## **Trustees’ Annual Report 01/04/2023 – 31/03/2024** **COMPAS Charity** (Charity number: 1176025) Registered office: 927, Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough, PE1 2AN _**Annual Review & Financial Statement 2023-2024**_ ## **CONTENTS** |Legal and administrative information|3| |---|---| |Board of Trustees’ report|4| |Cost benefit summary|5| |Overview of activities and projects|6| |Our Vision|12| |Financial Report|14| |Independent examiner’s report on the accounts|15| 2 ## _**Legal and Administrative information**_ |**Board of Trustees**|Beverley Carpenter| |---|---| ||Helena Ground| ||Radim Licenik| ||Roman Masaryk| |**Chief Executive Officer**|Petr Torak MBE| |**Deputy CEO**|Marko Strbak| |**Charity number**|1176025| |**Registered address**|COMPAS Charity| ||927, Bourges Boulevard| ||Peterborough, PE1 2AN| |**HR and H&S provider**|Peninsula| |**Bank**|HSBC Bank and Lloyds Bank| |**Accountant**|Money Talks Accountancy Ltd| |**Independent Examiner**|Joanna Fox ACMA| |**Constitution adopted**|10thMarch 2018| |**Number of Members**|17| |**Affiliations**|1.Consortium of Peterborough Community Groups (CPCG)| ||2. Peterborough Community Group Forum (PCGF)| ||2. Association of Czech and Slovak Schools (ACSSUK)| ||3. Peterborough Council for Voluntary Sector (PCVS)| 4. Society of Czech & Slovak Doctors in the UK 5. You Are Not Alone (YANA) 6. Living Wage Employer **Policies in place** Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Code of Conduct, Data Protection, Financial Procedures, GDPR, H&S, Web privacy, Whistleblowing, Fire procedure, COVID policies 3 _Board of Trustees’ report_ The Board of Trustees submit their annual report and the financial statements of COMPAS Charity for the period of 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024. The Board of Trustees confirms that the annual report and financial statements of the Charity comply with current statutory requirements, including the Charity Act 2011, as well as the requirements of the Charity's governing document. COMPAS (previously known as Community Partnership Group) was established in 2010 as an un-incorporated community group. In 2017 COMPAS became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Objectives of COMPAS Charity and examples of activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objectives are: |**OBJECTIVES**|**EXAMPLES**| |---|---| |Relief in need of members of migrant communities by the
provision of advice, support and information or in any
other way required; and by engaging with service
providers, public bodies, institutions and organisations to
enable those entities to better adapt their services, policies
and activities to the needs of the migrant communities.|• Advice centre
• Workshops
• Advice over the phone and
via social media
• Assistance to schools,
social services, Council etc| |Promotion of social inclusion for the public benefit by
working with people who are socially excluded on the
grounds of their ethnic origin, religion, belief or creed (in
particular, members of the Roma community) by
developing the capacity and skills of members of that
community to assist them to integrate with and participate
more fully in society.|• Roma mentoring projects
(‘ROGA’)
• Food provision, help with
essentials and breakfast
club| |The advancement of citizenship and community
development by promoting a better understanding within
British society; and by promoting civic responsibility,
good citizenship and volunteering.|• Supporting new and small
community organisations
across the UK
• Assistance to front line
services (NHS, police,
Councils etc)| |The advancement of education (including social and
physical training) of people in such ways as the charity
trustees think fit, including by promoting the learning of
native languages (including but not limited to Czech and
Slovak); supporting parents to engage with their
children’s education; and mentoring and coaching young
people.|• ROGA mentoring project
• Carbon Monoxide alarms
distribution and advice| 4 ## _Cost benefit summary_ |**CATEGORY**|**AVARAGE NO. OF**
**CLIENTS PER YEAR**|**AVARAGE COST**
**BENEFIT**| |---|---|---| |Housing|700|£172,560| |Benefit|1,200|£3,144,300| |EUSS help|2,400|unknown| |Job finding|480|£370,860| |Physical health|240|£552,520| |Mental health, volunteering,
cohesion|100|£8,361,450| |Energy, safety appliances advice|600|£810,980| |Crime, domestic abuse, debt
advice|460|£1,388,520| |Translation of letters & phone
calls|600|unknown| |Carbon Monoxide alarms|240|£22,800| |Slow cookers distribution|120|unknown| |Breakfast club and ROGA
mentoring|24,000|unknown| |**TOTAL**|**31,140**|**Over £15m p/y**| Source: Cadent Gas cost benefit calculator. The figures are based on statistics from 2018 and therefore it is likely that the total cost benefit will be much bigger. 5 _Overview of activities and projects_ The achievements of the past year would not have been possible without the support from the following organisations: Tudor Trust, Cadent Gas Ltd, Peterborough City Council, Queen Katharine Academy, Essex University, Lottery Grant, ARU, Lottery Heritage Fund, Velehrad Fund, Age UK, Colyer Fergusson Fund and other supporters. We are also very grateful to all volunteers, staff, members, students on their study placements and other supporters promoting the work of COMPAS Charity. ## Advice provision This is an ongoing and strongest strand of our work. The start of this service dates to 2012. It includes free advice provision in the areas of job finding, EU settled status, housing, employment, education, social benefits, etc. We have been offering advice service in Peterborough and Margate in person as well as remotely via social media and over the phone. The service in Peterborough is running 5 days a week, from 10am to 5pm, by 5 advisers, in 8 different languages. In Margate, the service has been provided by one member of staff. During the past 12 months, we have assisted over 3800 people. We are very grateful for the financial support from Cadent Gas Ltd and Lottery grant; without their support we wouldn’t be able to support that many clients! ## Margate Between April and December 2023, we have been providing advice service from our branch, led by a local manager, Veronika Kroscenova. Due to end of funding and inability to secure more funding, we had to sadly close the branch. From January 2024, the service moved to the Age UK Thanet office. _Picture 5 – ROGA day at QKA Picture 6 – ROGA students in the Court_ 6 ## Roma of Great Abilities (ROGA) ROGA mentoring project continues to be one of the biggest ‘flag ships’ of our organisation. In 2011, COMPAS had developed a mentoring project called ROGA that aims to motivate young Roma to access further education (Level 4 and above) and to develop useful skills that will enable them to take up front line jobs in teaching, law enforcement, NHS and other areas of public life. ROGA methodology is based on holistic approach to mentoring and raising aspiration of Roma children and young people. It involves all the stakeholders – learners, parents, teachers, school management, community groups and leaders and public authorities. Between the interim period, ROGA continued to be implemented across primary and secondary schools in Peterborough (Queen Katharine Academy, Thomas Deacon Academy and Gladstone Primary Academy). Due to the end of funding in Wales, ROGA project formally finished in Cardiff and Newport but we continue supporting and advising the schools and staff with their enquiries. _Picture 5 – ROGA day at QKA Picture 6 – ROGA students in the Court_ ## Breakfast club After the successful trial in partnership with CPCG (Consortium of Peterborough Community Groups), Compas managed to secure funding from Peterborough City Council to continue to run the breakfast club for pupils predominantly from Gladstone Primary Academy and from neighbouring schools. The service had increased from 1 day a week to 2 days a week and also some afternoons for lunch club. On average, we have given out 500 breakfast & lunch bags every week. This provision was offered from outside of our Compas office that is situated right next to the school entrance. This project came to end in March 2024 but we have been recently informed that that the funding will be extended for another six months. Links to news reports: 1. Peterborough community breakfast club feeding over 200 kids (23/10/2023) - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-67173704?fbclid > 2. Lack of funding ends 'lifeline' breakfast club (25/03/2024) - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp4lkezw7qlo 7 3. Peterborough community breakfast club saved following fresh funding (04/04/2024) - - https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/people/peterborough community breakfast-club-saved-following-fresh-funding-4579138 4. Peterborough community breakfast club set for return after being saved by fresh funding (26/04/2024) - - - https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/people/peterborough community breakfast-club-set-for-return-after-bring-saved-by-fresh-funding-4606942 _Picture 19 – Breakfast club outside Compas Picture 20 – Breakfast club volunteers_ _Picture 19 – Breakfast club outside Compas Picture 20 – Breakfast club volunteers_ 8 ## Archive After the successful transportation and storage of Paul Polansky’s archive, we have manged to secure funding from Lottery Heritage Fund to sort the archive, preserve it in the most appropriate way, to record oral histories, to conduct workshops at schools and to display the work at various locations. In March 2024, we recruited an archivist, Michal Mizigar, who has extensive knowledge of Romani culture and heritage, speaks a number of different Romani dialects and has studied comparative history. We have also recruited an assistant archivist and number of volunteers to start the work on the archive. ## Cadent Gas funding for Centres for Warmth Cadent Gas has continued to support Compas Charity. We have been awarded with funding to continue providing advice provision and to extend the number of service hours and languages in which we provide the service. We were also funded to help people through a time of raising of cost of living. We were able to distribute, free of charge, 40 slow cookers, electric blankets, hats and gloves, and lots of carbon monoxide alarms. We are also running a warm-nights sessions for people that need to get something warm to eat or drink, whilst having a chat with us. We are also very grateful for the generous donation of Citroen van. The van is used for moving vulnerable members of our community and for food transportation. In the past few months, we have used it to move victims of domestic violence to a new house, assisted with move for an elderly gentlemen, collecting donated items etc. _Picture 17 – Receiving keys from Cadent van_ 9 ## Other events ## Research facilitation Compas Charity has got a wide reach into Roma communities across the UK and this has enabled us to raise the voice of this community. Number of universities and other institutions in the UK had approached Compas to participate or facilitate research within the Roma community. We have completed the following research: 1. HPV vaccination awareness in Medway, commission by NHS 2. Perinatal health inequalities experience research, commissioned by NHS in Kent, focused on pre-natal and peri-natal experiences of migrant women, access to health, vaccination experiences and other topics. 3. Building a community of practice to identify strengths, barriers and prioritise solutions to the right of access to healthcare, commissioned by Essex University ## St Nicholas event in Peterborough The traditional pre-Christmas party that Compas has organised since 2012 took place at our Peterborough office at the Gladstone Park Community Centre. _Picture 24 – Margate_ ## Mexoxo – Take the Lead course Compas, in partnership with a Greek organisation Mexoxo and eCornell University, offered an online course for victims of domestic violence and women, focused on leadership skills. Fourteen women have taken part in this course and gained an internationally recognised qualification at the end of it. 10 ## International Children's Day On the 1[st] June 2023, we organised celebration of International Children’s Day at the Gladstone Park Community Centre. Over 250 children and adults came to celebrate the day with us. _Picture 24 – Children’s Day celebration_ ## Youth Club Funded by the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner, we were able to run a youth club focusing on raising confidence and civic engagement. _Picture 24 – Youth Club_ 11 _Our Vision_ As we stand on the threshold of a new chapter in our journey, we are filled with a profound sense of purpose and determination. Over the past years, our charity has tirelessly strived to serve our community, addressing its needs with unwavering dedication and compassion. Yet, as we look ahead, we recognise that our work is far from over; there are still countless lives to touch, stories to preserve, and futures to shape. In the next 12 months, we envision a bold expansion of our efforts - a vision rooted in our steadfast commitment to empowering individuals, preserving our heritage, and nurturing the potential of the youngest members of our society. ## **1. Expanding Our Advice Centre: Guiding Lights of Hope** Central to our mission is the belief that every person deserves access to guidance, support, and empowerment. Our advice centre has long been a beacon of hope for those navigating life's challenges, offering a sanctuary where individuals can find solace, direction, and practical assistance. In the coming year, we are determined to expand the reach and impact of our advice centre. Through strategic initiatives, increased resources, and strengthened partnerships, we will ensure that our services are accessible to all who seek them, reaching even the most marginalized and vulnerable members of our community. We want to achieve this by implementing the following: Increase number of our branches – Our clients travel across the UK to get to us. This is mainly because we are one of the few advisory services that is free and available in a number of different languages. We have also gained a reputation of providing a reliable service. Training manual for advisors – We would like to create a training manual for new advisors so the service is of the same quality in every branch. Resources – We would like to create various resources for our clients, in various languages. This would include audio-visual and text resources on topics such as EU settlement scheme, benefits, CV writing etc. Outreach – To enable clients with mobility issues and elderly clients to get in touch with us, we would like to create an online platform to communicate, advise and electronically connect with the clients. We are also planning to start offering a mobile advice clinic, delivered from our van. 12 ## **2. Completing digitalisation of the Archive and opening the first Roma-focused Museum in the UK** In the months ahead, we will embark on the final phase of our journey to digitalise our archive, ensuring that the rich tapestry of our past is not only safeguarded for future generations but also made readily accessible to all. Moreover, we will transform this digital archive into a living museum - a dynamic space where stories come to life, and history serves as a guiding light for the present and the future. ## **3. Adding a new strand to our work in Early Childhood Development (ECD)** The foundation of every thriving community lies in the well-being and development of its youngest members. Recognising this fundamental truth, we are excited to announce the addition of a new strand to our work: early childhood development through our initiative ‘Caregivers Without Borders’. In the months ahead, we will embark on a journey to create a comprehensive framework of support and opportunities for children in their formative years. Through our ROGA methodology and new innovative programs, parental support initiatives, and collaborations with educators and caregivers, we will lay the groundwork for a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive, flourish, and reach their full potential. ## **Conclusion** As we embark on this ambitious journey, we do so with humility, gratitude, and an unwavering belief in the power of collective action. Together, we will forge a path towards a brighter, more inclusive future - a future where compassion knows no bounds, history is honored and preserved, and every child has the opportunity to dream, learn, and grow. Join us as we embrace the future together, united in our commitment to building a world where hope, dignity, and opportunity abound for all. 13 _Financial Report_ ## Reporting period from 01/04/2023 – 31/03/2024 Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account 14 ## _Independent examiner’s report on the accounts_ 15