## **Co-Chairs Report** ## **2022-23** Over the year our work has expanded to include: - Working alongside other organisations in supporting the large number of pre-dispersed asylum seekers at J24, including running a session once a week for general support, moving the Bridgwater C&C to North Petherton plus, in the last few weeks, offering English classes on site once a week - on-line training for individuals appointed to J24 and, more latterly, for anyone working with asylum seekers across Somerset - more personalised support for the increased number of asylum seekers attending EC&C We currently have 63 volunteers (48 active, 3 waiting appointment + 12 'on hold’) with another 5 waiting for DBS clearance. During the year 20 volunteers have been fully trained or upgraded. We have supported 5 resettled and 3 HfU families, and at least 80 individuals via the C&C sessions. Over 30 Ukrainian students have attended English courses, and an unknown number of asylum seekers have been attended TWR activities at J24. We estimate that our total team of about 75 have had contact with at least 300 people. Also, in the last year we have: 1. seen the real difference our work makes to peoples’ lives; they tell us they are feeling valued and cared for, adults and children are thriving and contributing much to their neighbourhoods and to TWR. 2. continued to offer ‘preparation’ (not ‘training’) for volunteers. They are encouraged to pool insights, skills and experience, and this manifests itself in the range of imaginative responses to the needs of those we support (see mini-reports) 3. continued to deliver our brief, which is not only to help people ‘integrate’, but to help people feel welcome and safe. 4. continued to prioritise those in most need (where we could) and to - respond proportionately across the different groups. 5. started to develop a more robust volunteer support system (Volunteer Management Team) appropriate to the numbers we now have. A more detailed account of our work is contained in the portfolio holders’ reports presented to the Annual Meeting (September 23) ## Future Strategy The past year has been one of considerable change for TWR both in terms of the increasing demand on our services and in our organisational structures. A year ago we were in the early stages of adjusting to the needs of people arriving from the Ukraine and had had no warning of the change in government policy that has led to the large numbers of pre dispersed asylum seekers now accommodated in our area. As a Board of Trustees we were adjusting to a new system with two Co Chairs and portfolio holders taking responsibility for specific areas of our work. We cannot anticipate the world events and government policy changes that will arise in the future though we will of course endeavour to respond to them, and we will be better placed to do this effectively if we take steps to consolidate our current position. - We must continue to share the workload by further refining and developing our portfolio system. - We must make more use of the wide ranging skills and experience of our volunteers by increasing the ways in which they can become involved in the management of the organisation. - We must endeavour to secure core funding to increase the hours that we employ our administrator. Looking back over the past year TWR has every reason to be pleased with what has been achieved and confident that we will be able to continue to offer valuable support to the refugees and asylum seekers in our area. Our achievements are a testament to the commitment and hard work of all our Board of Trustees who are the driving force behind TWR and to the dedication and flexibility of our pool of volunteers. Our thanks also go to our administrator for her patience and hard work. Lynne Mayers and Eddie East CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Taunton Welcomes Refugees On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 Charity no (if any) 1183921 Sot out on pag88 I report to the trustees on my examination of the acC￿untS of the above charity (Ihe Trust'l for the year ended 31 March 2023. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charitys trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applirAble Directions given by Ihe Charity Commission under section 1445)(b) ofthe Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have me to my attention in ￿nnectIon wth the exarnination which gives me cause to believe that in, any malerial resped.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Acl., or the accounts did not ac￿rd with the accounting records" or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the fom and conlent of accounts sét out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fairf Mew which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attentson should be drawn in this report in ble a proper understanding of the ac(x)unls to be reached. Slgned: Date: 1610512023 Name: Christopher Cherry Relevant professional qualification(s) or body {if any): FCCA Address: Brunel House. Cook Way, Taunton, Somerset. TA2 6BJ CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the peri¢xl from To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to thg noar•6t£ tothB no8r•st£ toth• n•ar&st£ Endowment funds Total funds La4t ￿al tothe noar8#£ Al Rgc8lpts Individual DDn8lK)n5 Insiitutyonal Donauor Grants Grft Aid Clalm Cards & Calend*8 1.927 1.927 5.217 1952 s,000 11147 13,147 1281 1,122 Sub total(Gross incomp fc* AR) 11A91 13.147 15,095 A2 Ass•t and InbBstment ¥ale8. 18eg tabl•}. Sub total 11.491 13.147 24638 15,095 A3 Paymènts Items for Cl*nis Admin Support Meeti Translation Training Con¥8$atson Taunton Convef5alion Bndgwaler Admlnsitrdlor UkraiDg Supwrt Eng115* lor Ukrainians Enterprise Loan Employment wOrk￿p W. Somer5et Supr um Supwrt 1,016 1.283 167 1,016 964 1.147 238 634 167 193 1 J60 1,008 193 733 &665 035 .876 310 31D B02 200 Sub total 13.6QQ 9214 21814 11.8SO A4 Asset and Inve3tm•nt urchaseB. see tsblo) splay 8oard$ 144 144 114 144 152 152 Sub total Total paymonts 13.744 9.214 21956 12,002 Net of receip￿[payments) AS TTanst•rs betsveon funds Afj Cash funds last yaar end Cash funds this year end 1253 1.680 3,093 17.285 15.032 16,483 18,163 13.390 16,483 3,131 CCXX R1 at￿vnIS ISSI 1810512023 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted fund5 to £ Restricted funds to nearest£ Endowment funds to n8•wt £ Categorles Details B1 Cash funds Main acCO￿t 15.009 3,131 Putyi¢ Total cash funds 15,032 3.131 Unrnstrictad funds to n•Jrnst£ Restdcted fvnds Endowm•nt funds 10 n￿*t£ Detalls to nEarest£ Fund to*hl¢h atsEgt belon Details co￿{l¥￿11) Curr•nt valur* al Fund to whl amot bBlon Details D¥￿&Y BO•￿$ Cost Iwonall 144 ¢urr•nt ¥•lv• onal B4 Assets retalned for tha charIt￿S ¢)wn uso F￿d to whith rglatAs knount du• on&1 Ylhon thj onal D•talls B5 Llabllltle8 Svjned by one or twst88s on behalf of all the trnst88S Signature Print Namè D819 of roval Robin Ped CCXX R2 acwjnts ISSI 16105r2023