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2023-03-31-accounts

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 March 2023

Charity Registration:

Charity Commission England and Wales Registered Charity No. 1184580 Scottish Charity Regulator Registered Charity No. SCO52326

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Contents page
Reference and administrative information 3
Trustees’ report 4
Independent examiner’s report 30
Statement of financial activities 32
Balance sheet 33
Notes to the financial statements 34

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Trustees

rustees
Trustees for the full year 1.4.2022-31.3.2023
Martine Petetin Chair from 1.9.2023
Jen Ang Chair until 1.9.2023
Pierre-Antoine Boulat Deputy Chair
Wiard Sterk Secretary
Will Garford Treasurer
Christopher Desira
Mihai Bica
Marcela Benedetti
Katia Widlak Resigned 1.9.2023
Nicolas Hatton Resigned 1.9.2023

Name of the Chief Executive

Kate Smart

Registered Office

R1.3 Riverside House, Newport Market Upper Dock Street Newport NP20 1DD

Independent examiner

2E Accountants Unit 11, Flamingo Court 81 Crampton Street, London SE17 3BF

Bank

National Westminster Bank

40 Queens Road, Bristol BS8 1BF

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Trustees’ report

Settled’s trustees are pleased to present this annual report and accounts for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, their fourth report since Settled was set up on 24th July 2019. The trustees confirm that Settled remains fully compliant with the requirements of the Charity Commission of England and Wales. This report is set out according to Charity Commission guidance.

In February 2022 Settled became a registered charity with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Settled is also fully compliant with the requirements of the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and holds accreditation OISC Level 3. Settled is the only UK-wide, citizen-led charity focused on immigration advice for European citizens post-Brexit.

In presenting this report the trustees would like to express their sincere thanks to all those whose vision, commitment and hard work have achieved so much and helped so many.

Objectives and activities

Summary of the main purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document.

Settled’s constitution was agreed on 10[th] July 2019.

Settled’s charitable objects are:

‘The relief of European Union citizens* in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship, homelessness, being victims/survivors of domestic violence, being victims of human trafficking or other disadvantage by the provision of education, information, support, advice and representation on lawfully obtaining the right to reside and work in the United Kingdom following the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.’

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In May 2023 Settled’s trustees sought approval from the Charity Commission to expand its charitable objects to include nationals of prospective candidate or candidate countries to the European Union even when not dependent on a European citizen for their residence status. This is due to the increasing need for Settled to expand the scope of its services to Ukrainian citizens following recent geo-political events and following strategic reflection by trustees on the needs of Europeans more broadly, not just those who are European citizens.

Summary of main activities in pursuit of these objects

Settled’s main charitable activities in pursuit of these objects are:

  1. Identifying needs

  2. Providing multi-lingual education, information, advice and support

  3. Adding value to the services of others

Statement on public benefit

The trustees understand and are committed to ensuring that Settled upholds the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Public benefit inspires and drives Settled’s trustees, staff and volunteers and this is demonstrated in this report.

Achievements and Performance

We are proud to report that 11,078 individuals received direct, personal advice from Settled between 1st April 2022 and 31 March 2023 (the number since Settled began in 2019 is over 40,000).

Furthermore, in this year 621,620 people received information and general advice through our various channels.

Further detail on how Settled interprets its charitable objects.

In the previous year 2021-2022 Settled reviewed its strategic direction and its trustees approved the following summary:

Settled’s vision is ‘A positive future for EU citizens in the UK’.

“Settled believes that European citizens who have made their home in the UK before Brexit should be allowed to continue to do so lawfully, safely and successfully, that there should be fair routes to settle for those arriving post-Brexit, and that European

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citizens in the UK can contribute positively to the UK and the future of Europe. Settled intends to remain at the forefront of work with European citizens, making a unique contribution over the next 3 years by organising its activities in a structured way that reflect strategic themes, increasing its capacity to respond nimbly, valuing simplicity and sustainability and remaining focussed on making an impact.”

Settled’s charitable beneficiaries are not only EU, EEA and Swiss citizens but also their dependents, and these dependents may be citizens of other countries. When war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022, Settled was one of the few organisations in the UK that was already providing immigration advice in Ukrainian and Russian languages to people from Ukraine (if they had family ties to a European citizen in the UK) and we felt a moral imperative to respond by expanding this provision.

Further detail on activities carried out, achievements and performance.

1. Identifying needs

Settled’s staff and volunteers are spread across the UK and share common languages, cultures and experiences with European citizens. They are trained to sensitively explore the needs of vulnerable and isolated individuals and win their trust. Remote working has meant we have been accessible to people in all parts of the UK equally. In 2022-23, with the pandemic subsiding, we were able to expand our face-to-face advice provision in several new locations and learn from the insights gained in these sessions.

Our CharityLog case-recording database allowed us to keep detailed records and analyse data. Staff continued to hold weekly online meetings at which they shared learnings about emerging needs in communities across the UK and trends observed in our caseload –to plan responses quickly and maintain a birds-eye view of the longterm, wide-ranging and complex challenges which European citizens and their families face as they pursue a future in the UK.

In late 2022, thanks to additional funding and in response to growing needs, Settled created a new staff post: Ukraine Outreach and Communications Officer to help us reach further into communities, and for the coming year 2023-24 we have secured funding for a further outreach post to respond to European citizens in Wales.

2. Providing multi-lingual education, information, advice and support

Settled’s services are available and in demand UK-wide. Settled’s advice services for European citizens have remained in high demand throughout the year, in part due to our excellent networks of connections with both grassroots communities and

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professionals in the statutory, legal and voluntary sectors which generate referrals to Settled. Settled’s reputation grows year on year, we are known for our expert and friendly team who between them speak over 20 languages. Our specialist service for European citizens with Roma heritage, led by Assen Slavchev a Romanes-speaker, is similarly very busy providing face-to-face advice in London and taking phone calls from numerous other locations in the UK. 2022-23 is the first full year of Settled’s Ukraine advice service. Our Ukraine adviser Yuliia Ismail (a qualified Ukrainian lawyer, member of the Ukrainian Bar Association) provides advice with guidance when needed from our Senior Immigration Adviser Naqeeb Sadiq, a solicitor.

Online information sessions

Settled co-delivered 7 webinars on the rights of European citizens with other charities, law firms or embassies. Topics included Moving from Pre-Settled to Settled Status, Joining Family Members options, Access to NHS Services, Family & Student Visas, Citizenship and Voting Rights. Broadcast via Zoom and/or Facebook Live, speakers from our staff and volunteers presented and answered queries in several languages. These innovative delivery channels are testimonies to Settled’s diverse outreach capabilities.

Facebook forums

Facebook forums ran in 10 languages: Bulgarian, Czech/Slovak, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish and (added this year) Ukrainian. These continued to have extensive multi-lingual reach, particularly among low-skilled, marginalised people. Simple queries were answered quickly, and the answers shared on Facebook for the benefit of others. Individuals with more complex questions were transferred to receive email or telephone advice from the most appropriate team member.

Telephone helplines

Telephone helplines ran in 11 languages: English, Bulgarian, Czech/Slovak, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish and Romanes. We decided not to offer a Ukraine telephone line because of concerns about managing demand, but we received plenty of calls from Ukrainians on our English line.

Advice by email

Email enquiries could be submitted and answered via advice@settled.org.uk, roma.advice@settled.org.uk and ukraineadvice@settled.org.uk or via a form on the Settled website.

Higher level advice

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Settled employed two senior immigration advisers qualified to give higher level advice on complex cases at OISC Level 3. In 2022-23 additional funding was secured to increase the number of days per week that they work for Settled.

Face to face advice

As the pandemic subsided, Settled’s face-to-face work has expanded and we provided:

Information leaflets

Settled maintains a small range of translated leaflets on relevant topics, electronic versions being available on our website or emailed out on request. In 2022-23 we began batch printing leaflets since there were more opportunities to distribute leaflets in person. In 2022-23 the following new leaflets were produced:

Refused EUSS applications;

A general leaflet about Settled

Information about our Ukraine service

Access to housing for Ukrainians

The visa scheme for Ukraine children.

Settled commissions the design talents of Goodthinking design for its new published materials.

Videos

We worked with a Roma film-maker to produce a short film in Romanes aimed at Roma families - an accessible and inclusive alternative to written information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0MJTQa1pxE We intend to make more like this. Our Communications and Impact Manager worked with some of our volunteers to make a series of short films about why they volunteer. A Ukrainian family, helped by Settled, made a film of their story which we edited to accompany Settled’s winter fundraising appeal.

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Website

Settled’s multi-lingual website remained an essential tool for conveying information and thereby reducing demand on our busy advice services. Information was updated and extended during the year, notably adding additional information relating to our new Ukraine service.

3. Adding value to the services of others

Encouraging referrals

In general throughout the year, Settled has seen an increase in European citizens being referred by voluntary and statutory sector organisations throughout the UK:

Settled’s Immigration Manager, working closely with our sub-contracting partners Citizens Rights Project, has encouraged a steady stream of referrals from several organisations in Scotland including Citizens Advice and the Simon Community.

New for 2022-23, Settled was also part of a new funded partnership: ‘Thames Valley Immigration Alliance’ resulting in referrals of European citizens from partners Asylum Welcome, Reading Refugee Support Group and Slough Refugee Support. Most of these have been Portuguese citizens of East Timorese origin.

The various embassies and consulates of the different EU member states continue to refer European citizens to Settled. This year we also took referrals from several Citizens’ Advice Bureaus around the UK, from probation services in London and from The Big Issue regarding Roma members of their team. Numerous local authorities have made referrals, with Liverpool and Brent being among the most connected.

Our North of England co-ordinator Cristina Tegolo gave a presentation to an online conference hosted by Nottingham University about the rights of EU students to study in the UK post-Brexit, generating more referrals from student bodies.

The Polish community has increased its referrals to Settled after meetings with the Polish embassy and a St Nicolas event in Newport.

There was a noticeable increase in referrals from Northern Ireland in this year and members of our team met with Migrants Centre NI and with Armagh Roma Support Community, as well as other Northern Ireland organisations to discuss their concerns.

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To highlight our new Ukraine service Settled met with the Ukraine consul in Scotland and corresponded with the Ukraine consul in London. We also wrote to Local Authorities in different parts of the UK, had several discussions with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) and visited the Ukrainian Info Centre Glasgow. All have subsequently referred cases to us.

Providing training

In Autumn 2022, the Welsh Government commissioned Settled to provide a training programme of 18 sessions delivered to local authority and other staff in Wales, so that they could better understand the differences between various migrant groups and their entitlements. A step in a new direction for Settled, developing and delivering this course was a lot of work involving several staff members. It resulted in excellent feedback from participants for oversubscribed sessions.

Our Ukraine Adviser Yuliia Ismail ran an expert training session for the Ukrainian Bar Association and has been in discussion with AUGB (Association of Ukrainians in the UK) about providing their branches with training and advice. Settled held discussions with the Salvation Army about providing training for them - this has been postponed but we hope to resume in the year ahead. Settled has also been asked to provide training for staff at the Refugee Council and this will take place in the year ahead. Otherwise, we can see a substantial need for training on the rights of European citizens and Ukrainians, in organisations of all types across the UK, but currently Settled does not have sufficient staff capacity for the resource-intensive development and administration of training courses, so we are very selective about when we accept opportunities to provide training.

Informing and advocacy

EU authorities

Settled continues to work closely with the EU Delegation to the UK. Our staff attended regular meetings with EU Delegation staff to share information about issues concerning European citizens and we met with the outgoing EU Ambassador and welcomed his successor on his visits to Scotland and Wales. Settled’s chair of trustees and some staff members attended a high-profile event in November 2022 organised by the EU Delegation to celebrate and discuss the concerns of European citizens in the UK. Several staff attended meetings with the European Economic and Social Committee in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Numerous meetings were held with representatives of embassies and consulates of different EU Member States.

UK authorities

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In April 2022 we launched our survey report ‘Settled Not Secure’ and shared it with the Home Office, Welsh Government, Greater London Authority and many others. Our service manager Toni Petkova attended the APPG on Migration, our CEO Kate Smart spoke at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Immigration Law and Policy. Chris Keppie and Inna Rogoman attended the APPG on Homelessness to discuss the needs of Ukrainians arriving in the UK.

Settled wrote to the Immigration Minister Kevin Foster M.P. about European citizens who struggle to prove a durable relationship either because they do not cohabit for religious or cultural reasons or because they have been separated due to covid restrictions.

We continue to have a close relationship with the Welsh Government and Settled’s CEO is part of the Welsh Government’s migrant integration steering group. Our Immigration Manager Andrew Jordan met with the Scottish Government officers to discuss issues of concern relating to proving status and accessing rights. He also met with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) and raised the issue of unregulated immigration advisers in rural Scotland. Settled’s Wales Manager Rhys Evans met with representatives of the Department for Work and Pensions as part of efforts to respond effectively to clients with benefit problems and other related problems accessing services. Several members of Settled’s team (trustees, staff and volunteers) sit on the Citizens Panel for the Independent Monitoring Authority for the Citizens’ Rights Agreements (IMA) and we are grateful to the IMA for its legal case seeking a safety net for those who struggle to transition from pre-settled to settled status.

We attended a Birmingham City Council roundtable on the impact of Brexit on communities. In the few weeks and months following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Settled was at the forefront of advocacy to extend and simplify visa routes for Ukrainians e.g. to ensure that Ukraine family members of European citizens were considered.

To enable Settled to provide an effective service, we persistently pressed the Home Office to provide us with an internal escalation route so that we could make representations about individual Ukraine cases at a more senior level than the public helpline. After many months we reached an agreement with the Home Office and this is now working well.

Civil society

Settled participated in conversations and meetings with numerous civil society actors on topics of concern to European citizens including the3million, Tros Gynnal Plant, New Europeans, Access to Justice Wales, Maternity Action, Doctors of World, Seraphus, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU), East England Migrant Workers Steering Group, the think tank Migration Policy Scotland, academics Jo

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Wilding and Kuba Jablonowski and the chaplain of Luton Airport. In 2022-23 Settled joined the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (ILPA), the Civil Society Alliance and Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), and continued to belong to several other relevant networks, the foremost being the EUSS Alliance hosted by New Europeans. Settled actively encouraged European citizens to vote in local elections and our Service Manager Toni Petkova took part in a promotional video. We also participated in a consultation on electoral reform. The invasion of Ukraine led to numerous meetings of voluntary and statutory organisations to discuss responses (including helpful meetings organised by the Eastern European Resource Centre) and Settled was and continues to attend where possible. In February 2023 Settled’s Ukraine Outreach and Communications Officer Inna Rogoman joined a mass event in Trafalgar Square marking the anniversary of the invasion, attended by the Ambassador of Ukraine.

Media/communications

On the EUSS, Settled was mentioned in an article on the impact of delayed decisions in the Independent; and in Sussex Bylines on the judicial review relating to pre-settled status. On Ukraine, CEO Kate Smart was interviewed by BBC Radio 5 Live in May 2022, and in this BBC piece about the Ukraine visa schemes. Settled featured in pieces by the Big Issue and Al Jazeera about increasing Ukrainian homelessness in the UK. Settled has periodically produced a Mailchimp newsletter to update its supporters, this was not issued often during 2022-23 and a goal for the year ahead is to do so more regularly, since it is valuable. In addition to its multi-lingual Facebook groups that focus on advice for our clients, Settled was active on other social media - a Facebook page in English, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Lloyds Bank Foundation offered us a communications consultant who worked with our Communications and Impact Manager.

Common concerns addressed by Settled

EUSS status applications

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Concerns using EU pre-settled or settled status to exercise rights and access services

Additional concerns for Roma

Ukrainian citizens visa concerns/pre-arrival concerns

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Concerns after arrival in UK

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Assessment of Impact on beneficiaries

In the 12 months between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023, we estimate that

11,078 people received direct, personal advice from Settled on the concerns set out above.

The number since Settled began in 2019 to end of March 2023 is over 40,000. During the 12 month period, 855 of the people provided with direct advice were identified as Roma. 454 people provided with direct advice were recorded as being Ukrainian, this was the first year of our Ukraine service and numbers are growing month on month.

Of the 11078 cases, detailed monitoring data was collected for 2615 people. This sample gives us the following information:

47% contacted us by email, 29% by phone, 13% in person and 11% by other means. We provided advice to people from 63 nationalities; of whom 28 are from countries who are members of the EU, or EEA and Switzerland; 3 are candidates for joining the EU; and the remaining 32 from other nationalities. The most common were Bulgarian (18%), Romanian (17%), Italian (13%), and Ukrainian (11%).

Initial status of beneficiary recorded

Of the EUSS cases:

Of Ukrainian cases:

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Matter type recorded

Of the EUSS cases:

Furthermore, in the 12 months, our data shows that 621,620 people received information and general advice through our various channels (including information sessions views, website views, twitter impressions and belonging to Facebook forums).

As a result, all of these people are more likely to have secured their status in the UK and exercised the rights that go with it, thereby safeguarding their homes, livelihoods and access to health and other services. They are more likely to have been able to reunite their families and ensure their wellbeing, confidence and inclusion, and access education for their children. For Ukrainians, as well as these other benefits, they have been assured of a place of safety.

Settled continues to monitor the success of our work against the following criteria:

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Our volunteers are also beneficiaries: they have gained skills, a warm and sociable community, and new ways of affirming their European identity.

Case studies of beneficiaries of Settled’s services

G, from Poland

G had already been living in the UK for 12 years when she contacted Settled at the end of 2022. G is a young woman with a severe neurological condition that meant that she could not complete an online application to the EU Settlement Scheme and she could not be helped through remote advice online or on the phone. She was very anxious to resolve this because she was shortly due to receive hospital treatment. A highly trusted member of Settled’s team arranged to visit her at home and offered her support and reassurance. They took time to help her collate the relevant documents, although G was quite confused and could not remember a lot of things. Settled helped her to make the application and a positive result was received a few days later.

A, Bulgarian Roma

A is Roma and a Bulgarian citizen. He has lived in the UK since 2018 with accommodation provided in his community. In 2021 he applied for EU settled status with the help of an unregulated 'lawyer', he was refused and the adviser disappeared. A’s wife and 3 children arrived in the UK June 2022. The local authority social services became concerned about the family and contacted Settled. Settled’s Bulgarianspeaking advisers realised that A did not have sufficient documentary evidence of how long he had been in the UK, e.g. a tenancy agreement or a national insurance number and he was not registered with a G.P. A had been sending small amounts of money regularly to his wife back home using an international money transfer company and so Settled requested permission from that company for a record of transactions. This record was proof that he had been in the UK for the required period and Settled helped A to make a new application to the EU settlement scheme. When this was successful, Settled made successful ‘joining family member’ applications for his wife and children. As a result of having secured their immigration status, A and his wife were able to rent their own accommodation and get regular employment.

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L from Brazil, married to a Portuguese citizen.

L was married in late 2019 and came to live in the UK in early 2020. She and her husband both applied for and were granted pre-settled status. She contacted Settled in early 2023, heavily pregnant, seeking advice on her immigration status because she had separated from her husband due to escalating domestic abuse. Settled advised her that her pre-settled status remains valid, she is not dependent on her husband for this immigration status and that she could get this confirmed by the Home Office. We explained how to take control of her online EUSS account. We explained the importance of keeping all evidence of time spent in the UK and evidence of the domestic abuse to support her future application for settled status - letters and reports from social services, midwives and domestic abuse support charities, including a MARAC report. We also contacted a specialist benefits adviser.

M from Ukraine

M was a pharmacist in Mariupol. She is Ukrainian with family members who are European citizens, and they advised her to seek a host in the UK. Following the Russian invasion and the devastation of that city, M applied to the UK’s Homes for Ukraine scheme and came to live with a host in the Midlands in Summer 2022. After a few months she found paid work as an assistant in a pharmacy and moved into rented accommodation. Her priority was to apply for her mother to live with her - her mother had been displaced from Mariupol and was in another part of Ukraine in difficult circumstances. M was wrongly advised that she was eligible to apply for her mother to join her under the Ukraine Family Scheme and she made an application that was refused. She approached Settled and we advised her, in Ukrainian, that according to the immigration rules the Ukraine Family Scheme does not apply in this case and she must apply to be a host for her mother under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. We explained to her the conditions that she would need to satisfy to be accepted as a host by her local authority, and the support available. We helped her to make a successful application and her mother has now arrived to live with her.

Case studies of Settled volunteers

Daniela, Italian, a volunteer since 2019 giving advice in Italian.

“I decided to volunteer when I realised that EUSS was not as easy and straightforward as initially promised. I was particularly concerned about the potential impact on vulnerable groups, including the elderly and the youngest members of society. Having a legal background, spare time, and prior experience in volunteering within an Englishspeaking environment, I was determined to find the perfect charitable organisation to contribute to. Settled, without a doubt, turned out to be the right fit for me. Within the Settled community, I encountered individuals who genuinely cared for the welfare of

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the most vulnerable. These dedicated individuals not only take pride in their work but also provide ample opportunities for us, the volunteers, to develop and enhance our own skills. Over the past three years, I have eagerly participated in various training sessions and meetings, continuously expanding my knowledge. Settled has not only been a service to the European community in the UK but has also fostered a wonderful sense of community among the volunteers. Despite the constraints of my full-time job, the need to support Europeans and their families in making the UK their home remains. Settled continues to play a vital role in meeting this need, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute.”

Olga, Ukrainian, a volunteer since 2022, giving advice in Ukrainian.

“As I emigrated with my family several times, I know how hard starting a new life can be. I sympathise and want to use my experience to help others on similar journeys. I’m so happy to have joined this team, who are real professionals, are always willing to help, and for whom all lives really matter.”

PART 3 MANAGEMENT INCLUDING FINANCES

How fundraising performed

Settled has attracted funding from statutory bodies, from trusts and foundations, from corporate and community organisations and from philanthropic individuals. To sustain and grow its work Settled continued both to earn support from loyal funders and to attract the interest of new trusts and foundations. Funds were secured both for Settled’s work with European citizens and for its response to the needs of citizens of Ukraine. Major funders are listed in the table below. Grants from the National Lottery for England and for Wales respectively, were entered into the accounts for the previous year 2021-22 but their impact continued into 2022-23. In Spring 2023 Settled was delighted to receive news of an increase in its grant from the Welsh Government and for the first time to secure a grant from the Scottish Government. These will have a positive impact on our working in the coming year 2023-24.

We are also humbled by the support shown by individual donors, including some major philanthropic gifts and many small donations from European citizens who have seen our work first-hand. Records were kept of individual donors and thank you messages sent following their donations.

A British author who felt moved to support Settled because his wife is a Slovak national, has donated the proceeds (over £500 so far) from a book of unofficial Dr Who short stories.

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Settled ran a funding appeal to coincide with the Winter holidays and Christmas season.

Most of the fundraised income was secured by the CEO Kate Smart. The Wales Manager Rhys Evans has also begun to engage in fundraising bids, securing a grant from the Moondance Foundation which will show in next years’ accounts.

A proportion of Settled’s funds were spent on fundraising. This was a salary for a parttime fundraiser during part of the year, who has since left the organisation, plus volunteers posting hand-written thank you cards to all donors (affordable as our donor base is small). Online donation facilities were set up using Paypal, Facebook donate and CAF Online, charges are a small percentage of the donations.

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Our main sources of funding 2022-23
Source Classification Purpose of funds (where
restricted
CDL Corporate funder -
donation		 Core costs and to support the
development of services for
people from Ukraine.
AB Charitable Trust Grant making trust or
foundation		 Core costs.
Allen Lane Foundation Grant making trust or
foundation		 Core costs.
Asylum Welcome To provide complex immigration
advice to EU citizens in the
Thames Valley.
Barrow Cadbury Trust Grant making trust or
foundation		 To expand advice provision to
citizens of Ukraine.
The Blue Thread Grant making trust or
foundation		 To expand advice provision to
citizens of Ukraine.
Justice Together
Initiative		 Grant making trust or
foundation		 To provide complex immigration
advice to EU citizens in Scotland
and North West England. (ii) To
expand advice provision to
citizens of Ukraine.
Lloyds Bank Foundation Grant making trust or
foundation		 Core costs, with a focus on
services for those at risk of
trafficking and modern slavery.
Paul Hamlyn
Foundation		 Grant making trust or
foundation		 To improve provision of
information,
advice and support to EU citizens
in the
North of England.
Trust for London Grant making trust or
foundation		 To develop and manage
volunteers to

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advise vulnerable European
citizens.
Unbound Philanthropy Grant making trust or
foundation		 To influence policy through
evidence from service delivery.
Edmonton Community
Partnership		 Statutory and
community
partnership		 To provide information and advice
sessions for Roma families in
Enfield.
Welsh Government Statutory funder -
grant		 To develop and manage
volunteers to advise vulnerable EU
citizens in Wales.

Financial review

In this financial year Settled has received grants to the value of £399,812 (2022: £307,429). In addition, the Charity has received £19,736 (2022: £22,136) of donations and other income of £995 (2022: £0). Expenses of £414,731 (2022: £324,382) are mainly payroll, project-specific costs, finance and IT and outreach costs incurred in the delivery of the services. Grants received which will be delivered in 2023 are held in deferred income. The free reserves at the end of the period were £43,982 (2022: 38,171), up £5,811 on the previous year end. Cash in bank at year end was £249,554 (2022: £225,633). This included £110,921 received from 4 donors and 2 individuals for the work with Ukraine.

As Settled expands its outreach, cash reserves held going forward will be a minimum 3 months of operational expenditure to bring further grants and income in the case of expected grants failing to be made. This quarterly value is calculated at £132,500 including salaries covered by restricted funding and has been factored into the budgeted forecast by the end of the first quarter of the financial year 2023/24. Furthermore, at the end of September 2023, Settled had already received £199,605 (2022: £122,125) of cash funding in the current financial year to the date of these financial statements.

During the financial year, the Finance, Risk and Audit subcommittee has continued to focus on the charity’s financial and risk management, coordinating with the CEO and finance team on a regular basis. This has resulted in improved clarity and strategy being applied to the financial planning process and increased ongoing scrutiny to the

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performance of fundraising, forecast of headcount and usage of funding in line with any relevant restrictions, as well as reviewing financial impact of decisions including new hires and the opening of a new office space for staff. The subcommittee has also held multiple meetings with the charity’s external examiner to understand the challenges and areas for focus on financial and risk governance to support growth and sustainable development.

The FRAC committee also carries out a continuous review of financial controls in place and a comprehensive budget and cashflow forecast for the new financial year. The primary focus of the budget process was to improve financial confidence, manage growth and security for the employment of staff and build comfort that the charity can plan ahead while maintaining agility in a challenging and fast evolving international and local environment.

The budget process has been the most comprehensive yet for the forthcoming financial year, with the clear aim of providing assurance to the trustees, employees and funders that Settled is confident in the organisation’s liquidity and financial agility at a time of economic turbulence in the macroeconomic climate. With this in mind, the charity has opened a savings account to help manage cash flow in light of rising inflation and interest rates. A cost of living pay review was also conducted as part of the budget process to support all staff, to ensure all employees can continue their great work at Settled in a challenging climate.

Future Plans

In March 2022, Settled’s trustees agreed the following strategic themes to cover a three year period:

SECURE STATUS

FAIR ACCESS & INCLUSION

CITIZENS AND THEIR FAMILIES PROTECTED

PART OF EUROPE’S FUTURE

In the year ahead 2023-24, with these themes in mind, some of the key developments planned are:

1. Service expansion

Settled will expand services in Wales and Scotland thanks to funding from the Welsh and Scottish Governments and investigate the potential for offering services in Northern Ireland. It will prepare for the impact of the end of Home Office grants to its network of 57 local organisations providing EUSS advice and Settled will adapt our services to cope with a likely increase in demand involving complex cases. Settled will

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cautiously grow the number of locations where it is providing face to face advice, working with partners to use their community events, centres etc. and also provide some practical help to promote 'digital inclusion'. We predict that our specialist service for Roma will continue to be essential to helping people understand how to access their rights.

2. Offering a paid-for citizenship advice service

We will begin a new service to provide advice on citizenship and expert assistance to complete and submit citizenship applications. For the first time, we will introduce a fee for this area of advice, priced similar to other NGO providers and less than commercial rates. This is to generate a new income stream and is justifiable because citizenship advice is non-urgent work and tends to be requested by people who are wellestablished in the UK. Fees generated will contribute to sustaining our free advice services.

3. Support for cultural inclusion

We have long identified the need to address the sense of alienation that European citizens have felt as a result of Brexit. European citizens in the UK can contribute positively to the relationship between the UK and the EU, and to the future of Europe – its identity, prosperity, and values. Settled will take practical steps to implement a new field of work to promote artistic and cultural work by, for or about European and Ukrainian citizens in the UK – setting up a webpage to promote cultural events and related activities, perhaps starting initially in Wales.

4. Excellence in communications

We will make regular and expert use of social media and the newsletter and increase engagement with mainstream media – to reach wider and different audiences, to provide updates and raise awareness of our clients’ rights, needs and opinions, to advocate for improvements in policy and to promote acceptance of European citizens.

Structure, Governance and Management

How Settled is constituted

Settled is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Settled’s governing document is its Constitution. As explained above, Settled is now registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator in addition to being registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales.

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Selection, induction and training of trustees

Settled’s trustees are selected on the basis of suitability including knowledge of Settled’s specialist area of interest and knowledge of charity management. They pledge to serve for at least 3 years. Settled runs open and accessible recruitment when new trustees are needed. Prospective trustees are nominated and approved by existing trustees. Settled supplies all new trustees with its constitution, recent accounts and information setting out the requirements of the trustee role as produced by the Charity Commission and NCVO. Trustees are encouraged to read internal minutes and reports to familiarise themselves with charitable activities, and to meet the staff and volunteers to see their work in action.

The organisational structure

Settled’s team comprises trustees, staff and volunteers. Most of this team are European citizens.

Trustees

All of Settled’s trustees have personal or family experience of the UK immigration system. 8 trustees remained in post throughout 2022-23 and intend to serve in the year ahead. A further 2 trustees who had been instrumental in setting up Settled - Nicholas Hatton and Katia Widlak - stepped down as trustees during the year but remain enthusiastic supporters. After capably steering Settled through its early years, Jen Ang stepped down as Chair of Trustees in September 2022, to focus on the demands of her career as a human rights lawyer. Martine Petetin, one of Settled’s founding trustees took over the role of Chair, with a welcome commitment to making more opportunities to bring trustees and staff together. Meetings of the trustee board took place every 2 months. Board meetings regularly reviewed the charity’s finances, delivery of services, management of risks and other matters within their responsibilities. Two subcommittees: Finance, Risk and Audit, and Strategy and Governance met regularly between full board meetings. Additional sub-committees – one on Human Resources and one on Policy, met as needed. An in-person planning day jointly for staff and trustees in Newport in February 2023 was a big success. Trustees gained a better understanding of the work of Settled and the discussions contributed to the drafting of a plan of work for the year ahead.

Staff

Settled’s staff team expanded during the year. Having entered its third year, some hard-working staff who had been with Settled from its early days decided to move on,

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and we said goodbye to Maria Llorente, Cristina Tegolo, Eva Plajerova and Alec Herron, as well as more recent arrival Sarah Lally. The last remaining member of the original Settled team is Toni Petkova and we are very glad that she is staying with us. New staff members this year include advice workers working with European citizens Ewa Kasprzak and Veronica Bortolato, Wales manager Rhys Evans and Ukrainian team members Yuliia Ismail and Inna Rogoman. Chris Keppie took over as our Communications and Impact Manager. Of these new recruits, three had previously been Settled volunteers. Talented new staff members are settling in well and the team as a whole is strong, well-organised and positive with a good sense of confidence about the work they do together and opportunities for the future.

In addition to the routine annual pay increases, staff were given an additional cost of living pay increase in the Autumn of 2022. We are grateful that some of our funders made additional grants possible in order to cover this cost. Staff work within a framework of employment contracts, job descriptions, policies and standards. Staff continued to work remotely - based in Scotland, Wales, London and various points in between. It was important therefore to be able to hold some in-person staff planning days during the year - once in Manchester and twice in Newport, with the last of these including trustees also. Staff met remotely for weekly team meetings, with sub-groups meeting to discuss specific areas of operations.

The staff roles at the end of the year were as follows:

Two other staff work towards Settled’s goals through our sub-contractor Citizens Rights Project. A freelance finance manager has also been an important member of the team, and we are grateful for regular expert support from an IT contractor.

New office and equipment

In April 2022 Settled moved into its own office in the newly refurbished market complex in Newport. This has resulted in a proportionately small increase in our regular expenditure, but we have gained a physical base for keeping records and holding in person meetings. Staff and trustees worked together to make it attractive, thanks in part to a small grant in the previous year from Newport City Council. To meet the

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cyber-security requirements of the Welsh Government, Settled purchased new laptops for staff who were previously working on their personal computers.

Volunteers

Volunteers are essential to delivering Settled’s multi-lingual advice services. All those involved in providing advice are DBS checked and are supported to get OISC accreditation. The volunteer team is well organised and impactful. Volunteers have clearly defined roles and are well supported by designated staff. There is daily communication within this network, plus a weekly volunteer newsletter and regular online volunteer meetings.

A survey to gather volunteer feedback ran in February 2022: they are warmly appreciative of the “lovely” staff and volunteer team and proud to be making a tangible difference, and they would welcome more training opportunities. We also learned that our volunteers are keen to see Settled expand the range of services it offers.

Our Volunteering and Impact Manager Maria Llorente left at the end of August 2022. As the staff team has grown, we succeeded in splitting the responsibilities of this post among the remaining team rather than recruiting a replacement. We have found that this shared involvement has created a richer induction and management experience for volunteers. Our new Wales manager Rhys Evans joined at the end of September 2022 and brought experience of volunteer management from his previous post at Citizens Advice. He has helped overhaul some of our processes.

Maria and Rhys contacted all of those who are ‘on our records’ as volunteers but are relatively inactive so that we have a better understanding of who wants to stay with Settled. This exercise resulted in a dip in the numbers of volunteers mid-year but this has recovered due to new volunteers coming forward - we began the year with around 100 volunteers, it dipped to around 60 but has since returned to around 100 again. We continued to assess and fill skills-gaps within our volunteer team - for example we gave priority to recruiting volunteers with Eastern European languages and/or Roma heritage, and our Ukraine service continued to engage Ukrainians as volunteers. We learned to expect higher turnover of Ukrainian volunteers whose lives were more unsettled compared to our other volunteers. We organised a successful in-person volunteer day in London in June 2022. Due to the pandemic it was the first time we had attempted this and people were excited to finally meet in person.

Training

Settled takes seriously its responsibilities to ensure that volunteers are well-trained. All volunteers are trained to acquire the accreditation OISC Level 1 (EUSS) and are given a further induction training on all aspects of Settled’s work and the volunteering roles. Settled invested in an online training programme on safeguarding which all staff and trustees completed in late 2022. External training courses on various topics were

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attended by volunteers or staff members provided by Seraphus, IlPA, CPAG, Rights of Women, Refugee Action and Trust for London. Settled’s in-house lawyers had access to expert external supervision.

Remuneration

All trustees carried out their roles without receiving remuneration. In order to support a funding application, one of the trustees - Wiard Sterk - provided a limited number of days of paid consultancy and this was duly approved, minuted and accounted for. His remuneration did not exceed £1000. Staff salaries by March 2023 were within the range £27,000-£48,000. Volunteers are reimbursed for expenses incurred but do not receive a regular allowance.

Representation and respect

Settled works respectfully with and not just for European citizens, providing information, advice and support to increase their ability to take steps to improve their own situation and safeguard their rights. Settled is committed to ensuring that its beneficiary group is well represented in the charity’s decision-making and delivery of services and that their voices are heard. We appreciate the strengths which European citizens bring to our charity - commitment to their home in the UK, determination to work hard to support their families, willingness to help others. This is embodied in Settled volunteers who harness linguistic, inter-personal and technical skills to support peers and create an inclusive pan-European community. While Brexit has been a distressing experience, Settled has galvanised and empowered European citizens to take positive action to help others. Settled has robust policies on equality and diversity, complaints-handling and more. Our beneficiaries participate through our large, multilingual, interactive Facebook groups and periodic client surveys.

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Martine Petetin, Chair of Trustees of Settled 27th September 2023

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Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Settled

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2023, which are set out on pages 32 to 37.

This report is made solely to the trustees as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. My examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the trustees as a body, for my examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

have not been met; or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

2E Accountants Unit 11, Flamingo Court 81 Crampton St, London SE17 3BF

Date: 28-Sep-2023

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so￿•d CK) Slatoment of Flnanclal Actlvlli•s for tho year ended 31 March 2023 y•ar•nd•d y•ar•nded Unreslr￿t￿ reSt￿ted 31.3.2023 31.3.2022 In¢omlng R•sour¢ Donations an¢J Similarrexwrees Operating activthes in furtherance ofchariVsthi&ts forgenerating funds Olher inc4)me 19,n6 19,736 22,136 36,667 363,145 399.812 307.429 995 total Inc R•sour¢•s •xpond•d Costs of genefab.ng fuThts Charit2ble exp￿dIbJrt in furtheran￿ ofihe charitys (￿JeCts Managementand admini5tratsc 49,946 363,145 413.091 323,062 t(al r•• N•t movornent In re80urc8s 4812 5.811 5,183 Total fund8 broughtlward 32,987 Total funds carried fonvard Summary Income and Expendlture A￿OUnt for the year ended 31 March 2023 y•ar•nd•dy•ar ènd 31.3.2023 31.32022 Gross Income of conllnulng actlvl¢l•B 420.542 329,565 Total •xpendltur• of conllnulng opwattons 324,382 Net income 1110881 forthe year The suNrtnary income and eXpendrtU￿ ac¢￿Jnt isdenvedfrom the Statement c Fin8nci81Activities above, whth t(NJelh8rwilh the rK)tes to Ihe 8cAx)unts on thelollowng pages PTovhYes fvll inforn￿ on th8 nK1veff￿nts duriThJ the ye 32

Settled CIO Balan¢0 Shoet as al 31 March 2023 2022 Current assots Debtors and prepaYTh￿ts Cash at Bank Pettythsh 105 8.021 225.633 249.689 233,654 Uablllll••- •mounl•l•lllno du• wlthln y•¥ Creditors and a0Ju￿S 195.483 Not curr•nt aM•t8 Total as80ts l•ss¢urr•nt Ilablltl•s £38 170 Fund8 Restrthj Designated UnreslriLted £43 982 £38 171 Approved by the Trustees c 2tr23 and signedon its behaw ty. 33

SO￿•d CIO Notès to thè accounts for the yoar èndod 31 March 2023 1 P¢ounlkng polkl•s al Basis of rathon The finanrial stateftwts have been prepa￿ in &)xxda￿ ￿th the Chart$ 2011. a¢(x)unUtw and by charth8s'. Statem8nt of R8comrn8nded Prdctice apPI￿al￿a to charities pr8pariry th8ir acwjnts in accordance the Finawal ReKM)iting Standwd aKWi¢atAe IA Ihe UK and RepublK of Ireland IFRS 1021 leff¥ctive 1st O¢¢ober 20191 Icharity SORP FRS 102land Ihe Finanaal R8pKrfb'ng Standard apF4lCa￿e inth8 UK and Republic of Irek4nd Granis are recL4ni5ed in the Staternent ofFin8na8lAcbvit￿s ISOFAlon basi fdlowing Ihe Sattsfacth￿ 0farypitrcx￿IIK% cl D(￿atiOnS otherincome fvndrai Donations. olher income. grft5 armj fund raising are rec(wJni5ed inthÈatrxWtsL￿ 8 reoived tws. Gifts In ￿nd are vpAul at Ihthr ¥a￿&t0 Ih&rMhtth d) Ex ndth￿ aThJ SU EXpendth￿ is recognised inthe PWKWJ In￿￿kn it aThJ inchjtss attritwJtaNeVATtwch cannot t fecovered. ENw)diture is rettyJnk%ed vthen alggal orconstnxtive ￿19a￿￿an$Q$. Coslsofraisingfunds are tlwè aratN)n ofthe accounts ￿ a The Trustees consider thatthe priwpal un(tsintyiegwding wng (ts)cun relatestothe a￿lfyt0 raiselunL1s. The Trustees M(mitOr￿SU￿and b￿tt0 ftmbgatethat n The valueofsww(es provided by¥dunlews has Th)t been lThY￿led No wovism)nfortaXal￿ 6$ iThJuded in the aoxxmts as ts f*bleu)ryparyi$enbUed to exempts'on frorn tax afforded by SeclK)n 505 olthe In(yTh aTrJ Corwration Taxes Act 1988 Irre¢thera￿$vAT is chwge(l as a o)$tag¥nstlheathtyfor Ihe wthdrture wa$ in(xJrr•Y Unrestric18d funds ar8 availatI8 alth8 thsc¥ekn ofth8 Trust888 in fiJrther8nce ofthe g8neral objectN8s of the thanty. 34

When employees have rendered Servi￿ iothe tharity. shcrt4erm em￿oyee benefits to which efflployee5 areentiued are r¢cwwMsgd Undisc￿nted8ll￿rbtexp￿t8d to ￿ paid in exchanga ￿that sèNicè. 2 Gronis and donal1￿ Indud8d in the statement offmanrial aCtivi￿S as drmalkins and srnilarr88wrrAs and orkntiThJ activities in furtheranc8 of the ctharitys obi8ctsarethe fdloirMJ grants.. yearended 31.3.2023 31.32022 total GLA AB Charitab￿T￿1St Ajlen Lar A8￿uM Wek Lottery Fund Paul Hamlyn Foundaton Justice Togelher Inthtive SR Tnjst Trust for London Edmonton Communty Partnwshp CDL Lloyds Bank Fwndation Ukr￿n8. Unl￿u[KI Philanthropy We15h Government 13.518 44.745 7.000 4.167 15.( 4,167 15,000 11,994 11,994 20,000 37,295 26.300 20,000 12,265 40,667 59,592 40,667 59,592 22.000 7,650 7.650 20.013 I7.5￿j 17,5110 110.921 46.118 64203 110,921 46,118 64203 60,547 35

3 Salarf•$and wag•s Salaries aThJ wages Social se¢urtycThts Pens￿ (osts 302,137 24.975 240,6LKI 21.644 4.840 £32ilfiQ £267 084 The av8r¥ numb8rof 8m￿0yeeS IFfEI during 2023was 1012022 91 Noempk)y•èreceived emolurY￿ftts of I￿[ than £￿I.(￿.(2020 NII 2023 2022 4 Anatysls of tr•lal rI￿ul¢￿ •xp•nd•d Salarie5 and wag85 329.460 267,084 37,714 28,800 1,200 1,320 6,685 4,236 3.341 9,369 7,261 711 2.288 6,361 Accountancyand lThJekwndent exAminatic IT costs ma￿8ting In pewn ￿annIng days Transkts)n Trdvel Printing,StalK)nery, wJstage, plMThs vdunte8rc￿ts 3,519 6,329 1,157 8.219 9,486 5 Cr•dtti)rs and a¢¢nMIs 2022 Deferred in Taxath)n 185,718 12,526 178,820 10.563 £195 483 36

6 Trustee Remuneratlon arKI Expenses One Trustee was remunerated for writing a grant {£1.000) in 2023. {2022 NII) During the year 2023. no t￿slee$ recewed expenses (2022 Nil) 7 Contingoncios and Contractual commiknonts In the opinion of the truste8s at 31.3.2023 there were no contingent liabilli￿S and no contractual commitrnts 202312022 nll) 8 Rtstrlctsd lund• Balan 31.32022 lrtome Balance Exknditur 31.3.2023 Justice Together Init￿tiVe Edmonton Community Pth8f5k Asylurn Welcome Paul Hamlyn FouTrJatK Trusl for London Unbwnd Phlanthropy We￿h Govemment Ukraine. 59.592 7.650 11,994 40.667 59,592 7,650 11,934 40.667 22,CK)O 46.118 64,203 110,921 46.118 64.203 110,921 Th8 wfpLW oflh8 first seven of these r8strid•J funds was lo hdp wilh EU seiued stalu8. 'Ukraine'. this represents all the grants and thnations receNed to SUPF)rt a immNJration advice service for Ukrainians. There is m￿e detail on these donab.ons on page 17 of the TnJstees repo Th6se irthd Brn C&It￿ry Tn JuSt￿e TcwJether Irthtive Individual (knations sp8&tsY for ukrai￿ seTrice 45,521 37