, we are committing ourselves to developing our anti racist practice, continuing to centre the voices of young refugees and pushing for change through youth-led action. Our intentions are also to be more inclusive to those who may struggle to access our services, including reaching out to more young women from refugee backgrounds. After our successful Young Women’s Group pilot in 2019, and our work towards our AllSorts Safer Space Award, we see the need to adapt our work and provide appropriate services. Against the changing political landscape for refugees in the UK, our organisation sees the importance of thinking and working collaboratively with organisations whose visions align in striving to advance social justice for refugees. We benefit and learn so much from our strong partnerships with Safe Passage, KRAN, Refugee Council and Pathways to Independence. We would like to thank them personally for their ongoing collaboration and important work. I also want to say a massive thank you to our supporters, donors and fundraisers. We really would not be here today without the support and belief shown by our local community. During the first lockdown many of our current donors were very quick to check in with us and our young people. As a result, we were able to reach out to more young people and respond to their needs during the pandemic. Additional thanks go to our wonderful and dedicated volunteers, staff and Young Leaders who have all made our work possible. With love, always Elaine Ortiz Founder- Director (she-her) ## changes in context 2020 was an unusual and challenging year. We saw significant changes in issues affecting the lives of young people we work with. ## COVID-19 Impacts on Young Refugees Changes in lifestyle related to COVID-19 restrictions affected us all but there were some specific impacts for the young people we work with. Loss of structure, routine and face to face contact with friends and support networks was particularly challenging for young people affected with mental health challenges, especially those with PTSD. Home Office processes slowed down further with important interviews for asylum applications temporarily stopped, extending long anxious waits for progress with asylum claims. Those waiting for news on their asylum claim had fewer distractions from a sense of limbo. Young people far from home had additional cause for concern about friends & family overseas, with the impacts of COVID being felt severely in many young peoples home countries. Spending prolonged periods of time at home raised further challenges if feeling unsettled in accommodation. Young people told us about feeling overwhelmed, digitally fatigued and bored. New arrivals to the UK were particularly isolated for much of 2020, spending long periods in quarantine before going to foster carers, not able to get to know their new communities or connect with other young people, education or services face to face. In addition to this, young people also faced increased risk of contracting COVID-19 with greater danger from the virus if infected, with disproportionate risks affecting people from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic backgrounds. ## Black Lives Matter In May the world witnessed the tragic murder of George Floyd and subsequently, a huge global uprising against racial injustice. With young people we work directly impacted by racism, we heard from them about how they were deeply affected by the Black Lives Matter movement. These young people can experience a multitude of racism. In their home country, on their journey to the UK (including significant police brutality) and by the UK population. Most upsetting of all for young people, is the racism within systems that are meant to protect them, such as the asylum system. Racism is not a new issue for these young people, but the movement gave language, and space to communicate it more. Young people told us they felt empowered by the protests to speak up when they feel racism has taken place in their lives. We have witnessed this in our casework with an increase in support making formal complaints to police, housing providers and MPs due to experiences of racism (public and institutional). ## changes in context ## Changing Immigration Policies As the UK’s hostile immigration policies have been implemented further, we have witnessed the significant stress and tension created for young people when their community members are detained and deported. In our casework, we have had to explore new possibilities of deportation and detention with young people and seen this become a growing cause of anxiety. These increasingly common fears reflect the hostile climate for these young people post Brexit. Recent government & media rhetoric around migration & forced migration is affecting pervasive narratives and attitudes nationally towards refugees. 2020 saw a new Immigration Bill going through Parliament almost unnoticed by the general public, due to focus on the pandemic. The bill will have a significant impact on the lives of refugees, removing family reunion rights for child refugees in Europe, who want to be reunited with family in the UK. We believe this will increase the risk of trafficking and smuggling to the UK and in turn, the risk of child abuse. The Bill continues the indefinite detention of migrants and refugees. The Bill will directly affect the futures of young people we work with. Hummingbird Young Leaders have been involved in focussed campaign work around this bill. Read more on P25. Image: Pinar Aksu I am proud and grateful for having a lot of good people around me. I want to make change in society and in this country. This country has helped me a lot and I want to give back. I want to be a good representative for refugees in society. I want to feel proud to be a refugee, like LGBT people feel proud of who they are. I want the same for refugees and our community. Young Leaders can be a good example of all refugees by helping and making change in the community. Hummingbird Young Leader ## our services Our award winning, Brighton based services are dedicated to helping young refugees into recovery, to build safe and positive relationships, thrive in life and speak out about issues affecting them. Our vital youth-centred services provide young refugees with the care, support and community they need and deserve. ## Be Well Be Heard Specialist 1:1 Support. We offer vital support to young refugees who may have experienced complex trauma and/or have significant difficulties in their life. ## Young Leaders In partnership with TEDxBrighton. A mentoring programme for young refugees in public speaking, leadership, advocacy & politics. Hummingbird Young Leaders attend regular sessions developing confidence & skills. ## Learning Space Our Learning Space offers friendly, informal educational and language support, run by qualified teachers, for young people learning in another language. ## Global Social Club (GSC) A weekly youth club focussed on friendship, fun & celebrating diversity, for young people from around the city & around the world. A space of welcome for all. GSC is the UK’s first Youth Club of Sanctuary. Alongside our services, we lead powerful national & international campaigns, promoting the rights and protection of refugees. From meetings in parliament to community parades, working alongside young people with lived experience as refugees. ## our services in numbers our services work with young refugees aged 14-25 **----- Start of picture text -----**
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Numbers for period October 2019 - September 2020 ## our covid-19 response In 2020 we delivered our services differently due to the pandemic. Here’s how… ## Moving Services Online From March 23rd we began moving our work online. All services continued remotely, with regular groups being run via Zoom and support provided by phone and video call. Initially we offered space for young people to connect and process what was happening before resuming our usual programs. We adjusted session timings, offering shorter sessions than in person in response to the realities of digital fatigue. Our team developed new skills and discovered the potential in engaging young people online. As legislation changed we offered some outdoor provision, including outdoor 1:1's and some walks with GSC. ## Wellbeing Support We increased our provision of wellbeing support at this time of challenge, reaching out to young people, making sure everyone had what they needed. This included delivery of food & comfort packages and phone credit. We incorporated additional wellbeing support into all services, for example GSC began a weekly ring around as well as the weekly group online. The transition to living more digitally was challenging to many and we provided support with things like using email and Zoom. Some young people had never had a computer before so we also provided support with basic digital literacy. This was made possible by a grant from Act for Change Fund for our Covid-19 Response. New “Welcome Group” for New Arrivals We piloted a new group online combining approaches from Global Social Club and Learning Space to offer a friendly space to connect, play games and improve English for young people new to the community during lockdown. The pilot ran for 5 weeks. ## Our Culture of Wellbeing Knowing how central the wellbeing of our team is to our organisation, we enhanced our commitment to staff wellbeing, implementing our first Staff Wellbeing Week (a week off for all) and formalising our offer of Staff Wellbeing Days (days off available at short notice). We also hosted regular check-ins for staff across the GSC partnership, to stay connected and share knowledge whilst working remotely. ## Informed Practice ## Digital Support We secured funding to offer support with digital access for young people. We used this funding to purchase laptops and wi-fi connectivity, supporting young people to connect with education and services provided online. We supported young people to stay informed about C-19, staying safe and legislation- this was particularly important early in the pandemic. We stayed up to date on frequently changing legislation through the National Youth Agency, making re-opening plans in line with their guidance, using their Readiness Toolkit. ## hummingbird highlights! ## Young People are Incredible We consistently witness the resilience and adaptability of young people we work with. In a year like no other, we have been particularly in awe of their ability to adjust to change. ## Amazing Community Support for A Young Doctor A young man, referred to us by a local college, was told he was not entitled to funding or loans to continue his education to become a Doctor. After some 1:1 support, he joined our Young Leaders Programme. We worked with him to share his story publicly , his incredible crowdfunder for his student fees raising over £ 2,000! The visibility of his campaign meant the college stepped in to sponsor the rest of his fees and began discussions about future financial support for refugee students. Our medical contacts came forward offering support, he is now mentored by two Doctors and has a guaranteed interview with medical school. His dream is to one day become a heart surgeon. We were bowled over by this amazing community response including countless messages of support from the public, urging him on and praising him for his efforts. Writing to his supporters he said “ Thank you so much for putting your trust in me. It encourages me to work harder than ever before. I am determined to help others, like others (YOU!) have helped me in a time of need.” ## Pilot ‘Welcome Group’ for New Arrivals In response to the number of new young refugees arriving locally without social networks or access to in person services, we ran a group online for those arriving during lockdown called ‘Welcome Group’. We developed this pilot in response to discussions with our partners at Refugee Council about the unmet needs of young refugees arriving in community at this time. Combining approaches from Global Social Club and Learning Space we welcomed unaccompanied youth with limited English to a playful English session supported by teachers and an interpreter. We ran a five week pilot with an average of 8 young people joining us each week, with 14 young people referred to the group. The pilot received positive feedback with some young people moving on from the group into our core services. ## Allsorts Safer Space Award We have achieved an Allsorts Safer Space award! We completed work with Allsorts to make sure we provide an open, inclusive space for LGBTQIA+ young people by embedding good practice into Hummingbird’s services. "I was very impressed by their staff and volunteers and their willingness to learn so they can ensure their project is LGBT+ inclusive and a safer-space for LGBT+ young people." (Allsorts Trainer) The process required staff training, consultations, evaluation and development of practice. As part of the process we offered reciprocal training to Allsorts to support them to create a safer space for refugees. The training was co-facilitated by one of our Young Leaders. "Hummingbird are a small but mighty charity making a real difference to the lives of vulnerable young refugees and the power of their work came across in the training. I came away from the session feeling more confident to support young refugees in my own professional practice and with a better understanding of their needs and common experiences. ## Developing Our Anti-Racist Practice In the context of the Black Lives Matter movement and increased awareness of racial injustice, The Hummingbird Project has made a commitment to developing its anti-racist practice. We acknowledge this is ongoing work and 2020 saw some first steps with our team and some Trustees attending initial training and reflective sessions exploring white privilege and racism. Our team acknowledged our responsibilities in educating ourselves, calling out racism and challenging the systems that are currently harming young people. The Hummingbird Project is striving to become a more actively anti-racist organisation with a long term commitment to reflection, learning and un-learning. ## We’re Evolving! As we continue to develop as an organisation, enhancing our practices and systems, this year has seen lots of changes, both publicly & behind the scenes. Towards the end of our financial year, we achieved the milestone of becoming an employing organisation, with our own new set of policies to support this. This year has also brought a new website, a new and experienced bid writer, focussed fundraising and operational committees at board level, some increased support with administration and steps taken towards becoming an employing organisation. With guidance from experienced trustees we are in the process of formalising how we measure our outcomes. Young Leaders become Youth Consultants 2020 saw two of our Young Leader Graduates move into paid Youth Consultancy roles with our organisation. As experts by experience they have offered invaluable insights and ideas to support the evolution of Young Leaders. Work has included supporting the design and development of our new Young Leaders Programme, supporting and facilitating sessions and peer mentoring new Young Leaders. ## Moving Venues The very end of our financial year saw us move our offices. After 3 years at Brighton Young People's Centre, we said goodbye to Ship Street, the space where we shared offices, began our youth groups and grew as we launched our work in Brighton. We have moved to a new, more spacious venue at BMECP Centre. We will be enduringly grateful to Brighton Young People's Centre for support they offered us at a crucial stage. We are exited for this new chapter in our own offices with more space for our youth groups and growing services. ## Young Leaders in Partnership with Safe Passage & KRAN In 2019 we were awarded Act For Change Funding, (a joint initiative between Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, matched by the #iwillfund) to develop our Young Leaders project. Through Act For Change, we have connected with a vast network of youth change making organisations. 2020 has seen us develop significant partnerships within this network with refugee organisations, Safe Passage and KRAN, sharing knowledge, running joint sessions and coming together to campaign for change, notably around the Immigration Bill, discussed in further detail on page 25. Working together has enhanced our offer to young people and strengthened our campaigns. 14 Young Leaders sessions were delivered in collaboration with Safe Passage & KRAN this year. One young person said “Our groups are different, but when we work together we are one unit”. Working together to build shared platforms has given more strength and amplification to young refugee voices and enabled Young Leaders to reach a far wider range and number of communities nationally. This collaboration has supported resource and knowledge sharing, with Safe Passage enhancing our understanding of political campaigning and KRAN modelling ways of working with their Ambassadors that we hope to work towards. We advised Safe Passage as they set up a similar project inspired and informed by Hummingbird Young Leaders. These collaborations also bring new opportunities to our Young Leaders too, one of our Young Leader Graduates is now a Trustee of Safe Passage! Young Leaders from this partnership also joined Young Roots (a refugee organisation in Croydon) for the launch of their Young Leaders group. Young Leaders from the four groups connected and explored change making together. There was a pledge to Young Roots to support them in their journey of leadership, if it was needed in the future. ## Be Well Be Heard ## Specialist 1:1 Support In 2019/20 we provided specialist support to 29 young people 5 received long term 1:1 support 24 received short term/crisis support Our specialist one to one support service works intensively with young refugees in Sussex. We offer vital wellbeing support to young people experiencing issues including complex trauma and delayed or failed asylum cases. Our specialist worker supports young people to navigate complex and unfamiliar legal, health, education and welfare systems which can be hostile, prejudiced & re-traumatising. We work in partnership with other professionals, connecting young people to appropriate specialist services. There continues to be huge demand for this part time service. As our organisation grows, connecting with more young people and organisations, we identify even greater need. Regrettably, our limited capacity means we can't offer support to all that need it. We hope to expand this service in the near future. Casework Successes in 19/20... We secured extra face to face educational support at college for young people who were struggling working from home. Finding secure housing for 2 young people who became homeless in lockdown. Increased access to Counselling by liaising with Sensing Friends to change their eligible age range up to 25. Support & advocacy with immigration & mental health challenges were the key focus of 1:1 work this year Through casework we have provided vital support on issues related to housing, education, racism, finances, legal status, understanding COVID rules & safety, accessing health services remotely & community connection. We have provided ongoing wellbeing support during the pandemic with care packages, regular checkins and plans to overcome lockdown boredom & frustration. ## Be Well Be Heard Case Studies “I would like to thank you for the invaluable help provided in this client’s case. Without your help and due to legal aid cuts, we could not have been able to progress his case and this would have had terrible consequences for this very vulnerable client. We are very lucky to have your organisation in Brighton.” Immigration Solicitor J came to a ‘drop in’ and met with our Specialist Support Worker. It was quickly identified this young person didn't have any financial support and was sofa surfing due to a failed asylum case and was therefore destitute. J had experienced torture in his home country and had significant symptoms of PTSD which he had not seen a medical professional about previously. Working closely with J to build a trusting relationship, our worker supported him to access therapy and organised a meeting with a solicitor to review his asylum case. Our team organised an independent assessment from a Psychiatrist specialising in working with people who have experienced torture, providing evidence which supported his asylum case. Our Specialist Support Worker helped J and his solicitor to collect evidence needed to submit a fresh asylum claim. J is now in accommodation and receives a small allowance from the Hummingbird Project but still remains destitute. But now he has a strong asylum case due to the evidence that has been collated and will await an outcome from the Home Office. J has weekly support from our team as well as access to mental health support. L has been accessing our services since 2017 and has health issues as well PTSD which affects him every day. His legal case is complex and has been going on for six years. Social Services decided that they will end his support for him (which means stopping finance and moving him out of their housing) and due to his lack of legal status could mean leaving this young man homeless with no more than £ 37 a week to live on. We wrote to the social worker and their manager to complain about the risk of homelessness and L's vulnerability and how we felt ending vital care during a pandemic, with his health issues would leave him vulnerable to C-19. This did not achieve a positive outcome, so we wrote to his MP Caroline Lucas and the CEO of Social Services. Meanwhile L's mental health was clearly deteriorating and adult mental health service would not see him as his asylum case made his circumstances too “unstable” for trauma therapy. Interventions by our Specialist Support Worker resulted in change in decision by the council, who finally agreed not to end their support. Our team organised private therapy for L which he now accesses and after 3 years of supporting L to collect evidence on his asylum case, he was granted status this year. ## Young Leaders UK Parliament's ‘Community Campaigners of the Year 2019’ In Partnership with TEDxBrighton Hummingbird's Young Leaders (YL) offers a programme of regular sessions supporting young refugees to develop knowledge, skills and confidence in public speaking, communication, leadership, advocacy and politics. In 2019/20... 36 Young Leaders sessions delivered 12 New YL's joined the group Through this programme, Young Leaders grow and work individually and together as a collective, to create local and national change, taking impactful action on issues that are important to them. With Hummingbird providing opportunities, support and mentoring along the way. 5 YL's Graduated from the programme 3 collaborations with other Young Leaders Programmes & 14 collaborative sessions - They raise awareness on issues facing refugees in the UK and Europe, campaigning for positive change. They organise and attend events around the UK, including meetings and events in Parliament. - They are highly engaged with MPs, journalists and other charities including Safe Passage & Amnesty International. - They have been interviewed by the BBC, the Independent, Guardian & The Times. Locally, they welcome young people to the area, volunteer with charities and speak at Brighton & Sussex Universities. Our 19/20 year saw a new chapter for Young Leaders. Weekly sessions began again in Autumn 2019 after a six month pause and the project began to scale up its delivery, welcoming new Young Leaders at the start of 2020. A new programme was designed for a new cohort of young people incorporating learning from our pilot phase. Our five original Young Leaders graduated from the programme becoming 'Young Leaders Graduates' with the offer of more tailored 1:1 support for their individual projects and ongoing opportunities to support the YLs programme. In 2019 the Act For Change Fund awarded us £ 85,000 to develop Young Leaders. We have been implementing this funding over the last year, enabling us to work with more young refugees and share learning nationally. This funding has created a paid role for ‘Young Leaders Project Lead’ (previously voluntary) and connected us with a vast network of change making organisations. 2020 saw the design and launch of a new YL programme. As the year unfolded, this programme wasn’t delivered exactly as planned. Weekly sessions moved online from March with a more ‘drop in and take part’ approach. This reduced pressure to attend consistently and enabled young people to invite others too, growing the group and creating more accessible ways of learning and sharing. We recognised the need for providing support at a time of challenge as issues emerged in sessions and made space for this. When I came to the UK I did not know any English. I did not have a word, it was really hard. Lots of people see refugees but they do not know our story behind us. Having the platform of Young Leaders, having a voice for refugees, is really helping. It is making a lot of people aware of what is going on, what is right, what is not. Online sessions created more opportunities to engage and collaborate and removed the barrier of travelling to attend. Being online enabled sessions later in the day helping young people fit Young Leaders around their schedules. Sessions included script writing, video making, politics, campaigning, human rights, children's rights, speech analysis, speech delivery and teamwork. Politics sessions included a visit to Parliament and explored the roles of the House Of Lords and Commons with guests Lord Bassam and MP Stuart MacDonald. One of the best things I did since being in the UK was joining the Young Leaders. It feels good to be around lots of inspiring people. Hummingbird Young Leaders 2020 Case Study: Young Leaders in Action - The Immigration Bill This year has seen the Young Leaders focussing discussions and campaigns around the Immigration Bill and its impacts, with a specific focus on family reunion for young people. Hummingbird and Safe Passage Young Leaders agreed to work collectively on a national campaign against the removal of family reunion rights for child refugees in Europe, an upsetting theme for young people, bringing up painful personal experiences of loss and separation from family. “My brother is in another country and trying to reach me through legal routes. What would happen to him if the legal routes were not possible?” ## The group decided to produce a film to to raise public and parliamentary awareness of this issue. They worked together on a script and learnt skills to film and edit videos on their phones in a session with a professional filmmaker. With these new skills, young leaders created this video. Before the House of Lords cast their vote on the Immigration Bill, the Young Leaders jointly wrote a letter, sent to every peer in the house via post and email along with their campaign video. The Lords voted in favour of the amendments needed to keep family reunion, which was a great success. You can read more here. Young Leaders used events and ## opportunities to highlight what was happening, including demonstrations outside Parliament and appearing as keynote speakers alongside David Miliband at an online conference looking at family reunions. Heartbreakingly, the Immigration Bill passed through parliament at the end of 2020 and by January 2021 family reunion was removed from law for child refugees. Whilst our campaign did not succeed in preventing this change in law, we still saw some incredible outcomes. Even after five years, the ripples from taking action never fail to surprise us! After learning video making skills one Young Leader was inspired to start his own YouTube channel to educate young people in his home country, Angola in topics such as maths and science. “I am proud of coming from such a long way and achieving many things. If you would have said then what I am doing now I would not believe you! I'm proud of my Youtube channel and it would not be possible without the Hummingbird Project.” The video campaign was watched thousands of times and seen by MP’s around the country, gaining media attention, leading to a piece featuring the Young Leaders in the Guardian making an important contribution to positive public narratives about young refugees. Guardian visibility led to UK wide public support, more press enquiries and contact from other charities. We heard from another five organisations with youth led programs for refugees who we are now connected with. Connecting with organisations making room for some of the most underrepresented young people in the country feels incredibly valuable in a time of diminishing refugee rights. We have begun to bring these organisations together, an important step in amplifying young refugee voices and taking collective action as a coalition. Watch this space! Young Leaders appearances included Refugee Week events and appearing on an IMIX panel discussion. In February 2020, Hummingbird and Thousand 4 £ 1000 jointly organised a London based Day of Action & Remembrance for lives lost on the border, with talks and a vigil hosted by Hummingbird Young Leaders. A young person connected with our services joined Young Leaders to get support for a speech he delivered at a Brighton Black Lives Matter protest. We also met him 1:1, advising him about his rights, including risks due to not yet having his legal status in the UK and attended the event together. We have begun building a positive relationship with the young organisers of Brighton Black Lives Matter with plans to collaborate on actions in the future. We have been in direct communication with the Leader of Brighton Council about involving Young Leaders in their new antiracism strategy. We have released a joint statement with the Council about welcoming refugees and rejecting racism in Brighton. The Leader of the Council has invited Young Leaders to shadow him, to experience local politics first-hand and for him to learn more about them and the local refugee youth perspective. A Young Leader Graduate developed and cofacilitated an interactive workshop for the teaching staff across Sussex University and Sussex Medical School revealing some of the unique educational inequalities facing young refugees in the UK. Being a Young Leader can change their mind, we can change the way they think about us. We can do this by learning new skills, how to speak our minds freely, how to help and change that image that people have against us. It is not hate. They might not like us. Someone created this wrong idea of us and we don't open up to them because we are scared to share our stories- we don't know what will happen. By being in the community we can start small and spread information and messages. Hummingbird Young Leader 2020 ## Learning Space ## Educational Support with Qualified Teachers Created in direct response to young people's requests for homework support, we offer 1-1 support and small group sessions with teachers in a relaxed, trauma informed space to learn. I really enjoy my English lessons with her, Can she teach me maths as well? J, Young Person Supporting young people from a range of educational backgrounds, some may have a degree, others may have never been to school at all. Young people may have missed out on education due to fleeing their home country or language barriers. Our flexible and responsive offer outside formal education means young people can ask for the learning support they need most. This is predominantly English Language & Maths support, but has included tutoring from nurses & engineers! We work responsively, seeking skilled teachers to meet each persons needs. Living with the impacts of trauma can affect young people's ability to concentrate when alone. Having a supportive presence while working can be beneficial to both their wider wellbeing and educational needs. We also offer support to understand the education system, explore learning options and can signpost to more expansive learning opportunities (eg.martial arts classes). In 19/20 we provided education support to 35 young people. Young refugees, who often arrive mid way through academic terms, may have to wait to access formal education- for these young people Learning Space language support is invaluable. We have offered 1:1 support, drop in groups, mentoring for higher education, digital literacy support & provided learning resources. ## In 19/20... ## Increased Demand In 2020 we saw a greater need for educational support. Changes in local ESOL provision, young people struggling with accessing education remotely, challenges with digital literacy and requirements for more self-led study all increased demand for Learning Space's informal support. ## Scaling Up In response to this demand, we scaled up our provision. This meant doubling staff time on the project, increasing the capacity of our Educational Lead from 1 to 2 days a week with the support of funding from Sussex Community Foundation. We were able to increase our learning offer and recruit a larger pool of volunteer qualified teachers. ## Unique Need It’s clear the space meets a specific need with young people attending who don’t use any of our other services. (Some may have previously worked with us but no longer require any of our other services.) ## Valued Support We have recognised the value of support at times of transition between school, college and university. Young people often choose to return for ongoing support. We have seen an increase in young women connecting with Learning Space this year. Thank you very much for all your help, I wasn’t able to do it alone. N, Young Person Received mentoring for university application ## Online Flexibility ## New Approaches Prior to March 2020, Learning Space was delivered as a once weekly, in person, drop in. Just before lockdown we saw on average 4 young people at the session per week. Moving online in March 2020 we were able to experiment with different approaches, offering tailored 1:1's, multiple weekly drop in sessions and focussed higher education mentoring. Working online offered greater flexibility for tailored 1:1 sessions, enabling us to connect young people with volunteers across a wide geographical range, at times that suited them. Our amazing volunteers with a range of specialisms, have been incredibly flexible, in supporting young people's changing needs. I really enjoy teaching him, he is very keen to learn, works hard and deserves to do well. Learning Space Volunteer Teacher ## Global Social Club A Youth Club of Sanctary: A Space of Welcome for All Open to young people aged 14-25 from around the city and around the world, GSC meets every Monday. It's a space to nurture friendship and solidarity between people of different backgrounds. In 19/20 (Pre Covid: September 19 to March 20) 14 young people at GSC each week (average) GSC was founded in 2017, responding to requests from young refugees to make more friends locally. GSC offers a much needed space to connect with others, especially valuable to people who are new in the community. 26 young people joined our most popular session (ice skating!) 39 new faces joined the GSC community We have fun, celebrate diversity, build friendships and share culture & creativity. Each week we connect through different activities, socialise and share food (when meeting in person). We regularly welcomed new faces to the GSC community, greeting new members in almost 60% of sessions. Strong relationships with local social workers and foster carers mean we often meet young people within their first fortnight in the UK. GSC is delivered as a partnership with the Refugee Council, Pathways to Independence and YPC. We are the UK’s first Youth Club of Sanctuary! Alongside our core activities, drop in specialist support and advice is available through the sessions. Our robust partnership enables us to offer a safe and supportive environment for young people across a spectrum of vulnerability. Highlights of sessions and trips included Rap, Art, lantern making, photography, Pumpkin Carving, a community feast with gleaned food, trips on the i360, Ice Skating, the Circus at Brighton Dome and Burning the Clocks lantern parade. Trips were made possible by Youth Led Grants funding from Brighton & Hove Council, applied for in collaboration with young people, who chose how funding was spent. School Nurse Drop Ins were hosted bimonthly at GSC, offering young people the opportunity to seek medical advice in a familiar community setting. GSC Films We also used BHCC Youth Led Grants to work with filmmaker Rosie Powell to produce 2 short promotional films about GSC. As part of these sessions with Rosie, we also offered a photography workshop. ## GSC Christmas Day Celebration We hosted a Christmas Day event for the third year joined by 14 young people and supported by local volunteers. It was a fun afternoon sharing games, art, candlelit wishes for the future and dishes from around the world. A Cooking Facilitator In January 2020 we piloted a new role, GSC Cooking Facilitator. Cooking and sharing food at GSC has always played a central role. Fantastic local chef Israa Mohammed joined us to lead the collaborative cooking. Her food became a GSC weekly highlight, young people told us the food 'reminded them of home'. We were unable to complete this six month pilot in full due to lockdown but it was clear this is a key role is one we would like to implement again in the future. Research A team of students from the Institute of Development Studies undertook research on the GSC partnership exploring how we work together. I'm just about to close the case for one of my young people, I am writing the chronology which is full of missing episodes, police intervention and then...a Circus outing with GSC! Thank you for giving the young people happy memories. ## West Sussex Social Worker Trips were a positive way to engage new faces, with people from further afield keen to attend. 10 new young people from Bognor joined GSC activities in December 2019. Our expanded program of trips offered opportunities for young refugees to have positive experiences, grounded in the present. Sharing experiences deepened existing relationships and gave opportunities for young people and staff to connect in new contexts, creating new stories together. For young people with traumatic pasts this is of particular importance. During Covid: March - September 2020 GSC Online began in April 2020, offering a weekly hour for games, fun & connection via Zoom. Whilst quieter than our in person sessions they still proved to be beneficial to those newer to the community. We found new games and ways to connect online, exploring new dimensions of creativity in this medium. March - September 20 28 young people attended GSC Online 20 online sessions 3 young people per session (average) Ring-Arounds & Text Outs As well as GSC online, we communicated weekly with those who attended GSC regularly pre-covid to check in via phone and text. Reminding people about our weekly sessions enabled us to sustain contact, identify needs and check in with those more isolated or at higher risk. You can be relaxed here, we are like a family O, Young Person encouraging another young person during online session. Partnership Meetings Recognising that an important part of the Global Social Club offer is the informal knowledge sharing and support between frontline staff that takes places across the GSC partnership, during lockdown we hosted regular GSC Check Ins for partnership staff. These were valuable in boosting morale, sharing learning & knowledge at a time of vast change and keeping the GSC staff community spirit alive. Global Social Club consistently provides weekly support and nourishment to young people. It's hugely beneficial for our young people’s emotional wellbeing, sense of belonging, identity and self-esteem, we are very grateful. Social Worker, Asylum Team Brighton & Hove City Council ## governance & legal The Hummingbird Project is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. We registered as a Charity on 4th October 2017 Our Charity Registration Number is 1174970 Registered address: The Hummingbird Refugee Project, BMECP Centre, 10A Fleet Street Brighton, BN1 4ZE (Our registered address changed in September 2020 when we moved offices from YPC ) The organisation is run and managed by a Board of Trustees. Trustees are recruited based on required skills & experience for the running of the Charity. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefit from the charity. The Board of Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. The Board is made up of ten Trustees with a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the charity's work. The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. ## Trustees: Elisa Sandri Richard Williams All Appointed 4th October 2017 Mark Doidge Damien Robert Mary (May) Beveridge, Treasurer Appointed 14th February 2018 Charles (Chas) Walker, Chair Appointed 29th March 2018 Fabia Bates Jayne Grier All Appointed 6th November 2019 Thomas Hipwood Kathryn Tong Trustees Standing Down: Reima (Rea) Maglajlic 4th October 2017 - 23rd July 2020 Suede Stanton-Drudy 6th November 2019 -27th May 2020 ## objects & activities Our Objects: To promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, including but not limited to the relief of poverty and distress, the advancement of education, and the promotion of physical and mental health. The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives. The charity is fulfilling its role in the community by supporting and advocating for unaccompanied young asylum seekers and refugees ## independent examiners statement I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 1st June 2021 Name: Ann Longhurst Relevant professional qualification: FCCA Address: 11 Varndean Gardens, Brighton, BN1 6WJ ## from our treasurer ## May Beveridge Treasurer’s Report for year ended 30 September 2020 Despite the onset of the pandemic in March, our third year as a charity saw exponential growth in our income. This is quite remarkable, since events where we anticipated income of about _£_ 20,000 were all cancelled due to Covid-19. This financial year saw us begin two years of substantial restricted funding from the Act For Change Fund for the development of our Young Leaders Programme as well as additional grants totalling _**£**_ 54,946 to spend on our core costs. Some funding was given at short notice as funders wanted to ensure the survival and continuation of our work during Covid-19. With the return of our Founder-Director Elaine to full time work, the appointment of new Trustee Thom Hipwood, with his professional fundraising experience and the formation of a focussed fundraising committee we regained fundraising momentum, more than doubling income from donations since the previous year to _**£**_ 25,536. This is quite remarkable, since events where we anticipated significant income of about _£_ 20,000 were all cancelled due to Covid-19. Hummingbird had been chosen as one of the Mayor’s Charities for 2019/20 with the opportunity to raise visibility and generate income through a prestigious Gala event in Brighton Pavilion. Planned for March 2020, with income anticipated in this financial year, this has now been postponed until March 2022. We also lost anticipated income through the cancellation of sponsored events like the South Coast Challenge, Run2Music and London2Brighton. In Summer 2020 we benefitted from the services of an experienced fundraising volunteer. With her help, we have secured grants of over _£_ 90,000 for 2020/21 to support the growth and development of the organisation and services. Whilst funding uncertainty in 2019/20 meant we were unable to go ahead with the planned recruitment of a service manager and administrator this funding has secured these next steps in our organisational development. This is the third year that I appeal to anyone who has read this far, to make a commitment to regularly help the Hummingbird Project. It is the regular donations from committed supporters that we rely on to help us plan for the future. 2019-2020 ## accounts **1st July** Hummingbird Refugee Project was first registered as a Charity in October 2017 therefore our financial year currently runs 1st October-30th September. ## our funders & supporters we are incredibly grateful to everyone who fundraised for or donated to us in 2020. our work wouldn’t be possible without you! Based in Brighton, a City of Sanctuary, we're so lucky to have an amazing community of Hummingbirds around us, doing what they can! We want to say a massive thank you to those who have volunteered their time to support our work this year. Special mentions go to Mia Furci, Hannah Furakawa, Jack Nielsen, Katie Ford, Anna Jones, Annie Marley, Dawn Hughes, Ben Teuten, all the Learning Space Volunteers and all the Hummingbirds out there! The Hummingbird Refugee Project hummingbirdproject.org.uk BMECP Centre, 10A Fleet Street, Brighton, BN1 4ZE enquiries@hummingbirdproject.org.uk @Hummingbirduk @hummingbird.project @hummingbirdbtn Registered Charity Number 1174970 If you'd like to support our work, you can make a donation or set up regular giving here: chuffed.org/project/hummingbirdrefugeeproject