## **NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING** The Annual General Meeting of Louth Churches for Refugees (Registered Charity No. 1177536) will take place in Louth Methodist Church at 7pm on Monday 17 July 2023. **Agenda** : 1. Trustees’ Annual Report 2. Annual Statement of Accounts 3. Appointment of Trustees The Annual General Meeting will be followed by a presentation and discussion with East Lindsey Area of Sanctuary. ## **Please note the following information:** - The Trustees’ Annual Report and the Annual Statement of Accounts are available on the Louth Churches for Refugees website: - - - https://louthchurchesforrefugees.org/about us/latest news and some printed copies will be available at the meeting. - We invite anyone wishing to become a member of the charity to complete a membership application form on arrival. There is no charge for membership, and members sign to confirm that they support the aims and objectives of the charity. - Anyone wishing to be elected trustee should complete a nomination form on arrival which must include the names of a proposer and seconder who are members of the charity. If there are more nominations than places available then each candidate will be given two minutes to explain to those present why they wish to be elected as a trustee. ## **Overleaf for information: Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 3 May 2022.** ## **Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Louth Churches for Refugees** held in Louth Methodist Church at 7pm on Tuesday 3 May 2022 The meeting was chaired by Derek Gibson. 31 members and supporters of the charity were present and apologies for absence had been received from 3 members. Attendees observed a time of silence in memory of John Troughton, inaugural chair of the charity, who had died on 9 April 2022. 1. The meeting received the Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended December 2021 (Proposed: J. Ballantyne Seconded: A Stratford). 2. The meeting received the Annual Statement of Accounts for the year ended December 2021 (Proposed: M Sherman Seconded: J Ballantyne). 3. Members of the charity approved a proposal to change trustee appointment arrangements, as set out in the paper which had been attached to the agenda. Members voted as follows in respect of the proposal: For 20 Against 0 Abstain 0. The change would be registered with the Charity Commission. 4. David Fidler had been nominated for election as a trustee. There being no further nominations, David was declared elected. The formal business of the meeting was concluded. The meeting continued with a presentation from Tomasz Muszynski (Reset), given over Zoom, followed by questions and discussion. The following were among the points made and issues raised: - The origins and purpose of Community Sponsorship and the work of Reset. - The scale and impact of the scheme – expressed in terms of changing lives for the better. - The role of Reset in respect of the government’s scheme for housing refugees from Ukraine. Thanks were expressed to members of the charity’s ESOL team, for their valuable work during the year. An update was provided on progress with the charity’s application to sponsor a second family. A member of the family already resettled in Louth spoke of his experience of Community Sponsorship and expressed thanks to members of Louth Churches for Refugees for their support. ## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From: 1 January 2022- 31 December 2022** **Charity name: Louth Churches for Refugees Charity registration number: 1177536** ## **Objectives and Activities** |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|The objects of the charity are to relieve financial hardship for:
a) those seeking refuge from conflict in the Middle East, North
Africa region;
b) those granted refugee status and their dependents living in
Lincolnshire and Louth in particular; and
c) refugee children by the provision of holidays.| |---|---| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|The charity’s main activities during the year have included:
•
Continued support for a resettled refugee family in Louth - with
a transition in support during the year in line with the
expectations of the Community Sponsorship programme.
•
Preparations for - and welcome of - a second refugee family to
Louth, including associated fundraising.
•
Continuing regular communications to raise awareness of the
activities of the charity and the global situation facing
refugees; and encouraging prayer.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit.|In all of the charity’s work, the trustees have been mindful of the
need to fulfil the charity’s charitable purposes and to work for the
public benefit. They believe that this has been the case, and that
the activities represented by the summary above and in the report
that follows demonstrate both the ways in which Louth Churches
for Refugees has fulfilled its purposes of relieving financial
hardship of those groups specified in its governing document and
that this has been undertaken in a way that is demonstrably for
the public benefit.| 1 ## **Achievements and Performance** |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Louth Churches for Refugees welcomed a first resettled Syrian
family to Louth in early 2020, as part of the UK Government’s
“Community Sponsorship” programme. Our agreed sponsorship
responsibilities under the programme drew to a close during 2022
and we have worked through a support transition plan with the
family over the course of the year.
Following a decision by the charity trustees to make a new
application to participate in Community Sponsorship and to
welcome another family to the area, we have been focussed
during 2022 on preparation for the arrival of a second family.
Work has included:
•
sourcing suitable housing;
•
putting a Community Sponsorship Application together and
getting the necessary support from local agencies and
authorities;
•
making arrangements to provide practical help for the family -
for example support with settling into the community; English
tuition; education support and other matters;
•
raising the necessary funds.
The family arrived in July 2022 and it has been very good to see
them settling in over recent months.
Derek Gibson stood down as a trustee of Louth Churches for
Refugees in Autumn 2022. We send our warm wishes to Derek
as he moves to Yorkshire; and our huge thanks for his significant
contributions to the work of the charity as trustee - and chair -
over recent years.
We are very pleased to have welcomed new trustees Julie
Markham and Andrew Stratford this year.
Continued thanks go to our treasurer Rev Mark Sherman.
According to the United Nations, the number of people forced to
flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution has
now crossed the staggering milestone of 100 million for the first
time on record. Louth Churches for Refugees continues to
respond to Jesus’ call to us as we seek to follow the path of the
Good Samaritan in caring for our neighbours. We are very
grateful to our members, friends and supporters for their practical
help, financial support and ongoing prayers.
We appreciate all offers of help; contact can be made via our
website at**https://louthchurchesforrefugees.org/about-**
**us/contact-us. **You may also like to follow us on Facebook:
**https://www.facebook.com/louthchurchesforrefugees**| |---|---| 2 ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**|| |---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|In the year, the charity continued to raise funds towards its stated
objectives. Income exceeded expenditure during the year as we
worked through a support transition plan with the first family and
began supporting a second family.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|The charity does not hold significant reserves, with all monies
held being required for its immediate charitable work. This is
reviewed periodically by the trustees.| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|None| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|None| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |**Structure, Governance**|**and Management**| |---|---| |Type of governing document|Constitution| |How is the charity
constituted?|Charitable Incorporated Organisation| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Election by members (up to 6 trustees) Nomination by Churches
Together in Louth & District (up to 2 trustees)| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Louth Churches for Refugees| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|None| |Registered charity number|1177536| |Charity’s principal address|Louth Methodist Church
Nichol Hill
Louth
LN11 9NQ| 3 **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled to**
**appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||David Fidler|||Elected by members| ||Derek Gibson|Chair|To 27.10.22|Churches Together in Louth and
District| ||Jane Fletcher|||Churches Together in Louth and
District| ||Ros Malyon|||Elected by members| ||Julie Markham||From 5.9.22|Appointed by trustees| ||Andrew Stratford||From 9.12.22|Appointed by trustees| ||Andrew West|||Elected by members| ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**|Andrew West
|| |---|---|---| |||| ||
Trustee|| ||7 June 2023|| ||7 June 2023|| 4 The Treasurer Louth Churches for Refugees Loulh Methodist Church Nichol Hill Louth LN119NQ Independent examlnerfs report to the truste25 of Louth Churches for Rthgees I report to the trustees on my examination of the aC￿￿nIS of Louth Churdles for Refugees {the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2022. Responslbllltles and basls of report As the chariVs trustees of the ChaTity, you ar8 [8sF￿n$1b1e for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wÈth the wuirements of Charities Art 2011 {the A(a). I report in resped of my examination of the Charitys accounts Carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the appli￿le Directions given by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5)(b) of ts ACL Independont oxaminorfs Statement I have completed my e￿￿MInation. I confirni that no material matter5 have t￿18 to my attention in connedion with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charrty as required by section 130 of Ihe Act., or 2. the accounts (lo not accord with those recc*ds. I have no concems and have crnie across no olher matter in conneclion with the examination to which attention should te drawn in this report in order to enable a pr￿r understanding of the accounts to be reached. Kef(h May ACMA CGM Qualified memtsr e Chartered Irtstituie of Management A(uxJntants Keith May Accoun ing ServicEs Ltd Aura Business Centre Heath Road Skegness Lincolnshire PE25 3SJ 12 June 2023 |**Louth Churches for Refugees**|**Louth Churches for Refugees**|**1177536**|| |---|---|---|---| |**Receipts and payments accounts**|||**CC16a**| |01/01/2022
**For the**
**period from**|**To**|31/12/2022|| ## **Section A Receipts and payments** |**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the**
**nearest**
**£**
**13,972**
**4,546**
**-**
**-**
**-**

**18,518**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**18,518**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the**
**nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the**
**nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Total funds**
**to the**
**nearest £**
**-**
**13,972**
**4,546**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**18,518**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**18,518**|**Last year**
**to the**
**nearest £**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||**-**| |Donations|**13,972**||||**-**| |Other Income|**4,546**||||**-**| |Gift Aid|||||**-**| ||||||**-**| ||**-**||||**-**| ||**-**||||**-**| ||**-**
||||**-**| |~~**Sub total** (Gross income for~~
AR)|
**18,518**||||**-**| ||||||| |**A2 Asset and investment**
**sales, (see table).**|||||| ||**-**||||| ||**-**||||**-**| |**Sub total**|**-**||||**-**| |**Total receipts**|||||| ||**18,518**|**-**|**-**|**18,518**|**-**| ## **A3 Payments** |**A3 Payments**|||||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Familysupport||**15,211**|||**-**|||**-**|||**15,211**|||**-**|| |Other Charitable Expenditure||**460**|||**-**|||**-**|||**460**|||**-**|| ||||||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|| ||||||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|| ||||||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|| ||||||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|| ||||||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|| |||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|| |||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|||**-**|| |**Sub total **||**15,671**|||**-**|||**-**|||**15,671**|||**-**|| ||||||||||||||||| |**A4 Asset and investment**|||||||||||||||| |**purchases, (see table)**|||||||||||||||| |||**-**||||**-**|||**-**||**-**||||| |||**-**||||**-**|||**-**||**-**||||| |**Sub total **||**-**||||**-**|||**-**||**-**||||**-**| ||||||||||||||||| |**Total payments**||**15,671**||||**-**|||**-**||**15,671**||||**-**| |**Net of receipts/(payments)**||**2,847**||||**-**||
|**-**||**2,847**||||**-**| |**A5 Transfers between funds **||**-**||||**-**||**-**|||**-**||||**-**| |**A6 Cash funds last year end **||**17,368**||||**-**||**-**|||**17,368**||||**-**| |**Cash funds this year end**
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)||**20,215**||
1||**-**||
|**-**||**20,215**||
12/06/2023||**-**|