[Type here] # **Annual Report of the Trustees of Hull City of Sanctuary for the year ended 30/9/2020** **Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by Martin Pliener (Secretary) 21st July 2021.** Page **1** of **7** [Type here] ## **Organisational Structure, Governance and Management** Hull City of Sanctuary (Hull CoS) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Its registration number is 1186342 and its registered address is c/o Princes Avenue Methodist Church, 91 Princes Avenue, Hull HU5 3QP. It has a Foundation Model constitution. The Hull CoS Board is composed of the following first charity trustees: Steve Ibbetson (Chair) Jayne Mercer (Vice Chair) Martin Pliener (Secretary) Lama Orabi Peter Oluotch Glenn Burgess (ex officio as Chair of Sanctuary Champions at University of Hull) The Charity’s constitution provides for both appointed trustees and also ex officio trustees. It is intended that additions will be made to the list of ex officio trustees as additional organisations are accredited as organisations of sanctuary. The registration as a CIO took place on 14[th] November 2019. The organisation has, however, been active in Hull and the East Riding for a number of years before that as an unincorporated organisation. Its objectives are: 1) To advance the education of the public in general about issues relating to people who are refugees and people who are seeking asylum. 2) To advance education and relieve financial hardship for the public benefit amongst people who are refugees and people who are seeking asylum in Hull and the surrounding area by any such means as the Trustees may determine. Since inception, the organisation has sought to meet its objectives by encouraging the provision of new services, and also shaping the delivery of existing services, rather than directly providing services itself. In more concrete terms, Hull CoS has been proactive in applying locally national City of Sanctuary schemes in order to recognise, certify and celebrate (as well as influence) those organisations which run their services in a way that advances the interest of sanctuary seekers and/or educates the public about issues which are relevant to such people. This activity led to the 2017 declaration of Page **2** of **7** [Type here] the City of Hull as a City of Sanctuary and also to the declaration of Princes Avenue Methodist Church as a Church of Sanctuary. ~~T~~ he foregoing was followed in 2018 by the certification of the University of Hull as a University of Sanctuary. This work is continuing apace – please see the ‘Achievements and Performance’ section below. Page **3** of **7** [Type here] In addition to the activities above, Hull City of Sanctuary co-ordinates and facilitates the annual delivery of Hull Refugee Week. The scale of this activity varies significantly across different years. The highest level of activity to date took place in 2017 (to coincide with the beginning of Hull’s four years as UK City of Culture) when the UK’s national Refugee Week commenced with a major concert (by sanctuary seeking musicians) attended by 7,500 people in Queens Gardens, Hull. Later that same week the UK’s national Celebration of World Refugee Day took place at Hull Minster. High profile speakers at that event included Baroness D’Souza (Lord Speaker of the House of Lords for five years) and Sabir Zazai (then national Chair of City of Sanctuary). Because the scale of this activity varies so widely, the amount of receipts and payments also varies significantly between one year and another. In the year covered by this report very little expenditure was needed and in particular, because of the Covid pandemic, the level of activity associated with Hull Refugee Week 2020 was much reduced compared to previous years as well as being on online. The Hull CoS Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on the Public Benefit Requirement (Reg. 40(2)(c)(ii)). ## **Achievements and Performance** Hull CoS has pursued its objectives in the following ways: ## Co ordination of Hull Refugee Week 2020 2020 saw the first online Refugee Week in Hull. This required the development of existing social media outlets (and in particular Facebook) as well as the establishment of a new YouTube Channel. These media provided a platform for our first foray into online events to celebrate the contribution of sanctuary seekers to life in Hull and East Riding. Encouragement of new Sanctuary streams and Support of Existing Streams Hull City of Sanctuary has continued its work (discussed above) to apply locally, national City of Sanctuary schemes. During the period under review Hull City of Sanctuary was involved in ongoing discussions to establish, hopefully in 2021, both a Garden of Sanctuary and also the UK’s first Clinical Commissioning Group of Sanctuary. Once established, these initiatives will help the relevant organisations ensure that their facilities better reflect the particular needs of those seeking sanctuary in Hull and the East Riding, as well as offering a welcome to those seeking refuge in this country. Initial discussions have begun to establish a Theatre of Sanctuary in the city. The pace of this work has, however, been slowed down by the challenges brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic. Page **4** of **7** [Type here] Hull City of Sanctuary continues to support local organisations previously designated as organisations as sanctuary (see above). Page **5** of **7** [Type here] ## Accommodation Historically Hull City of Sanctuary has played a role in coordinating the provision of accommodation to Destitute Refused Asylum Seekers. During the year, a decision was taken to withdraw from this role and currently the organisation plays no role with respect to such provision. ## **Acknowledgements and thanks** The Trustees wish to acknowledge and thank the following organisations and individuals with whom Hull City of Sanctuary have worked during this year: British Red Cross Cecil Jones Divine Clark PR Holy Cross Cottingham Hull City Council Hull Help for Refugees Hull University Jim and Tessa Norton National City of Sanctuary National Refugee Week Open Doors Dr Peter Campion Princes Avenue Methodist Church Refugee Council Theatre on the Edge Page **6** of **7** [Type here] ## **Financial statements for the year ending 30 September 2020** ## **£** As noted above, there was no need for significant levels of expenditure during the year ended 30[th] September 2020. However, it is unlikely that this will remain the case in future years and indeed the decision to seek incorporation as CIO was in part influenced by the need to meet Charity Commission requirements with respect to expenditure thresholds. As and when the need for additional and continuing expenditure arises the Trustees will address the need to establish a reserves policy. The trustees confirm that they have no concerns about the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. Page **7** of **7**