York City of Sanctuary ChaTIty number 1176094 Financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2025 Charity accounts preparation & independent examination service York City of Sanctuary Charity NmbEr11761194 Contents Index Page Report of the trustees Independent examiner's report Recelpts & payments accounts Statement of assets and liabilities Notes to the accounts York Ilc ITY OF SaNCTuaRY r Trustees Annual Report; 1st Aprll 2024 to March 31st 2025 Full name of charity; York City of Sanctuary Registered Charity number; 1176094 Objectlves and Actlvlties The summary of the purposes of the charity set out in its governing document s&ites that the objects a￿,. to advance the educatlon of the publlc in general about the Issues relatlng to refugees and those seeking asylum to advance the education and training of those seeking asylum and those granted refugees status and their dependents in need thereof so as to advance them In Ilfe and assist them to adapt within a new community the promotion of equallty and dlverslty for the publlc beneflt by promotlng actlvltles to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds A summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the publlc beneflt, In particular, the activltles, project5 or senrfices identlfied In the accounts Advocacy services provide support and financial aid, assisting asylum seekers and refugees to be provided with legal advice, to make applications for housing, other public benefits, student loans, and applications for UK citizenship. The 2 Ridings Foundation, York Minster Chapter, and the Gaza Appeal Fund enable purchase of household goods, Including fumiture and other items identified as baslc needs for refugees and asylum seekers as they enter and adapt within the community. Grants are made to enable families to select their requirements. A discount is provided by York Community Furniture Store. Homestay programme identifies and provides short terni safe and secure accommodation in York for asylurn seeker5 and families awaiting the outcome of their application for refugee status. Public engagements include presentation5 and speaking engagements In schools, universities, faith communities. at civic occasions, and to a wide range of voluntary organisations. Matters raised by our speakers include equality and diversity. The public in general, and the charity's list of 5UPPOrters, are infomied about issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum through our website, regular newsletters, engagement with the local media, and social media presence, such as Facebook. The Trustees consider that they have complied with their duties to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. Achlevements and perfonnance in 2024-2025 A summary of the maln achlevements of the charty over the 12 month perlod, identifying the difference which the work of the charity has made to the arcumstances of its benefiaaries, and any wider benefits to soaety as a whole. The Board of Trustees met 3 times during the year, and also held the AGM in November 2024. Officers of the Board meet informally on a frequent basis, to carry out the administration and oversee financial affairs of the charity. The City of York Council receives funding from the Government's'Homes for Ukraine. scheme, which continues to wn. From that, 2 grants totalling £40,000 provide major support to the York -ukraine Support Team over the year, as they work with Ukrainian refugees who came originally to stay wlth hosts in York from April 2022 onwards. By March 2024 that number of 350 remains fairly constant. The 2 York Minster grants of £3000 in August 2024 and March 2025 assist the demands for support with housing, resettlement, integration, essential items for new asylurn seekers In the city, emergency support, and specific programmes Such as the York Refugee Week, and the Ukrainian National Festival of Vyshyvanka Day. The newly formed Heela Group, supporting Afghan women in York received a grant from the 1970 Trust of £1500 which greatly as51Sts the running of the group. An appeal for Gazan refugees arriving In York slnce February 2025 raised £3305 from 5UPPOrters and was a lifeline to those settling here with their families. We continued to draw funds from the generous grant from the 2 Ridings Foundation, although the award was made in September 2023, and is now almost depleted. Between Aprll 2024 and March 2025, asylum seekers continued to arrive and depart the city centre York hotel accommodation. Numbers vary between 350- 430. York City of Sanctuary has taken part In appeals to gather essential clothing, provided welcome packs for those arriving in the city, and other items identified as important to their well- being. Those accornmodated in the hotel are monltored to ensure they are provlded wlth a safe, healthyi and secure environment. Regular meetings have been held of all front line agencies, Hotels are not an ideal locatSon for asylum seekers, presenting a clear target for far right agitators. There were no local demonstrations in York during the Summer of 2024. The welfare of those housed In York Is greatly Improved by the actions of our charity and our partners. A further 34 individua15 seeking asylum, leave to remain permanently in the UK, claiming benefits, or applying for UK citizenship were also supported by the charity. The Homestay programme provided sUPPOrted emergency rental payments for families awaiting asylum claims and the right to work. They were assured of a local, safe and secure environment, at a time when Asylum Support housing was severely overcrowded. The Ukraine war shows no sign of ending soon. Gaza, Yemen, Afghanistan Sudan are also amongst the generators of refugees. Climate change is driving people in sub-saharan Africa to flee hunger and poverty- There is no likelihood of the flow of refugees reducing. Reductions of International Aid by wealthy nations are making the migration situation worse. Because of the close links with our partners. which we have worked hard to create, we are confident of continuing to deliver the support developed over recent years. This will protect the well-being and safety of new and existing sanctuary seekers. There are around 850 asylum seekers and refugee5 living here at the time of this report, and York continues to live UD to its natlonal status as a Citv of Sanctuarv. Financial Review The charity's financial position at 31" March 2025 was as follows. Income for the year totals £55,148 of which £6293 was donated by individuals and community groups. and £295 from fund raising events. Grants for restricted funds amounted to £47,900, of whlch the grant of £40,000 from the Government's'Homes For Ukraine, funding was designated to the York- Ukraine Support Team (YUST). Over the year, 92.1% of payments were used to deliver support and assist the needs of individuals and families. 4.60/0 was spent on Administration, and 3.3% on events and fund raising. Reserve funds for 2025 were retained at £35,000, as greed by the Trustees. The unrestricted funds at the end of the year were £53,415. Funding met the needs of those using our services over the year. It Is to be noted that the non- flnancial support from our volunteers far exceeds the financial output we are able to offer. We expect to meet all commltments on spendlng for the planned programmes budgeted for 2025-26. Continued demand on our servlces as a result of re-settlement work with refugees means the need to maintain our increased Income for the year ahead. Applicatlons for new sources of grants, fundralslng and other donations will be needed to enable our other work to continue and develop in the way that our Buslness plan for 2025-26 outllnes. The Charity policy on holdlng reserves and why they are held Maintaining a reserve enables us to guarantee continuity of work over the next 12 months. The amount of reserves held at 31st March 2025 was held at £35,000. The figure is subject to review by the Trustees, dependent on assessment of essential running costs of the charity, The charity does not have a pollcy of holdlng zero resenies. There are no funds matertally in deficit as of 3 1st March 2025. Uncertalntles about the charfty contlnulng as a golng concem The Trustees are confident that there are no con￿MS al)out the charity going forward into 2025-26. Structurei governan￿ and management A descnption of the Charity's trusts The type of governing document Is Associatlon of Model Constltutlon The charlty Is constituted as a CIO with voting members other than its charity trustees. Trnstee selertion methods, induding details of and constitutional pmvisions, induding elertion to post and name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees. Applicants to Trusteeship complete an application fomi, and provide a CV to the Board. Those interviewed and selected are nominated and elected at the Annual General Meeting. The term of office is a 3 year period. The Board may number up to 9 members, and three retire each year at the AGM. Trustees may seek re-election and serve three consecutive periods before retiring for at least one year. In the event of vacancies, Trustees may be co-opted to the Board and seek nomination and election at the next available AGM. Reference and Admlnlstration details Charity's ftjll name York City of Sanctuary It has no other names Principal address contact orkcos.0 Bank; The Co-operative Bank Sort Code; 08-92-99 Account Number 65847664 Names of the Trustees managlng the charlty durlng perlod 1st Aprfl 2024 - 31" March 2025 Name offi￿ held Ahmed Khaleel Chair of the Board Elected for the year 2024-25 to the post Paul Wordsworth Co-ordinator Elected for the year 2024-25 to the post Dee Boyle Rasha Ibrahim Rose Berl re-eletted for 3 year temi; 2024-2027 Prof.Rlchard Bourne Ok5ana ja￿¢1nYk Chri5tlna Funnell Eletted for 3 year term; 2024-2027 Julie Randles Elected for 3 year tenn. 2024-2027 Declaratlon The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees Annual Report and Accounts for the year April 151 2024 - March 31st 2025 Slgnature Full name Position held Trustees Annual Report; l# April 2024 to March 31st 2025 Full name of charityi York City of Sanctuary Registered Charity number; 1176094 Independent examinerfs report to the trustees of York City of Sanrtuary I report on the accounts of- for the year ended- York aty of Sanctuary 31st March 2025 which are set out on pa8es 6 to 9. Re4)onslbllltles and bash ol report As the charity tnjstees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the ACVI. I reporr in respert of my examinatlon of the ChariWs accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examlnees sL)tement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connettion with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. l accounting records were not kept in respert of the Tmst as required by sedlon 130 of the Act,. or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records I have no concerns and have corne across no other matters in connection wlth the examinatlon to whSth attentlon should be drawn In thls report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 2211012025 Karen Wood IACMAI Outsource independent examination 2 Galligap Lane Osbaldwick York YOIO 3NR Dat*: York Clty of Sanctuary Chanty 1176oa4 Recelpts & Paym•ntsAccounts for th• y•ar •nd•d: 318t PAI￿h 2026 2025 Tol•l nd8 2024 Total funds fund8 funds R•coipts Individu￿ donations Just giving & other donations Grants retsved Fundraising ￿tlyrtIeS & events Total r•c•lpts ,030 2.358 1.885 .020 47.900 2.915 3,378 48.560 295 $5,148 1.281 3,115 26,720 285 31.401 295 50.805 Paymonts Event & pioiect costs Training fve¥ & DBS FundraisirvJ expanses Insurance 8tsJkkeeping & office c08ts Professional 8ervus Running costs and fees.. YUST Rent & room hi Support for indivKluals Grant payments Independent exaninatton ol Tax eompleti¢Jn & filing Vehicle hire, travel & expenses Just giving f Totsl payments 257 1.314 1.571 2,079 212 209 150 3011 212 209 3.810 360 31,470 2.626 3.511 1.245 350 174 1,251 31.470 32,610 2,600 1,606 ,494 330 226 3.511 1.245 350 216 216 45,674 216 42,451 1.980 431694 Net of recelptsl(payments) 7,111 9.474 (11,0501 Transfern between funds Balance brought I0￿rd 51,052 17.817 68.869 79,919 Balance carrled fonvard 53.41S 24928 York 0fsanc￿ary Statement of Assets and iJabilitie5 at: 3tst March 2025 2025 Total fvnd5 2024 Totsl funds Unrestrlrted fund5 Restrlcted funds Assets Cash at bank and In hand Current bank account 53 2025 Total funds 2024 Total funds Unrestrlrted funds Restrirted fund5 Llabllltle$ Independent review fee 350 350 350 350 350 350 York ¢Jty d 5an¢ttAry Noles to the aCc￿nts for the year ended 315t Marth 2015 l. Basls olA¢¢ounts' The Trustees have taken advantage of sect5on 144 IZI ofthe Charilies Act 2011 and prepared the accounts on a receipts and payffents b4sls. L Rejlrktqd In¢i¥n• lunds Furrtl n4me Yusr To meet the c05t5 of the York. Ukralne Support Team (Yusn and specinc Ukraine focused e￿ts. To support the Homestay prografflme. and a5sisttng our events pro8rammÈ yjth as York Refugee Week. For support wlth hous1￿ resethemenL Integratlgn, e$5entlal rtemsfor new asylum seekets In the dty Fundin8 from 1970Trust to support Afyhan women in York Appeal toasslst ￿UgeeS from Gaza Two RldlnBg York Mlnster Heela Group Gaz 3tst M•r