## **NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING**
The Annual General Meeting of Louth Churches for Refugees (Registered Charity No. 1177536) will take place in St James’s Church House, Louth, at 2pm on Tuesday 19 March 2024.
**Agenda** :
1. Trustees’ Annual Report
2. Annual Statement of Accounts
3. Appointment of Trustees
Refreshments will be served after the meeting.
## **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 Monday 17 July 2023.**
**Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Louth Churches for Refugees** held in Louth Methodist Church at 7pm on Monday 17 July 2023
The meeting was chaired by Jane Fletcher. 16 members and supporters of the charity were present and apologies for absence had been received from 5 members.
1. The meeting received the Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended December 2022 (Proposed: J. Ballantyne Seconded: A West).
2. The meeting received the Annual Statement of Accounts for the year ended December 2022 (Proposed: R Mansfield Seconded: J Ballantyne).
3. Jane Fletcher, Julie Markham, Andrew Stratford and Andrew West had been nominated for election as trustees. There being no further nominations, these nominees were declared elected.
The formal business of the meeting was concluded. The meeting continued with a presentation from Kate Mitchell and Mo Oliver (East Lindsey Area of Sanctuary) followed by discussion. The following were among the points made and issues raised:
- The origins of the movement in Sheffield ‘City of Sanctuary’ in 2005.
- Pre-pandemic activity, including support for a group now separately established as North Lincolnshire Sanctuary Group.
- Re-focussing the group’s activities, following the invasion of Ukraine, including coordinating hosts/guests in the area and launching a very successful ‘welcome club’ in Louth.
- Future plans for the group, including a likely re-brand and possible charity incorporation.
Thanks were expressed to supporters of Louth Churches for Refugees, including members of the charity’s ESOL team, for their valuable work during the year. Mark Sherman had stepped down as treasurer and was thanked warmly for his contributions. An update was provided on the charity’s recent activities, including continued expenditure on family support. It was noted that the trustees had begun considering the possibility of a third Community Sponsorship application. Members and supporters were invited to provide any feedback on this thinking – and were invited to continue to pray for God’s guidance into the future.
The meeting was followed by further conversation over refreshments, including Syrian desserts very kindly provided by the two resettled families.
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From: 1 January 2023- 31 December 2023**
**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 two resettled refugee families in Louth –
in the case of the first family our agreed sponsorship
responsibilities under the Community Sponsorship programme
have now concluded.
•
Ongoing 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 second resettled
Syrian family to Louth in mid-2022, as part of the UK
Government’s “Community Sponsorship” programme.
It was good to see the family getting settled in the early months
following their arrival. During 2023 the charity has continued our
support for members of the family, including English language
tuition; education support and various other practical matters.
While our agreed sponsorship responsibilities under Community
Sponsorship have now concluded in respect of the first family,
who we welcomed to Louth in 2020, we continue to keep in close
touch and to provide assistance as needs be.
We were delighted that the eldest son in the first family secured a
university place to study engineering from Autumn 2023. Having
arrived in the UK with minimal English in 2020, this is a fantastic
personal accomplishment and a great story about the positive
impact of Community Sponsorship.
Mark Sherman stood down as treasurer of Louth Churches for
Refugees at the start of 2023 in anticipation of his retirement and
moving away from the area. We send our warm wishes to Mark -
and our grateful thanks for his contributions to the work of the
charity over recent years.
Julie Markham, one of our trustees, has taken on the role of
Treasurer and we thank Julie for her ongoing support.
At the end of 2023, Louth Churches for Refugees participated in a
national evaluation of the Community Sponsorship scheme, run
by the Home Office. This was a good opportunity to reflect on
recent developments and achievements. Having been involved in
Community Sponsorship for more than six years, the charity
trustees have begun thinking about our future plans, including the
potential for welcoming another family to the area.
The United Nations estimates there is now a total of 36.4 million
refugees around the world. In the face of such a huge global
emergency, Louth Churches for Refugees represents a practical
local response, as we continue to respond to Jesus’ call 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|During 2023 the charity continued to raise funds towards its
stated objectives. Expenditure exceeded income during the first
full year supporting a second family - following on from
fundraising during previous years.|
|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|Church House
6 Upgate
Louth
LN11 9ET|
3
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6|**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|
||Jane Fletcher|||Elected by members|
||Ros Malyon|||Elected by members|
||Julie Markham|||Elected by members|
||Andrew Stratford|||Elected by members|
||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 & Lead Sponsor||
||31 January 2024||
||31 January 2024||
4
The Treasurer Louth Churches for Refugees Louth Methodist Church Nichol Hill Louth LN11 9NQ
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Louth Churches for Refugees**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Louth Churches for Refugees (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s 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 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matter in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Keith May ACMA CGMA Qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Keith May Accounting Services Ltd Aura Business Centre Heath Road Skegness Lincolnshire PE25 3SJ
31 January 2024
1
|**e**||**Louth Churches for Refugees**|**Louth Churches for Refugees**|**Louth Churches for Refugees**|**Louth Churches for Refugees**|**CC16a**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**For the**
**period**|01/01/2023|**To**|||
||||||||
||**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||
||**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricte**
**d funds**
**to the**
**nearest**
**£**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the**
**nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the**
**nearest £**|**Total funds**
**to the**
**nearest £**|**Last year**
**to the**
**nearest £**|
|||**4,442**
**1,880**
**321**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**6,643**|**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**|**-**
**4,442**
**1,880**
**321**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**6,643**|**-**|
||Donations|||**-**||**-**|
||Other Income|||**-**||**-**|
||Gift Aid|||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
||**Sub total**(Gross income
for AR)|||**-**||**-**|
||||||||
||**A2 Asset and**
**investment sales, (see**|**-**
**-**
**-**|||||
||||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**||
|||||**-**||**-**|
||**Sub total**|||**-**||**-**|
||**Total receipts**
**A3 Payments**||||||
|||**6,643**|**-**|**-**|**6,643**|**-**|
||||||||
||
Familysupport|**9,311**
**466**
**-**
**-**
**9,777**|**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**|**9,311**
**466**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**9,777**|**-**|
||Other Charitable Expenditure|||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
||**Sub total **|||**-**||**-**|
||||||||
||**A4 Asset and**
**investment purchases,**|**-**
**-**
**-**|||||
||||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**||
|||||**-**|||
||**Sub total **|||**-**||**-**|
||**Total payments**
**t of receipts/(payments)**
**A5 Transfers between fu **
**A6 Cash funds last yeare**
**Cash funds this year end**||||**9,777**||
|||**9,777**|**-**|**-**||**-**|
||||||||
|||**- 3,134**|**-**|
**-**|**- 3,134**|**-**|
|||**n -**
**20,146**|**-**
**-**|**-**|**-**
**20,146**|**-**|
|||||**-**||**-**|
|||**17,012**|**-**|
**-**|**17,012**|**-**|
31/01/2024
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
1