## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 01 July 2023 Period start date To 30 June 2024 Period end date Charity name: Tyneside Welcomes** **Charity registration number: 1183738** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP
reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes
of the charity as set out in
its governing document|Para 1.17|Tyneside Welcomes exists for the public benefit of
refugees and their host communities in Northeast
England:-
(1) To relieve poverty and to preserve and protect
the physical and mental health of those granted
refugee status and their dependants particularly by
practical support, advice and assistance with the
provision of housing;
(2) To advance the education and training of those
granted refugee status and their dependents in
need thereof so as to advance them in life and
assist them to adapt within a new community; and
In furtherance of the above 2 purposes the
organisation Tyneside Welcomes sponsors the
integration of refugees and local communities
through practical action and supportive partnerships
with statutory and other agencies.| |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|The way we achieve 1 and 2 is through the
community sponsorship scheme (the community
version of the UK Resettlement Scheme -UKRS-
utilised by Local Authorities) with the Home Office.
We fundraise for the required 9K per family, identify
housing, develop a resettlement plan covering
ESOL, education, cultural orientation and
integration, support with banking, benefits and
budgeting, volunteering and employment and
accessing health and other relevant services. We
submit applications to the Home Office and when
approved we sign up to a contract to provide
support services to the family.
We have developed a one organisation model
whereby, through a core group of lead sponsors,
we provide lead sponsorship for emerging
community sponsorship groups that establish
‘branches’ of Tyneside Welcomes. We currently
have the original Forest Hall branch plus the
Gosforth Welcomes branch.| 1 |||Working on a broader geographical basis means we
have had to build relationships with three Local
Authorities: North Tyneside, Gateshead and
Newcastle. We have been successful in getting
approval to operate community sponsorship in all
three Local Authority areas.
The specific activities we have been involved with
have been.
-
Transition to independence for the first
family in Forest Hall (arrived 1 July 2021).
We have identified a more suitable property
for them via a private landlord in Forest Hall
and they moved in February 2023. Tyneside
Welcomes have taken on the property
management role for the house for the
duration of the 2 years lease. We supported
them in getting on Tyne and Wear Homes
register and with application for Indefinite
Leave to Remain/citizenship status for their
children.
-
Post-arrival meetings with RESET were
positive for all families
-
The Gosforth branch are successfully
settling a family of 4 in the Ouseburn area
and are providing daily support and advice
and organising social activities.
-
Fundraising efforts have reduced because of
time dedicated to supporting families but
donations are still healthy i.e. individual
donations and standing orders.
-
Identifying properties. We identified
landlords willing to rent their properties at
the housing benefit allowance cap. In all
cases this entailed taking on some property
management responsibilities.| |---|---|---| |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.
New Trustees have been sent government
guidance on becoming a trustee and had induction
by zoom on Tyneside Welcomes constitution and
charitable objectives.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-
trustee-welcome-pack
We have recruited a Trustee with experience of
being a refugee.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference 2 |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|Tyneside Welcomes does not make grants.| |---|---|---| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|n/a| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|We have now had over 3 years’ experience in
supporting the original Forest Hall family and
welcomed a further family in the previous
financial year. Experienced volunteers are
mentoring newer volunteers and providing cross
branch support.
All Tyneside Welcomes activity is volunteer-led.
No member or Trustee has received payment.
Volunteers have given skills and resources to
which they have access – financial, governance
administrative, safeguarding, support, fundraising
and other professional skills, time and effort. This
has put us in the position that we have the
combined skills, expertise and resources to
resettle multiple families.
The lead sponsorship support we provide to our
new branches is voluntary and without any
charge. We have also been able to provide pump
prime funding to enable new branches to rapidly
submit applications to the Home Office and
receive families. As described previously, there
have been challenges with two family
breakdowns. This put a huge amount of pressure
on volunteers.| |Other||Following our successful bid to the Community
Foundation for a small grant (£3,700) to cover
training costs and one year membership of Tyne
and Wear Citizens, we undertook a range of
volunteer training.| ## **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|- We have continued to support the latest
household that we sponsored, including
support for complex and enduring medical
issues, so that they are resettling
successfully.
- We have developed relationships with
Local Authorities and other stake-holders
and provided financial management and
governance within Tyneside Welcomes so
that the family welcomed last year is
supported to resettle in the UK.| 3 - Positive examples of resettlement have knock on effects; changing attitudes and promoting inclusivity in local communities. -we have taken an outreach approach to use of social media so interested parties are aware of what we are doing through our blog and Facebook and Instagram posts whilst avoiding undue publicity on the family themselves and their refugee status. ## **Additional information (optional)** ## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Achievements against
objectives set|
Para 1.41|
We have found it extremely difficult to
source further suitable accommodation,
which has restricted our ability to welcome
further households| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|We have managed our existing
commitments and have sufficient funds,
including an enhanced reserve, to
consolidate our work and to plan another
application to the Home Office.| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|n/a| |Other||| 4 ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**The end of year balance for 2023/2024**
**was:**
**Triodos: £10,095**
**Cooperative Bank: £6,743**
**Total: £16,839**
**(Please see financial report added**
**separately)**| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|We have a reserves policy, following
recommendations from our external
assessor. We maintain a reserve of £7K
unrestricted funding as a contingency for
unexpected events e.g. covering for
emergency repairs, additional costs
incurred by family breakdown. We do not
employ staff and have very small running
costs so this should be sufficient but we will
keep it under review.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£7K| |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|The main uncertainty is Government Policy
related to the Community Sponsorship
model. Our reliance on volunteers brings
with it the assumption (and associated risk)
that there will be people willing to
undertake the work on an ongoing basis.
We have taken on additional
responsibilities such as property
management, for the Forest Hall and
Gosforth families. These are not our core
strengths.| ## **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|
Tyneside Welcomes’ principal sources of
funding are through donations (both one off
and standing orders) and fundraising
events. We received a Community
Foundation grant of £3.700 last year.| |---|---|---| |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|We have compiled a Risk Register which is
appended below| |Other||| 5 ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |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|CIO| |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|Appropriate relevant experience at right
level, as decided by existing trustees. Two
trustee references are taken up. We aim to
increase diversity among the Trustees. We
now have one Trustee with experience of
being a refugee and significant experience
supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
We are also encouraging representation
across new branches of Tyneside
Welcomes. A recruitment and selection
process has been implemented and is
overseen by the Finance and Governance
Group.| ## **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|
Trustees meetings include informal time to
support those new to the role and to
discuss the attendant responsibilities. The
Chair and other Trustees meet individually
with new Trustees to help induct them.| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The formal members of the CIO are the
Trustees. All Trustees are also members of
the Co-ordinating Committee (CC) which
has a crucial role in agreeing expectations
and informing and supporting the Trustees.
Trustees maintain a full overview of these
activities.
Individual branches meet regularly and
report to Coordinating Committee and
Trustee meetings.
All safeguarding and financial decisions are
taken by Trustees, not the Co-ordinating
Committee, although the Trustees seek the
views of the CC.
Branches with active sponsorship in place
hold monthly informal support events for
volunteers, where issues and questions
can be sensitively explored.
Tyneside Welcomes supports the
integration of refugees and local
communities through practical action and
supportive partnerships with statutory and
other agencies.
We have external links with: RESET/Home| 6 |||Office, SponsorRefugees, North Tyneside
Council, Newcastle City Council,
Gateshead Council, Home Group, North
East Landlords, Newcastle and
Northumbria Universities, and the Diocese
of Hexham and Newcastle. Our volunteers
also volunteer or work with Walking With,
Asylum Matters, Amnesty International, and
West End Refugee Service. Tyneside
Welcomes is currently a member of Tyne
and Wear Citizens, with the chair of
Trustees also on the Citizens’ leadership
team so this gives us access to a broader
network of organisations.| |---|---|---| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|Since our approval as a Principal Sponsor
we are a member of the Lead Sponsors
Network.| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Tyneside Welcomes| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charity number|1183738| |Charity’s principal address|11 Victoria Avenue
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE12 8AX| ||| 7 **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
16
17|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Richard Young|Chair||From 01 October 2019 -
Term of office extended
to 3 October 2024||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Allie Wilson|||4 October 2021 – 3
October 2024||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Sally Mitchison|Safeguarding Lead||From 30 October 2019
To 29 October 2022
(extended to 29 October
2025)||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Lindsay Brigham|Secretary||From 30 October 2019
To 29 October 2022
(extended to 29 October
2025)||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Jane Mary Young|||From 27 November 2019
To 26 November 2022
(extended to 26
November 2025)||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Judith McSwaine|Treasurer||From 4 October 2021 – 3
October 2024||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Melissa Schueler|||From 14 April 2021
To 13 April 2024||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Hellen Giblin
Jowett|||From 19 April 2022 to 04
January 2025||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Azad Hasan|||From 09 November 2023||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| ||Simon Wilson|||From 13 June 2024||Panel of selected Trustees
overseen by Finance and
Governance Group| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| ||Corporate trustees–names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name**|||||| ||**Director name**|||||| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity 8 **Dates acted if not for whole year** **Trustee name** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets n/a 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 ## **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)** Lindsay Brigham **Position (eg Secretary,** Secretary to Trustees **Chair, etc)** **Date** 10 September 2024 9 ## Tyneside Welcomes ## **Risk Register** Issue 2d to be reviewed by 05/02/24 First issue Aug 2020 Impact on the charity or its aims (r): 1 – very low to 5 severe Likelihood of occurrence (p): 1 – very unlikely to 5 very likely Aim of mitigation is to reduce likelihood (rm) and/or impact (pm) hence lower product of r and p |Risk|Potential
impact
(r)|Likeli-
hood
(p)|Impact
factor
r x p|Mitigation|Revised
Impact
rm|Revised
Likeli-
hood pm|Revised
impact
factor
rmx pm| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Humanitarian|||||||| |Adverse or retrograde
change in Government
policies|4|3|12|1) Be aware of potential changes.
2) Be ready to campaign against adverse
change|3|2|6| |Reputational|||||||| |Covid 19 (or other)
Pandemic: changes in
travel and other
restrictions due to adverse|5|3|15|1) Work to maintain enthusiasm of the
group and support members directly
afected.
3) Ensure risk assessments carried out for|3|2|6| 10 |changes in virus
behaviour, frstly, to delay
further families arriving,
secondly to difculties for
efective help being
delivered to families by
our volunteers||||all relevant tasks and interactions
4) Team leaders to enable training of
volunteers to be safe during their duties.|||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |A volunteer or trustee is
suspected or proven to
have carried out a crime
or misdemeanour|5|2|10|1) Ensure robust recruiting process
including DBS checks and references
2) Safe procedures for interacting with
benefciaries
3) Suitable fnancial procedures.
4) Whether volunteer or trustee, ensure
safeguarding procedures are both robust
and followed
5) Ensure suitable insurance policy is kept
up to date|3|1|3| |A benefciary is suspected
or proven to have carried
out a crime or
misdemeanour
*In particular domestic
abuse|4
5|2
3|8
15|1) Provide mentoring and support either
directly or by working with partners to
minimise need or opportunity for such an
incident
2) Use contacts with RESET, Sponsor
Refugees etc to support TW in managing
the incident and communicate efectively
with the public.
3) May need to provide police statement
4) Depending on nature of suspected
crime or misdemeanour may need to
follow safeguarding procedures
5) Cooperate with local domestic abuse
services – lead sponsor initially
6) Prior to family arrival attempt to obtain
a risk assessment from Home
Ofce/UNHCR|3
3|1
2|3
?| |The premises of our family|4|1|4|1) Work with landlord before the family is|2|1|2| 11 |are shown to be sub-
standard or unsafe||||settled.
2) Inspect the property
3)Take Police advice re suitability of local
area.
4) TW would need to act in a timely and
appropriate way proportionate to nature of
risk/vulnerability of benefciaries.
5) In case of issue arising after the family
move in make best eforts to remedy the
problem or fnd an alternative property|||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Financial|||||||| |Loss of funds from theft or
fraud|5|3|15|1) Ensure security of banking
2) Suitable procedures for handling cash
and outgoing payments: See Finance
Policy.
3) Check all people handling the fnances
are right and proper persons
4) Annual check of fnances, governance
and accounting by a suitably qualifed and
experienced external monitor (Iain Kitt).
5) Ensure suitable insurance policy is kept
up to date|4|1|4| |Reduction in income
enough to severely
deplete reserves|4|2|8|Experience shows we can raise signifcant
funds in a short period|3|1|3| |Economic crash|3|1|3|Bank deposits are protected by the
Government scheme (85£k)
(Note that TW does not hold stocks and
shares)|1|1|1| |Unexpected high
expenditure for family|4|1|4|1) Have fund-raising ideas in the pipeline,
keep aware of possible grants to cover
costs.
2) Review budget and cash fow regularly|3|1|3| |Changes in beneft rules
or their interpretation|5|2|10|1) as above
2) continue to develop relationships with|3|2|6| 12 |leading to large reduction
in family's income||||relevant bodies to mitigate efects
3) focus efort on helping adults gain
employment/training|||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Organisational|||||||| |Overwork by volunteers
leading to burnout|4|2|8|1) Encourage volunteers to communicate
with team leaders
2) Hold regular Support meetings to
mentor vols.
3) Manage expectations of the family|3|1|3| |Dropout of key personnel|4|3|12|1) Maintain openings for new volunteers.
2) Share tasks and have written
procedures for key tasks.
3) Support any dropping out due to Covid
infection/isolation or other serious illness.|3|2|6| |Activities not covered by
approved procedures|3|2|6|1) Ensure regular review of activities and
their procedures and TW policies
2) Regular Support meetings to mentor
vols|2|1|2| |Not enough volunteers
either for the workload or
specifc tasks|4|3|12|1) Maintain publicity activity
2) Keep up networks
3) Be aware of training opportunities
4) In recruiting from the public we need
clarity about roles/tasks required of
volunteers|3|1|3| 13 Balance sheet year ending 30 June 2024 Income (￿nng balan¢• 2021-2022 202>2023 2023-2024 23.140.34 expenditur¢ 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 Inleresl Donotions Donations Regular Insurance refund Famlty Expenses repald Inlerprellng 5.93 70.76 59.99 15,868 3,536 90 571.13 3.205.00 3,115.00 Bank charge DBS Insuran Webslte Famlly Expenses Inl8rp¥oting TransLgIKin FundralslrwJ Exwn Toes & Tol88 Void cost ESOL Printing (inc banner) Ink & Paper Property Expens88 Rent Subsidy Room hlre UC subsidy Voluntser expense8 Tfainlng Mlscellaneou 72.3 896 75.20 20Q 0.00 306.56 306.$6 291.56 0.00 7,026.31 18,055.60 10.728.76 917.42 4.483.81 1.833,84 309.00 1,009.20 71.94 1207.43 151.35 117.83 908.4 0.00 955.59 6,669 38 0.00 16.5 699 28 373.73 171 224.05 0.00 5308 0.00 899.38 9,300 52 5,743.95 0.00 2.200.00 0,00 75 305.15 1,116.67 0.00 2.237.52 275.80 1. 170.02 3,237.25 3S3.00 336.56 1.532.90 4,668.48 59.43 Fundral8lryJ Tees & Totes Home Office Vold Cos18 Hom¢ Office ESOL Giftald Grqnl6 Property expense8 Misce11aneou8 overpald rent UC delay su$bsldy repald Volunteer Exp mpald 9881.78 5.595.65 84. 15 955.59 2, 724. 15 2,9S1.48 1700 6.800.00 1.700.00 5002.43 2,287.64 0.00 $09 nota 8,200 00 1,000.00 1,056.00 1,992.46 809.52 850 183.33 T83.34 23.62 0.00 Total 34294.15 36.142.8T 16,818.05 13.409.69 48,563.35 23.119.86 Income Add openlng balance 16.818.05 23,140.34 39.958.39 -23.119.86 16,838.53 Les8 expenditurè 8alanGe fr)tward Reconciliation Balance in bank Co-operallve Triodos Balan¢e foNard Prepared by Judllh McSwaSne Dale 6,743.18 10,095.35 16.838.S3 Ch￿ked by Ed McKay Date 11 RiNJfonced thjnds Communrty Foundation 37￿.0 Nwcastle Children 8 Mi 1CQO.O Spend lo date Reman¥)9 3237.25 462 75 soo.00 21 Rg8&rv¥d lunds 7rx)o 00 31 Available funds 8.875.78 Note.. Glftaid wlll appear ￿ next yearfs a￿￿nts