Trustees’ annual report (including Directors’ report) for the period
From: 01.04.2025 To: 31.03.2026
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 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, Canterbury City Council and other organisations to support families through projects, such as the Welcome Cafe that provide space for social contact |
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and support to navigate the housing,
employment, benefits, education and
health systems. CWR volunteers support
a women only English language and
social group organised by the Social
Justice Network. CWR has 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. A lesson has
been added for those who are pre-
beginners and may have little literacy in
their own language due to the lack of
education, especially for women in some
countries. English lessons are provided
by a qualified teacher of English as
Second or Other Language (ESOL),
supported by volunteer classroom
assistants. The Welcome Café project
also includes support for employability,
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 apply for volunteering and
employment opportunities. If appropriate,
CWR supports beneficiaries in applying
for grants for essentials, such as white
goods 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
and community cohesion.
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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
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Para 1.38
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 English
conversation time with refugees to
support language learning and
community integration and in 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. Ongoing support to the families CWR has helped to resettle in Canterbury. 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 adults and older teenagers to access English lessons and other training that facilitate access to further and higher education and employment. 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 third sponsored 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 |
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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 Para 1.22 The charity builds up reserves as these
policy for holding reserves are required for an application to the
stating why they are held 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, 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 £ 15,222.55
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 N/A
reserves
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 N/A
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 N/A
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
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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.
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees
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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 | Requirement to familiarise themselves with the Safeguarding Policy and individual meeting of new trustee with the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Trustees attend volunteer events including updates on safeguarding and other training. Online safeguarding training. Induction into the policies and procedure of CWR. |
|---|---|---|
| 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, East Kent Quaker Meeting 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 International Rescue Committee UK, 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
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Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Dr C Powell Lead Sponsor Board of Trustees
2 S Powell Project Lead Board of Trustees
N Watson-Cutts Chair of Trustees, Board of Trustees
3 Designated
Safeguarding Lead
4 D Pecoraro Welfare Lead Board of Trustees
Hilary Adams Treasurer Board of Trustees
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
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18
19
20
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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
Dates acted if not for whole year
Trustee name
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 02/07/2026