**ANNUAL REPORT 2022** ## **Wolverhampton City of Sanctuary** enquiries@wolvescofs.com wolverhampton.cityofsanctuary. 16 Temple Street Wolverhampton WV2 4AN **2** ## Names of trustees who manage the charity Gillian Kelly Served for entire period Erik Pearse Served for entire period Khady Noufe Served for entire period George Reiss Served for entire period Jojofana Mengue Owona Served for entire period Geoff Gooding Served for entire period Florence Pelamie Served until September 2022 The Board of Trustees are responsible for appointing additional trustees ## Officers Chair Gillian Kelly Vice-Chair George Reiss Secretary Erik Pearse Treasurer Erik Pearse ## Type of Governing Document Constitution dated 29[th] .June 2022 The Charity is constituted as a CIO We are pleased to welcome 4 new Trustees for the coming year, including a new Treasurer . We bid farewell to Geoff and Florence as Trustees and thank them for their valuable contributions. We also convey heartfelt thanks to Erik Pearse who has kept the Trustees going by taking on secretarial and financial responsibilities. Linda Gilson **3** ## Summary of main activities 2022 The Wednesday Drop-In has gone from strength to strength over the past twelve months. A growing and committed group of volunteers, coordinated with huge enthusiasm and creativity by Amanda Bevan, provides a wide range of activities to complement the simple pleasures of a shared cup of coffee and a chat. Together we have sewn crocheted and knitted, painted and crafted, cooked and shared food and, thanks to George and his special team of volunteers, engaged in regular, increasingly popular, conversation classes. We now support a large number of people living in local hotels, for whom the Drop-In provides a welcome break from the limitations of in such a regulated communal setting. During the year several longstanding members of our community obtained their Leave to Remain. They have all become active volunteers, supporting others on similar journeys; their experience is invaluable. With the confidence that comes from their increased stability, they have rediscovered their skills and are beginning to shape the services that we can offer. The WhatsApp group continued to be cornerstone of our communication with each other and numbers in the region of 130 members. It is used to publicise events, advertise available donated items and simply for keeping in touch and supporting each other. Practical and financial support has been provided by way of: - Data cards to help people maintain their support networks - Tablets for children to support home learning - Donations which are now managed via the WhatsApp group. These are coordinated by a very efficient volunteer, Annette, who seems to have a bottomless source of household items - Christmas gift vouchers were again part-funded by a Crowd-funding appeal Emerging from the pandemic has meant that we have been able to organise a range of social activities for adults, children and families, notably: - Trips to Clun, hosted by Bishop’s Castle Quakers, the most recent of which catered for about 70 members of our community - Day trips to Church Stretton and Telford, - Family activity days at the Wildside project and the Kingswood Centre **4** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Thank you to all our
friends and supporters.
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Making new memories
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**5** Kenny’s Fund continued to support asylum seekers facing destitution and others experiencing extreme economic hardship. The Terms of Reference of the committee have been revised this year in light of experience and the evolving nature of the problems being experienced by asylum seekers and refugees. Since the last AGM in September 2022, 12 individuals have been referred to the committee. Of these, 2 are currently receiving ongoing financial assistance, including gym subscriptions and subsistence payments whilst their prolonged asylum applications are being processed. Kenny’s Fund has also agreed to contribute to the funding of specialist reports. These individuals are being supported by members of Kenny’s Fund Committee and their situations are reviewed at each committee meeting. At least 1 other person has moved out of the area but keeps in touch with Committee members for continuing emotional/moral support. The remaining 9 people have been introduced to Kenny’s Fund via volunteers or Committee Members and, after an assessment, we have been able to either give one-off payments to assist people in setting up their first home and/or to bridge a gap until such time as individuals are receiving money from elsewhere. We have also been able to access practical support through our partner groups (e.g. RMC, Elias Mattu Foundation, Hope into Action Black Country, Hope Projects, Good Shepherd and Wolverhampton Quakers). During the year KF has issued grants totalling £3348. ## Schools of Sanctuary There are now a total of eight such schools in Wolverhampton. Many more schools are interested. We work with Claire Sumner of the Citizenship, Language and Learning Team in assessing and supporting these schools. **6** We have continued to build productive partnerships with several organisations, including: - The Church of St. Chad and St. Mark - Quaker meetings in Wolverhampton, Clun Valley and Telford - Wildside Activity Centre We have promoted the cause of asylum seekers and refugees through individual letters to local MPs and submissions from the organisation regarding Immigration legislation. A group of us also attended a demonstration relating to the use of hotels in Cannock in support of the local refugee support group. ## Finances Our unrestricted reserves at the year end (£13,975) compared to the previous year end (£19,794) at the previous year end. A further deficit budget has been set for 2023. We are pleased to be able to welcome a new Treasurer for the coming year who will be able to support and work with Devi Bansal, who has agreed to act as our book-keeper for next year‘. Devi is the Book-keeper for Interfaith, Wolverhampton, and we are pleased to be able to benefit from her experience. ## Policy on Reserves Although it is not currently an issue, given our financial position, the Trustees will be considering whether to reduce their policy on unrestricted reserves from the current level of 6-12 months to 3-6 months. Gill Kelly Chair Date 20[th] . August 2023 ## WOLVERHAMPTON CITY OF SANCTUARY Receipts and Payments Accounts for year ended 31st December 2022 |Donations
Grants
Just Giving
Gift Aid
Publicatiom Sales
Phones
Compensation
Other Income
**_Total Receipts_**
IT & Internet
Mobile Topups
Destitution Support
Gift Vouchers
Professional Fees
Governance/Insurance
Publication Costs
Travel Costs
Alotment Project
Shoe Project
Drop In Costs
Furniture Donations
**_Total Payments_**
Net of Receipts
Cash Funds Last Year end
Cash Funds This Year end|Unrestricted
2738
0
1329
792
0
0
0
2095|Restricted
4831
0
0
315
0
0
0
90
5236
0
0
3348
740
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1052
5140
-96
6067
6163|TOTAL
Last Yr
7569
10641
0
3320
1329
3645
1107
1080
0
212
0
119
0
100
2185
0| |---|---|---|---| ||6954||12190
19117| ||3514
0
0
2583
0
3860
0
1249
0
0
1567
0||3514
4137
0
2963
3348
4216
3323
5090
0
1080
3860
539
0
352
1249
381
0
305
0
860
1567
0
1052
0| ||12773||17913
19923| ||5819
19794
13975||5723
806
25861
26667
20138
25861|