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2023-03-31-accounts

DocuSign Envelope ID: B64F9ECB-F730-4412-87EB-ABC2BC6B47FC

Charity Number: 1181331

COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

CAST

UNAUDITED TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31MARCH 2023

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COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

CAST

CONTENTS

PAGE
Reference and administrative details of the charity,its Trustees and advisers 1
Trustees Report 2 to 5
Independent examiner's report 6
Statement of Financial activities 7
Balance Sheet 8
Notes to the financial statements 9 to 15

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COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

CAST

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Trustees :

WASHINGTON ALI-NASOLO Chair

TESBO LETSIE Secretary JENNIFER GORA TSEBO CHARLES DHLIWAYO

Charity registered number: 1181331 Principal Office Address: 59 Queens Road Southend on Sea SS 11NL

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Silvercent Consulting and Accountancy Services Limited The Old Courthouse Orsett Road Grays Essex RM17 5DD

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DocuSign Envelope ID: B64F9ECB-F730-4412-87EB-ABC2BC6B47FC

COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The Trustees present their annual report together with the Annual Financial Statements

of Community and Sanctuary Seekers Together for the year 1st April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements of the charities governing document and the provision of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015)

Structure governance and management

The charity is unincorporated, governed by its constitution dated 26/04/2016 and amended resolution on 18/12/2018.

The charity and its property is managed and administered by a committee of elected trustees. There is a management team, including a CEO, who monitor the day activities, administration and finances of the charity.

The trustees are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and those who served during the financial period ended 31 March 2023 are listed on the attached schedule of Legal and Administrative information. Each trustee’s role on the Board would be reviewed at least every 3 years.

The constitution provides that there must be a minimum of 3 Trustees appointed, including a Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary.

Objectives and activities

Objectives

CAST is a grassroots community activist group based in Southend-on-Sea which aims to support the self-determined needs of asylum seekers and refugees.

CAST aims to bring communities together to address isolation and loneliness through hosting and friendship projects which build relationships of trust, inter-dependency, respect, and solidarity within Southend.

We assist asylum-seekers and refugees, offering advice and support and signposting them to appropriate services, and liaise with local community and statutory organisations and are active in night shelters and Southend Homeless Action Network. At the same time, CAST is an activist organisation that advocates for fairer representations of non-status peoples and aims to challenge the structures which stand in the way of this.

CAST is organised by a diverse, non-hierarchical group of volunteers, many of whom were once asylum-seekers, and all of whom share a vision of creating strong, welcoming communities.

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Activities

CAST undertakes its work through the following six main areas of activities which are also the main classification used in our financial accounts.

Destitution Services- by supporting those who are pushed to the brink of our society and those living in NASS accommodation.

Integration Services, helping newly recognised refugees to make challenging first steps towards integrating in the UK

Advocacy and Awareness Raising by drawing from experience and evidence from our direct services, working to ensure that refugees have an influential voice in policy discussions that impact their lives and raising our supporters and the public awareness of the issues refugees and asylum seekers face.

Therapeutic Services, through our friendship projects helping those who have suffered torture, trauma, violence or sexual exploitation, victims of modern slavery.

Hosting and Housing by offering accommodation to asylum seekers who have reached the end of their asylum claim, victims of domestic violence, modern slavery especially those with No Recourse To public funds.

Friendship projects, bringing people together to address loneliness and Isolation through arts, music, Refugee Rhythms, and celebrating refugee contribution to the society. Our Vision

To end destitution in the asylum -seeking process. Refugees and Sanctuary seekers will be able to access all appropriate support to enable them to integrate and thrive in our communities, without the experience or processes causing any harm. They will have the opportunity to get involved, know where support is available and be valued members of the local community.

Our Mission

To be a welfare organisation and voice of Refugees and Sanctury seekers in Southend and surrounding areas through advocacy, promoting community cohesion, delivering housing, education and community services and influencing practice in other community and public services.

Our Values

We place our values at the heart of everything we do - Kindness, integrity, Accountability, Diligence, Perseverance and Discipline.

2022-2023 saw increasing numbers of Asylum seekers from all over the world crossing the English Chanel and arriving by boats having travelled from Asia Africa and the Middle East. In Southend we saw several hotels being used to receive new arrivals who had been forced to leave their homes because of violence, persecution or war. The continued catastrophic events in Ukraine has seen people fleeing their homes and becoming dependent on humanitarian support for survival.

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CAST having reimaged how services are delivered our team is continuing to pull together to provide the vital services with very limited resources.

Our Strategic goals for 2023- 2027

Achievements and Performance

a) Growing concern

After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Further details regarding the adoption of going concern basis

can be found in the accounting policies.

b) Review of activities

The charity C.A.S.T undertook the following activities in the year:

Public support for refugee protection remains high in the UK. We hope this may persuade Ministers to act boldly on asylum reform. CAST has continued to join hands and campaign boldly for a just asylum system rooted in a culture of respect and dignity.

Our credibility and authority as an influential advocate of asylum and refugee reform continued to rest in the wealth of information, insight and experience, generated daily by the transformative services or ‘routes out of destitution’ we provide to people at all stages of their asylum and refugee journey. The current system fails many, we know what must change to put it right. We also know that acting alone, we will struggle to achieve the changes we require.

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Throughout 2022/23 CAST invested heavily in collaboration with peer NGOs, civil society partners, our allies in parliament and with NACCOM members and many refugee led organizations that play a unique role in supporting inclusion, participation, and integration in the communities.

We have a huge task at CAST to secure tangible improvements in the lives of people seeking asylum in the UK. To ensure we remain both a high impact service provider and influential advocate of asylum and refugee rights, we need CAST to provide a stable and supportive human and physical infrastructure. Despite funding constraints, it is deeply satisfying to report that CAST achieved that throughout the year. We were able to sustain our investment the section 17 accommodation, premises, and the support we provide to experts by experience.

Though the year was difficult both financially and politically, CAST prospered in every sense by working together as a strong team and remain a force to reckon in mobilizing public compassion, energy, generosity and activism that can make Britain a country that truly welcomes refugees.

Financial review

The Trustees are satisfied that the charity has sufficient funds available to continue operations.

Structure, governance, and management

The charity is constituted under the trust deed dated_______ and registered number: 1181331.

c) Organisational structure and decision-making policies. The charity has Trustees and an administration committee.

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The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in

particular those related to the operations and finance of the charity, and are satisfied that

systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

Plans for the Future

The charity intends to expand community support and services which are currently being offered.

Cashflow Statement exemption.

As permitted under the charities SORP 2015, the Trustees have not prepared a Cashflow

Statement as the charity is not a large charity.

Statement of Trustees' responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and financial statements.

in accordance with the law applicable and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (UK GAAP)

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare

financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of state of affairs of the charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

*Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.

*Observe the methods and principles of the charities SORP(FRS102);

*Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

*State whether UK Accounting Standards (FRS102) have been followed, subject to any

material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

*Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to

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presume the charity will continue in business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient.

to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial

statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust deed.

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Trustees' report(continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023

Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Washington Ali-Nasolo

Trustee

Date: 19/01/2024

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 20 23

We report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 set out on pages 5 to 8

Respective responsibilities of directors and reporting accountants

As the Trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

I report in respect of my examination of the Trusts s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent Examiner 's statement - matter of concern identified

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. 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 the 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 reached.

…..............................................

Patience Mtisi (ACMA) CGMA BBS MBA

Silvercent Consulting and Accountancy Services Limited

The Old Courthouse

Orsett Road

Grays

Essex

RM15 5DD

2/4/2024

Date: …..........................................

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DocuSign Envelope ID: B64F9ECB-F730-4412-87EB-ABC2BC6B47FC

COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER CAST

CAST CAST CAST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH2023
Unrestricted Total Unrestricted Total
Notes funds Funds funds Funds
2023 2023 2022 2022
GBP GBP GBP GBP
Income from:
National Lottery Grant - - - -
Other grants 58,500.00 58,500.00 149,700.00 149,700.00
Donations 999.00 999.00 - -
Other 3 288,721.00 288,721.00 236,068.00 236,068.00
Total Income 348,220.00 348,220.00 385,768.00 385,768.00
Expenditure on:
Raising Funds 4 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00
Charitable Activities 5 436,424.00 436,424.00 388,013.00 388,013.00
Total Expenditure 439,424.00 439,424.00 390,013.00 390,013.00
Net Movement in Funds - 91,204.00
 - 91,204.00
 - 4,245.00
 - 4,245.00
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward 23,422.00 23,422.00 27,667.00 27,667.00
Total funds carried forward - 67,782.00
 - 67,782.00
 23,422.00 23,422.00

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DocuSign Envelope ID: B64F9ECB-F730-4412-87EB-ABC2BC6B47FC

COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

CAST

BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Fixed Assets

Tangible Assets

Leasehold Improvements

Computer Equipment

Furniture and Fittings

Current Assets

Cash at bank and on hand Other Debtors Loans

Creditors amounts falling due within one year Loans

Net Current Assets

Total Net Assets/(Liabilities)

Charity Funds

Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Washington Ali-Nasolo

Date: ______

__

The notes on pages 9 to 19 form part of these financial statements.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: B64F9ECB-F730-4412-87EB-ABC2BC6B47FC

COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

CAST

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

2.Accounting policies continued

2.3 Expenditure continued

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT

2.4 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are recognised at cost plus all costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition.

All tangible fixed assets are depreciated using the straight line method Depreciation is provided on the following basis:

Leasehold improvements 3 33.30% Computer Equipment 33.30% Furniture and Fittings 33.30%

2.5 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discount due.

2.6 Cash at bank and on hand

Cash represents cash which is held in the bank.

2.7 Liabilities and provisions

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at balance sheet date as a result of a past event.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount the charity anticipates will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advance payment for goods and services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of amounts required to settle the obligation.

2.8 Financial instruments

The charity has only financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that only qualify as basic financial instruments.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

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COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

CAST Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

1. General Information

Community and Sanctuary Seekers Together charity is constituted under a declaration of trust

dated:__

and is a registered charity whose charity number is: 1181331

2.Accounting policies

2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charities SORP(FRS102)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) (effective 1 January 2015). The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a true and fair view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports)Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS102) published on 16July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER meets the definition of a public benefit

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at entity under FRS102. historical cost or

transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy.

2.2 Income

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount of income can be measured reliably.

2.3 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single entity are allocated directly to that activity.

Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are

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not attributable to a single entity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.

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DocuSign Envelope ID: B64F9ECB-F730-4412-87EB-ABC2BC6B47FC

COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

CAST

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

2.Accounting policies continued

2.9 Fund accounting

General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

3 Other income

Interest receivable 0 Rents Receivable 287,012.00

4.Expenditure on fund raising

Cost of raising voluntary income 2,000.00

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COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER CAST

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

5.Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Summary by fund type Unrestricted Unrestricted funds Total funds funds Total funds 2023 2023 2022 2022 GBP GBP GBP GBP Direct costs 439,424.00 439,424.00 390,013.00 390,013.00

6.Analysis of expenditure by activities

Activities Activities undertaken Support Total undertaken Support Total directly costs funds directly costs funds 2023 2023 2023 2022 2022 2022 GBP GBP GBP GBP GBP GBP 286,276.00 153,148.00 439,424.00 253,513.00 136,500.00 390,013.00

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COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER CAST

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

6.Analysis of expenditure by activities continued

Analysis of direct costs

Salaries
Public Liability Insurance
Utilities(Gas,electricity&water)
Office Rent
Internet
TV Licences
Property Rents
Council Tax
Legal fees
Postage and Telephones
Computing
Refreshments
Office expenses
Comminication Mobiles phones
Printing &Stationery
Travel
Volunteer expenses
Accountancy & audit fees
Depreciation
Bank Charges
Misc
Subscriptions
Membership Fees
Premises
Donations
Homewares&cleaning
Workshops
Training
Consultancy
Total Expenditure		 Direct
Total
Direct
Total
costs
funds
costs
funds
2023
2023
2022
2022
GBP
GBP
GBP
GBP
195,011.00
195,011.00
134,906.00
134,906.00
-
-
1,303.00
1,303.00
29,525.00
29,525.00
14,162.00
14,162.00
13,000.00
13,000.00
144.00
144.00
-
-
152,352.00
152,352.00
124,927.00
124,927.00
5,392.00
5,392.00
7,157.00
7,157.00
-
-
1,875.00
1,875.00
2,832.00
2,832.00
494.00
494.00
249.00
249.00
118.00
118.00
6,805.00
6,805.00
2,227.00
2,227.00
1,455.00
1,455.00
654.00
654.00
126.00
126.00
661.00
661.00
2,477.00
2,477.00
1,050.00
1,050.00
7,300.00
7,300.00
1,680.00
1,680.00
10,444.00
10,444.00
9,701.00
9,701.00
-
-
110.00
110.00
25.00
25.00
390.00
390.00
-
-
298.00
298.00
12,521.00
12,521.00
79,657.00
79,657.00
-
-
598.00
598.00
2,348.00
2,348.00
144.00
144.00
-
-
5,319.00
5,319.00
439,424.00
439,424.00
390,013.00
390,013.00

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COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER

CAST

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

6.Analysis of expenditure by activities continued

Analysis of support costs

Employment
7. Independent examiner's remuneration		 Direct
Total
costs
funds
2023
2023
GBP
GBP
195,011.00
195,011.00
2023
GBP
0

8.Trustees' remuneration and expenses

During the year ,no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits.

9.Tangible Fixed Assets

9.Tangible Fixed Assets
Cost or Valuation
At 1 April 2022
Additions
As at 31 March 2023
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022
charge for the year
As at 31 March 2023
Net Book Value 31 March 2023		 Leasehold
Computer
Furniture
Total
Improvements
Equipment
&Fittings
26,262.00
6,401.00
8,570.00
41,233.00
-
3,780.00
1,450.00
5,230.00
26,262.00
10,181.00
10,020.00
46,463.00
14,220.00
3,499.00
4,107.00
21,826.00
6,020.00
2,714.00
1,710.00
10,444.00
20,240.00
6,213.00
5,817.00
32,270.00
6,022.00
3,968.00
4,203.00
14,193.00

10.Debtors

Due within one year

2023 GBP 1000

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COMMUNITY AND SANCTUARY SEEKERS TOGETHER CAST

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

2023
11.Creditors amounts falling due within one year GBP
Sundry Creditors
Loans 28,512.00
Accrued expenses 55,609.00
12.Statement of Funds
Balance Income Expenditure Balance
GBP GBP
Statement of Funds -current year 01-Apr-22 31-Mar-23
Unrestricted funds 23,422.00 348,220.00 439,424.00 67,782.00
-

13. Analysis of net assets between funds

13. Analysis of net assets between funds
Analysis of net assets between funds- current year
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year		 Unrestricted Total
Funds
Funds
GBP
GBP
14,193.00
14,193.00
2,146.00
2,146.00
84,121.00
-
84,121.00
-
67,782.00
-
67,782.00
-

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