2021-04-30-accounts - Echo For Refugees

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

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From May 2020 (Period start date) TO April 2021 (Period end date)

Charity name: ECHO for Refugees

Charity registration number: 1178189

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To advance the education of refugees and asylum seekers in Greece by providing and running a mobile library service at refugee camps and accommodation sites for the refugees and asylum seekers
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.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	ECHO for Refugees is an education, advocacy and integration charity operating in Athens, Greece. Through the operation of a mobile education centre that circulates to different refugee camps and community centres, we provide asylum-seekers with access to internet, language-learning resources, online education, books in a range of languages, as well as recreational activities. We also partner with other NGOs to provide additional services, such as music lessons, language lessons and children’s educational activities.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference N/A Para 1.38 Policy on grant making N/A Para 1.38

Policy on social investment including program related investment
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Volunteers are at the heart of ECHO’s work, and despite the difficulties of recruitment posed by Covid-19 and Brexit, our volunteers have continued to loyally support the project.
Other		N/A

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
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.	Para 1.20	The last year proved to be extremely challenging for us due to the restrictions Covid-19 posed on our services, which relies on in-person library sessions at the sites we serve. This frustration was compounded by the fact that we had acquired a new library van, and had planned its conversion to allow us to run sessions in the most optimal way for our current needs. Despite the frustration at not being able to run sessions due to Covid-19 restrictions, it meant that we had more time to convert the van into a mobile library – adding a window, building shelving units, table and seating and roll away storage, installing a battery and wiring electricity into the van. Alongside this conversion, the ECHO for Refugees team used the old van to deliver fruit and vegetables to community centres and provide transportation which has stopped due to the pandemic. We were also able to offer online support to existing users the library had supported and drop off books and learning resources when asked. Over the year, we also had 385 enrolments onto Coursera courses, with 47 of those from new students When we were able to run sessions again, the team implemented a Covid-19 safe system of running session and providing support, which was extremely valuable to people who had lost many of their sources of support due to the restrictions. We continued to service the 9 camps, accommodation centres and community projects, running regular and reliable sessions at the same time each week so

people always know where to find us. Through the project, we have been able to offer psychosocial support to the people we work with, enabling them to access learning resources they would otherwise not be able to, especially during the pandemic. Through the unique service ECHO for Refugees offers, we have offered people a place where they can find solidarity, friendship, community and a support system invested in their learning and wellbeing. This has enabled people to work towards their goals despite the challenging circumstances they are in. ECHO has provided a place where all are welcome and can access services, which contributes to the overall public benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Covered above.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	We outperformed in our fundraising despite the difficulties posed by Covid. We fundraised less actively this year due to the unpredictability of the situation which hindered our ability to plan very far in advance, but have a good amount of reserves due to reduced activity as a result of Covid-19.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other		N/A

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	We are in a very strong financial position despite the difficulties posed by Covid-19, and are ending the year with reserves totalling £34,589
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	We hold reserves to cover any drops in income, and to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. We will hold these reserves for any similar unforeseen financial difficulties, in consultation with trustees and project coordinators.

Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£34,589 (£29,387 in bank account, £4,619 on Paypal platform and £583 in cash)
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	N/A

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Grants, crowdfunding and individual donations, namely: - ATFF (£590) - Donate4Refugees (£1,500) - Emmaus (£8,676) - ECF (7,047) - Hadaya (£203) - Lush (£5,000) - Crowdfunding (£9,160) - Individual donations (£1,000)
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	N/A
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	Covid-19 remains a significant risk and has stalled many of our activities over the last year.
Other		N/A

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:		Charitable Trust
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Trust deed
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charity/trust
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	Para 1.25	Election to post, after applicants undertake vetting and interview process.

Additional information (optional)

Additional information (optional)	Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements		where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	N/A
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	N/A
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	N/A
Other		N/A

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	ECHO for Refugees
Other name the charity uses	N/A
Registered charity number	1178189
Charity’s principal address	28 Kestrel Way Reading RG30 3NU

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Laura Naude		N/A
	Esther ten Zijthoff		N/A
	Simon Cloudsley		July2021

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year N/A Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets No funds are held in this capacity held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address
N/A

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

N/A

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

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) Laura Naude Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 20 February 2022

ECHO FOR REFUGEES

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2021

Registered Charity Number 1178189

ECHO FOR REFUGEES Statement of Income and Expenditure

For the year ending 30[th] April 2021

Income Note Grant Income 2 Crowd Funding Donations Total Income Expenditure Books Van purchase / renovation Vehicle running, fuel & repairs Admin costs Fundraising costs Print & stationery Volunteers stipend Total Expenditure Surplus for the year	2021 £ 23,016 9,160 1,000 33,176 894 3,168 2,168 591 - 1,471 11,877 20,169 13,007	2020 £ 23,714 22,381 1,235
		47,338
		1,145 7,823 2,918 1,258 215 3736 11,597
		28,693

		18,637

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form part of these financial statements

ECHO FOR REFUGEES

Balance sheet as at 30[th] April 2021

Balance at Bank, cash in hand and PayPal Net Current Assets Represented by: Net Surplus b/fwd Surplus for the year Net Surplus c/fwd	2021 £ 34,589 34,589 21,582 13,007 34,589	2020 £ 21,582
		21,582
		2,937 18,645
		21,582

The Trustees have not required the charity to obtain an audit of it’s financial statements for the year ended 30[th] April 2021,

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees

on ……25/02/2022…………… and were signed on its behalf by:

[ Laura Samira Naude ] Trustee

ECHO FOR REFUGEES

Notes to the Accounts

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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 (FRS102 (March 2018) and the Charities SORP 2021

2, Grants received.

Out of the Grants received £16,400 are for specific and restricted purposes, including for use in 2021-22,

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Charity Name ECHO FOR REFUGEES	Charity Name ECHO FOR REFUGEES	Charity Name ECHO FOR REFUGEES

30thApril 2021	Charity no (if any)	1178189

1 - 4 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 30/04/2021.

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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 The charity’s gross income exceeded £25,000 and I am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales .

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters 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.

Signed: Mark Hawkins Date: 28.02.2022

Name: MARK A HAWKINS BA FCA

Relevant professional Fellow Chartered Accountant – membership number 7566530 qualification(s) or body

Oct 2018

IER

(if any):

Address: 212 NORCOT ROAD TILEHURST, READING BERKSHIRE RG30 6AE

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the NONE examiner wishes to disclose .

Oct 2018

IER