2020-12-31-accounts

FLINTSHIRE CITY of SANCTUARY: Working with Synergy

https://flintshire.cityofsanctuary.org/

Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Charity No. 1186789

Annual Report for the Period 6[th] December 2019 to 31[st] December 2020

Chairman’s Report December 2019 to 2020

Introduction

By the end of 2019, Flintshire City of Sanctuary was growing, learning, and working with communities in Mold, Holywell and Flint to support the education, employment, and integration of the ten Syrian families resettled by Flintshire County Council (FCC) in the previous three years. We were also building a network of partners including British Red Cross (BRC), Theatre Clwyd, Ethnic Youth Support Team (EYST), Wrexham Town of Sanctuary, The North Wales Community Cohesion team, Groundworks, Together Creating Communities (TCC) and Mold Business Network . In December 2019 we were formally constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and registered with the Charity Commission. In July 2020 our chairman, Alice Swain, relocated to Scotland and Liz Litherland has taken on the role until the AGM in July 2021. Ann Crossland and Una Burke both resigned in 2021 for personal reasons, but we have welcomed two new trustees - Mark Trengove and Teresa Carberry.

In 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic and subsequent lockdowns impacted on what we could achieve and how we engaged with the Syrian refugee families and the wider public in Flintshire, as face-to-face teaching and public events stopped. We adapted to use digital technology for teaching and communicating with our members and partners, and with the wider public. We were supported in these activities by emergency funds accessed via Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC).

Activities and achievements

A. Educational services delivered by our Language for Living (L4L) programme

Pre-lockdown

• English language classes to enable those we work with to access employment and education, reach their full potential and integrate fully. Winter 2019/20: weekly beginners and intermediate classes were delivered for all adult learners in St Peter’s Church Hall in Holywell.

• January – February: a cursive writing course. Cursive writing is difficult for Arabic writers but also essential for form filling, writing school letters, etc. in English.

Post-lockdown

We had to both learn ourselves and quickly rethink our working methods, while maintaining support for those whose grasp of English left them struggling to understand the world of the lockdown. The social and physical isolation of lockdown also meant that the Syrian refugee families had little need and opportunity to speak English, and fluency of adults and children dropped.

• We created a ‘News Wall’ on a dedicated WhatsApp group to share updates on COVID regulations; these were translated into Arabic.

• We set up a specific L4L Zoom facility to maintain contact and provide teaching on a family-by-family basis through the year.

• We filled the technology gap in the refugee families for whom on-line teaching was limited by a lack of suitable devices, with two or more children sharing devices with parents. While waiting for FCC and BRC to source tablets for each family, FCOS obtained second-hand devices, paid to have them repaired/upgraded, and loaned them to families based on need.

• Over the summer, as restrictions eased, we delivered some lessons in families’ gardens.

• To assist the Year 6 Syrian children transitioning to high schools, we set up on-line clubs in collaboration with EYST and Theatre Clwyd.

• At the start of the new school year in September, a new teacher with experience of using literacy and oracy to support language learning joined our Language for Living ( L4L) operations to address the poor English language skills of Syrian children in high schools.

• We started weekly Book Clubs for three age/ability groups, with some mothers attending. We also responded to requests for help with Maths, Science, Geography and English.

New initiatives in Autumn 2020

• ‘Syrian Voices’ – a club for high school pupils to encourage citizenship, leadership and community action. We have been supported in this by TCC and EYST.

• A Women’s Sewing Club to provide a new skill, opportunity to practice English and interaction with women from outside the Syrian community. Thanks to funding provided, basic sewing skills were demonstrated on Zoom and YouTube and attendees learned to make a range of various household and clothing items.

B. Wider FCOS activities FCOS to educate the general public, provide recreation and leisure activities, promote equality and diversity, and prevent and relieve poverty

Pre-lockdown

To educate the general public

• January - We were invited to address Mold’s Cytun (Churches Together) group on two occasions to speak about the realities of the refugee crisis, describe the work of FCoS and how we can all provide a welcome.

• February – We held an open evening with a guest speaker on Community Sponsorship.

• 8[th] March ‘ Women Hold Up Half of Heaven’ International Women’s Day event organised and led by FCoS, supported by Theatr Clwyd. Attended by 90 women from across communities in North Wales. Sample feedback:

• “Having a specifically women-only event made it easier to break down barriers and talk freely to each other’’.

• “Sunday was wonderful, I have never felt so important before. It was good that LW talked about her problems as a woman to do business, but she has climbed. I am very hopeful now; we can also do things.” (Resettled Syrian women refugees).

Post-lockdown

• ‘Mold Great Get Together’ 19[th] June 2020: two FCoS Trustees participated in this public Zoom event organised by Mold Town Council to speak about their personal experiences working with refugees in Greece, and about City of Sanctuary .

To prevent & relieve poverty – with support from Theatr Clwyd, Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP), Tesco, SHARE and individual donors

• Gift bags of basic food items, treats and arts & craft materials were delivered to each family for Easter and Christmas.

• For Eid we delivered gifts of food, clothing, and games.

• Flint branch members regularly visit and deliver parcels to the local Syrian family.

To provide recreation facilities and promote equality and diversity

• In December 2019, 40+ members of the resettled Syrian families attended an interactive pantomime production at Theatr Clwyd.

• Families invited and attended a communal Christmas meal at River Dee Centre in Flint.

• We held a trip to Erddig House and gardens ( National Trust ) for twelve highschool-age children that provided an opportunity to mix with other visitors and experience a different aspect of Welsh life and history. The trip was arranged together with EYST but COVID stopped plans to visit other NT properties during the year.

• Summer scheme: due to poor weather, we were only able to deliver one family outdoor event in early August at Flint Castle with arts and crafts, ball games, a Syrian food picnic and lots of chatting.

• Autumn: the Community Garden in Holywell. The aim was to meet other local residents, gain learning, exercise and grow fruit and vegetables.

Elizabeth Litherland

Acting Chair of FCoS Trustees

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From: 6[th] December 2019 To 31[st] December 2020

Charity name: Flintshire City of Sanctuary, Working with Synergy

Charity registration number: 1186789

Objectives and Activities

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SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of Para 1.17 (I) To advance the education of
the charity as set out in its the public in general,
governing document especially in Flintshire, about
the issues relating to refugees
and those seeking asylum.
(II) To provide or assist in the
provision of facilities and
activities for recreation or
other leisure time occupations
in the interests of social
welfare with the object of
improving the conditions of
life of those persons who
have need of such facilities.
(III) The promotion of equality and
diversity for the public benefit
by promoting activities to
foster understanding and
engagement between people
from diverse backgrounds.
(IV) The prevention and relief of
poverty amongst those
granted refugee status and
those seeking asylum in
Flintshire.
Summary of the main Para 1.17 and See Acting Chair’s Report above.
1.19
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.
Statement confirming Para 1.18 The Trustees of FCoS have had regard
whether the trustees have to the guidance issued by the Charity
had regard to the guidance Commission of England and Wales on
issued by the Charity public benefit in their administration of
Commission on public the charity.
benefit
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Achievements and Performance

SORP reference Summary of the main Para 1.20 See Acting Chair’s Report above. achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.

Financial Review

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Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 This is the first year of operations of the
financial position at the end charity, and so no comparables are
of the period possible. Due to the COVID-19
Pandemic crisis, the operations of the
charity were forced to radically change
from March 2020. Face-to-face adult
TEFL activities and meetings ceased, to
be replaced, after a lull, by a wider suite
of online support, as detailed in the
Chair’s Report above.
In terms of income, the charity was
actually able to apply for a wider range
of grants than before, made available
due to the exceptional times.
With the switch to online services, some
costs decreased, compared with the
pre-COVID lockdown period from
December to March 2020 – for example,
motoring allowances paid to the TEFL
teachers and room rentals. New costs,
however, were incurred – for example in
supplying equipment and consumables
for the Sewing Project.
At the year-end cash-in-bank increased
by £5,109 from the opening balance on
6 [th] December 2019. Unrestricted and
restricted funds at the year-end were
sufficient to continue operations into
2021, and that continues to be the case,
as at June 2021, due to the securement
of further grant funding.
As this is the first period of operations
as a registered charity, the Trustees
took the decision to have these first
accounts scrutinised by a competent
independent person, even though the
level of income was below the threshold
requiring independent scrutiny. The
scrutineer found no issues of a nature
to bring into doubt the material
accuracy of the accounts.
Mark Trengove
FCoS Financial Secretary
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 The charity does not hold reserves.
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 See above
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Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	The income of the charity is too small to justify the holding of reserves. When further income is needed, it is obtained by funding applications made to government and/or charitable bodies.
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	Not applicable.
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	Not applicable.

Additional information
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	In the period, 94% of FCoS’s funding came from grants from government and charitable organisations. 6% came from small donations from businesses and individuals.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The principal risks are as follows:  Inability to source continuing funding of its operations due to budgetary restrictions in government and charitable organisations.  Curtailment of its activities due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic crisis.  An incident creating major reputational damage to the good name of the charity.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

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Flintshire City of Sanctuary: Working with Synergy 1186789
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the period from To
06/12/2019 31/12/2020
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest to the to the to the to the
£ nearest £ nearest £ nearest £ nearest £
Not
A1 Receipts applicable
- 12,590 12,590 -
Restricted grants (Note 1) -
2,510 - 2,510 -
General grants and donations -
2,510 12,590 15,100 -
Sub total (Gross income for AR) -
A2 Asset and investment
sales, (see table).
- - -
None -
- - -
Sub total - -
Total receipts 2,510 12,590 - 15,100 -
A3 Payments
Tuition fees (Note 2)
- 3,739 - 3,739 -
Sewing project (Note 3)
- 2,027 - 2,027 -
Events costs
998 - - 998 -
Motoring allowances
- 890 - 890 -
IT expenses
144 600 - 744 -
Charitable grants and
donations 526 - - 526 -
Room rentals
- 420 - 420 -
Teaching books and stationary
- 415 - 415 -
Insurance
99 - - 99 -
Other expenses
20 8 - 28 -
Sub total
1,787 8,099 - 9,886 -
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A4 Asset and investment purchases

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Teaching apparatus
- 105 - 105
Sub total
- 105 - 105
Total payments 1,787 8,204 - 9,991 -
Net of receipts/(payments)
723 4,386 - 5,109 -
A5 Transfers between funds
- - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end
2,912 - - 2,912 -
Cash funds this year end
3,635 4,386 - 8,021 -
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds
Categories Details
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
B1 Cash funds Bank current account
3,635 4,386 -
Total cash funds 3,635 4,386 -
(agree balances with receipts and
payments account(s)) OK OK OK
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
funds funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £
Details
B2 Other monetary assets None - -
-
Fund to Current
Cost
which asset value
(optional)
Details belongs (optional)
B3 Investment assets None - -
Fund to Current
Cost
which asset value
(optional)
Details belongs (optional)
B4 Assets retained for the Teaching apparatus Restricted 105 80
charity’s own use
- -
Fund to Amount due When due
which (optional) (optional)
liability
Details relates
B5 Liabilities Creditors Restricted 536 Dec-20
Creditors Unrestricted 104 Dec-20
Creditor Unrestricted 270 Apr-20
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Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees	Signature	Print Name D.E. LITHERLAND P.D. VINE	Date of approval
			01/06/2021
			01/06/2021

Notes to the Statutory Accounts

Note 1: included in restricted grants is £2,134 transferred into the CIO from Language 4 Living, an unincorporated association, the activities of which were subsumed into the CIO in December 2019.

Note 2: a total of £1,841 was paid to the following trustees in their independent capacity as self-employed TEFL teachers delivering the charity's services: A. Jones, E. Litherland and P. Vine.

Note 3: tuition fees in relation to the Sewing Project are included under 'Tuition fees'.

Structure, Governance and Management

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Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing document Para 1.25 CIO Foundation Structure Governing
(trust deed, royal charter) Instrument
How is the charity Para 1.25 Charitable Incorporated Organisation
constituted? (CIO)
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection methods Para 1.25 Trustees may be recruited to the Board
including details of any by the Trustees, and no other person. In
constitutional provisions e.g. selecting individuals for appointment,
election to post or name of the Trustees must have regard to the
any person or body entitled skills, knowledge and experience
to appoint one or more needed for the effective administration
trustees of the charity.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures Para 1.51 A training programme for new and
adopted for the induction continuing trustees is being
and training of trustees implemented.
The charity’s organisational Para 1.51 See Acting Chair’s Report
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works
Relationship with any Para 1.51 See Note 2 in the financial accounts
related parties above. The payment rates for trustees
are the same as those for TEFL teachers
who are not trustees of the charity.
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Reference and Administrative details

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Charity name Flintshire City of Sanctuary: working with Synergy
Other name the charity uses None
Registered charity number 1186789
Charity’s principal address
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

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Dates acted if not for whole Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
period to appoint trustee (if any)
1 A.M. Swain Chair 06/12/2019 – 07/07/2020
2 D.E. Litherland Acting Chair 07/07/2020 - None
3 P.D. Vine Treasurer All the period None
4 M. Greaney Secretary All the period None
5 K. Jewell All the period None
6 A. Jones All the period None
7 W.A.U. Burke 06/12/2019 – 29/11/2020 None
8 A. Crossland 06/12/2019 – 28/09/2020 None
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name None

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year None

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the None charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for None safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Not applicable

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Dorothy Elizabeth Litherland Patricia Dorothy Vine Position (eg Secretary, Acting Chair Treasurer Chair, etc) Date 1st June 2021