Chair of Trustees Annual Report for Charity Commission
April 2021 – March 2022
Introduction
In writing this report I am conscious that our charity has been moving through a time of enormous changes, partly in response to the effects of the covid pandemic, as it has sought to respond effectively to the increasing numbers and needs of sanctuary seekers here in Burnley. It has been quite a year. However, in a departure from the formality of a report such as this, I am dealing first with something truly wonderful which happened to us, which actually began during the year I am reporting on, but actually completed at the beginning of June this year22-23.
Last October, we learned to our amazement that we had been nominated to receive the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, and in due course we were visited by an inspector etc, and then life settled down again into the busy but eventful routine of NNT. In May 22 we were astounded to discover we had won this prestigious award in our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year. So there were great celebrations all round and I would like to pay tribute to our fabulous team of committed, compassionate and hardworking volunteers and record how honoured NNT is to have received this.
Report on the year
From April 22 lockdowns were still in effect,but being gradually lifted and we continued our work much as we detailed it in our last annual report. To our best knowledge Burnley in the summer of 2021 was home to 200+ Asylum Seekers and Refugees. This number included 25 resettled Syrian families and we have always worked with local partners to provide additional support measures to enrich their lives and experience of living here. A great deal of our work, however, was generated by providing a comprehensive support package for people arriving via the asylum-seeking route throughout their journey to a decision on their claims. People are either given ‘Leave to Remain’ and ‘Refugee Status’ or become ‘Failed’ asylum claimants. Single adult ‘Failed ‘claimants are evicted and financial support is terminated. However, of those with children under 18 years, many continue to live here, still housed by Serco and supported by the Home Office under the Destitution Rules. All of these groups continued to access NNT services across the range of need, depending on individual circumstances and people’s own choices.
Since the summer of 2020 there had been a marked increase in Asylum Seekers particularly single young men, being housed by Serco, on behalf of the Home Office in Burnley, and this gathered pace in 2021. Their support needs were pressing and apart from the ‘Migrant Help Line’, (accessed by phone/email/webchat, - there was now no official help available to this growing group of vulnerable, socially isolated people whose first language was not English, and who did not understand process. In addition, asylum seekers were living on incomes set below the level of Universal Credit, in poor/problematic housing and deprived areas of our town. Our workload greatly increased, mainly by in response to the suffering and distress this situation generated.
During lockdown restrictions we ran appointment based socially distanced sessions for advice and help/clothing/food and household goods, doorstep deliveries of necessary items etc. However, the increased work load made it obvious to us that we had reached a stage when for the first time in our history we needed to employ a manager to take things forward. We did our research and contacted various organisations to
discuss options. We were successful in November 2021, in obtaining a year’s sponsorship for a p.t fixed term management position and we commenced this at the start of December 2021. We also obtained a grant to undertake project wide wellbeing work in October to run for 9months, funded by the CCG, aimed at remedial work with our clients who had suffered a great deal from isolation and loneliness during the lockdowns.
Over the year we have:
Worked hard to develop the depth and range of our services to meet the needs our clients have identified to us in focus groups and one to one sessions.
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Set up dedicated office space, acquired necessary IT equipment and internet access to provide a more professional and efficient response to client’s problems and issues, running twice weekly A&A Services. We also offered an emergency out of hours phone line
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Revised many of our processes and converted all our paper files to cloud storage.
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Negotiated and acquired 3yrs service agreement with LCC to commence at the beginning of the financial year April 22 which will allow us to employ more staff on fixed term p.t. contracts
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Re-established our wellbeing initiatives including delivering family fun days/ local trips /TB Screening Clinic. We have reconnected with our old clients and got to know many new ones, as we have shared social café space, ESOL lessons and children’s activities, a badminton and sports group for men and a women’s group visiting a local farm at lambing time, a trip to a forest etc and all our usual activities. Working with Calico we offered a weekly Digital Inclusion service every Tuesday.
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Recruited new skilled volunteers, delivered (our previously monthly) volunteer team meetings 4 times around the lockdown restrictions and refocused volunteer roles prior to targeting training based around the concept of radical hospitality and welcome’.
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Targeted development of partnership working with other local charities such as Pennine Lancashire Community Farm and Burnley Youth Theatre, addressing wellbeing issues and submitting partnership bids for funding.
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Half of our Trustee Board completed training on roles and responsibilities.
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Established a Senior Management Team reporting in via the Chair and to our Quarterly Board Meetings held on Microsoft Teams.
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Began work on developing a Communications strategy and increasing our Media outreach through targeted development of the website established the year before.
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In addition, we revised the NNT Organisational/ Management and Board Structure for implementation from April 22 in the new financial year.
In Conclusion
I am writing this report a few months into the next reporting year and NNT has continued with the pace of change and the primacy of welcoming, caring for and helping growing numbers of sanctuary seekers as they struggle to rebuild and re-establish shattered lives. As I look back, I can see that all the things we accomplished last year, put us in a good place to go forward into this year to continue and develop our work. Overall 21-22 was a good year for NNT. I would like to record the absolute privilege that it has been to chair this charity since it was first set up and to pay tribute again to the amazing team of people I have worked with every week, and to thank them for all they do, which makes NNT what it is today – the Go to Charity for sanctuary seekers in Burnley.
Ruth Haygarth
Chair of Trustees to March 31[st] 2022
Treasurers Finance Report for year ending 31[st] March 2022
The charity has had a very successful year. We have met all our increased running costs, thanks to the hard work of the management team, who have raised sufficient funds to cover our outgoings and still have a surplus income of £3731.50 compared to £726.79 from the previous year. NNT is also in the position of carrying forward £27,520.55 cash in hand, (over 3 times the opening balance in April 2021), against liabilities of £15591.51, for specific purpose grants received.
Annual Income rose from £11,569.00 to £26431.00, more than doubled over the last year, and hopefully it’s a trend that will continue. For the first time we worked in paid partnership with another organisation, which proved to be a very efficient way of bringing in significant amounts of money, so we must continue to look for more of these opportunities.
Facing significant rising numbers of clients and increased number seeking help with problems and issues, we obtained a grant of over £19,000.00 to employ a p.t.fixed term Manager to give stability and overall leadership in our People Services. In addition, a grant of £5000 to run a wellbeing project, aimed at mitigating the damaging effects covid and the lockdowns had exerted on our clients.
We have invested well over £3,000.00 in Internet Access, equipment and IT costs to upgrade our Advice& Advocacy service and ensure GDPR compliance. The welfare of our client is always at the forefront of our objectives, to which we spent nearly £4,000 with much needed wellbeing effects.
To summarise we have had a good year, and are in a much better position at the start of this year than last, in terms of funding. This gives NNT a good platform from which to establish a stronger management structure, which will meet the expansion of service needs, building on and driving the delivery of essential help and support to our clients.
Michael Hewitt
Trustee & NNT Treasurer. April 21- March 22
New Neighbours Together
(Regd Charity No.1179812)
NNT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022
CONTENTS: Income and Expenditure Account Page 1 and 2 Balance Sheet Page 3 ~~Audit Report~~ ~~u~~ ploaded separately Officers’ Statement Page 4
New Neighbours Together
(Reg'd Charity No.1179812)
INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT - Y/E 31 March 2022
| INCOME Grants Received General Specific- Calico Donations Local Giving Services to Burnley Youth Theatre Sundry Income Total INCOME EXPENDITURE Employment Cost Management Fees Salaries |
2021/22 10628.00 5712.00 4735.90 2685.49 2500.00 169.80 26431.19 3900.00 5712.00 |
2020/21 |
|---|---|---|
| 7725.00 2460.00 1384.09 0.00 |
||
| 11569.09 | ||
| 0.00 0.00 |
| Other Costs Drop Ins Travel Tel/ Stationery Welfare Outings Sundries Internet Access IT Costs Insurances Subscriptions Total EXPENDITURE SURPLUS of INCOME |
886.84 1944.89 1635.53 3947.85 0.00 1063.20 466.01 2830.60 157.77 155.00 22699.69 3731.50 |
313.65 1175.51 318.16 7142.91 0.00 980.37 522.94 0.00 157.77 230.99 |
|---|---|---|
| 10842.30 | ||
| 3731.50 | 726.79 |
New Neighbours Together (Reg'd Charity No.1179812) BALANCE SHEET as at 31 March 2022
2021/22 2020/21 Current Assets Current Account 27512.04 ###### Cash in Hand 8.51 27520.55 73.56 ###### Current Liabilities Accruals 1427.51 87.30 Calico Grant C/Fwd 14164.00 15591.51 0.00 87.30 NET ASSETS 11929.04 ###### Represented by: Balance B/Fwd 8197.54 ###### Surplus of Income This Year 3731.50 726.79 SURPLUS C/Fwd 11929.04 ######
New Neighbours Together CIO
(Regd Charity No.1179812)
Statement by Officers
In the opinion of the Trustees and Officers of New Neighbours Together –
- a) The accompanying financial report presents fairly the financial position of New Neighbours Together as at 31March 2022. b) The operations of the organisation have been carried out in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Charity. c) At the date of this Statement there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Charity will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.
Signed on behalf of the Officers of New Neighbours Together
Michael Hewitt
…………………………………………………………………………………… Treasurer
Ruth Haygarth
…………………………………………………………………………………… Chief Executive
Dated : 27/7/22
New Neighbours Together
(Regd. Charity No.1179812)
Audit Report to the Trustees & Officers
SCOPE OF REVIEW
I have reviewed the Financial Statements set out in Pages 1 – 4 of this report, comprising the Statement of Income and Expenditure for the Year Ended 31 March 2022, and the Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2022 of New Neighbours Together .
The Trustees and Officers of the Registered Charity are responsible for the Financial Statements and have determined that the Accounting Policies are consistent with the Charity’s Financial Controls Policy.
I have reviewed the Financial Statements, along with information and explanations given to me, in order to express an opinion on them to the Trustees and Officers of New Neighbours Together
No opinion is expressed as to whether the accounting policies are appropriate.
REVIEW OPINION
In my opinion the Financial Statements :
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a) Present fairly, the Financial Position of New Neighbours Together as at the 31 March 2022, and the results of its operations for the year then ended.
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b) Comply with the Requirements of the Management Controls Policy.
I have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records, or information and explanations that have been given to me and I do not, therefore, express any opinion on the Financial Information
Peter F Nuttall, ACMA,CGMA
Honorary Auditor
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