Trustees’ annual report (including Directors’ report) for the period
From: 01.04.2024 To: 31.03.2025
Charity name: Canterbury Welcomes Refugees
Charity registration number: 1181225
Company number: N/A
Objectives and activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The purposes of CWR are to relieve financial hardship, support education, training and employment related activities, preserve physical and mental health, promote social inclusion, improve conditions of life amongst refugees and displaced people and their dependants in the Canterbury area to their benefit and that of the community. These aims are to be achieved through supporting people to access housing, providing loans and grants, practical support, English language support, support to access services and advice. |
| 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 |
CWR has provided practical assistance to support people seeking asylum, refugees resettling in Canterbury and other displaced peoples to relieve financial hardship and encourage community integration. The number of people requiring assistance has increased as more individuals and families are placed in Canterbury by the Home Office and by other local authorities. Support continues for families displaced by the Afghanistan conflict and the ongoing war in Ukraine. CWR is increasingly providing caseworker support to individuals and families placed in Canterbury who are waiting for their asylum application to be assessed and those who have been granted asylum. CWR continues to partner with Canterbury Diocese’s social Justice Network and other organisations to support families through projects, such as the Welcome Cafe that provide space for social contact and support to |
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navigate the housing, benefits, education
and health systems. CWR volunteers
support a women only English language
and social group organised by the Social
Justice Network. CWR has online English
language support, and in-person
language support by volunteers.
Volunteers meet weekly with individuals
for language conversation on a one-to-
one basis or in very small family groups.
CWR works in partnership with
Canterbury Diocese and Canterbury City
Council to run English classes for
beginners and those who have
progressed in their English. English
lessons are provided by a qualified
teacher of English as Second or Other
Language (ESOL). The Welcome Café
project also includes support for
employability training sessions, which
are run in cooperation with staff
seconded from the Job Centre. The
weekly sessions support participants to
seek and secure employment, including
CV writing skills, writing job applications
and volunteering opportunities. CWR
volunteers have supported young adults
to study towards and apply for university
studies. If appropriate, CWR supports
beneficiaries in applying for grants from
other organisations and may in some
cases administer such grants on behalf
of other grant-making organisations.
CWR has also partnered with Migrant
Help to provide assistance with eVisa
applications at Welcome Café. CWR
participated in events celebrating
Refugee Week.
Statement confirming Para 1.18 The Trustees of CWR are aware of and
whether the trustees have have regard to the Charity Commission’s
had regard to the guidance rules and guidelines on the public benefit
issued by the Charity of the work that is carried out by CWR.
Commission on public This work has benefit for vulnerable
benefit refugees and asylum seekers as well as
the wider community by aiming to
support and facilitate social integration.
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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference CWR has an agreed Grant-funding Policy. Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38
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Policy on social investment
including program related
investment
All activities by CWR are carried out by or
supported by volunteers from the local
Para 1.38
Contribution made by community. The majority of volunteer
volunteers time is spent in individual conversation
time with refugees and supporting the
projects run with local partner
organisations. Helping in this way has
provided many hours of much valued
support to the beneficiaries. We believe
engagement of local volunteers
contributes to greater community
cohesion. Community engagement for
the volunteers helps towards a sense of
achievement and making a contribution
to society. It can relieve isolation, benefit
mental health and build lasting
friendships. Former beneficiaries have
also gone to become volunteers in the
community themselves.
Other
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Achievements and performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Continued resettlement of refugee families under the UK Government’s Community Sponsorship programme. Partnership working with the local Quaker meeting to prepare a house for a community sponsorship family in the coming year. Ongoing support to the families CWR has helped to resettle in Canterbury, including help to find work and study opportunities. Support to access health services, including specialist appointments as required. In partnership with others, offering English teaching at various levels of competency. Weekly English conversation sessions for individuals or small groups, that enable learners to practice their English skills in a safe environment. Supporting young adults to achieve English and other GCSE levels that facilitate access to further and higher education and employment. Support young adults to apply for further and higher education. Support the Ladies Only Club for English learning, arts and crafts as well as life skills, such as first aid etc run by our partner organisation. Provide support and practical assistance to Ukrainian families hosted under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. |
|---|---|---|
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Para 1.41 Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set Para 1.41 Investment performance against objectives Other
Financial review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | CWR has sufficient funds to cover expenses of the second sponsored family, support the preparation of a house for a third community sponsorship family and the support of other resettled families. It has funds ringfenced to support the sponsorship of a third family in the coming year. Any surplus will be used to create and support partnership community projects, including the Welcome Café for English lessons and employment support as well as individual and family casework. CWR has built reserves and this will put the charity in a good position to support the increasing number of displaced people in the Canterbury area. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity builds up reserves as these are required for an application to the Home Office sponsor another refugee family. A minimum of £9,000 is required for Community Sponsorship of a refugee family. CWR holds sufficient reserves to cover the sponsored family’s expenses, insurance payment and other liabilities. Reserves will be carried forward and used towards sponsorship of another refugee family, families and individuals in need and to work with partner organisations to run and develop community projects, including employability training and funding |
| towards training to improve employability and English learning and further family fun days and creative projects aimed at improving mental health. Some reserves are also being carried forward to facilitate volunteer training. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £ 22,748.89 |
| 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 | Individual donations, including those made through the website. Donations by other organisations, towards the work of CWR. Fundraising events when required. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, governance and management
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Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document: Para 1.25 CIO Foundation
for example, trust deed,
memorandum and articles of
association etc
How is the charity Para 1.25 CIO
constituted?
for example limited company,
unincorporated association,
CIO
Trustee selection methods Para 1.25 Selected for skills set and subject to
including details of any approval by Board of Trustees.
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constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees
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 | Safeguarding Policy and individual meeting of each new volunteer with the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Volunteer events including updates on safeguarding and other training. Online safeguarding training. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | Refugee families are supported by the CWR board of trustees, active volunteers and a larger group of supporters, including financial donors. CWR works in partnership with Canterbury City Council and Canterbury Diocese’ Social Justice Network as well as other groups who provide support for refugees and displaced people in the Canterbury area, such as Canterbury 4 Ukraine, Job Centre, Migrant Help and Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN). CWR received advice and support from RESET, an organisation funded to support Community Sponsorship groups. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and administrative details
| Charity name | Canterbury Welcomes Refugees |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1181225 |
| Charity’s principal address | Withheld |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr C Powell | Lead Sponsor | Board of Trustees | ||
| S Powell | Project Lead | Board of Trustees | ||
| N Watson-Cutts | Chair of Trustees, Designated SafeguardingLead |
Board of Trustees |
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4 D Pecoraro Welfare Lead Board of Trustees
Hilary Adams Treasurer Board of Trustees
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
The Charity’s principal address is withheld due to threats being received by those opposed to the work of Canterbury Welcomes Refugees. Police reference number available.
Other optional information
Declarations
The company has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report (including directors’ report) above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees/directors
Signature(s) C D Powell Full name(s) Dr C D Powell Position (for example Trustee Secretary, Chair, etc) Date 28.5.25
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Charity Name No (if any)
CANTERBURY WELCOMES REFUGEES 1181225
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01-Apr-24 31-Mar-25
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Donations 350 - - 350 2,157
Grant - - - - 2,000
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 350 ] - - 350 4,157
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 350 - - 350 4,157
A3 Payments
Family expenses 550 - - 550 363
Insurance 274 - - 274 271
Interpreters 229 - - 229 -
DBS 19 - - 19 10
Grant payments - 1,549 - 1,549 461
IT - - - 1,081
Event costs 151 - - 151 615
Sub total [ 1,223 ] 1,549 - 2,772 2,801
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 1,223 1,549 - 2,772 2,801
Net of receipts/(payments) - 873 - 1,549 - - 2,422 1,356
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 16,484 8,687 - 25,171 23,815
Cash funds this year end 15,611 7,138 - 22,749 25,171
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
01/06/2025
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Lloyds bank Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 15,611 7,138 - - - - 15,611 7,138 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name C Powell |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
01/06/2025
2