## TAUNTON WELCOMES REFUGEES
## Chair’s Report to Annual Meeting May 21 2025.
Earlier this year at the end of a coffee and conversation session a young Iranian woman stood and, with tears in her eyes, made a short speech in clear but not perfect English, “This is my last time here. Tomorrow I am going to Portsmouth. Thank you so much. You have been so kind to me. I don’t know what I could of done without you. I will never forget your kindness.” In a world in which war, famine and desperation continue to force large numbers of people to flee their countries of origin and in a political climate that is often hostile to them, Taunton Welcomes Refugees remains proud of our work to welcome and offer support to people who have arrived here seeking refuge and asylum.
## Settled Families
Liaising with the Local Authority we continue to offer befriending support to newly arrived families with settled refugee status now mostly from Afghanistan. We see this as a long term commitment of up to two years to help the family settle and integrate into life in the UK. Currently we are supporting 7 families.
## People Seeking Asylum
Our work offering support to people housed by the Home Office in a building formerly used as a hotel continues to develop with a small group of volunteers visiting twice a week. The hotel is still at full capacity with families and single women from many different countries and our volunteers offer friendship, moral support, practical advice and help with understanding documents and procedures. With the Home Office now processing claims faster, a lot of our work is guiding people through, and helping them understand, the difficult process of trying to settle into their new lives. On average 24 people attend each of our sessions though on occasion it has been as many as 60.
In partnership with RAFT (Refugee Aid from Taunton) we also help supply clothing and source other essential items such as mobiles and SIM cards.
We offer similar support to a smaller number of people who are housed in dispersal accommodation in the area.
## Cofee and Conversation
Coffee and Conversation, now in its fourth year, continues to go from strength to strength. We hold sessions twice a week at the Quaker Meeting House in Taunton, where we welcome a mix of people from the displaced community. There are Afghan families from the resettlement schemes as well as asylum seekers from a wide range of counties who are in the hotel or in dispersal properties in Taunton and Bridgwater. Families and individuals enjoy the opportunity to engage in one to one conversation with native English speakers at whatever level is appropriate for them and also to mix and socialise. With people from so many diverse backgrounds the opportunity to mix and engage with each other is very rewarding. We
currently have an average of 17 people attending each session (this has on occasion risen to nearly 30) with an equal number of volunteers.
As ever, our incredible volunteers are the backbone of the work we do, and we are extremely lucky to be able to draw on such a range of skills and talents as well as their unbounded kindness and compassion.
We set up Bridgwater C&C in March 2024, in response to a need to support Refugees in Bridgwater who are unable to attend the Taunton C&C.
We approached Diversity Voice who run a Welcome Hub in Bridgwater. They allow us to use their resources for free. The Bridgwater C&C is only small but really appreciated by the small number of Afghan ladies that attend. Two ladies, in particular, now have the confidence to attend College. Initially A translated for B. A now attends College. C has started with us and B now translates for C. This is such a positive and a real pleasure to watch.
The Hub also hosts other organisations such as the Community Employment Hubs, CAB and The Pantry so we can easily signpost to these organisations. More importantly there is a great deal of laughter and smiles!
## Minehead Holidays
In the summer of ’24 working in partnership with a Minehead group we were able to arrange seaside holidays for four of the families we have supported over the years. The whole family benefits but the children’s delight is a joy to behold.
## English Language Lessons for Ukrainians.
This project is now nearing the end of its third year. Katya continues to be a fabulous teacher and has run three classes, two in-person at QMH and one online from home. The attendance hasn't been full, as people are more likely to be employed or are visiting Ukraine for extended periods - but nevertheless the social interaction between the two classes at QMH is such that the first class hangs around and the second class arrives early so that they have coffee and chat together. Katya tells me that they all benefit hugely from this time, herself included. The whole project has been funded in full by SCC at no cost to TWR other than organisational time.
## Multi Agency work.
TWR is not alone in wanting to give a positive welcome to people seeking refuge. Working with Somerset Council, CHARIS and Raft we have been proud to contribute to a series of events and to the work that recently has led to Taunton achieving City of Sanctuary status. We hope that this status will raise the profile of our work and act as a catalyst for further developments.
## Safeguarding
Because we work with vulnerable families and individuals we are determined to ensure that our safeguarding procedures are thorough and effective.
Over the last 12 months we have ensured that our safeguarding and CP policy has been reviewed and updated. A quick point of reference safeguarding flowchart was created and sent to all volunteers and added to our safeguarding policy.
There have been 2 safeguarding concerns raised with the DSL and Deputy DSL. One which resulted in multi-agency working with CSC, police and other professionals.
Safeguarding training for all new volunteers has been delivered either face to face or online by the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Along with DBS checks and reference checks. All Trustees have up to date DBS checks.
Outside agencies have been contacted in situations where professional advice was required. Moving forward the safeguarding team will continue to:-
- Look to continue to maintain, review and improve our safeguarding systems.
- Ensure the training of volunteers and trustees remains up to date and relevant.
- Ensure further safeguarding training for trustees
## Volunteers
TWR is a volunteer organisation, all our trustees and face to face workers give their time voluntarily. Currently we have 56 active volunteers. As an organisation we are mindful of the enormous value of this contribution and of how it enables us to achieve a great deal with very limited finance. Our volunteers bring a diverse range of remarkable skills and experience underpinned by compassion and a desire to make our community a better place for all of us. We endeavour to ensure that volunteers are well trained and supported through regular volunteers events and opportunities to give feedback and raise issues.
At TWR we cannot thank our volunteers enough, working face to face or behind the scenes as trustees their effort is amazing. We know it is greatly appreciated by the refugee community and we believe that the experience enhances the lives of the volunteers themselves.
“Hello, my dear, thank you for your kindness. After arriving in England, people like you made us endure the distance and the difficulties. Thank you _🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹_ ” Kurdish woman from Iraq.
Eddie East and Simon Forrester, TWR Co Chairs.
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Taunton Welcomes Refugees **On accounts for the year** 31 March 2025 **Charity no** 1183921 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 1 - 2 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **DD / MM / YYYY** .
**Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
**Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
**Date:** 20/06/2025 **Signed: Name:** Christopher Cherry **Relevant professional** FCCA **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 3 Marco Polo House, Cook Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6BJ
1
**October 2018**
**IER**
**Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
2
**October 2018**
**IER**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Taunton Welcomes Refugees 1183921
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period 01-Apr-24 31-Mar-25
To
from
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Individual Donations 1,165 - - 1,165 2,334
Institutional Donations 2,053 - - 2,053 790
Grants - 17,461 - 17,461 27,303
Gift Aid Claim 565 - - 565
Cards & Calendars 213 - - 213 1,069
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
3,996 17,461 - 21,457 31,496
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 3,996 17,461 - 21,457 31,496
A3 Payments
Co-ordinator 515 12,309 - 12,824 8,966
IT 45 - - 45 325
Volunteer Meetings 1,124 - - 1,124 1,489
Management 832 - - 832 1,074
Other 331 331 1,010
Fundraising - - 338
Publicity - - 4,745
Conversation Taunton 2,170 6,251 8,421 571
Conversation Bridgwater - 12,192
English for Ukrainians 12,609 12,609 97
Asylum Support 119 119 271
Grants to Clients - - 500
Kilve - - -
Minehead 225 - - 225
Sub total [ 5,030 ] 31,500 - 36,530 31,578
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 5,030 31,500 - 36,530 31,578
Net of receipts/(payments) - 1,034 - 14,039 - - 15,073 - 82
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 3,146 14,935 - 18,081 18,163
Cash funds this year end 2,112 896 - 3,008 18,081
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## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**|Signature
**Details**
**Details**
Projector
Dsiplay Boards
Main account
Public account
**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**2,102**
**896**
**10**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2,112**
**896**
OK
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**152**
**144**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Robin Peeler|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
**(optional)**
Date of
approval|