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2025-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report 01/04/2024 – 31/03/2025

COMPAS Charity (Charity number: 1176025) Registered office: 27, Rivergate Arcade, Peterborough, PE1 1EL

Annual Review & Financial Statement 2024-2025

CONTENTS

Legal and administrative information 3
Board of Trustees’ report 4
Cost benefit summary 5
Overview of activities and projects 6
Our Vision 11
Financial Report 14
Independent examiner’s report on the accounts 15

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Legal and Administrative information

Board of Trustees Beverley Carpenter
Helena Ground
Radim Licenik
Roman Masaryk
Chief Executive Officer Petr Torak MBE
Charity number 1176025
Registered address COMPAS Charity
27, Rivergate Arcade
Peterborough, PE1 1EL
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)

  1. Peterborough Council for Voluntary Sector (PCVS)

  2. Society of Czech & Slovak Doctors in the UK

  3. You Are Not Alone (YANA)

  4. 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

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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 2024 to 31[st] March 2025. 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, shopping vouchers
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)
• Exhibitions at schools and
museum
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
• Fitness classes

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Cost benefit summary

CATEGORY AVARAGE NO. OF
CLIENTS PER YEAR		 AVARAGE COST
BENEFIT
Housing 800 £195,560
Benefit 1,900 £3,844,300
EUSS help 2,800 unknown
Job finding 400 £350,860
Physical health 120 £321,220
Mental health, volunteering,
cohesion		 100 £8,361,450
Energy, safety appliances advice 500 £790,880
Crime, domestic abuse, debt
advice		 440 £1,118,525
Translation of letters & phone
calls		 600 unknown
Carbon Monoxide alarms 240 £22,800
Slow cookers distribution 120 unknown
Breakfast club and ROGA
mentoring		 18,000 unknown
TOTAL 26,020 Over £14m 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.

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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, Heriot-Watt Univerity, Essex University, Cambridge University, Lottery Heritage Fund, Velehrad Fund, Czech Embassy, 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, health, energy efficiency 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 to over 4900 clients! We are very grateful for the financial support from Cadent Gas Ltd; without their support we wouldn’t be able to support that many clients! We are also very grateful to Migrant Help for providing pro bono immigration solicitor to help our clients with EU Settlement scheme enquiries.

Margate

Our branch Manager, Veronika Kroscenova, had been providing advice service to clients and schools. We are very thankful to Colyer Fergusson Fund for their support. Unfortunately, the funding came to end in May 2025 and therefore we will be closing the Margate branch for the time being. We are very grateful to Veronika and her passion for the work and we will be looking forward to work with her soon again.

Picture 1 – Advice centre Picture 2 – Immigration solicitor Picture 3 – community meeting in Margate

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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 (predominantly at Queen Katharine Academy and Gladstone Primary Academy). We are currently reviewing our ROGA strategy but are hoping to continue this project and to expand it to other schools.

Breakfast club

Peterborough City Council continued funding Compas through the Household Support Fund to run the breakfast club for pupils. 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 an end in September 2024 and was replaced with distribution of food vouchers and essential items for people in need. We have distributed over 1200 vouchers during the funding period.

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Baripen 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.

During the interim period, we have conducted the following activities:

Picture 8 – Robert Dawson Picture 9 –Thomas Acton Picture 10 – Grattan Puxon

Picture 11 – Oral history in Kosovo Picture 12 –More resources from Serbia Picture 13 – House of Lords

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Roma Place Age

Compas Charity had been selected by Harriot Watt University in Edinburgh as one of 4 charities participating in 3 year research project, aiming to research how Roma adults of the age of 40 are ageing within their communities. Four Roma community co-researchers were recruited and trained to conduct semi-structured interviews within the community.

Other events & projects

Celebration of International Romani Day in Peterborough and London

We had two celebrations to mark the International Romani Day. The first one was at the Queen Katherine Academy and was attended by over 250 people. The second event took place at the Czech Embassy in London and was attended by 80 people.

Picture 14 – Roma Day at QKA with Lucie Bikarova Picture 15 – Roma Day at the Embassy

Roma Got Talent show

In cooperation with the Herriot Watt University, we have organised an event to bring the Roma community together, to introduce the Roma Age Place project and to find and showcase talented young people. Over 300 people attended.

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Caregivers Without Borders - Boa Vista

Since June 2024, Compas established our satellite branch in Cape Verde. Led by Josef Kopecny, Compas has been providing vital support to nurseries, schools and hospitals. Travellers booking their holiday with TUI are able to get a letter from Compas, allowing them to take an extra 20kg luggage, containing essential items. In the interim period we have issued out xx letters, providing over 600 kg of essential items to schools and hospitals. In December 2024, we have also organised Christmas party for children. For number of the children, it had been the first time they saw Santa!

Picture 18 – Nursery

Picture 19 - Supporters

Picture 20 – Josef at hospital

Picture 21 – Xmas party

Peterborough Cultural Centre

And very exciting news at the end – we have upgraded our venue!

In October 2024, we started looking for a new venue as the two offices at Gladstone Park Community Centre were too small and we were unable to deliver as many services as we would love to. We needed more space for our advice centre, a lot more storage space for all our stuff and Baripen archives and more office space for events, meetings and other functions.

We have managed to find a perfect location in the centre that meets all the above criteria – there are number of offices, meeting rooms, storage space and also a sizable function / music room.

We got the keys in January 2025 and started moving in February. At the end of February we officially opened the venue to public and named is as Peterborough Cultural Centre.

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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 envisage 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. Peterborough Cultural Centre

We want the Peterborough Cultural Centre to become a vibrant and inclusive hub celebrating the rich diversity of Peterborough’s communities. Run by Compas Charity, the centre will offer a wide range of cultural, educational, and social activities aimed at fostering understanding, creativity, and community cohesion. With a strong focus on empowering underrepresented groups, the centre will serve as a welcoming space where people from all backgrounds can connect, learn, and thrive together.

Establishing the Peterborough Cultural Centre can offer numerous benefits to the community. Cultural centres play a vital role in fostering social cohesion by providing spaces where individuals from diverse backgrounds can engage in shared cultural practices, thereby building social and cultural bridges.

Moreover, such centres contribute to economic development attracting business and tourists, enhancing property values, and serving as vibrant hubs for community engagement. They also support the preservation and promotion of local heritage, offering residents access to cultural facilities and services that enrich the community identity.

In Peterborough, while there are existing cultural institutions like the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, the city has recognised the need for a more comprehensive cultural strategy. The Peterborough Cultural Strategy outlines objectives to nurture new artists and expand cultural offerings over the next decade. However, discussions have highlighted a gap in purpose-built cultural spaces, suggesting that a dedicated cultural centre could significantly enhance the city's cultural landscape.

By establishing the Peterborough Cultural Centre, Compas charity can address this gap, providing a dedicated space for cultural activities, education, and community gatherings, thereby enriching the cultural fabric of Peterborough.

We will aim to use the centre for art exhibitions, cultural celebrations, small events, networking opportunities, and much more.

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2. Expanding on advice centre provision

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 marginalised and vulnerable members of our community.

We want to achieve this by implementing the following:

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.

3. Baripen Archive - Completing digitalisation of all archives and creating global network aimed at sharing resources and allowing easy access for everyone

Since the beginning of the project, Compas had fully processed Paul Polansky’s archive and also acquired other 7 archives from prominent Roma and pro-Roma activists, academics and writers.

Our vision, combined with vision of Professor Ian Hancock OBE, is to enable full access to our archive. We don’t want to become another resource that will be locked in a storage room; we want students, academics and other people to use the archive and its resources. For this reason, we are seeking funding to digitalise the whole archive and to create a platform for sharing the resources. We also have a very ambitious idea to connect all Roma archives, museums and resource centres into a global network of Roma resources.

4. Expanding on our 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 accelerate the recently started project: 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

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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 honoured 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.

Thank you for all your support from Compas Team!

Petr Torak MBE Marko Strbak Raimonda Gecaite Veronika Kroscen CEO Advice Centre Mngr. Baripen Manager Margate adviser

Michal Mizigar Irena Strbakova Margita Strbakova Edy Orbocea Project Archivist Mentor Adviser Adviser

And our team of Volunteers & Students:

Baripen Steering Group: Judita Grubliene, Christine Alexander, Professor Sheila Watson, Ioana Constantinescu, Professor Ian Hancock, Renata Berkyova, Mila Koleva, Erik Okunola.

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Sebastian Vorlicky Kamile Parimskyte
Project coordinator Adviser
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Financial Report

Reporting period from 01/04/2024 – 31/03/2025 Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account

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Independent examiner’s report on the accounts

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