## **Annual Report and Accounts of Women with Hope for the Year 2023** 

An asylum seeker is a person who flees their home country, enters another country and applies for the right to stay in that country. In the UK, asylum seekers are not allowed to work, and must rely on state  support.  Housing  is  provided,  but  asylum  seekers  cannot choose where it is. Some of the women in our group have been waiting over 5 years for their asylum claim to process. The wait means that individuals struggle with their  mental  wellbeing  and suffers from depression and anxiety. 

Our work to support women in Birmingham who are seeking refugee whilst going thought the asylum process is one that is valued by those who access our charity. We strive as a charity to provide a safe space for women to meet and relax.  Our membership has grown  were we now  have on  average 25 women  attending  our weekly sessions. 

The Rwanda  Plan  dominated  the media  throughout  2023,  which cause anxiety to many who sought refuge in the UK. _The work that we do for our members is one that is still needed in the current political climate, where our members are still faced with detention and removal  by the Home Office.  Our  members  are resilient to survive and get to learn the new language and culture and secure settled residents of this country._ 

_We are rightly concerned for the millions of people being violently displaced or taking great risk to seek refuge: their situation exposes the inherent generosity of people in this and other countries. Let us continue to remember that there are people seeking asylum here and now in and near to our communities to whom we can extend a hand of practical friendship and welcome._ 

## **Eunice Barnes Chair WwH** 

Women with Hope entered 2023 in excellent financial position. The trustee continues to work to support woman to meet in a safe environment at Selly Oak Quaker 

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Meeting house, on a weekly basis. Many of the women who join our weekly sessions comes to the sessions to gain new skills such as practising speaking English, arts and crafts as well as relaxation sessions to support their mental wellbeing. Also an opportunity to gain information from guest speakers on immigration process. Some of the women have been worried about the government announcement regarding removals and reopening of detention centres. The meeting is an opportunity for sharing and moral support. 

The group has grown in 2023 with more women joining our weekly sessions for support, friendship and sign posting.  Fifty of our women and their children travelled by coach for a day trip to the seaside town of Llandudno in North Wales. Where they enjoyed strolling on the beach and the attractions on offer. For some this was their first experience of English seaside. 


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Our meetings provide workshops on health, mental and physical. We spent time sharing stories, celebrating successes and learning about each other’s culture.  We have had workshops on housing policy; changes in immigration and help whilst in the asylum system. 

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## yyin 

We shared with Lichfield Friends a memorial celebration to celebrate WwH founder Rosemary Crawley. Were many Friends from across the country alongside Rosemary family and the WwH shared their reflection, love and appreciation to a wonderful and kind person who had touched so many lives. (31.03.1944 – 17.01.2022) 

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Agnes one of the women who joined the group when it first started and was a trustee for some years was celebrated for her pioneering work for asylum seekers in September 2023. 

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The trustees and members would like to thank our volunteers who have worked  so  hard  to  ensure  the  coordination  of  weekly  activities.  Our appreciation to Bridget, Dee, Beauty, Margaret, Veronica & Monisola 

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## **Our thanks goes to:** 

Brian Homer for all of his ongoing help and support with the website Barrow Cadbury Charitable Trust for financial support Liz Clegg & Meena Centre for continued financial support Claire Peat Selly Oak Quakers & Friends for their donations Lichfield Hope Support Group for continuing financial support 

Women for Refugee Women for all of their ongoing support both financial and practical 

Right to Remain continuing support and providing training 

The children of St. Joseph Catholic School for their generosity for Christmas bags and gifts 

Sarah Taal Baobab Women Project for ongoing support Barbara Forbes continuing support 

The Roughley Trust and AW60 for their generous funding awards 

Rhoda Wharton for generously acting as independent examiner of our accounts 

Charity Information 

Our charity trustees include women who have had direct experience of the UK asylum system. 

Eunice Barnes (Chair), Senait Jones (Treasurer), Bridget Obi, Claire Peat, Dorrell Townsend, Anthony Wilson (Advisor), 

Registered Office: C/o 4 Autumn Drive, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Charity Number; 1186078 

Website: https://womenwithhope.org.uk 

**FINANCIAL ACCOUNT** 

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## 1 January – 31 December 2023 

|**Income and**<br>**expenditure**<br>**statement 2021**|**2023**|**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Current Assets|£|£|£|
|Cash|0|0|0|
|Bank|16317|16799.15|13704.93|
|Total Assets|**16317**|**16799.15**|**13704.93**|
|Creditors||0|0|
|Net Assets||16799.15|13704.93|
|Fund 1.1.23 brt fwd|16799|13704.93|14219.69|
|||||
|Cashbook totals||||
|Total Income|9523|7267.60|11560.33|
|Total Expenditure|**10005**|**4173.38**|**12075.09**|
||-482|3094.22|-514.76|
|Fund c/fwd 31/12/23|**16317**|**16799.15**|**13704.93**|
|||||
|Held in current<br>account|10244|13779.05|10,696.28|
|Held in deposit<br>account|6074|3020.10|3008.65|
|Cash|0|0|0|
|||||
|Details of Income||||
|Grants|8000|6000|9800.00|
|Donations|1470|1027.88|1481.81|
|Interest|54|11.45|8.52|
|Other||228.27|270.00|
|Total|**9523**|**7267.60**|**11560.33**|
|||||
|**Details of expenditure**||||
|Travel/Top up|)|1512.75|7286.10|
|Refreshments|)7089|497.95|403.56|
|Volunteers expenditure|1215|470|1015.00|
|Rent & Admin|1277|919.7|2002.55|
|Entertainment|)|0|365.00|
|Bank charges|94|87.55|58.48|



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|*Miscellaneous||233.54|944.40|
|---|---|---|---|
|Web & Zoom|331|||
|Total|**10005**|**4173.38**|**12075.09**|
|||||



***Break down of miscellaneous expenditure for WwH - 2022** 

Additional support cost £5.27 £228. Christmas expenses 27 £233. Total 54 

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