Swindon City of Sanctuary Registered Charity Number 1177624 Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024 ## **OUR REFLECTIONS** This year was one of growth for us, with a settled team and an increase to five staff roles, we had the opportunity to promote welcome and inclusion across Swindon. The support of our incredible volunteers and Trustees, dedicating over 750+ hours of volunteering, was invaluable and meant that we continued to expand our work. We welcomed back our Sectors and Awards Co-ordinator, who led the way in working widely across different sectors in Swindon to promote our values. In the latter part of the year, we welcomed our Schools’ Co-ordinator, who continued to generate opportunities for Swindon schools to grow, learn and provide welcome to all. With a newly expanded team, we were able to increase our capacity and develop our work with greater focus. 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 26 schools in different contexts, with the pinnacle being Lawn Manor Academy becoming Swindon’s second School of Sanctuary, and first secondary school to achieve the award _. We’re Open_ social evenings continued to offer a welcoming space, with 365 individual visits, all with the aim of bringing our community together through conversation and coffee. We saw a need for spaces for families with young children, so launched _We’re Open Families_ which grew from strength to strength with 544 visits in ten months. 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 local issues with MPs and Councillors, and nationally, the Bibby Stockholm, joining the voices calling for fair and safer accommodation 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. _“Welcome”_ remained our word of the year. This year, like every year, welcome remained the thread that weaves throughout all our work; we focused on supporting other organisations to embed this within their work too. 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 – THE YEAR IN NUMBERS** - 1 School of Sanctuary Award - 365 visits to _We’re Open_ - 30 volunteers supporting our work - 6 schools directly connected with our work - 120+ events in the community - 2 creative collaborations with Swindon organisations - 750+ hours of volunteering - 544 visits to _We’re Open Families_ - 3 campaigns promoting the rights of people seeking sanctuary - 7 CPD sessions in schools - 2 additional languages regularly used for translating materials, making them - accessible to the community - 2 volunteers with lived experience of seeking sanctuary - 10 volunteers with lived experience of migration ## **TRUSTEES’ NOTE** It’s been another year of change and as we remain hugely grateful to our funders who enable us 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 focal point has been creating spaces where the community feels welcomed – with the launch of _We’re Open Families_ we are providing opportunities for families to meet, build a support network and work to decrease isolation and increase community links. This year our Sectors of Sanctuary works expanded into multiple sectors and it has been fantastic to see the involvement from different organisations to promote change within their work. We would like to thank the National Lottery Community Fund for their ongoing support and guidance, as well as Wiltshire Community Foundation, South Swindon Parish Council, Co-op Communities Fund, Respond & Adapt, Postcode Local Trust, Nationwide and Magic Little Grants for their invaluable funding contributions. This year, the political narrative around seeking sanctuary and migration has become 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: - To advance the education of the public in general, especially in Swindon, - about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum. - To provide, or assist in the provision of, facilities and activities for recreation - or other leisure time occupations, in the interests of social welfare, with the object of improving the conditions of life of those persons who have need of such facilities - The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit, by promoting - activities to foster understanding and engagement between people from diverse backgrounds - The prevention and relief of poverty ## **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. 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. ## **SECTORS AND AWARDS** People seeking sanctuary experience high levels of hate crime, racism and prejudice which can lead to people feeling isolated within their communities. To combat this, we work to bring people and organisations together to raise awareness and increase understanding about seeking sanctuary and migration. One of the ways we do this is through our Sanctuary Awards programme, where we collaborate with organisations to promote welcome and sanctuary within their contexts. The Sectors of Sanctuary Awards are awareness raising programmes that give a platform to the voices of people seeking sanctuary so that they can be heard by those who might otherwise never hear them. The awards are grounded in three core principles: Learn, Embed, and Share. - LEARN: we encourage individuals and organisa`ons to learn about the experiences and challenges faced by those seeking sanctuary. This involves deepening understanding, dismantling stereotypes, and fostering empathy. - EMBED: we work to embed prac`ces that support people seeking sanctuary in every aspect of our community, from housing and educa`on to health and employment. - SHARE: we aim to share posi`ve stories of sanctuary, celebra`ng contribu`ons made by people seeking sanctuary and amplifying their voices. This year, we worked in three sectors: ## **BOROUGH OF SANCTUARY** In September, the Swindon Borough Council Cabinet voted to start the process of becoming a Borough of Sanctuary. What does this mean in practice? - It’s a formal awards process that recognises and rewards good prac`ce and progress in promo`ng welcome. - It recognises a borough-wide commitment, signalling to people seeking sanctuary that Swindon is a place where they will find safety, opportunity, and community. - It promotes a whole council approach to embedding ‘welcome’ and ‘sanctuary’ in the services they offer. - It’s also an opportunity to work in partnership with other councils and boroughs across the UK who share similar values. Since the full Council mo`on in September, Swindon Borough Council has been working towards gaining their award by forming a Steering Group to choose the direc`on of the work. This work has included working with local groups, chari`es and people with lived experience. This award will take up to 18 months to achieve, we welcome and commend Swindon Borough Council’s commitment to promo`ng welcome and seing an example for other communi`es to follow. ## **LIBRARY OF SANCTUARY** Public libraries play an important role in welcoming people seeking sanctuary in our communities. The Library of Sanctuary award recognises and celebrates the libraries that go above and beyond to show solidarity and welcome. Throughout the years, Swindon Central Library has supported our work, and we were delighted when we began discussions about gaining Library of Sanctuary status. This year, initial work began to identify what was already happening that could contribute to the award and consider and outline areas where welcome and inclusion could be embedded. ## **ARTS OF SANCTUARY** The Arts play a vital role in creating a culture of welcome, challenging the status quo and shaping the kind of society we hope to live in. Art and creativity can inspire new ways of thinking and feeling, helping ordinary people understand the realities for those making difficult journeys. Arts Stream of Sanctuary is all about celebrating the arts organisations working with refugees, telling stories of migration and bringing communities together. Our Pilot programme sees Create Studios pave the way for the first Swindon Arts organisation to work towards their award. This year, Create Studios signed the pledge to show their affiliation as a City of Sanctuary Supporting Organisation and work began on curating their application. Our Sectors work has been made possible by an award from National Lottery Community Fund. ## **WE’RE OPEN FAMILIES** This year, in Refugee Week we launched _We’re Open Families_ - a space for families in Swindon to come together, make connections and celebrate the languages and rich culture of the town. Swindon has a large population of families who have migrated here and are looking to make connections and build a community. _We’re Open Families_ was developed with this in mind, to create a space where families could meet with a focus on literacy and play. Each session focuses on a different theme – nature, food, countries of the world – and features a crafting activity, story time and singing circle. The themes spark conversations about what makes us different and what brings us together. The fortnightly sessions provide an opportunity for families to learn more about other families in our community and make bonds with others. Families are actively encouraged to participate in the sessions – sharing stories and songs from their home countries in their home languages is especially successful and enjoyable. Our _We’re Open Families_ library events are also an opportunity to collaborate with organisations wanting to meet with families to hear their thoughts, offer signposts to services and make connections with communities in Swindon. This year we collaborated with two organisations. In the first year, we ran 21 sessions, with over 15 languages spoken, building a community who regularly attend each session. “I absolutely enjoyed each session. It was great to see parents and children enjoying the process of creating, and working together to create” 21 sessions 544 total visits 295 children 249 parents and carers 15 + languages spoken ## **WE’RE OPEN COMMUNITY EVENINGS** _We’re Open_ community evenings celebrated running for seven years in the community, with 365 individual visits. _We’re Open’s_ purpose is for those who 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 and 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 seven local musicians providing wonderful entertainment throughout the year. A highlight was our Refugee Week BBQ with 35 visitors sharing food, music and conversation. We could not do what we do at _We’re Open_ without the support of our brilliant, dedicated volunteers who gave 378 hours of volunteering to the project. _**“**_ I feel happy when I come and meet people. We like playing games and beating the volunteers at chess!” 50 evening sessions 365 visits to We’re Open 378 hours of volunteering ## **FAMILY ACTIVITY BOXES (FABs)** One way we support welcome and inclusion in the community is through our _FAB Fusion_ boxes. They are specially designed to support teaching staff in their spoken and written literacy work with children from multilingual families, who are proficient in their home languages but new to English. The children may have recently arrived in the UK having fled danger in their home countries; some may be caught in the complexities of the asylum system. The purpose of the boxes is for children to feel supported and nurtured. The resources in each _FAB Fusion_ box invite children to play, read and learn together. Fusion means realising that embracing and celebrating our differences can connect us and bring us together without losing our individual identities. FABs are loaned out to schools at no cost; schools can borrow up to three boxes for at least one term. They help embrace and celebrate cultural diversity and ~~to~~ build partnerships with parents, families and carers. This year, our FABs Co-ordinator developed six themes using her lived experience of seeking sanctuary to create powerful resources with a story. The six themes are: - Cultural Diversity - Emo`ons - Environment - Journeys - Welcome - Home “ _The resources are beautiful and so well organised, I can see much time and effort, plus love, has been put into it all_ .” This work has been made possible by an award from Postcode Local Trust, a grant giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. ## **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. We used email and social media campaigns to keep the community updated on current events and legislation including campaigning for the closure of the Bibby Stockholm. ## _Together With Refugees_ One again this year, _Together With Refugees_ was our main campaigning focus. _Fill the Skies with Hope_ campaign involved sending to Members of Parliament, orange heart-shaped paper planes, filled with messages of love, welcome and hope for a fairer system. It presented a great way to engage the community with the issues facing people seeking sanctuary, to listen to others’ opinions and to challenge misinformation. We worked with local schools, held events in the community, promoted via social media and encouraged as many people as possible to join in writing messages of welcome and understand the importance of showing welcome to people who are new to Swindon. ## **SANCTUARY IN THE COMMUNITY** Before the local council elections in May 2023, we called on all parties to publicly pledge their commitment to Swindon becoming a Borough of Sanctuary. In September 2023, the new Cabinet voted to start the process of becoming a Borough of Sanctuary. This will see Swindon Borough Council join a movement of local authorities, around the country, working to create a culture of welcome, inclusion and empowerment for people seeking sanctuary. This is a welcomed and positive move towards embedding welcome widely throughout services in Swindon. In the lead up to the 2024 na`onal elec`ons, we wrote to all prospec`ve candidates to meet and discuss their posi`on on migra`on, seeking sanctuary and welcome. We met with Sir Robert Buckland in November and Heidi Alexander in February, both were posi`ve mee`ngs where we asked what they are doing to counter nega`ve public and media percep`ons and increase welcome. We discussed Bibby Stockholm, with increased concerns that some people seeking sanctuary in Swindon would be moved there. Bibby Stockholm is Home Office accommoda`on with documented outbreaks of disease, mistreatment and increased poor mental health for those housed there. A friend of SCoS with lived experience of seeking sanctuary put it best, “ _People forced to move there are looking for two things: community and safety. The residents want to meet other residents which will be difficult in the cramped condiJons as the barge approaches capacity. They want to meet local people and to become part of a community. This will be almost impossible._ ” We con`nue to call for safe, fair accommoda`on. ## **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 2023_ 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 Compassion as this year’s theme, we led a series of events, open to all who wanted to join. The first, Compassion in Action Exhibition at Swindon HUB which showcased art by people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary, and contributions from the local community including poems from students at Lawn Manor Academy and art from the community. “I greatly enjoyed contributing 3 pieces of art called Compassion Entwined. The twine used in these pieces represents the strength of working together. Each piece shows how compassion towards others builds stronger communities.” The rest of the celebrations included opportunities for the public to get creative and participate. The launch of _We’re Open Families_ at Swindon Central Library had arts, crafts and stalls, recipe exchanges and Arabic dual-language story time, while the BBQ at _We’re Open_ focused on music and shared conversations. It was a fantastic week filled with celebration, awareness raising and joy. “Compassion is inclusion” ## _Celebration of Welcomes– Lawn Manor Academy_ For a third year running, Lawn Manor Academy hosted Swindon’s _Celebration of Welcomes_ evening in Refugee Week. Following an introduction about their role by some of the school’s Welcome Ambassadors, the audience of invited VIPs in the community, family, friends and staff were treated to brilliant dance, music and poetry performances from Lawn Manor Academy students. There was a delicious array of world food tasters too, 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. ## **SCHOOLS** Our work in schools continued to be one of our greatest successes and has grown from strength to strength - it’s been a busy year for our Swindon schools! _School of Sanctuary Awards_ School of Sanctuary awards are grounded in three core principles: Learn, Embed, and Share and make up a large portion of our Awards work. We are delighted to share that Lawn Manor Academy became Swindon’s first secondary school to achieve their School of Sanctuary Award in July 2023. As part of the progress our Schools’ Volunteer Lead trained a small group to be the formal Appraisal Panel to consider the application including Councillor Adorabelle Shaikh, Swindon Borough Council Cabinet Member: Education and SEND. We thank all Panel members for their support and commitment. Head of PSHE and School of Sanctuary Lead Staff Member commented, “ _Now that the school has been officially recognised as a School of Sanctuary … the staff and Welcome Ambassadors would like to see Lawn Manor Academy work towards being recognised as a Centre of Best Practice for Welcome and Inclusion in Swindon_ .” Sharing of cultural diversity is very much in the ethos at Lawn Manor. Their _Celebration of Welcomes_ evening, now in its third year, is a more formal event bringing people together from beyond the immediate school community. Lawn Manor key staff have developed a programme of welcome in their school calendar. Culture Days are part of this calendar. These days feature students and staff wearing traditional dress from their home countries, which provides an opportunity to share languages, stories, food, music and culture. Having appointed 50+ Welcome Ambassadors with some taking on lead roles, the school shows its continued commitment to the greater responsibility of promoting the values of a School of Sanctuary both in the school and in our community. Throughout the year, work began and continued, with two more secondary schools and one primary school preparing to put together formal applications for their School of Sanctuary Award in 2024-2025. In October we led Swindon Schools of Sanctuary Pilot Scheme Review with Peatmoor Primary School, looking at how the process could be adapted to make gaining a School of Sanctuary Award as simple and accessible as possible. While we worked closely with six 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 Awards programme. ## **CONNECTIONS IN EDUCATION** We spent the year welcoming new and well-embedded connections within the education sector in Swindon. We welcome working with any place of education wanting 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 7 CPD sessions (Workshops and Meetings) over the course of the year. In June and July, we provided two whole staff CPD sessions at Peatmoor School. These Workshops and Meetings enabled colleagues attending to disseminate the information gained to the wider school community. ## _Primary and Secondary Schools PSHE Network_ Our Schools of Sanctuary Team was invited to present at both the Primary and Secondary Schools PSHE Network Meetings, in January and February 2024. Engaging directly with a wider range of schools was an opportunity to expand our small network of schools committed to promoting welcome and belonging in their settings. ## _SEND Leaders’ Conference_ Volunteer Schools of Sanctuary Lead and FAB Fusion Co-ordinator ran a stall at this event, where the theme was _Resilience and Beyond._ Broadening Swindon City of Sanctuary’s reach and visibility was a key priority of the day. Our stall invited conference delegates to learn about our work with a particular focus on the new development of Phase 3 of the FABs: _FAB Fusion_ . The Conference was attended by 100+ delegates; throughout the day, approximately 50% of delegates stopped to talk with us. More than 10 delegates signed up to be kept in touch with our work. ## _Refugee Week 2023_ In 2023, we connected with four schools leading up to, and during, Refugee Week 20[th] -26[th] June. Following a workshop of ideas led by Volunteer Schools of Sanctuary Lead in March 2023, each of the schools followed their own projects around the RW theme of _Compassion in Action._ These included, poetry and art competitions, assemblies and PSHE lessons. 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. ## **CREATIVE CONNECTIONS** This year, we worked in coproduction with some of Swindon’s great creative and community organisations. _Voices of Welcome – a Conference for Young Campaigners and Changemakers aged 10-18 years_ **.** This Conference emerged from a fertile seed of an idea as a result of both Swindon’s nationally accredited Schools of Sanctuary having successfully created groups of young people, Welcome Ambassadors, keen to be advocates, allies, campaigners and changemakers for promoting and developing the culture of welcome, inclusion and belonging already clearly established in their school settings. In collaboration with _Create Studios_ the conference led to two inspirational campaigning sessions for the Welcome Ambassadors, which focused on how to use digital media for maximum impact, and offering to follow-up with film-making support for the Welcome campaigns that emerged from the Conference **.** Other campaigning support at the Conference came from the _Send My Friend_ Campaigning Lead, Rebekah Lucking, who inspired the Welcome Ambassadors in her sessions to think big and campaign with passion. 18 young people attended, creating powerful and passionate campaign ideas. Thank you to Create Studios for their in kind support making the conference happen. ## _Stitch Your Story_ We were delighted to collaborate with local Artist Jo Beal and Create Studios on the opportunity to reflect on our personal histories within the context of Swindon and our place within our home town. We were one of eight community groups creating a large-scale banner that visually represented elements of each of our Swindon stories, which were further explored through short filmed interviews collated by the Create Studios’ team. It was an opportunity for us to discuss what Swindon means to us, and the positive impact of migration in Swindon. Over fifteen Swindon City of Sanctuary staff, volunteers, friends and visitors contributed to the banner, leading to a wonderful piece of art that celebrates the rich diversity and stories of Swindon. The event was open to the public as part of the Heritage Open Days trail. ## **WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU** Our volunteers are at the heart of the charity, we simply could not do what we do without them. Our team of 30 volunteers support at our community events, with Sectors of Sanctuary work and with fundraising events. All new volunteers meet with our Volunteer Coordinator and take part in training before attending sessions. Our training provides a safe space to talk about language, rights and the politics of migration. Volunteers are given advice on how to approach negative narratives and conversations about migration and seeking sanctuary. We ensure we have the highest standards of safeguarding, health and safety, and hygiene. This year, volunteers worked on a variety of projects: supporting our community events; organising BBQs; exploring opportunities to collaborate with other organisations. 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_ - Volunteers – 30 - Volunteer hours – 750+ - Volunteers with lived experience of seeking sanctuary – 3 - Volunteers with lived experience of migration – 8 ## **IN THE NEWS** 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 this coverage 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. BBC - https://www.statewatch.org/news/2023/may/uk-joint-civil-society-solidaritystatement-on-the-illegal-migration-bill/ Swindon Link - https://swindonlink.com/news/sanctuary-welcome/ Swindon Link - https://swindonlink.com/news/city-sanctuary/ Swindon Link - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-66877977 Swindon Advertiser - https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/23796763.swindoncouncil-cabinet-set-approve-refugee-sanctuary-network/ Swindon Advertiser - https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/23818450.refugeesknow-safe-see-dmj-tower/ 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. ## **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. We are continually grateful that the funding from the National Lottery Community Fund grant, now in its third 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. REGIStERED CHARITr NUMBER: 1177624 Re ort of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial St tements F r The Year Ended 30 ri12024 for Swindon of Sanctua Swindon Cit of Sanctua Content5 of the Financial Statements For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 Page Report of the Trustees Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statements 9-12 Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 13 Swindon Ci of Sanctua Re ort of the Trustees For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policie5 set out on page nine of the attached financial statements and comply with the charitys trust deed, the Charities Act 2011, regulation5 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 IFRS 1021, effective from accounting periods commencing 1st January 2015 or later. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 1177624 Prfnclpal address Voluntary Action Swindon l John Street Swindon Wiltshire SNI IRT Trustees J Vertannes (Chair)- appointed Apr 2024 l Howard S Juul ITreasurerl B Mannu M Lubanda C Bennett R Newman- resigned May 2024 K Hudson- resigned Feb 2024 B Jackson IChairl- resigned Feb 2024 Bankers Metro One Southampton Row London WCIB SHA Coop PIC PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 61 Swindon C" of Sanctua ort of the Trustees ear ended 30 A ril 2024 For STRucfuRE, GOVERNAN￿ AND MANAGEMENT Goveming document The charity is controlled by its governing document dated e 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 charwtable 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 identtfy skills gap5 acr055 the board. The charity holds strategy days and various workshops to inform trustees in respect of their roles. Orzanisational stnKture The trustees are ultimately responsible for the policies. activities and assets of the charty. 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 manaEernent In line with the requirement for tnjstees to undertake a risk assessment exercise and report on the same in their ar¢nual 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: Govemance and rnanagement rlsk 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. Operdtional risk looks at the risk inherent in the charity's activtties includin8 continuity of staff. lack of a disaster recovery policy. etc. Financial risk includes those arising as a result of poor budgetary control. inappropriate 5pendin& poor accountin& etc. Reputstional risk looks at the possible damage to the charwty's reputation. through association wtth unsuitsble charities, or with inappropriate actrvFty. Lawsi regulation5, extemal arKI envlronmentsl rfsk looks at the effects of government policies and the consequences of non-compliance with the laws and regulation5. 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. Swindon Ci of Sanctua Re ort of the Trustees For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 OBJECtIVES AND AcnvmES Objectives and aim5 To advance the education of the public in general, especially in Swindon, about the issue5 relating to refugees and those seeking asylum- To provide or assist in the provision of facilities and activities for recreation or other leisure time occupations in the interest5 of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life of those persons who have need of such facilities- The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit by promoting activities to foster understanding and engagement between people from diverse backgrounds,. and The prevention and relief of poverty amongst those granted refugee ststus and those seeking asylum in Swindon. Public benefft. The charity promotes actNlties to fosier understsnding and engagement between people from diverse backgrounds in order to fulfil its public benefit obligations. Public Benefrt In setting the charity's objectives and planning its attivities the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit. FINANCIAL REVIEW Re5eNes policy The trustees will maintain adequate reserves to cover grant commitments and budgeted costs for the tur￿nt financial year and maintain an appropriate budget for future years to cover longer term grant commitments. Financial Summary Income for the year was £63.479 (2023 £49,191). Expenditure amounted to E97.19412023 £37,999). As a result, for the year ended 30th April 2024 there was a deficit of £33.71512023 surplus £11.1921. Swindon Ci of Sanrtua Re ort of the Trustees For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 STATEMENT OF TRusfEES' RE5PONSIBILmES The trustees are responsible for preparing the trusteeg report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United fingdom 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 gNe a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the tharity for that perFod. In preparin8 these financial ststements. the trustees are required to- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently- observe the methods and principles in Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Prartice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021: make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts- and prepare the accounts on the going concem basis unless It is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accountinE records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the fillancial statements comply with the Charitie5 Act 2011, applicable Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the charitvs trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and ¢Jetection of fraud and other irregularities. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD-. ow n behalf of the Trustees Date: ..... Swindon Ci of Sanctua Statement of Financi21 Activities For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 Notes Unrestricted Restrirted 2024 Total FurMI 2023 Total Fund Fund Fund INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 59,670 63,479 49,191 Total 3.809 59,670 63.479 49,191 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable Activities Support forsanctuaryseekers 12,994 84,199 97.194 37,998 NET INCOME (9.185) 124.5301 133,715) 11,193 RECONCIUATION OF FUNDS Total Funds brought fonvard TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 10.942 1,757 57.283 32.753 68.225 34,510 57.032 68,225 Swindon Cit of Sanrtua Balance Sheet As at 30 A ril 2024 Notes Unre5trirted Restrfcted 2024 Total Fund 2023 Total Fund Fund Fund FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets.. TOTAL FIXED ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS Debtors: Cash at bank: 1,757 32.753 34,510 68,225 TOTAL CURRENT ASSEtS 1.757 32,753 34510 68.225 Creditors.. amounts frdlling due within one year.. NET CURRENT ASSErs 1.757 32.753 34,510 68.225 Creditors- amounts falling due after one year: TOTAL ASS￿5 LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES FUNDS Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 6&7 1,757 32.753 10.942 57,283 TOTAL FUNDS 34,510 68,225 The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 1410112025 and were signed on its behalf by.. loilzc l Howard lon behaEf of the Trustees) Swindon Crt of Sanctua Notes to the Accounts For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 l. Accounting policies Busis of preparotityn The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Charities SORP {FRS 1021 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities- Statement of Recommended Practi￿ applicable to charities preparing their accounts with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 leffective I January 20151,, Financial Reporting Standard 102 Yhe Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and the Companies Act 2006. Income All income 15 recognised in the Statement of Financial ActNities once the charity has entitlement to the funds. it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. Expendlture Liabilities are recognised a5 expenditure a5 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. ExpendFture is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headin8S 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 tts charitable activities. Fund accourrt1119 Unrestricted funds can be used in accordan￿ wtth the charitable objertives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can onty be used for particular restricted purposes within the objectives of the charity. Restrictions arise when spectfied by the donor or when fijnds 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 purrha5e and lea5inq commitments Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Income & Expense Account on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. Swindon Ci of Sanctua Notes to the Accounts For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 Z TRUSTEES. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no Trustees, remuneration or other benefits forthe year ended 30 April 2024 nor for the year ended 30 April 2023. Trustees. expen*s There were no Trustees, expenses paid for the year ended 30 April 2024 nor for the year ended 31 April 2023. 3. sfAFF The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: 2024 2023 Administration No employees receNed emoluments in excess of £60,C((J LOANS 2024 2023 Amounts falling due within one year: Bank overdraft io Swindon Ci of Sanctua Notes to the Accounts For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 5. MOVEME￿ IN FUNDS O/Balan¢e Totsl Fund Incoming Resources CIBalance Total Fund expensed UNRESTRicfED General Fund 10.942 10.942 3.809 3.809 {12,9941 112,9941 1.757 1,757 REsTricfED FUNDS We're Open Postcode National Trust Refugee Week Wiltshire Community NLCF School of Sanctuary Swindon Parish Counul Coop Community Fund Respond & Adapt People Neighbourhood Trust Local Giving Grant Magic Little Grant Nationwide 2.439 11,S971 19,2381 22,152 12,914 1,649 1,649 44,110 188 668 33.898 {65,8781 12.130 188 668 582 3.890 3,143 115 12981 {3,8901 13.1431 284 115 1791 1761 421 3,544 3,620 57.283 59.670 184,1991 32,753 TOTAL FUNDS 68.225 63.479 197,1941 34,510 n.b. NLCFincome inCI(￿e5 £19,683 re￿1vede￿Ify M(ry2024/Unre5tricted income includes £2.SY)3 os on estimote of the Co-op locolgiving (bonk nowoccessed) li Swindon Ci of Sanctua Notes to the Accounts For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 6. RESfRICTED FUNDS The charity operates the following restricted funds" al National Lottery Communlty Fundlng- NLCF Funds provided to cover core costs of the chariws employees, the executNe officer. Stream Co-ordinator. Schools Co-ordinator and Volunteer Co-ordinator bl Refugee week- Funds relating to a week of actr¥tties ￿lebrating sanctuary seekers in Swindon cl Sthool of sanctuary- Funds utilised for work in schoob. dl Swindon Parish Council - Funds for publicrty purposes only including short films el People Neighbourhood Trust- Fab Extension and School Co-ordinator role We're open- Funds to cover rent and drinks for a weekly social evening gl PostC(Kle National T￿￿- Fab Project Co-ordinator and resources h) Nationwide-additional funds to cover rent. refreshment for our We're Open events including We're open families 12 Swindon Ci of Sanctua Detailed Income & Ex ense Account For ear ended 30 A ril 2024 2024 2023 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Gifts Donations 63.479 63.479 49.191 49.191 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable Activtties: Wages Office Expenses Office Rent & Room Hire Insurance Telephone Computers & software Postage and Stationery Travelling Sundry expenses 81.535 393 28.574 7.443 379 1,122 469 3.895 396 862 5.073 96.414 3.551 37.278 LeEal and professional costs: Accountancy fees 780 720 780 720 133,7151 11,193 INDEPENDENT REVIEW An Independent review of these financial ststements has tsken place. The associated report is attached. 13 To the Trustse of Swindon City of Sanctuary As requested byth8Trustee8 of SCOS I have condu¢ted a review of the financial statements tor year ending 30th April 2024. As noted in previous reviews this Pfocess 15 Intended to identify any possible financial irregularities or misrepresentation. rather than belng a fomal audlt In 8ccord8ncewith the uKAuditingStsnda￿8. Governance and Pol5cy I have reviewed the minutes ol the Boord mootings that V￿re ha(d overy two months over ihe year and h8ve had discussions wrth Serena regarding the oper8tional process of the charity. During this financial yearthe Charity had 4employe88: the Charlty Manager, the Streams Co-ordinator and the Volunteer Co•ordinator as in the previous year. butwlth the addition of the Fab (Family Ath1ty Boxes) Co-ordinator. During the last month a further role as Schools Co-ordinator w89 added. Sarena mentioned that thg sategu8rding and training PO￿.C1eS have boan roviowed and updatod accordingly. Flnancial 8afeguard8 are 81s0 In place with the requirement of two signatories on bank transactions and monthly monitoring ot eXpendi￿re. Expenges aro app￿Ved by a trustee and large amounts of expenditure are agreed bythe Board. Due to 8 conflict of Interest. Serena does nol have access to the bank account. Serena ha8 confirmed that, a8 mentioned in the mlnutes, thero has been 8 fuu review ofthe financial policy and procedure$. Flnanclal Report I h8ve received the Fln8nclal Statemenls for 2024. alongwith the Transactions Analy318 8pread8heet and all relevant bank statoments. The expendlture r8ceipt8 are kept in the Charitie8 Office and d+fficult for Seren& to acc&88. but 8he w88 able to provide mo with Some receipts and invoices. Using this information I have verrfied that the bank iransactions were accurately recorded onto the spreadsheet and. as far as I could tell, aUo¢ated to the ¢on&¢t project and accounts category. l also checked that the year-end bank balance reconclled vhth the financial statements and v4ere property refiected in the report of financial activities. This is the case wrth the bank transections from the Metro Bank but. due to ongoing access issues. the Co-op Bank transactions have not been included in the transaction analysis. Hence the yegr-end balance w8S taken from the pr8vious year. This issue is now resolved and the transactions were fully reconctled in July 2024 with a year-end figure of £792.51. Concluslon Following a discussion wlth Serena about my firKJings. l am ple8sed to report that my review did not reveal any evKl8nce of fi'nancial mi8represent8tion orfr8udulent activity. The financial statements 8ccur8tely mflecl lh8 Charl￿S fin8T￿l8( position, and I found no i#auea for concem regarding the go￿nanCe0t the Charity. Signed.. Elizabeth Hesketh Tal: 07720 885388 Em8ll: lizkhesketh@gmail.com Dated: 2510212025 I would like to thank the Trustees of SCOS for inviting me to review the financial siatements. and to Serena for her support and guidance. If you have any querleB regarding this revlew. please feel free to contact me using the details above. My experience with bookkeeping and accounts began vthen my husband 8t8rted hi8 own consultancy business. which then led to my involvement in tr88sury work for my chlldren'8 primary and secondary School PTAS. Slnc8 retSrin8 I havo voluntsered 88 trustee and treesurerfor charltle8. Vl8ion 4 yO￿h and The Y8tel8y Soclaty.