OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2023-04-30-accounts

Swindon City of Sanctuary

Registered Charity Number 1177624

Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023

1

OUR REFLECTIONS

This year was, in all senses, a year of change for us as a charity. We said goodbye to our longstanding Charity Manager and our Streams and Awards Co-ordinator took maternity leave. This meant that for most of the year, we had only one part-time staff member.

While this, undoubtedly, had a great impact on how we were to progress, we strove to ensure that we continued to deliver our projects, meet our charitable objects and provid ~~ed~~ spaces filled with welcome to those in need. The support of our incredible volunteers and Trustees, dedicating a total of 855 hours of volunteering, was invaluable and meant that we continued to function successfully, finding a ‘new normal’ during that period.

In the latter half of the year, we welcomed our new Charity Manager and created a new role; the FAB Project Co-ordinator. With a newly expanded team of three, we were able to increase our capacity and develop our work exponentially. This meant more events in the community where we continued working to educate and raise awareness around the experiences of people seeking sanctuary in Swindon. Our work in schools grew, contacting more than 20 schools in different contexts, with the pinnacle being Peatmoor Community Primary School becoming Swindon’s first School of Sanctuary . We’re Open social evenings continued to offer a welcoming space, with 736 individual visits, all with the aim of bringing our community together through conversation and coffee.

The increase in negative media rhetoric, harmful policies and legislation fed into a more hostile environment for people seeking sanctuary and became a barrier to our vision of fostering welcome. We increased our campaigning, focusing on the Illegal Migration Bill, joining the voices calling for fair and safer routes for those in need. While the asylum system remains unfair and isolating, we saw a continued positive response from the people of Swindon wanting to support people fleeing from war and persecution, alongside an increase in schools, organisations and businesses wanting to work with us and to champion our values.

As our team grew, it became increasingly obvious that our small office space was no longer viable. In April, we moved into a larger office; a space where we were able to meet our 35 volunteers, deliver training and connect with other Swindon organisations. The new space had a great impact on our ability to work with others to promote welcome, inclusion and support in Swindon.

“Welcome” was our word of the year. During our November Month of Welcome, we launched our Make Every Year a Year of Welcome calendar and started work on our Acts of Welcome packs with 52 Swindon organisations. This year, like every year, welcome remained the thread that weaves throughout all our work and we focused on supporting other organisations to embed this within their own work.

2

As we navigated the challenges of the year, we found solace in all those who unfalteringly supported and embraced our purpose. To all those who work to create welcome, make space for all and speak up for sanctuary, we thank you for being a part of this journey.

OUR IMPACT – A YEAR IN NUMBERS

CHAIRS NOTE

It’s been another year of change and as we remain hugely grateful to our funders who enable is to undertake our work, and to the wonderful people of our local community in Swindon who encourage and support our work, it’s quite clear that what we do is now more necessary than ever. Instability and war are ever present across the globe and the mass displacement of people due to conflict does not look as though it will subside for the foreseeable.

We have taken huge strides this year to expand our impact. A critical pillar of our activity is education – helping people within our community to understand the realities of seeking sanctuary in the UK and how to better welcome and support those people who arrive in our community, often having experienced multiple instances of persecution and trauma. This year our Sectors of Sanctuary works’ core focus was schools, and in 2023-24 we plan for the sectors we work within to increase.

We are delighted to have welcomed a new Charity Manager to the team, who has already made a huge difference to us and we look forward to seeing how her energy, drive and passion develop as she becomes more established.

I’d like to personally thank the National Lottery Community Fund for their ongoing support and guidance, as well as Wiltshire Community Foundation, Swindon Parish Council, Co-op Midcounties, Respond & Adapt, Postcode Neighbourhood Trust, Magic Little Grants and Joffe Trust for their invaluable funding contributions.

3

The coming years look to be increasingly challenging politically, as the narrative around people who are seeking sanctuary becomes ever more polarised. We will continue to speak to and work with all in our local community, including local MPs and Councillors from all political parties, as we endeavour to make our community safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all.

CHARITABLE OBJECTS

Swindon City of Sanctuary is a registered charity (with CIO status) in Swindon, we seek to build a culture of welcome, inclusion and support for everyone in Swindon, with a focus on people who are seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.

Our work focuses on celebrating our diverse town. We do this by bringing people and organisations together, raising awareness and campaigning for fairness and inclusivity.

Our Charitable Objects are:

OUR VALUES

Trust: We understand that those we support and collaborate with deserve and expect our trustworthiness in the ways we work and the decisions we take. We are open and approachable and take safeguarding seriously in personal and confidential matters.

Inclusive: Being inclusive is essential in our work and for us this means we begin with consideration and care in each individual encounter. We support each person with lived experience of seeking sanctuary in a consultative, empowering and respectful way, showing encouragement and patience. We actively and equally value the contribution that all of our staff, volunteers, trustees and those who benefit make and involve them meaningfully in decisions about our work.

Objective: Our kindness is not lessened by our objectivity and clarity, which are important in the way that we conduct our work internally and externally. We are non-judgmental, fair and focused. We ensure to work ethically in all we do and who we work with, as well as considering our environmental impact as a charity.

4

Informed: Across our organisation we stay informed and knowledgeable of the circumstances and laws affecting people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary, and the issues around hate crime locally. We use our knowledge and awareness proactively to challenge preconceptions, to share knowledge across Swindon and to help create better understanding between us all.

Inspirational: We use our creativity and innovation to make our expressions, our connections and our outreach work as educational and inspirational as they can be. We hope to inspire others to actively help make Swindon a welcoming place for all who live here. We believe in generous leadership and that the best work relies on different experiences and perspectives. We seek out the best ideas, wherever they come from.

Positive & Committed: We are strongly committed to work, educate and campaign in a responsible, coordinated and strategic way. We aim to focus on the positive, overcoming challenges and hostility by finding common ground. We respond with activities that bring our community together and enable us to listen and learn from each other, in order to break down stereotypes and resentment driven by fear.

MAKE EVERY YEAR, A YEAR OF WELCOME

Welcome is the foundation of all we do; this year we found more ways to create, promote and share welcome in Swindon.

Year of Welcome Calendar

Every November we celebrate a Month of Welcome, but why stop at just one month of welcome? We used the Month of Welcome as a springboard for building welcome throughout the year by creating a calendar that highlights global events with local impact, which reflect and promote our values around welcome and inclusion. The calendar is a reminder of the year-long importance of welcome. It is a call to embed welcome into our day to day lives. Designed by Bekah Grace, Illustrator and former volunteer, the calendar shares dates that encourage important conversations that can be used in many settings. The calendar has been widely used in schools, within Swindon Borough Council and many local organisations and businesses.

Acts of Welcome Cards

Born from our calendar, work began on creating a pack of 52 cards, one for each week of the year, featuring a simple act which fosters respectful and mindful interactions between members of the community. With many facing the daily struggle of isolation and loneliness, Acts of Welcome work to bridge the gap between individuals and show welcome, inclusion and support to all. We began working with some of the 52 Swindon organisations that will eventually fill the pack, to create their own acts. It was important to us that the Acts of Welcome reflected Swindon’s diverse community and we were pleased that so many brilliant businesses, charities and organisations wanted to take part and spread welcome.

5

WE’RE OPEN COMMUNITY EVENINGS

We had another successful year of our weekly We’re Open community evenings with 736 individual visits*. We’re Open’s purpose is for those that attend to feel welcomed, to decrease the isolation and loneliness felt by many and create a community where those who are new to Swindon feel able to build a life here.

As a Home Office dispersal town, Swindon has a large community of people seeking sanctuary with many living in hotels. With the rise in negative and divisive rhetoric surrounding their experiences, it is more important than ever to provide spaces where people feel safe, valued and included. The current asylum system is not a fair one. It builds barriers which seek to create an “us versus them” narrative. We work to create spaces where local residents and people seeking sanctuary can meet and make connections, with the aim of breaking down barriers and celebrating our differences in the essence of cultural diversity.

We ran 50 sessions over the course of the year, with local musicians Karen Phimister - Tour of Park , Joe Brown and Anish & Neil - Canute's Plastic Army, providing wonderful entertainment at some of the evenings. We could not do what we do at We’re Open without the support of our brilliant, dedicated volunteers who gave 156 hours of volunteering to the project.

*Due to period of change and limited staffing, 25 weeks of data are an estimate of average numbers.

“ You can come along and socialising with people from different backgrounds by talking, playing cards, chess and other board games. While the evenings are designed to support people seeking sanctuary, it's open to every member of Swindon local community. We're Open to all.”

SPEAK UP FOR SANCTUARY

As a campaigning and awareness raising organisation, education of the community remained at the forefront of our work. With the rise in negative and divisive rhetoric surrounding the experiences of people seeking sanctuary, it was more important than ever to speak up for sanctuary and to call others to do the same.

Fill The Skies With Hope

In September, Together With Refugees launched their national campaign which involved sending to Members of Parliament, orange heart-shaped paper planes, filled with messages of love, welcome and hope for a fairer system. In Swindon, we asked members of the community to write to our MPs (Sir Robert Buckland, South Swindon; Justin Tomlinson, North Swindon) to join us in calling for the Prime Minister and Home Secretary to re-think their harmful policy of sending people in the asylum system to Rwanda. We worked with

6

local schools, held events in the community, promoted via social media and encouraged as many people as possible to join in. These events fostered conversations about how people’s own experiences of migration had impacted their lives and why diversity had impacted Swindon for the better. Through the events, we facilitated opportunities for young people to feel empowered to enact social change through their words.

‘Illegal Migration Bill’

This year, the so called ‘ Illegal Migration Bill’ was introduced to Parliament with the aim of stopping people from crossing the English Channel in small boats. We, like many other campaigning organisations, believe that the provision of safe, accessible routes is vital, yet the Act did nothing to increase them. We used our platform, both in person and online, to outline and explain to the community what the bill entailed and called for others to use their voices in three simple steps: stand up and speak out, organise and continue to have hope.

Protesting forced flight to Rwanda

On ~~the~~ 14[th] June, we received word that at least 7 people were boarding a flight to Rwanda departing from Boscombe Down Airfield, Salisbury. As the closest Wiltshire based City of Sanctuary group, staff, volunteers and a Swindon based person with lived experience of seeking sanctuary travelled to Salisbury to bear witness and show solidary with those forced to board the plane. We went to show love and support to those facing a terrible, traumatic situation and to spread awareness to the public. The flight did not depart, cancelled by last minute interventions by the European Court of Human Rights, and all on board departed the plane. We were overjoyed that those aboard the plane continued to live in the community they had come to know.

RAISING AWARENESS

In January 2023, we held a Year of Welcome event at Swindon Hub. It was both a launch for the Year of Welcome calendar and a Welcome workshop. Members of the community spoke with us about what welcome meant to them and how we can all look to promote it in Swindon. We had the opportunity to speak with people about their lives in Swindon, some having moved here and made Swindon their home and others having lived here all their lives. It was a great space to discuss what joins us together, despite having travelled different routes to get here.

This year we increased our presence and, in turn, our awareness raising on social media. We shared cultural days of importance, all highlighted in our Year of Welcome calendar, with the hope that this action would encourage conversations on the topics. We worked to break down the barriers many people have when learning about Bills, Policies and Laws. The political wording and jargon used in these documents can often cause confusion and the inability to connect to the content, and the lives of those people impacted by the policies.

7

We shared simple, factual updates on current events and policy surrounding people seeking sanctuary, with the aim of making them easier for all of us to access. We believe it is crucial in our purpose to speak up for sanctuary, that everyone can understand in simple, wellinformed terminology how harmful and unfair these policies are and enable us all to challenge those who make them.

Also , as part of our continuing campaign on raising awareness, in the lead up to the local elections in May, we called on all parties to pledge for Swindon Borough Council to become a Borough of Sanctuary and commit to providing welcome and support to all who are seeking sanctuary in Swindon.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Our work focuses on awareness raising and education of the community around the experience of people seeking sanctuary in Swindon. Throughout the year, we met with members of the community in different settings to promote welcome and foster discussions about why diversity is so important.

Refugee Week 2022

Refugee Week is an important moment for us to celebrate the contribution of people seeking sanctuary in the UK and promote better understanding of why people seek sanctuary. It’s an opportunity to create a programme of arts, cultural and educational events and activities that embody that year’s theme. With Healing as this year’s theme, we ran a Mind and Body calming yoga session in GWR Park, open to all who wanted to join. The session was run by one of our volunteers, Siobhan. It was a perfect opportunity to be present, to focus on self-care and think about what healing means to each of us.

Celebration of Welcomes– Lawn Manor Academy

To celebrate the start of their journey in becoming recognised as a School of Sanctuary, Lawn Manor Academy hosted Swindon’s second Celebration of Welcomes evening in Refugee Week 2022. As well as brilliant dance, music and poetry performances from Lawn Manor Academy students, there was a delicious array of world food tasters representing the exciting cultural diversity of Lawn Manor Academy. A small exhibition introducing Swindon City of Sanctuary and featuring School of Sanctuary work at Peatmoor Primary School, was also on display.

“They are celebrating diversity and inclusion, which is wonderful." Mayor of Swindon Cllr Abdul Amin

Lush Charity Pot

In March, we spent three days in Lush in Brunel Shopping Centre as part of their Charity Pot initiative. As Lush says, “ It’s the pot that does a lot! A soothing body lotion feeds your skin

8

while also funding grassroots groups, all at the same time .” By engaging directly with Lush customers, our staff and volunteers were not only able to raise money, but also vitally, raise awareness about our work. We had some brilliant conversations with members of the public about the impact our work has in the community. These interactions are so meaningful and really change hearts and minds. Lush staff created a welcoming and supportive environment and atmosphere to foster these conversations. We thank the Lush team and all who spoke with us and bought the Charity Pot.

SCHOOLS

Our work in schools continued to be one of our greatest successes. Working the majority of the year with only a part time employee, volunteers took on the bulk of schools’ work. We are incredibly grateful for their support and knowledge which allowed the work to continue, and to grow. It’s been a busy year for our Swindon schools!

Schools of Sanctuary Awards

This year, two schools in Swindon began their journeys to become nationally accredited Schools of Sanctuary: Peatmoor Community Primary School and Lawn Manor Academy.

We ended 2022 on a high with Peatmoor Community Primary School becoming Swindon’s first School of Sanctuary! To gain the award, staff and young people, who now join a growing network of almost 400 Schools and Colleges of Sanctuary across the UK, had to show good practice in developing and embedding a culture of welcome and inclusion throughout the life of the school and in the curriculum. The school’s application was reviewed by a panel of Swindon City of Sanctuary’s trustees and volunteers, and a representative from City of Sanctuary UK.

“We are so proud of this award which recognises the welcome that Peatmoor extends to all. The welcome anyone receives at Peatmoor comes from all our pupils and staff and is very much embedded throughout all that happens.” Headteacher, Mrs Libby Matthews

“It is very exciting to be able to announce that Peatmoor Primary School has been awarded the School of Sanctuary Award.” Swindon Borough Council’s Director of Education, Annette Perrington

While we worked closely with three Swindon schools, 26 schools received our Swindon Schools of Sanctuary Network News Updates throughout the year. We welcome schools to work with us in many different capacities, not just through our Schools of Sanctuary work.

Welcome Ambassadors

9

As part of their School of Sanctuary Award programme, Peatmoor Primary School created their Welcoming Committee - a small group of young people from Years 5 and 6, some with Lived Experience of Migration. Their role is to welcome any new person into the school and to empower others to share and spread the values of welcome and inclusion.

Lawn Manor Academy took inspiration from Peatmoor and developed their own Welcome Ambassador role appointing more than 50 Welcome Ambassadors from all year groups; some designated as Lead Ambassadors with greater responsibility to promote the values of a School of Sanctuary. As it develops, it is anticipated that the role of Welcome Ambassadors will be adopted by more schools.

CONNECTIONS IN EDUCATION

We spent the year increasing our visibility and connections within the education sector in Swindon. We welcome working with any place of education who wants to find ways to embed and promote welcome and inclusion into their work.

Swindon New College

In September, we attended Swindon New College Freshers Fair, where we shared with the students our campaigns and highlighted ways in which they could be empowered to use their voices and speak up for sanctuary. We had a good response from the young people, signing up to learn more about our work.

Supporting Teaching Colleagues through CPD

Our Schools’ team ran 9 CPD sessions over the course of the year. In June and July, we provided two whole staff CPD sessions at Peatmoor School. Throughout the course of the year at Lawn Manor Academy, we delivered 7 CPD sessions and meetings for Lawn Manor Academy staff members of the Cultural Diversity Group. These sessions and meetings enabled colleagues attending to disseminate the information gained to the wider school community.

Swindon Headteachers' Conference

We attended the Swindon Headteachers' Conference at STEAM in March 2023 where our Swindon City of Sanctuary stall enabled us to connect with another 15 schools. Our stall focused on how schools could celebrate cultural diversity and embrace the 130+ languages spoken in Swindon with resources like dual language books from Mantra Lingua UK Mantra Lingua UK | Dual language books and bilingual books and resources for bilingual children - and parents and for the multi lingual classroom.

Refugee Week 2022

In 2022, we connected with 6 schools: St Catherine's RC Primary School, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, Peatmoor Community Primary School, Lawn Manor Academy, East Wichel

10

Primary School, and The Commonweal School. Leading up to, and during, Refugee Week 20[th] -26[th] June 2022, colleagues from all six schools involved young people in inspirational Arts-based work across the curriculum around the 2022 theme of Healing . Some of this work was shared at the successful and moving Celebration of Welcomes event hosted by Lawn Manor Academy and attended by over 100 guests.

“ Congratulations to everyone involved in this evening's event. I was moved to tears more than once, such a wonderful celebration of the different cultures in the school. ”

Preparing for Refugee Week 2023

In March 2023, colleagues from six schools again participated in our Zoom preparation workshops for this all-important week. Together the group explored and shared inspiration around the 2023 theme of Compassion . Supported by resources produced by Schools of Sanctuary UK and Norfolk Schools of Sanctuary’s Day of Welcome , each school’s Refugee Week plans began to take shape. The resources provided guidance and suggestions for involving young people in sometimes complex and challenging conversations surrounding the experiences of people seeking sanctuary. Planning also began for another Celebration of Welcomes event to be hosted by Lawn Manor Academy during Refugee Week in June.

CREATIVE CONNECTIONS

Our work in schools continued, in coproduction with some of Swindon’s great creative and community organisations.

See Me Too Nationwide

We were delighted to be working with Create Studios again this year on their latest project with Swindon’s largest employer, Nationwide. In June 2022, 30 young people from two secondary schools, Lawn Manor Academy and Commonweal School, participated in the schools’ workshops for See Me Too Nationwide . The workshops focused on exploring stories of migration to Swindon by people who worked at Nationwide. Their stories were shared through a series of short films, which provided stimulus for the young people to explore the significance and positive impact of migration, and to be inspired to begin collecting their own family and friends’ migration stories.

In preparation for the October 2022 launch of the See Me Too Nationwide exhibition, a sequence of lesson plans was written by our schools’ team and published on Create Studios’ See Me Too Nationwide website. These enable young people to explore extracts from the Nationwide films as inspiration for gathering their own school archive of families’ stories of migration to Swindon. https://see-me-nationwide.org.uk

11

Work Experience at Swindon Central Library

A ‘first’ for Swindon City of Sanctuary saw three Year 10 students from Commonweal School completing their three-day Work Experience with the Outreach Team at Swindon’s Central Library and Swindon City of Sanctuary: to experience the work of a volunteer at a charity. The students were given a project to complete which involved research into stories about welcome and inclusion by reviewing Central Library’s collection of picture books for young readers, including dual-language books and selecting their favourites. This selection and the reviews were shared with young readers in a visual display in the Children’s Books area in Central Library. The students enjoyed the experience and the pressure to complete the display by a deadline! Using and developing their skills and qualities as collaborators and communicators, the students gained an insight into the way volunteers at Swindon City of Sanctuary work to promote a culture of welcome and inclusion.

WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU

Our volunteers are the heart of the charity, we simply could not do what we do without them. Our team of 35 volunteers support at our community events, with Sectors of Sanctuary work and with fundraising events. This year, our Volunteer Coordinator developed a robust volunteer training course to ensure that all new volunteers understand our ethos, are safe and encouraged to be aware of their duties to others. This included four training videos, updating all volunteering policies and launching Volunteer Management software. All new volunteers meet with our Volunteer Coordinator and take part in training before attending sessions. We ensure we have the highest standards of safeguarding, health and safety and hygiene. This year, volunteers took on the majority of our Schools of Sanctuary work. Swindon’s first School of Sanctuary is a culmination of their incredible hard work and dedication. We cannot thank our wonderful volunteers enough - their compassion, empathy and desire to promote welcome inspires us every day!

“I have been a volunteer for Swindon City of Sanctuary since it began seven years ago. The ethos of welcome and inclusion within the local community and celebrating its diversity is at the heart of what we do. Working on projects that encourage this generosity of spirit is, for me, very rewarding.”

Volunteer figures

IN THE NEWS

12

It was a busy year for us in the local and national media. We are grateful that the majority of coverage we received, was positive and in support of our work. Not only has it aided in highlighting our work and promoting welcome, but it has also contributed to increasing awareness around the issues faced by people seeking sanctuary in Swindon.

While we have been lucky to experience overwhelmingly positive support for our work, negative comments and opinions shared online show that we still have a substantial journey ahead in order to ensure that all feel welcome. We do not let a small minority of negative voices impact our work or sway our vision, but these instances highlight the need for our work to continue in the current divisive political landscape. We will continue to bridge divides and continue to encourage the community to support people seeking sanctuary.

PASTURES NEW

As our team grew, we knew that we needed space that would allow us to grow too. Our previous space could not comfortably fit three desks and while it worked when we were a smaller team, and during Covid, we now needed something different. We were lucky to move into a much larger space within Voluntary Action Swindon, a space that not only provided a great working environment for staff but also allowed us to meet with other organisations, volunteers and members of the community. We had previously been holding meetings and meeting volunteers in coffee shops, so having a space that fitted our needs made a huge difference. We now have the capacity to deliver training at our office and, so far, we have met with different schools, organisations and Trustees. We look forward to welcoming many more. Our space is filled with beautiful, moving art work and poetry from people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary living in Swindon.

THANK YOU

Our work relies on the generous support from donors and grants. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who help us plan for the future through monthly direct debits.

13

We are continually grateful that the funding from the National Lottery Community Fund grant, now in its second year, allows us to carry on with our work.

A special thank you to the charitable funds and trusts outlined in the financial statement - without your support, we simply would not be able to achieve all the incredible things listed in our report.

14

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1177624

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements For The Year Ended 30 April 2023

for

Swindon City of Sanctuary

15

Swindon City of Sanctuary Contents of the Financial Statements For year ended 30 April 2023

Page
Report of the Trustees 17-20
Statement of Financial Activities 21
Balance Sheet 22
Notes to the Financial Statements 23-26
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 27

16

Swindon City of Sanctuary Report of the Trustees

For year ended 30 April 2023

The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2023.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page nine of the attached financial statements and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011, regulations applicable to that Act, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), effective from accounting periods commencing 1st January 2015 or later.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity number

1177624

Principal address

Voluntary Action Swindon 1 John Street Swindon Wiltshire SN1 1RT

Trustees

K Hudson B Jackson (Chair) S Juul (Treasurer) J Tompsett – resigned May-22 C Bennett I Howard M Lubanda B Mannu – appointed May-22 R Newman – appointed May-22

Bankers

Metro Coop Plc One Southampton Row PO Box 250 London Skelmersdale WC1B 5HA WN8 6WT

17

Swindon City of Sanctuary Report of the Trustees

For year ended 30 April 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document dated 6[th] March 2018 and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Trustees are generally volunteers although some are contacted and recruited through other charitable organisations.

New trustees are requested to provide details of their key skills and competencies, which are used to complete a skills matrix for the entire board; this serves to inform training plans and to identify how best to deploy their skills in the service of the charity, and to identify skills gaps across the board. The charity holds strategy days and various workshops to inform trustees in respect of their roles.

Organisational structure

The trustees are ultimately responsible for the policies, activities and assets of the charity. They meet regularly to review developments with regards to the charity, its activities and to make any important decisions. When necessary, the trustees seek advice and support from the charity's professional advisers.

Risk management

In line with the requirement for trustees to undertake a risk assessment exercise and report on the same in their annual report, the trustees have looked at the risks. The trustees have identified five main areas where risks may occur and considered how they might mitigate against them:

Governance and management risk looks at the risk the charity might suffer from the lack of direction, the skills and training of the trustees and the good use of its funds.

Having assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular to its finances, the trustees believe that by monitoring reserve levels, by ensuring that controls exist over the key financial systems, and by examining the operational and business risks faced by the charity, they have established effective systems to mitigate those risks.

18

Swindon City of Sanctuary Report of the Trustees

For year ended 30 April 2023

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

Public Benefit

In setting the charity's objectives and planning its activities the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

The trustees will maintain adequate reserves to cover grant commitments and budgeted costs for the current financial year and maintain an appropriate budget for future years to cover longer term grant commitments.

Financial Summary

Income for the year was £49,191 (2022 £55,706). Expenditure amounted to £37,999 (2022 £41,498). As a result, for the year ended 30th April 2023 there was a surplus of £11,192 (2022 surplus £14,208).

19

Swindon City of Sanctuary Report of the Trustees

For year ended 30 April 2023

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, applicable Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the charity’s trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD:

............................................. Ben Jackson

Date: ......15[th] December 2023.............................

20

Swindon City of Sanctuary Statement of Financial Activities

For year ended 30 April 2023
Notes
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
Total
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable Activities
Support for Sanctuary seekers
NET INCOME
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total Funds brought forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD		 Unrestricted

Fund
0
0
93
(93)
11,035
10,942		 Restricted
Fund
49,191
49,191
37,906
11,285
45,998
57,283		 2023
Total
Fund
49,191
49,191
37,999
11,192
57,033
68,225		 2022
Total
Fund
55,706
55,706
41,498
14,208
42,825
57,033

21

Swindon City of Sanctuary Balance Sheet

As at 30 April 2023

Notes
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets:
TOTAL FIXED ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors:
Cash at bank:
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year:
NET CURRENT ASSETS
Creditors: amounts falling due after one
year:
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
FUNDS
6 & 7
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
TOTAL FUNDS		 Unrestricted
Fund
-
-
-
10,942
10,942
-
10,942
-
-		 Restricted
Fund
-
-
-
57,283
57,283
-
57,283
-
-		 2023
Total
Fund
-
-
-
68,225
68,225
-
68,225
-
-
10,942
57,283
68,225		 2022
Total
Fund
-
-
-
57,033
57,033
-
57,033
-
-
11,035
45,998
57,033

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 15/12/2023 and were signed on its behalf by:

B Jackson (Chair)

22

Swindon City of Sanctuary Notes to the Accounts For year ended 30 April 2023

1. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objectives of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Income & Expense Account on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

23

Swindon City of Sanctuary Notes to the Accounts For year ended 30 April 2023

2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no Trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 April 2023 nor for the year ended 30 April 2022.

Trustees' expenses

There were no Trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 April 2023 nor for the year ended 31 April 2022.

3. STAFF

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2023 2022
Administration 3 3

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000

4. LOANS

Amounts falling due within one year:
Bank overdraft		 2023
£
-
-		 2022
£
-
-

24

Swindon City of Sanctuary Notes to the Accounts For year ended 30 April 2023

5. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED
General Fund
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Joffe + Bath spa
We’re Open
Room for All
Refugee Week
Wiltshire Community
NLCF
School of Sanctuary
Swindon Parish Council
Coop Community Fund
Respond & Adapt
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust
Local Giving Grant
Magic Little Grant
TOTAL FUNDS		 O/Balance
Total
Fund
11,035
11,035
1,008
3,251
0
1,721
6,588
22,588
188
673
582
4,495
4,790
115
0
45,998
57,033		 Incoming
resources
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
48,557
0
0
0
0
0
135
500
49,191
49,191		 Resources
expensed
(93)
(93)
(1,008)
(812)
0
(72)
(6,588)
(27,035)
0
(5)
0
(605)
(1,647)
(135)
0
(37,906)
(37,999)		 C/Balance
Total
Fund
10,942
10,942
0
2,439
0
1,649
0
44,110
188
668
582
3,890
3,143
115
500
57,283
68,225

25

Swindon City of Sanctuary Notes to the Accounts For year ended 30 April 2023

6. RESTRICTED FUNDS

The charity operates the following restricted funds;

26

Swindon City of Sanctuary Detailed Income & Expense Account

For year ended 30 April 2023

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Gifts
Donations
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable Activities:
Wages
Other Operating Leases
Office Rent & Room Hire
Insurance
Telephone
Computers & software
Postage and Stationery
Travelling
Sundry expenses
Legal and professional costs:
Accountancy fees		 2023
£
-
49,191
49,191
28,574
-
3,895
396
862
-
-
-
3,551
37,278
720
720
11,193		 2022
£
-
55,706
55,706
30,088
-
1,718
471
486
1,071
31
-
6,912
40,778
720
720
14,208

INDEPENDENT REVIEW

An Independent review of these financial statements has taken place. The associated report can be made available on request.

27