## Trustees’ Report to the AGM July 2024 – June 2025 1 TW has completed its 5[th] year. Achievements to date: settled 4 families in the area into accommodation secured by our volunteers; made good links with other charities locally working with asylum seekers and refugees; supported families to access primary health care services; advocated for family members with DWP and other agencies; provided consistent support with long term, complex health issues; helped families find school places for their children and manage transitions to High School; enabled children to engage in suitable holiday activities; provided cycles and cycle training; introduced family members to social activities near them; supported adults to access English Language classes and provided materials and sessions in their home; enabled one family to move on to a private (philanthropic) rental at the end of initial tenancy; advocated for families seeking accommodation at the end of their initial tenancy. Volunteer groups have met together regularly throughout to plan and respond to the changing circumstances of each family All of this and much more. 2 Volunteers have given a huge amount of time which we did not tot up but we should have done. We have all learned a great deal about the process of settling into the UK, our benefits system, health services and how to use Google translate. Many volunteers have contributed by doing “behind the scenes work” needed to draw up policies and guidelines. Peter Nicklin is especially thanked for steering us through the requirements of GDPR. We have provided feedback to the Home Office, RESET and the Commission for Refugees on aspects of Community Sponsorship and our perception of the challenges refugees experience in the UK. Volunteers have been amazed and inspired by the people we have supported – their resilience, patience and adaptability. Volunteers have increased awareness within their communities of what refugees’ need at the end of their journey to safety and sanctuary. 3 We have kept in close touch with two of the families this year and will continue to do so while they put down roots in the area. ## family A They continue to live in a privately rented 2-bedroom house which they love and regret that it is far too small for their family of six. Their three-year-old shares her parent’s room but really needs her own room. They are still in Band C and although they check the appropriate website as soon as new tenancies are made available but find no suitable tenancies. The children are all doing well at school however their mother feels that the breadth of their English vocabulary is preventing them achieving higher marks. She has identified that this issue is also impacting on the grades she is achieving academically. She is addressing this by encouraging the children to read novels and she is doing the same. This has been another eventful year for the ‘Y’ family  The adults have continued their English language studies at Newcastle College 4 It has become clear during this last year that the Community Sponsorship model can harness the energy and enthusiasm of people to reach out and support refugees. However, Trustees are aware of two important factors the influencing how we move forward: - 4.1 the difficulty of securing accommodation at Local Housing Allowance rates when local authority and other social housing is in short supply and the private rented sector is under pressure; - 4.2 the commitment we ask of volunteers to support families for 2, or more, years and do everything necessary to run the charity (a pre-requisite of the Community Sponsorship model. During the year Trustees have grappled with these issues. We have also listened to what other charities are doing for refugees and asylum seekers locally. We feel the Charity needs to re-assess, perhaps even re-set. This will be the work of the Trustees in the coming year. Everyone who has volunteered, donated and supported TW thus far is invited to contribute to this process. You have all done so much over the past 5 years – the next phase of TW needs to be decided upon together. Report compiled by Judith McSwaine Barbara McKay Y family Jane Young A family •v.dc Tyneside Welcomes Statement of accounts year ending 30 June 2025 Chjrity Pkn 1183738 Income Expenditure Opening balance 16,838.53 Donation Donation - regular Family Expenses Fundraising Gift aid Grant Interest volunteer expenses 1,092.00 3,161.51 270.00 1,043.88 1,690.32 5,329.59 74.80 205.50 Bank charge Donation Family Expenses Fundraising Fundraising Expenses Insurance Miscellaneous Property Expenses Translation volunteer expenses Website 49.20 -800.00 -1,325.18 -50.00 -12.00 -316.56 -100.00 -73.44 -81.40 -85.97 -228.18 -3,101.93 Total 12,867.60 Totsl Totsl Income Add opening balance 12,867.60 16,838.53 29,706.13 -3,101.93 26,604.20 -7,000.00 Less total expenditure Less reserves Tyneside Welcomes Statement of accounts year ending 30 June 2025 Available funds tharlty P*) 1183738 19,604.20 Reconciliation Balance in bank Co-operative Triodos Total 7,490.40 19,113.80 26,604.20 Prepared bv Judith Mcswaine Date Ringfenced funds Reserved funds Available funds £0 £7,0(K) £19, 604.20 Checked by Edmc balance forward 30 June 2025 balance forward 30 June 2024 balance forward 30 June 2023 balance forward 30June 2022 26 604.20 16,838.53 23,140.00 35,560.00 Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Tyneside Welcomes on the charitys accounts for the period l July 2024- 30 June 2025 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Tyneside Welcomes ITW) for the year ended 30 June 2025. Responslbllltles and basls of report As the trustees of the charityi you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wlth the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the ACY). I report In respect of my examination of the Trusvs accounts carried out under sertion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrylng out my examination I have followed all the appllcable Directiofts given by the Charlty Comrnission under section 145151{b} of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attentlon in connertion with the examlnation grving me Cause to believe that In any materlal respect that: l. accountlng records were not kept In respect of the Trust as requlred by sectlon 130 of the Act; orthat 2. the accounts do not accord with those records, and that 3. the charity's funds are not used in pursuit of the charitvs charitsble obj•¢tives. I confirm that there are no other matters to which yourattention should be drawn to enable a proper understandlnz of the accountsto be reached. Signed.. Name: JLq?44y Address: Date: