## **Asylum an** d R **efugee Community Blackbu** r **n Annual** R **epo** r **t 2020-2021**
## **Cha** r **ity Pu** r **poses**
The purpose of the A RC P roject is to a ddress the needs of newly a rrived asylum seekers and refugees (AS&R) in Blackburn, who a re one of the most disadvantaged rg oups in this a rea of high deprivation. Blackburn with Darwen (BwD) became a Home Ofce dispersal a rea in 2004. The A RC P roject, run by the Methodist Church responded to this need rf om 2004 until April 2020 when the newly formed independent charity, A RC Blackburn, was formed and now continues this work.
Joint Needs Assessment i dentifes that the Borough has high levels of deprivation, low skills, poor health and signifcant economic inactivity afecting the life of its communities; this is challenged by austerity, government welfare policy changes, increasing unemployment and an increasingly Home Ofce 'hostile environment'. Asylum Seekers and Refugees(AS&R) fall into the above categories of deprivation when they a rrive with nothing, mostly no o r little English language skills, poor physical and mental health due to t rauma of feeing their country and many have no recognised qualifcations o r skills. Even highly qualifed AS&R such as civil engineers, doctors and teachers a re highly disadvantaged and sufer rg eat stress f rom being uprooted. They face long periods of unemployment due to discrimination in the labour market and /or the need to improve English language and the p rocess of re-training and qualifcations not being recognised, often having to resort to low skilled work.
ARC Blackburn is well placed to deliver this p roject as it is located in Wesley Hall Methodist Church which is in the centre of Blackburn and which has excellent space and facilities for running the A RC Blackburn charity. Through local community and church links A RC Blackburn is able to recruit the considerable volunteer resources needed to support the p roject. Many staf and volunteers bring skills and experience f rom a p rofessional/voluntary background of work in pastoral/counselling, e ducation, health, social services and charities. RA C Blackburn, being in the town centre, is well placed to network and build meaningful links with other key faith and community o rganisations as well as with nearby Blackburn College, legal bodies and health and local council services. This is vital as A RC service users come f rom a wide range of backgrounds and faiths with multi-layered social needs.
ARC Blackburn is highly regarded nationally, both by the Government and by the Methodist Church headquarters and regionally by several foundations and rt usts as a fagship p roject serving the needs of asylum seekers and refugees which is demonstrated by the ongoing funding support by these bodies.
## **What the cha** r **ity has** d **one to ca** rr **y out those pu** r **poses**
ARC casework ofce is open 3 days a week and meets the needs of AS&R by
providing help and support at a c ritical moment, especially when they a rrive, through both emergency and planned appointments. Their basic food and temporary housing needs a re met through the Home Ofce National Asylum Support Service (NASS). However there a re continually vital issues which need to be u rgently resolved; accommodation is often p roblematic with issues such as damp, boiler rb eakdown, inadequate furnishing, kitchen equipment etc. RA C casework involves assisting AS&R to register with GPs and make appointments, fnd solicitors to help with their asylum appeals, facilitate school placement for children as well as p roviding links and signposting to the many community organisations and services vital to meeting their individual needs. RA C also provides interpreting support and rf ee language learning support through the English Club two days a week. ddA itionally, learners a re taken on e ducational trips to Blackburn’s library, museum and cathedral. The weekly social Drop-in session a ddresses the issue of loneliness and social isolation as well as helping to build a strong community p roviding a social space, refreshments and sports activities and recreational t rips, including regular rt ips as guests to Blackburn Rovers matches. Other local o rganisations and services access the Drop-in to initiate the various support they can p rovide to AS&R. The t ransition f rom Asylum Seeker to Refugee status with 'leave to remain' is a very vulnerable period. NASS payments cease and mainstream benefts such as Universal C redit and Child Beneft do not kick in for several weeks, leaving people destitute. RA C assists refugees to apply for housing after notice to quit NASS accommodation. Single young men a re often in the poorest accommodation such as hostels. They become particularly vulnerable to loneliness, being the victim o r perpetrator of crime and/or succumbing to negative societal infuences which can lead to addiction, fnancial t roubles and/or destitution. RA C Drop-in and Youth Club have been vital in a ddressing this situation. Many speak of A RC as their FAMILY-a place where they feel safe, included, befriended, supported and valued and where they can support each other through also volunteering their time.
We have many case stories of AS&R which highlight how A RC has supported clients; during this reporting period, a Sudanese woman 8 months p regnant with a disturbed r 2 y old gir rrl a ived in Blackburn as an asylum seeker with no family connections, t raumatised rf om leaving family to fee f rom danger, with little English and no i dea about how to get any help. RA C immediately helped her to register with a GP and ante-natal care, photocopied documents for her asylum application, a rranged for interpreters for all appointments, signposted for housing, baby equipment, gave emergency food when needed, enrolled her in English class and introduced her to others at the social Drop-in which meets on Tuesdays. RA C helped her, (and many others like her), to overcome the destitution 'gap' whilst t ransitioning to refugee status by acting in a timely manner to help her quickly access income support and child benefts.
Given the current situation of increased numbers of people feeing war torn countries, we expect to support a round 900 cases per year. AS&R average monthly actions for casework were maintained at a round 80. We work with an individual o r family repeatedly over a period which usually stretches over several years. Case work sessions average 1 hour but complex issues often related to Universal C redit and housing can require over 2 hours especially with increasingly long waits by telephone.. By continuing English classes/club, in both individual and rg oup sessions, we anticipate, that though few a re likely to secure
permanent employment due to language and competition in the job market, more clients will obtain temporary work (currently 90 English Club participants)
## **Covi** d
Throughout this reporting period RA C Blackburn has been g reatly challenged by keeping services running in a way that kept service users, staf and volunteers safe whilst maintaining vital support.
During the lockdown periods we ofered virtual casework support and social interaction through phone and Whatsapp. We met service users face to face only in emergency situations and with scaled back staf cover. Post lockdown periods when more people were entering the building, we implemented extensive Covid safe measures based on careful risk assessment. During lockdowns the English Club continued on-line using zoom in three diferent level g roups.
Unfortunately the highly attended weekly social drop-in was regarded as too high risk for infection so was cancelled. This was a period of g reat stress and loneliness for our benefciaries. RA C staf and volunteers rallied ra ound to make regular ‘well-being calls’ to keep in touch and be able to assess any u rgent needs. Regular ‘Covid safe’ health messages and vaccination information was sent out by Whatsapp.
During the lockdown periods A RC ran a weekly food parcel distribution both outside the charity building and also home delivery for families and individuals in desperate need.
## **Cha** r **ity** R **egulation an** d **Gui** d **ance**
ARC Blackburn T rustees have been meeting at least monthly to ensure smooth management and oversight of the charity. Decisions a re made taking full account of and with regard to charities regulation (2008) and Charity Commission Public Beneft Guidance. All t rustees a re aware of the guidance p rovided by the charities regulation statement 2008 and carry out their duties in accordance with this. All actions a re approved and carefully minuted.
## **ASYLUM AND REFUGEE COMMUNITY, BLACKBURN**
## **Accounts for the year ending 31 August 2020**
## **Income**
|Donations
**Grants**
Dept Communities & Local Government Controlling
Immigration Fund
National Methodist Connection
Lancashire Methodist District
West Pennine Moors Methodist Circuit
Clitheroe Parish Church
Duchy of Lancaster
Lancashire Community Foundation
Tinta Appeal*
**Expenses**
Telephone
Petty Cash
Rent
Stationary
Sundries
Insurance
Salaries
Bank balance B/fwd
Bank Balance 31 August 2020|5009
21161
20000
11000
10229
2150
2000
5000
760
**77309**
1870
900
6648
751
2575
595
69376
**82715**
-5406
20110
14704|
|---|---|
## **Tinta Appeal ***
This is a public appeal to cover legal expenses in challenging a decision by the Home Office to refuse asylum for Tinta who has been a much valued member of our ARCB family for several years - total raised as at 31 October 2020 - £8950
Auditors certificate for these accounts is held
Asylum and Refugee Communlty, Blackburn
Registered Charity No: 1188910
ACCOUNTS &
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 August 2021
Astyum and Refugee Community, Blaekburn
Registered Charity No: 1188910
Index to the Financial Statements
Year eDded 31 August 2021.
Page
Income & Expenditure Account
Balance Sheet
Noies to the Financial Ststements
Independent Examiner's ReN)rt
A•ylurn Relugee Communlty 81aekburn
R•gl•t•r•d CharSty No '. 118B910
Incom• & Exp•ndttur• Account
Y•ar End•d 31 Augu•t 2021
In¢¢m•
Grnnt•
Oon•tlon•
72,C65.00
S,075.95
MI•c•llan•o I0•
77.140.95
L•M Exp•rTr••• •nd Ov•rh•ad•
Stsfflng Co•ts
Stsff Wages & Salarie8
Stsff NIC
46,Ix8 45
Pension8
Staff Training Costs
Stalf Exp8n8e$
787.48
125 52
48,969 45
Tlnts Appo•1 E¥p•nM•
Admlnl•tr•tlon a rk•fIng
Stal'on8ry & Inks
Chonty Expenses (Food P8¢kwil
Mernb8rships
Postage
A¢count8ncy. Payroll & Ex8minatson ol Accourts
Fundirrtj AFplicatson
Professional Fe8$
84nk & Card F883
Travel Expeng•S
Wthite Fees
7.10
647.60
1.325.
15OCQ
78.
8359
3.472.88
E•tabll•hm•nt Exp•n•
Rant, Eb¢triryty & water
Insuronc
Tebpho
Comp¢Jt•r Exp8•6
Alami & Stturity
R¢p$irs & Sundry EqUIpftfit
Equipment Hire
Sundry Expgnses
aning Expenseg
Sundry Donatson
Oepre¢Aalion ol AJs•ts
1,022.65
2.331.59
179.15
219.87
81.10
712.07
4.548.23
Total Exponv•
54.988 54
ILo8•1 Surplu• G•n•rat•d fr