Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees (TWWR)
Charity Number: 1175601
{For Charitable Incorporated Organisation}
Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Period 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021
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Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees Trustees' Annual Report for the Year Ended 5 April 2021
Reference & Administration Details
Charity name: Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees Other names charity is known TWWR by: Charity number: 1175601 Charity's operating address: 48 Newlands Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent Postcode: TN4 9AU
Names of the Charity Trustees who Manage the Charity
Trustee Name Office Appointed Retired Florence Moon Chair 13.02.2019 Ellie Batten 30.10.2020 Hazel Beavers 30.10.2020 Jacqui Brooks-Bunnett Secretary 25.05.2017 Martin Brice 03.08.2018 Maura Richards 25.05.2017 Vivienne Hughes Treasurer 25.05.2017 Naeema Anjarwalla 11.09.2019
Names & Addresses of Advisors
Name Address & Postcode Bank: Metro Bank 1 Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA
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Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees Trustees' Annual Report for the Year Ended 5 April 2021
Structure, Governance & Management
Description of the Charity's Trusts
Type of Governing Document: CIO - FOUNDATION REGISTERED 07 NOV 2017
How the Charity is Constituted: Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee Selection Methods: Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting held in November or at other times as necessary.
Additional Governance Issues
There is a Safeguarding Policy in place and Disclosure and Barring Service checks are carried out at an enhanced level for both vulnerable adults and children for all volunteers and Trustees.
Objectives & Activities
Summary of the Objects of the Charity as set out in its Governing Document
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For the relief of those seeking asylum and those granted refugee status and their dependents in Tunbridge Wells:
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a. the relief of poverty or financial hardship;
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b. the preservation and protection of good mental and physical health;
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c. the advancement of their education and training so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within a new community.
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To advance the education of the public in general about the rights, needs and issues faced by refugees and asylum seekers.
Summary of the Main Activities Undertaken for the Public Benefit in Relation to the Charity's Objects
Volunteers and refugees are able to request funding for such things as clothes, equipment, furniture and activities and the Trustees make the decisions on the allocation of funding according to the need and circumstances of the refugees. Because of the pandemic, TWWR received some emergency funding which we were able to give directly to the refugees to help with the extra costs caused by Covid such as having their children at home and losing some hours of work.
Between April 2020 and April 2021, the general support given by Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees (TWWR) was adapted because of the restrictions in place in the UK in response to Covid 19 and also because of the extra pressures this put on the refugees. The monthly social gatherings, weekly football sessions, conversation classes and visits with the refugees were stopped due to restrictions because of Covid 19. TWWR provided alternatives such as English Conversation classes online, individual English lessons online, volunteers contacting refugees at least weekly by phone, online dance sessions and gym membership when allowed. TWWR also provided IT equipment to ensure the refugees could access these sessions and online offerings provided by others, such as
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Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees Trustees' Annual Report for the Year Ended 5 April 2021
home schooling. These provisions helped to preserve and protect good mental and physical health. They also helped with the advancement of their education.
Additional Details of Objectives & Activities
All the activities we provide are completely dependent on volunteers and we have no paid workers. We are very grateful to the volunteers for all the work they put into supporting the refugees.
Achievements & Performance
Statutory Declaration
The trustees declare that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties.
Summary of the Main Achievements of the Charity for the Year
TWWR continues to support any refugees we are aware of in the borough of Tunbridge Wells who want our input. The majority of our work is with the families who are refugees from Syria and have come through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (SVPRS). We work closely with Kent County Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Clarion, the support service commissioned by Kent CC to support the families. We also support another two refugee families from Syria who entered the country by other means and a young man from Zimbabwe.
In April 2020 there were 11 families from Syria and a young male from Zimbabwe living in the borough of Tunbridge Wells who we supported. Since this time and up until April 2021, we have continued to support these families and individual and we have also welcomed 1 more family into the borough who moved from another town. Restrictions because of Covid meant that no new families came through the government scheme to Tunbridge Wells during this year.
When lockdown was first announced in March 2020, Trustees and volunteers realised that this would be a particularly challenging time for the refugees. The majority of them receive benefits for which they are very grateful but we were aware that many of them were struggling to manage on their income even before lockdown. We felt lockdown would cause more financial problems because with the children and young people at home, more would need to be spent on food, educational resources and entertainment. We also knew many families and individuals would lose some income as they worked part time in the hospitality industry which was closed. It was a great relief to members of TWWR when we were successful in our application for Covid emergency funding and we were able to give money directly to the families or individuals. The refugees reported that they were grateful for this practical help and that it reduced some of their anxieties during this difficult time.
The restrictions because of Covid caused many challenges to the support usually given by TWWR. Each family or individual refugee has several volunteers working with them and volunteers would usually have had face to face meetings with the families on a regular, often weekly basis. Instead volunteers phoned, used What’s App messaging and video calls and online meetings in order to continue having contact with the refugees. Previously TWWR also provided support through such things as individual English lessons, group conversation classes, monthly social gatherings and other outings and activities but these were stopped because of the restrictions due to Covid. TWWR bought
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Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees Trustees' Annual Report for the Year Ended 5 April 2021
a Zoom subscription so volunteers could use this for online English lessons and online conversation classes and general contact.
Many of the families found it difficult to access home schooling and English lessons for adults online because there was competition over the limited IT equipment in their homes. TWWR bought laptops and tablets and printers for the families to help relieve this problem. Instead of the monthly Social Gatherings, we arranged some online Social Gatherings. Other TWWR meetings and Trustee meetings were also held online and some of the refugees participated. The weekly football sessions were stopped and TWWR paid for gym membership for those interested when the gyms were open. We also organized online dance fitness sessions for the women, both refugees and volunteers, which were appreciated. TWWR would usually have organised a group celebration of Eid for the families. Instead of this, we gave the families some money for their own celebrations.
The education of the children in the families was greatly disrupted because of Covid. They missed a great deal of school because of the lockdowns and even when the schools were open, they missed some time because of themselves or others in their group having Covid. Home schooling was particularly challenging for these families because of the language issues and also the parents had not grown up through the UK education system. TWWR decided that it would be of benefit to the children to receive some tuition and we funded several tutors. Eight of the primary school children received tuition online from an experienced primary school teacher. She helped them with the work set by their schools and also motivated them with interesting projects. Three secondary school pupils received online tutoring with mathematics. When Covid restrictions allowed, three further secondary pupils received face to face tuition in science and mathematics. All parents and pupils reported that they appreciated the tutoring. One primary age pupil in particular who had been behind with her reading received a very positive school report saying how much progress she had made. The secondary pupils also felt they had made progress and the one who was being assessed for GCSEs was given a high enough grade to enable him to go into the 6[th] form.
Given the challenges of the year, it was pleasing that 3 people obtained new full time employment, 6 people managed to find new part time work and 8 continued with work they had found previously. A refugee living in a rural area obtained a job but needed help with travelling to work. We supported him financially with training and paid for the monthly hire of a moped through a scheme called Wheels to Work. When it was possible for some of the refugees to have driving lessons, we contributed to the cost of these. Being able to drive will improve the likelihood of the refugees obtaining work.
TWWR volunteers would usually help with giving lifts to refugees to various appointments if this was not possible by public transport. When giving lifts was not advisable because of Covid restrictions, we paid for taxis to take the refugees to hospital and other appointments.
When there was a further lockdown at the beginning of 2021, TWWR was aware of the challenge for families having their children at home for long periods. In discussion with the families, TWWR provided monthly delivery of craft boxes for the primary aged children, money for the secondary children to choose some entertainment, board games and Netfix subscriptions.
Throughout the year, TWWR continued to respond to requests for such things as furniture, white goods, clothes and educational equipment from the refugees. TWWR continues to try and find these
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Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees Trustees' Annual Report for the Year Ended 5 April 2021
through requests to the volunteers or through charity shops. If this is not possible and Trustees agree, TWWR has bought the goods.
The refugees reported that they greatly appreciated the support given to them by TWWR and said it made them feel part of the community. They felt the volunteers were interested in them and responsive to their needs and requests and this helped them feel less anxious. Although the restrictions because of Covid had affected the refugees, they felt that the support from TWWR volunteers had helped them manage the situation better. The refugees valued the online English lessons from TWWR and all made progress though formal assessments were not taken. The refugees kept in contact with each other and with others in the community through IT and appreciated the IT equipment they were given by TWWR. Volunteers commented that the refugees were showing more independence and for example, had developed their confidence with using computers.
Financial Review
Brief Statement of the Charity's Policy on Reserves
On 5[th] April 2021 TWWR had £5,193 in the bank. The main financial risk to the charity is not receiving grants. We keep enough funds to cover around 3 months costs and to meet any unforeseen expenditure. We also apply for grants on a regular basis.
Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit
Not applicable.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
Further Financial Review Details
Funding for our work has come mainly from grants through applications to the Kent Community Foundation. We also received two grants from other providers. We have some supporters who donate on a monthly basis for which we are very grateful and we also receive some funding from the Tunbridge Wells Lotto. We have been grateful to receive some generous one off donations from supporters.
Statutory Notes to the Accounts
Particulars of Any Outstanding Guarantee Given by the CIO
N/A
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Tunbridge Wells Welcomes Refugees Trustees' Annual Report for the Year Ended 5 April 2021
Other Optional Information
In the coming year, TWWR will continue to support any refugees and asylum seekers in the borough of Tunbridge Wells who want our help. We will continue with the type of support we already give and adapt this in response to the Covid situation and requests from the refugees. We will continue to prioritise supporting those who have been here for several years to help them find work if appropriate or other ways of occupying their time. We will also continue to support adolescents with finding appropriate courses and help with the educational progress of all the children especially given the unsettled education many have received because of the effects of Covid 19. Helping some of the adults be able to drive is also something that the refugees have requested and we will continue to support this.
Declaration
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IHARITY IOMMISSION FOR ENGIANO AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Fortho poriod Irom 0610412020 05m4r2021 Section A Receipts and payments Uniostrbctod funds Re51¥ict£d hjnds toth• nMrMI£ Endowmènt fvnds nMr•Bt£ Totsl lund• Laxt y••r toth• nMr•stE toth• nMMÉt£ A1 R¢¢lpts Donattons 5.452 570 2247 Donabons. eyèr Grants 570 13,736 1,375 13h25 13.736 Bank intgresl 21 Sub total(G5S incorne for AR) 6.022 oos 2111M 2 A88•t and Inv•ffstmn salas, 1800 tablel. Sub total Tol•l r1P$S 6,022 15,983 25,1D1 m•nts ChaDtsNe altse5 soda aciiv Grants to lamilies English teachiro. thIng onS, Educabon SLypon Vrjuntfjertrginiry and support 1.743 17.9SO 3.970 5,675 13,167 6,e10 8,144 773 11,806 3,197 1.521 378 AdminiSllabOn Sub totsl 17,333 26,016 27.804 A4 A880t and imvastment Puhas05,llee table) Sub totsl Total wyments 17,333 26.016 N•t ofrwlplrfyyment$) 2.661 4P11 Z.703 A5 Translors betsvoen funds Cash lund8 la8t Trar8nd Cash fvnds this yearend 3,193 e,012 205 11.9Tr8 4662 S,194 Puge8of 9
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period UTrr051rict lunds tOlloaro91 E Restrictod fund5 lo••r•S1£ Endowinnl fund5 trn•ar•sl£ Categorlos Oetsil$ B1 Cash funds Cashat bank 532 4662 Total cash funds 532 4662 UThrnstCt•d lund8 t¢l r•art$t£ R*trietsd funth Endowment funds to nvryroit£ B2 Other monetsry assets on 83 Investm•nt 0$8•ts Fundto thkh tb•lo Curr•ntvlu• CMiloptsJn•fj e4 A55et5 retsined for the charlty's own use Vlkn du• r•1 B5 Llablliti•s S¥Jned bYe or i%vJtnJstees on &9n8lu Print Name Date of roval 25.01.2Z LS•.01.2Z Puge9of9