# **Enfield Refugee Welcome Group Registered Charity 1175359 Report to Trustees** ## **July 2021** ## **Our Stated Aim** The relief or prevention of poverty and the preservation and protection of health amongst those granted refugee status or who have been granted asylum by the Home Office and who reside or wish to reside in Enfield. To advance the education and training of those granted refugee status or who have been granted asylum by the Home Office and their dependents who reside or wish to reside in Enfield and are in need thereof so as to assist them to integrate within a new community. ## **History** Enfield Refugee Welcome Group (ERWG) was started in 2016 by a group of likeminded individuals who felt that action was required by the community in response to the tragedies occurring predominantly in Syria at the time. It was a group made up of people from all and no faiths and remans a true community response. It was decided to act as a community sponsorship group under the new Home Office Community Sponsorship Scheme. To facilitate this the group initially operated under the auspices of Caritas an existing recognised social action charity. With their help and support the group were able to be recognised by the Home Office and successfully applied under the scheme to be accredited. Working with the support of Caritas and the London Borough of Enfield the group were able to independently secure suitable premises and sufficient funding, by way of donations, to be able to accept a family under the vulnerable children’s scheme. We have since built on our experience by successfully welcoming a second family. ## **First Family** Our first family: mum, two sons and a daughter who arrived in July 2017 have just moved to Stoke on Trent where they have extended family. Although we are no longer responsible for them under the Home Office scheme, we naturally continued to support them through what was a year of highs and lows. The high being the successful immigration court appeal to allow for family reunification and the low being having the new flat attacked by people searching for drugs. With the reunification it was a priority to find new housing as the existing accommodation was overcrowded. Working with the London Borough of Enfield eventually new premises were found, and the family moved. It became apparent that the Council had not undertaken proper due diligence as the premises were wholly unsuitable, being previously a very active drugs house. The family were plagued with visitors at all times of day / night with a number of attempted break ins. Various agencies were engaged with and a multi-agency approach taken to support an immediate relocation. During the year, the family received financial support in terms of legal costs, rent support during changes to Universal Credit, a new washing machine and computer tablets to assist with the children’s schooling. We also assisted with removal fees. The family have now successfully relocated to Stoke on Trent. They have asked to pass on their thanks to the “amazing group who have helped them over the years”. ## **Second Family** Our second family arrived on the 5[th] March 2020 just ahead of “lockdown”. The family consists of. - Grandma - Dad & Mum - Four Children The family have not benefited from the same level of hands-on support that we would like to have provided due to the pandemic and the restrictions this has imposed. Given the timing on their arrival they have settled in exceptionally well. The children are at school, the family have bought a car and the whole family’s language skills are improving except Grandmas which is understandable. Additional efforts are now being made in providing the children with further English support. Matters have settled down nicely with the neighbours now with no further reported issues. In addition to purchasing a car, dad is hoping to take the UK test shortly as he is aware of the 1-year requirement. He has recently passed the theory test. The family are applying for travel documents to allow for future travel. They also now have a splendid aquarium and have really made the house their home. Over the year we have provided additional furniture a new cooker and computer tablets for the children for schooling. Further support has been considerably curtailed by Covid restrictions but as the situation eases it is hoped to increase the number of visits and overall support provided to the family. During the year we had two reporting meetings with the Home Office where the family are interviewed independently, amongst other things, about the support we provide. We have passed both Home Office assessments with excellent results and they wish to know when we will be looking at our next family! We are now no longer responsible as a group for the family in the Home Office’s eyes, however, we will naturally continue to support them. The family are very grateful to the group for the help and support they receive. ## **Finance** All bank statements are attached as is a simplified spreadsheet detailing income and expenditure. The headline figures since the opening of the bank account are: Opening Balance £4,066.01 Income £19,786.55 Expenditure £7,670.48 Cash at Bank £16,182.08 Alan Jones, a retired chartered accountant, has independently looked at both the bank statements, receipts, and the spreadsheet. He confirms the figures. We have been very fortunate this year to benefit from significant additions to our funding; a monthly donation of £100 and one-off donations of £600, £5,000 & £10,000 the donors wish to remain anonymous. I have recently claimed gift aid on the donations and have now received £4,078.84 from HMRC. This will be reflected in next year’s accounts. ## **General** Colin Teevan one of our Trustees has stepped down owing to a move away from London. We are delighted to welcome Michael MacKenzie to be a Trustee. Mike is known to some of the core group and has significant financial experience. The Home Office are keen for us to look to apply to support a further family. We have the finances but having spoken to members of the core group I believe the consensus is that we await the lifting of Covid restrictions before we once again look to both apply and rebuild the human resources needed. This coming year we need to improve on our social media presence and communications, an area that is important in raising the plight of refugees. ## **Conclusion** It has been another very successful year with family 1 being reunited and family 2 coping exceptionally well with all the restrictions placed upon them. Family 1 are now moving on to a new phase in their lives. I honestly believe our input in supporting them since arrival and in the successful reunification of the family is a fantastic testament to the ability and dedication of the group. We have been exceptionally fortunate in receiving some amazing financial donations which leaves us again in an excellent position to support the next family. Naturally as a volunteer group there has been churn especially early in the pandemic, but we remain a coherent group with expertise in safeguarding, compliance, interpreting, support etc. Overall a year with its challenges but the core group remains confident and unfailing in our determination to support refugees where possible. Alan Seldon 6[th] July 2021 ## **ERWG Accounts Apr 2020 - May 2021** |Date|Reason|Paid In||Paid Out|Balance|| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |01/04/2020|Opening balance|||||4066.01| |12/04/2020|Npower|||97.35||3968.66| |16/04/2020|F2 transfer to bank|||200||3768.66| |01/05/2020|Rent assistance F1|||650||3118.66| |07/05/2020|From Home Ofce||2720.55|||5839.21| |19/05/2020|Council Tax Payment F2|||15.43||5823.78| |21/05/2020|Donation||100.00|||5923.78| |26/05/2020|Reimbursement of house ft out F2|||1793.75||4130.03| |02/06/2020|Washing Machine Repair F2|||35||4095.03| |02/06/2020|Gas check on cooker F2|||85||4010.03| |26/06/2020|Rent assistance F1|||650||3360.03| |01/07/2020|TV Licence F1|||157.5||3202.53| |31/07/2020|Rent assistance F1|||650||2552.53| |15/09/2020|DS for furniture etc. F2|||1053.49||1499.04| |15/09/2020|Donation||600.00|||2099.04| |13/10/2020|Rent assistance F1|||350||1749.04| |27/10/2020|Donation||5000.00|||6749.04| |16/11/2020|Monthly Donation||100.00|||6849.04| |30/11/2020|Rent assistance F1|||500||6349.04| |14/12/2020|Monthly Donation||100.00|||6449.04| |17/12/2020|Rent assistance F1|||500||5949.04| |14/01/2021|Monthly Donation||100.00|||6049.04| |29/01/2021|AS for TV Licence F2|||157.5||5891.54| |15/02/2021|Monthly Donation||100.00|||5991.54| |15/01/2021|Donation FS||150.00|||6141.54| |19/02/2021|AS for computer tablets F2|||259.98||5881.56| |25/02/2021|Donation from St Monicas||16.00|||5897.56| |08/03/2021|Zurich Insurance||165.48|5732.08| |---|---|---|---|---| |12/03/2021|Donation|10000.00||15732.08| |15/03/2021|Monthly Donation|100.00||15832.08| |09/04/2021|A Sutherland removal of waste furniture||50|15782.08| |12/04/2021|Donation PG URC|500.00||16282.08| |14/04/2021|Monthly Donation|100.00||16382.08| |30/04/2021|Rent assistance F1||300|16082.08| |14/05/2021|Monthly Donation|100.00||16182.08| ||Total Donations / Grant|19786.55||| ||Total Expenditure||7670.48|| ||Closing Balance|||16182.08| Utility bill assistance F2 F2 Monetary assistance unexpected bills. Regular rent assistance because of benefit cap. Void rent payment F2 Council Tax assistance Donation towards new cooker F2 House fit out for F2, furniture, matresses etc. see spreadsheet. Regular rent assistance because of benefit cap. Regular rent assistance because of benefit cap. Additional furniture for F2 see spreadsheet One off donation, anonymous donor. Regular rent assistance because of benefit cap. One off donation, anonymous donor. Recurring monthly donation from anonymous donor. Regular rent assistance because of benefit cap. Recurring monthly donation from anonymous donor. Regular rent assistance because of benefit cap. Recurring monthly donation from anonymous donor. F2 TV Licence Recurring monthly donation from anonymous donor. Church donation not eligible for Gift Aid Computer Tablets to help childrens schooling Church donation not eligible for Gift Aid Public Liability Insurance One off donation, anonymous donor. Recurring monthly donation from anonymous donor. Reimbursement for part cost of removal fees F1 Church donation not eligible for Gift Aid Recurring monthly donation from anonymous donor. Regular rent assistance because of benefit cap. Recurring monthly donation from anonymous donor.