FLINTSHIRE CITY of SANCTUARY: Working with Synergy
https://flintshire.cityofsanctuary.org/
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Charity No. 1186789
Annual Report for the Period 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2023
Chair’s Report December 2023
INTRODUCTION
During the year January to December 2023, in which Flintshire City of Sanctuary (FCoS) marked our 5[th] anniversary, Flintshire became a dispersal area for asylum seekers for the first time, some of the core support services which FCoS had provided to adults and children with experience of seeking sanctuary transitioned to local authority departments and other agencies and we developed new partnerships.
It was a challenging year for the Trustees, with four the five members of the Board at the start of the year being affected by bereavement and/or their own or partner’s serious illness during the year. This limited what could be achieved during the first half of the year and meant transitioning Treasurer’s responsibilities mid-year, and the Deputy Chair stepping up to Acting Chair at times.
Despite these challenges, we were pleased to be involved in a very successful Refugee Week concert and to deliver our own partnership events.
In Q3, we welcomed Helen Papworth as new Trustee to the Board to take on leadership of our campaigning activities and Helen Robinson, a new volunteer, who then also became a Trustee, to coordinate our new initiative, the Befriending Network.
In May, we also welcomed Dan Roberts, a volunteer to support our IT & Social Media activities.
FCoS welcomed the appointment of Leyla Beattie as the Regional Coordinator of COS Wales and has participated actively in the regular CoS Wales regional meetings. Leyla visited Mold in November 2023 and led an exploratory meeting with local CoS groups in North-East Wales and Chester, and partners from Theatr Clwyd (a Theatre of Sanctuary) and Together Creating Communities (TCC), a community organising group based in Wrexham. The focus of the meeting was on sharing insights and identifying areas of cooperation and collaboration. Leyla also attended in person FCoS’s Refugee Week events on 20[th] June.
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
A. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES DELIVERED BY OUR LANGUAGE FOR LIVING (L4L) PROGRAMME
As Flintshire County Council (FCC) and the British Red Cross (BRC) now actively deliver English language classes and support for adults and school-age children with lived experience of seeking sanctuary in Flintshire, the L4L programme has been stepped down during 2023. L4L and ‘Homework Club’ tutors continued to provide specific, targeted support until the end of the 2022-2023 academic year. We identified ‘signposting’ to the relevant authorities or agencies potentially serious issues and concerns reported to us and our partners/volunteers as something we should continue. Examples in the year include the need for translated exam papers, recognising that, outside Anglophone countries, different symbols are used in maths
and science (e.g. comma to denote decimal point), the impact of Ramadan on students’ capacity for sport and PE, especially in hot weather, and the frequency of unreported racism and bullying in high schools.
Primary & Secondary Age Students
The homework club continued for young people from Syrian, Afghan and Ukrainian families until July 2023 to support students preparing for GCSE exams.
Flintshire County Council (FCC) has done much to ensure Racism in our Flintshire Schools is not tolerated and there are measures in place to report it, and indeed any other hate crime. All schools are actively involved through the Healthy Schools Programme, with Show Racism the Red Card, too.
Despite the excellent efforts of the Council and school staff, young people still reported instances of racist bullying in local high schools. The Board agreed the right approach was to raise these with our partners in the Ethnic Youth Support Team to liaise with FCC.
Also based on insights from the home work club, proposals we put to FCC were to:
-
Prepare a leaflet for schools on cultural issues and language gaps
-
Recommend that the Welsh Joint Education Council translate examination papers
-
Enable the high schools with largest proportion of sanctuary seekingexperienced students to provide tailored English language support
B. WIDER FCOS ACTIVITIES TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PROVIDE RECREATION AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES, PROMOTE EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY, AND PREVENT AND RELIEVE POVERTY
In early 2023, FCoS was talking to the Ethnic Youth Support Team (EYST) about the potential for collaboration on posts and funding for an expanded Youth Programme. By Spring, the programme became possible through grant funding and interviewing began for an experienced Youth Support Worker. Les Critchlow-Hughes (LC-H), an experienced youth support worker who had previously volunteered with FCoS, was appointed. FCoS then became an official partner of FCC and EYST to deliver a programme of activities, supported by Youth Cymru, to educate, entertain and enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of young people from families with lived experience of seeking sanctuary in Flintshire. Two sessional support workers were also recruited during the year.
Having begun with 11 young people, mostly from the resettled Syrian community, the numbers grew in 2023 as awareness increased, young Afghans became involved and new families arrived in Flintshire. By end 2023, there were nearly 40 young people registered and a regular attendance of 20.
‘Club Time’ was delivered by qualified youth workers and a team of volunteers. The RiverDee Community Church in Flint offered a venue and facilities for fun-filled and
safe sporting and cultural activity sessions. The young people also loved crafting, writing poems and creating music videos and raps.
Moreover, with the support of other groups including Safer Streets, CWVYS, Welsh Government, Aura Wales, the Boardroom Climbing Gym, Youth Cymru, WRU, Cricket Wales, and Mind Our Futures the programme was able to deliver a wider range of ‘off-site’ opportunities for learning, growth and fun. Visits included the International Slavery Museum, a Mersey Ferry Cruise, which was said to have provided the “most awesome and amazing experience of their lives”, and crosscounty border collaborations with groups in Wrexham.
Importantly, within club time there was provision for consultation, conversation, and planning sessions. Feedback forms are scrutinized and used to evaluate success. As qualified youth workers lead this project they work to the guidance of Welsh Government standards and the Hart's Ladder of Children's participation. Parents are welcome to pop in, join in and ask questions as well. Home visits of a more personal nature take place when necessary.
Wider engagement
We also supported adults whenever necessary and possible. Not only did this help ensure a more secure family base for our members, but also led to adults volunteering to support and two adults successfully applying for youth work training positions.
We have had to provide transport in most cases as these families are majority Muslim and will not permit young women to travel on public transport unless accompanied by a male relative.
We work with the local schools and colleges, ensuring club members have better learning experiences, support in transitions from primary to secondary school and to college, also and accessible pathways. We are involved in Ylab to design a website, create a toolkit, plan and deliver a project to help young people with their mental health and wellbeing.
Befriending
Befriending refugees and asylum seekers has always been central to our work. The Trustees recognise the value of a kind, non-judgemental, sensible friend, a listening ear, someone who can provide practical support to those finding themselves in a strange new place, with its different culture and laws, and the very real impact it can bring to bear upon those trying to successfully make a new life in Wales.
In late 2022, we held a consultation meeting to shape our plans and partnerships for the coming years. From that we agreed to encourage a befriending network to help make Flintshire a place of welcome and safety, while educating more of our local community on the realities of migration.
Following an initial discussion with two trustees in May, Helen Robinson agreed to become the Befriending Coordinator. Her first step was to liaise with existing befrienders in Flintshire and to work with Liz Litherland to introduce the network in a ‘Good Neighbours’ event during Refugee Week in June. The Network is based on 4- 5 local hubs in areas where there are already examples of positive befriending and a number of resettled families.
FCoS will enable and support befrienders with training on safeguarding and cultural and diversity training, and also to reach out to our supporters to help with venues for meetings, as required. However, because of the informal basis of befriending, this is not an FCoS network.
C. TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON MATTERS RELATING TO IMMIGRATION AND THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM
In addition to the befriending activities and our group’s involvement in partner groups and organisations, the key activities during 2023 that enabled FCoS to communicate with members of the wider community in Flintshire and North Wales were:
1. United by Music, the Mold Celebration of Diversity & Culture
This highly successful event was held during Refugee Week through a partnership with Mold Town Council, Action Asylum, Together with Refugees and Asylum Link, Merseyside, and Bethesda Chapel in Mold. An impressive line-up of international and local Welsh musicians and singers provided an impressive programme that delighted the audience and even prompted spontaneous dancing. Attended by civic dignitaries, people with lived experience and members of local communities in N.E. Wales, this was a joyous evening that highlighted the enrichment that comes from integration of cultures and how Wales has a proud history of embracing and welcoming people seeking sanctuary.
Importantly, ‘United by Music’, also served to show the link between Action Asylum and the North Wales Wildlife Trust, where environmental projects have been undertaken in Flintshire, such as removing invasive species of flora and tree planting, meaning local people have worked alongside asylum seekers and had a chance to engage with them, dispelling myths and forming
friendships. The concert also got a mention in the Senedd (Welsh Parliament).
2. International Dance Festival in Holywell
FCoS was an official partner of Transition Holywell and District, Holywell Town Council and Holywell and Flint Rotary Club. FCoS undertook to provide costs of transporting those with lived experience who had no access to public transport to Holywell.
Held on a surprisingly warm and sunny Saturday in June, the festival was organised as an example of ‘Hope not Hate’ to showcase the Welsh Government’s commitment to making Wales ‘A Nation of Sanctuary’, to demonstrate how we all have a part to play and to provide a warm Welsh welcome.
Dancers taking part included Ziba Tabrizi (above) performing traditional Afghan dances; a group of Chinese women living in North East Wales; a Scottish Caledonian Dance group from Chester, and the wacky Clerical Error Morris Dance troupe. In addition to this international cast of dancers, there was also be a young Ukrainian singer and, amongst the many stalls, one with traditional Ukrainian craft items.
FCOS had a presence on the day and our ‘Croeso’ quilt prompted many conversations about peoples with lived experience of seeking sanctuary in Flintshire, the Welsh Government’s goal of a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’ and the vibrancy of a more diverse community in Flintshire with those attending the festival, including two members of the Welsh Senedd.
D. TO PROVIDE RECREATION FACILITIES AND PROMOTE EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
Many of FCoS activities focus on enabling better integration of refugees and asylum seekers into the wider Flintshire community through social, cultural and sporting opportunities, such as those described above in the Youth Programme and befriending, often enabled by support from or working with our partner groups. The Mold Concert in Refugee Week and the Holywell Dance festival are examples of these integrated, family-based events organised and/or supported by FCoS where adults and children with different experiences of seeking sanctuary in Wales came together with a diverse group of longer term residents as members of the North Wales community to join in dancing, music and entertainments.
Teresa Carberry
Chair of FCoS Board of Trustees
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: 1[st] January 2023 to 31[st] December 2023 Charity name: Flintshire City of Sanctuary, Working with Synergy Charity registration number: 1186789
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | (I) To advance the education of the public in general, 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 activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
See Chair’s Report above. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees of FCoS have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission of England and Wales on public benefit in their administration of the charity. |
Commission on public benefit
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference Summary of the main Para 1.20 See 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
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | This is the fourth year of operations of the charity. With no funding for new projects, the charity focused on continuing its activities in family and youth work, as remaining funds allowed - see the Chair’s Report above. This incurred expenditure of about £3,400, with the bulk of this arising from the run-off on the youth activities programme launched in 2022 and continuing in 2023. At the year-end cash-in-bank was down by nearly £4,100, from an opening balance on 1st January 2023 of £11,690. Without further funding the charity will be unable to undertake new projects, but does have sufficient unrestricted funds to cover general costs for several years to come. Mark Trengove FCoS Financial Secretary |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity does not hold reserves. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | See above |
| 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. If funding is not obtained its activities are scaled down appropriate to remaining funds. |
| 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
| Additional information | ||
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | In 2023 FCoS received no charitable grants or donations from NCOs or local, national or UK government. The only income was £120 from small donations from 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. • An incident creating major reputational damage to the good name of the charity. |
Charity Name No. FLINTSHIRE CITY of SANCTUARY 1186789 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Period start date Period end date For the period to from 01/01/2023 31/12/2023
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Last year funds funds funds to the nearest to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ £ A1 Receipts - - - - Restricted grants 13,660 - - 40 General grants and donations 120 120 - - 120 Sub total (Gross income for AR) 120 13,700
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
----- Start of picture text -----
-
- - -
-
- - -
120
- - 13,700
----- End of picture text -----
- Sub total - Total receipts 120 -
| A3 Payments | 350 50 54 144 |
350 50 54 144 |
735 55 2,108 295 68 |
735 55 2,108 295 68 |
- - - - - - - - - - |
- - - - - - - - - - |
735 350 55 0 0 2,108 295 50 122 144 0 153 0 13 99 88 4,212 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | 735 | - | 735 | 2,818 | ||||
| Promotional materials | 350 | - | 350 | 0 | ||||
| Activities fees | 55 | - | 55 | 1,370 | ||||
| Administrative fees | - | 0 | 1,350 | |||||
| Training | - | 0 | 410 | |||||
| Transport | 2,108 | - | 2,108 | 3,908 | ||||
| Venue costs | 295 | - | 295 | 3,966 | ||||
| TCC Membership fees | 50 | - | 50 | 0 | ||||
| Motoring allowances | 54 | 68 | - | 122 | 471 | |||
| IT expenses | 144 | - | 144 | 104 | ||||
| Charitable grants & donations | - | 0 | 465 | |||||
| Room rentals | 153 | - | 153 | 0 | ||||
| Licenses | - | 0 | 405 | |||||
| Teaching books & stationary | 13 | - | 13 | 185 | ||||
| Insurance | 99 | - | 99 | 99 | ||||
| Miscellaneous expenses | 88 | - | 88 | 168 | ||||
| Sub total | 785 | 3,427 | - | 4,212 | 15,719 |
A4 Asset and investment purchases
----- Start of picture text -----
Car child seats
- - - - 102
Sub total
- - - - 102
Total payments 785 3,427 - 4,212 15,821
----- End of picture text -----
| Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
(665) | **(3,427) ** | - | (4,092) | **(2,121) ** | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 4,863 | 6,827 | - | 11,690 | 13,811 | |||||
| 4,198 | 3,400 | - | 7,598 | 11,690 |
| Section B Statement of | end of the period | end of the period | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| assets and liabilities at the | ||||
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets |
Details Bank current account Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details None Details None Details Teaching equipment |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 4,198 4,198 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Restricted |
Restricted funds to nearest £ 3,400 3,400 OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - Cost (optional) - Cost (optional) 105 |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| Teaching equipment | Restricted | 105 | - |
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
| Laptop computer | Unrestricted 210 |
- | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car child seats | Unrestricted | - | ||||
| 102 | ||||||
| Fund to which Amount due |
When due | |||||
| Details | liability relates (optional) |
(optional) | ||||
| None | - | |||||
| Signature | Print Name | Date of approval |
||||
| Teresa Carberry | TERESA MARY CARBERRY | 19/08/2024 | ||||
| Liz Litherland | DOROTHY ELIZABETH | 19/08/2024 | ||||
| LITHERLAND |
Notes to the Statutory Accounts
Note 1: a total of £0 (£817 in 2022) was paid to the Trustees in their independent capacity as self-employed teachers in delivering the charity’s services:
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s **trusts: ** |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed,royalcharter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO Foundation Structure Governing Instrument |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more Trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees may be recruited to the Board by the Trustees, and no other person. In selecting individuals for appointment, the Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of Trustees |
Para 1.51 | An orientation programme for new Trustees is in place. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | See Chair’s Report |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | See Note 1 in the financial accounts above. The payment rates for Trustees are the same as those for TEFL teachers who are not Trustees of the charity. |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Flintshire City of Sanctuary: working with Synergy |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | FCoS |
| Registered charitynumber | 1186789 |
| Charity’s principal address | None. |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole period |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. Carberry | Chair | All theyear | None | |
| D.E. Litherland | DeputyChair | All theyear | None | |
| M. Greaney | Secretary | All theyear | None | |
| M. Trengove | Financial Secretary | All theyear | None | |
| P. Vine | Treasurer | Jan-June | None |
– 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) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) |
Teresa Carberry |
Maire Greaney |
|---|---|---|
| Teresa M Carberry | Maire Helena Greaney | |
Chair |
Secretary | |
| 28/10/2024 | ||
| 28/10/2024 |