Enfield Refugee Welcome Group Registered Charity 1175359
Report to Trustees
June 2022
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.
We have since built on our experience and have now welcomed a third family.
First Family
Our first family: mum, two sons and a daughter who arrived in July 2017 are now established in Stoke on Trent where they have extended family.
Although we are no longer responsible for the family under the Home Office Scheme we remain in contact. This year has seen the eldest son suffer with his PTSD and he is not receiving the structured learning environment that he was used to in Enfield. Should suitable housing become available they would like to relocate back to Enfield. Mum is now a registered carer for son 1 so the family would not be subject to a benefit cap.
Second Family
Our second family arrived on the 5[th ] March 2020 just ahead of “lockdown”. The family consists of Grandma, Dad & Mum, and Four Children.
We have completed our final two-year assessment with the Home Office and now no longer have any responsibility towards the family. We will naturally, however, continue to support them in any way we can.
During the year we have provided them with a large new fridge, electrical and plumbing services and have provided them with three new laptops.
We have met with them to explain the need to gain employment and I am pleased to say dad is now in part time paid employment. This has helped in maintaining their level of benefits.
Third Family
Our third family came under the Afghanistan Crisis resettlement scheme. They arrived in January 2022, and we were fortunate to source a large three-bedroom semi-detached house with a good size garden at LHA rates. We provided new beds, new bedding, kitchen equipment etc. The landlord specifically wanted the house to go to a refugee family. The family is made up of Dad, Mum and five children ranging from thirteen years old down to under one year. Somewhat surprisingly the family partly arrived in their own car. Dad explained that they would have preferred Ealing as that is where he used to be an Uber driver! He also explained that they were British Passport Holders.
After discussion with the Home Office, it appears that the family initially declared themselves as Afghanistan nationals so entered that resettlement process as opposed to returning British Citizens.
The Home Office have apologised for not ensuring we received a refugee family and have released us from any responsibility for them.
The landlord, however, wishes them to leave the property. They have a valid tenancy agreement so we cannot simply ask them to move.
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 £16,182.08 Income £7,376.32 Expenditure £14,884.88 Cash at Bank £8,673.52
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 regular additions to our funding; a monthly donation of £100 and one-off donations of £1,266.33. We also received a gift aid repayment of £4,078.84 mainly due to the significant single donation we received last year. I have again applied for Gift Aid this year, but the amount will be circa £300 due to the nature of donations.
General
I am stepping down as the project leader for ERWG and am now actively looking for a replacement. Naturally, I will provide an extended hand over period but having been heavily involved since its inception I find I no longer have the time needed to fulfil the role properly.
Conclusion
It has been a challenging and to some degree a disappointing year. We should not lose sight of the fact that family three were in a war zone and had no home to come back to, so our help has been properly given.
Alan Seldon 26[th] July 2022
Date Type Description 116121 Opening Balance 1416121 CR DS Monthly donation 117121 CR HMRC CHARITIES In121 DD TV LICENCE DDA 217121 BP Mr W A Kaisoun ERWG Rent a5515tan 8n121 BP Mrw A Kaisoun ERWG Rates assistance 1417121 CR DS Monthly donation 2917121 CR DAVIES S+K GIFTSAM DAVIES 1618121 CR DS Monthly donation 3118/21 BP Mr W A Kaisoun ERWG Dentist 1419121 CR DS Monthly donation 1519121 BP Mrw A Kaisoun Counol Tax 30/9121 BP D Sheen ERWG 14110121 CR DS Monthly donation 15111121 CR DS Monthly donation 16111121 BP Ms Osnat Ron ERWG Rent 17/11121 BP Ms Osnat Ron ERWG Rent Deposit 27111121 CR O Ron Livingstone O/P 12121 DD OCTOPUS ENERGY FIRST PAYMENT 8112121 BP Amber Moves MrAJ ERWG 10112121 BP Amber Moves Mr AJ ERWG 14112121 CR DS Monthly donation 20112121 BP Ms Osnat Ron ERWG Rent 22112121 CR PALMERS GREEN UNIT PG URC 311122 BP A SELDON F2 New Fridge 411122 DD OCTOPUS ENERGY 511122 CR SANDHAM D&F DONATION 711122 BP A SELDON F3 Beds Ikea 11/1122 CR WINCHMORE HILL QUA From WH Quakers 1211122 CR PAID IN AT400521 1411122 CR DS Monthly donation 1411122 BP Dsheen F3 House Setup Paid Out Paid In Balance 16182.08 16282.08 Credit Credit 20201.92 DD 19951.92 BP 19701.92 BP I(M) 19801.92 Credit 150 19951.92 Credit 20051.92 Credit 19991.92 BP 20091.92 Credit 19880.74 BP 19797.99 Receipt I 19897.99 Credit l(M) 19997.99 Credit 17997.99 BP 16193.05 BP 368.22 /16561.27 Credit 16383.17 Receipt 2 16263.17 Receipt 3 16203.17 Receipt 11)0/ 16303.17 Credit 14707.55 8P 51x1 15207.55 Credit 14835.58 Receipt 5 L 14657.48 Receipt 6 L 150 44807.48 Credit 14058.48 Receipt 7 51)) /14558.48 Credit 116.331 14674.81 Credit Credit 14503.05 Receipt 8 4078. 159/ 25rf 25[¢ 211.18/ 82.75 / 2(XXJ/ 1804.9 178.1/ 120 1595.6 371.97 178.11 749 271.76
1911122 BP Ms Osnat Ron ERWG Rent 2V1122 DR TOTAL CHARGESTO 30DEC2021 3011122 BP D Sheen F3 House Setup Dunelm 3111122 BP A Sutherland F3 House Setup 112122 DD OctUPUs Energy 112122 BP A Seldon F3 House Setup 112122 BP A Seldon F3 House Setup Ikea 2/2122 BP F2 TV licence 912122 CR Donation 1412122 CR DS Monthly donation 1612122 BP Rent Payment F3 1612122 BP A Seldon F3 Lawnmower and lead 1812/22 DD TalkTalk F3 Broadband 2112122 DR Bank Charges 2412122 CR Octopus Energy Refund 2812122 BP Zurich Public Liability Insurance V3122 BP M Ramjan electrician F2 2/3/22 BP C Dascalescu plumber F2 713122 BP F3 TV Licence 1413122 CR DS Monthly donation 1813122 DD TalkTalk F3 Broadband 2113122 DR Bank Charges 2413122 BP F3 Carpets and fridge payment 1414122 CR DS Monthly donation 2114122 DR Bank Charges 22/4122 DD TalkTalk F3 Broadband 1615122 CR DS Monthly donation 2015/22 DD TalkTalk F3 Broadband 2115122 DR Bank Charges Opening Balance Total Income Total Expenditure Closing 6alance 1595.62 I27.43 BP 12902.43 DR 12812.43 Receipt 9 12096.63 ReIpt 10 11918.53 Receipt li 11100.64 Receipt 12 10965.64 Receipt 13 10806.64 BP I(KY lo6.64 Credit I/ li6.64 Credit 9411.02 BP 9288.03 Receipt 14 9255.87 Receipt 15 92SO.07 DR 9463 Credit 9297.52 Receipt 16 9197.52 Receipt 17 9107.52 Receipt 18L. 8948.52 BP Icrf 9048.52 Credit 9028.52 Receipt 19 L 9023.52 DR 8523.52 BP 100 8623.52 Credit 8618.52 DR 8598.52 Receipt 20 i¢x)/ 8698.52 Credit 8678.52 Rec 8673.52 DR 715.8-' 178.1/ 817.89 130 159/ 1595.62 122.99 / 32.16/ 212.9 165.48 loo, 159/ 20 SC 20 20[ 5/ 182.08 7376.32 -14884.88 867352 7376.32 14884.88