Refugee Roots (Registered charity, number 1184098) Financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2022
| Page | Contents |
|---|---|
| 2 - 6 | Trustees’ annual report |
| 7 | Independent examiner’s report |
| 8 | Receipts & payments account |
| 9 | Statement of assets & liabilities |
| 10 | Notes to the accounts |
Refugee Roots Trustees’ annual report for the year ended 30 June 2022
Full name Refugee Roots
Organisation type Charitable incorporated organisation
Registered charity number 1184098
Principal address
The Vine Community Centre, Bobbers Mill Road, Nottingham NG7 5GZ
Trustees
R Rattigan Rev P Thipa R Madzvia H Whitton C Parker P Wenham, until 3/5/22 T Pickup
Independent examiner
John O’Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2, North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL
Governance and management
The CIO association is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 25 June 2019.
Recruitment of trustees is from those with an existing interest and involvement in working with refugees and asylum seekers and in sympathy with the aims of Refugee Roots, with an intention to maintain a balanced group of trustees, in terms of skills and experience, ethnicity, gender and age.
Appointment is by the existing membership and trustees following an interview, references and safer recruitment measures such as DBS Checks being met and are arranged by the trustees.
Objectives and activities
The objects of the CIO, which are to be carried out in accordance with Christian principles within the wider communities of Nottingham and the County of Nottinghamshire and the surrounding areas, are:
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The promotion of social inclusion for the public benefit among people who are asylum seekers and refugees who are socially excluded on the grounds of their social and economic position, in particular but not exclusively by:
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a) Providing volunteer befrienders/mentors who will assist asylum seekers and refugees with their integration into the community by providing activities, information, advocacy services, advice and support;
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b) Relieving or preventing poverty among asylum seekers and refugees by providing grants of financial assistance, essential equipment, furniture and other items as may be necessary;
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c) Providing asylum seekers and refugees with education and training in the English language;
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d) The provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life for asylum seekers and refugees.
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The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit by:
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a) The elimination of discrimination on the grounds of race or religion;
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b) Advancing education and raising awareness in equality and diversity;
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c) Promoting activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds;
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d) Cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity.
Public benefit statement
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit
Promoting social inclusion of newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers and understanding in society as a public benefit.
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Providing volunteer befrienders/mentors who will assist participants with their integration into the community by providing activities, information, advocacy, advice and support;
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Relieving or preventing poverty among participants by helping them access or providing grants of financial assistance, essential equipment, clothing, furniture and other necessary items;
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Providing participants with education and training in the English language;
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Providing facilities for recreation or other leisure activities to promote the social well-being of participants;
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Advancing awareness of the issues facing refugees and asylum seekers among the wider public with a particular emphasis in churches, fostering understanding between people from diverse backgrounds and cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality with diversity.
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Summary of the main achievements during the period
Refugee Roots welcomes all, helping those in need find friendship and a place to call home
Refugee Roots is a Christian charity that helps asylum seekers and refugees build relationships and navigate the complexities of building a new life in the UK. Our range of empowerment initiatives includes befriending, and accompanying asylum seekers to appointments, information, advice and guidance; as well as support groups and activities, such as free English conversation classes.
We are so grateful for the incredible support from the community and individuals who have joined in our work to make a real lasting difference to the lives of refugees in Nottingham.
Despite the challenges and difficulties faced, we have risen up with your support and encouragement to keep going. It's been a year of change too, as we moved from our birthplace of St Stephen’s with St Paul’s in Hyson Green to a city centre venue in Tiger Community Enterprise CIC’s new Community Hub (Tiger Community Hub) on the Lister Gate.
During the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 we worked with and supported 310 participants. (141 Female participants and 167 male participants). Our support included;
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Befriending (one to one)
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Volunteers met weekly with participants for support which included help with language learning, confidence building, accessing other services and reducing isolation.
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38 individuals were supported through Befriending
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Art Sessions
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Weekly art sessions provided safe and creative spaces for participants. ○ 70 participants have been involved in Art sessions.
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Accompanying refugees and asylum seekers to appointments
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Volunteers accompanied participants to appointments such as medical and home office appointments
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28 participants helped by our Navigators (accompanying).
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Information, Advice and Guidance, and Signposting
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Our support worker has provided information, advice and guidance on a range of issues such as housing, welfare, and education. The support worker has also made referrals, signposted to and provided information about other service providers.
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150 participants were supported with Advice and Guidance.
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Access Project and Access Women’s Group with English Classes
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Various weekly group sessions where volunteers taught English, created welcoming and safe spaces for refugees and social opportunities to make new friends.
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142 participants supported through Access (English Classes, Workshops and Social Activities)
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28 women were supported through the Women’s Group which offered free English conversation classes, social activities and crafting workshops.
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Social Groups and Events
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Day trips, meals, and celebrations, including events during Refugee week.
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Training and Workshops
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External facilitators led workshops on topics such as Wellbeing, Life in the UK and more.
“I am very happy at Refugee Roots, I have been involved in the cooking classes and attending English classes where I learned a lot”
Morteza, Participant
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80% Strongly Agreed and 14% Agreed Refugee Roots helped them
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79% strongly agreed and 15% agreed that their issue was resolved
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80% strongly agreed and 14% agreed they learned new skills
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76% strongly agreed and 14% agreed their English language improved
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91% strongly agreed and 6% agreed they were more confident
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84% strongly agreed and 11% agreed they felt they had a say in the decisions and enough control over the support and activities they benefited from.
121 Volunteers have supported our projects and activities many of whom represent churches within the Diocese. It makes all the difference to have such dedicated volunteers who care, we are grateful for all that each one does and collectively what they achieve.
Already 6 months into our next period and we are seeing unbelievable growth. This is resulting from the growth of the Charity, increased demand for services, and the growing refugee population which is partially due to the Ukrainian conflict and the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and the commissioning of hotels and other properties as emergency accommodations for refugees in Nottingham by the Home Office.
We value your ongoing support, prayer, and encouragement.
“Refugee Roots has helped me tremendously from the first day I arrived in Nottingham. First they provided me with a befriender. They have supported me with travel to appointments and their support worker has helped me with everything I needed. Refugee Roots found a volunteer to accompany me to my Home Office interview which was important for me and meant a lot. I am regularly part of the art class and as many other activities as I can. I am
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thankful that I found such wonderful people at Refugee Roots and that they truly became a family. Refugee Roots gave me hope and a reason to start again .”
Alliance, Participant
Get the full annual report from our website www.refugeeroots.org.uk
The charity’s policy on reserves
Our principal liability is potential cost of staff redundancy in the event of loss of income.
Trustees aim to keep three months unrestricted funds in reserve. We review our reserves policy annually unless a review is required earlier.
The charity’s risks
Failure of grant applications, donations or fund-raising activities. Clearly we share with all charities major uncertainties about such funding in the present financial climate.
We have appropriate insurance for a charity.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Signed ______ Date _ 23/3/2023 C Parker, Trustee
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Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Refugee Roots for the year ended 30 June 2022
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Refugee Roots (the charity) for the year ended 30 June 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
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 to be reached.
Signed ____ Date _______ 24/3/2023 John O’Brien MSc, FCCA, FCIE Employee of Community Accounting Plus
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Refugee Roots Receipts & payments account for the year ended 30 June 2022
| 2021 Total Unrestricted Funds Funds £ Note £ Receipts 86928 Grants & donations 5384 70 Fundraising 35 p 201 Sales 508 258 Sundry income - 87457 Total receipts 5927 Payments 66301 Wages, NI & pension 5055 4034 Professional fees 4683 5848 Activities & events 478 5400 Equipment, repairs & renewals 1089 73 Fee charges 70 6044 Volunteer expenses 563 1858 Rent & room hire 593 486 Hardship payments 73 2170 Hospitality 1770 2374 IT 452 4457 Marketing 788 4336 Printing & stationery 1007 100 Sundry expenses - 1292 Telephone 142 1643 Training 782 98 Travel & accomodation - 465 Resourses & materials 17 - Membership & subscriptions 132 106979 Total payments 17694 (19522) Net receipts/(payments) (11767) - Inter fund transfers (720) 75373 Cash funds at start of this period 29092 55851 Cash funds at end of this period 16605 |
Restricted Funds £ 127571 2766 - - 130337 57600 1035 5708 85 28 1806 4163 1662 2207 1341 1485 1040 - 680 197 149 1185 - 80371 49966 720 26759 77445 |
2022 Total Funds £ 132955 2801 508 - |
|---|---|---|
| 136264 | ||
| 62655 5718 6186 1174 98 2369 4756 1735 3977 1793 2273 2047 - 822 979 149 1202 132 |
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| 98065 | ||
| 38199 - 55851 |
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| 94050 |
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Refugee Roots Statement of assets and liabilities at 30 June 2022
| 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | Cash assets | £ |
| 55764 | Bank accounts | 93910 |
| 87 | Cash in hand | 140 |
| 55851 | 94050 | |
| Other monetary assets | ||
| 718 | Debtors: HMRC | - |
| 718 | - | |
| Assets retained for the charity’s own use | ||
| General equipment. | ||
| Laptop purchased June 2020 at a cost of £650. | ||
| Liabilities:creditors | ||
| - | HMRC | - |
| - | Pensions | (322) |
| (564) | Independent examination | (582) |
| (564) | (904) |
These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by:
Signed _____ Dated _____ 23/3/23 R Rattigan, Trustee
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Refugee Roots Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2022
1. Receipts & payments accounts
Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.
2. Funds analysis
| Restricted funds Access Befriending Cooking together Covid 19 response Hardship Tuesday group Art group Ukraine support A Place to Belong Afghan Fund Advice & guidence Unrestricted funds General |
Opening balance £ 10842 10112 - - - 892 4913 - - - - 26759 29092 29092 |
Receipts (Payments) £ £ 31016 (22093) 19709 (22168) 3650 (3650) 100 - 1992 (1820) 2427 (3319) 29649 (10313) 1000 (478) 17280 - 3805 (818) 19709 (15712) 130337 (80371) 5927 (17694) 5927 (17694) |
Transfers £ - - (100) - - - - (2280) - 3100 720 (720) (720) |
Closing balance £ 19765 7653 - - 172 - 24249 522 15000 2987 7097 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77445 | ||||
| 16605 | ||||
| 16605 |
3. Trustees’ remuneration
Trustees received no expenses, remuneration or benefits in this period.
4. Glossary of terms
Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity, but not paid during the accounting period.
Restricted funds: These are funds given to the charity, subject to specific restrictions set by the donor, but still within the general objects of the charity.
Debtors: These are amounts owed to the charity, but not received in the accounting period.
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