Da'.J"' Yj. Fi":JwT DA'ARO YOUTH ANNUAL_ PEPORT ' 2022 I IVI ,.1-4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
03 Message from Dehab
04 Our 2021 - 2022 results 06 Da'aro Youth 07 Injera Club
10 Youth Casework Service 13 Family Reunion 14 Policy and Campaigns 16 Team Da'aro Youth 17 Financial Overview
19 Thanks
20 Trustees
MESSAGE FROM DEHAB
It has been a humbling and life changing experience to see the tremendous impact Da'aro Youth Project has made to so many young people over the past 4 years.
The project has gone from strength to strength with the unwavering support of all the donors, volunteers and staff who have helped us to raise the profile of the charity and increase our outreach.
There have been many exceptional moments during my time at Da'aro. Witnessing a teenager reunited with his mother after 8 years of separation and another reunited with his brother after 7 years makes all the effort extremely fulfilling.
It has been an honour and privilege to be part of Da'aro's incredible story and it's a cause very close to my heart.
I look forward to seeing the Charity continue to flourish and increase it's outreach.
Dehab Woldu
Founder and Operational Manager
Page 3 | Annual Report 2021-22
OUR 2021-22 RESULTS
Our achievements at a glance, during the financial year 1st April 2021 - 31st March 2022:
250 Young People
Reached
1200+ Hot Meals Served
81 New Cases Opened
14 Contributions in News and Media
Page 4 | Annual Report 2021-22
Page 5 1 Annual Report 2021-22
DA'ARO YOUTH
Da'aro Youth Project was established in 2018 by members of the Eritrean community in London in response to the deaths of a number of teenage Eritreans by suicide.
Eritreans and Ethiopians together were the largest nationality group of unaccompanied minors to arrive in the UK in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Sudanese minors were the largest nationality group to arrive in the UK in 2020. Asylumseeking children and young adults arrive here after traumatic journeys through the Sahara Desert, Libya, the Mediterranean Sea and after crossing borders in Europe, such as in Calais. Once here, young people often struggle to adapt to new lives separated from their families, and find that navigating the complex asylum system can be stressful and traumatic. They face social isolation, discrimination and sometimes even hostility.
We aim to promote the wellbeing of these migrant young people living in the UK, through direct support and through advocating for changes to unfair and discriminatory systems which undermine their wellbeing.
Towards this aim, we currently run two projects for young asylum-seekers and refugees: a weekly youth club and casework support, both involving the Eritrean community in London. We are also advocate on behalf of our community by campaigning on issues that affect them. We are particularly focused on issues that impact the mental health and wellbeing of unaccompanied young people.
Page 6 | Annual Report 2021-22
INJERA CLUB
We run a weekly youth club in south London for 14-to-21-year-old unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children and young people from the Horn of Africa: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia (and their friends). At Injera Club, young people can socialise with others, play games, pool, table tennis, football and to enjoy a home-cooked traditional Eritrean meal. We mark special occasions, birthdays and holidays (such as Eritrean Christmas) at Injera Club by throwing extra special parties.
Injera Club is a social space – an environment where young people can interact with their culture, food and speak to others in their own language. Through the work we do at Injera Club we are looking to build community, improve wellbeing and strengthen the resilience of the young people who attend.
Number of young people who attended injera club
250 young people.
1218 attendances Number of and hot meals attendances / hot served. meals served
Average attendance per week across the last 6 months of the financial year
38 young people.
Page 7 | Annual Report 2021-22
Injera Club closed during periods of national lockdown due to Covid-19.
We then re-opened in May 2021.
Since re-opening, we have seen a gradual increase, month by month, on the number of young people who attended injera club each week.
Weekly Average Attendance 2021-22 How many young people attended injera club each week, on average?
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50
40
30
20
10
0
May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
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Young people have commented on how important socialising with their friends at injera club is and also mixing with older persons from their community. One said: "When I get injera, it feels like I am having dinner with my mum."
Page 8 | Annual Report 2021-22
Page 91 Annual Report 2021-22
YOUTH CASEWORK SERVICE
Our Youth Casework Service was established in July 2021. The Youth Casework Service is trauma-informed, holistic and responsive to the needs that our community present with. Young people who attend our weekly youth club with an issue can approach our youth caseworker. They are then triaged within our team and invited to attend a face-to-face meeting with the allocated caseworker.
Since we were established in 2018, in total we have supported 78 young people (between 14 and 21 years old) who needed 1-to-1 support, including with advocacy, advice, emotional support and referrals to specialist legal and other third-sector organisations.
For those young people we have worked on 138 issues (or we call them ‘cases’) – including immigration and asylum issues, social services disputes, housing and homelessness, health and mental health matters, family reunion cases and more. Of this number, we started working on 81 of these issues during the 202122 financial year.
We have been able to refer many of these young people to specialist legal and third-sector support, thanks to our connections with those organisations – this includes law firms specialising in “outside of the rules” family reunion and complex immigration matters, community care law firms, homelessness organisations, counselling and mental health support orgs, mentoring and educational organisations and many more. We work hand-in-hand with social services, and advocate for young people when their voice isn't being heard.
Page 10 | Annual Report 2021-22
Of that 138 cases, 90 cases have now been resolved and have been closed and 48 cases are still ongoing and are still currently being worked on.
Since being established in 2018, our organisation has supported:
| No. | Issue | Support Offered |
|---|---|---|
| 11 young people | dealing with a | by giving help to access |
| criminal legal issue | specialist legal support and | |
| supporting when attending | ||
| court. | ||
| 31 young people | dealing with a | by advocating, |
| housing issue or | making referrals and | |
| homelessness | providing advice. | |
| 20 young people | struggling to access | by ensuring their voice is |
| mental and physical | heard and making | |
| health care | referrals to support. | |
| 10 young people | who had been | by referring to children's |
| disbelieved about | services, to legal support | |
| their age | and providing other advice | |
| and support. | ||
| 15 young people | dealing with an | by making referrals to |
| immigration or | specialist legal support. | |
| asylum matter | ||
| 10 young people | in dispute with | by advocating, |
| children's services | making referrals and | |
| providing advice. | ||
| 5 families | who were navigating | by making referrals to |
| the inquest process | specialist legal support | |
| after the death of a | and ensuring the voice of | |
| loved one | the family is heard. |
Page 11 | Annual Report 2021-22
zii Page 121 Annual Report 2021-22
FAMILY REUNION
Da'aro Youth Project specialises in supporting complex family reunion work due to the skills of our caseworkers and the relationships we have built with legal organisations. Our organisation has supported 21 young people to begin the complex legal process for an ‘outside of the rules’ family reunion application. We have been successful in bringing to the UK and reuniting 3 lone children with their siblings; an older sibling of a man who was blinded; and a mother with her child, so far. Each family reunion case has had a profound and lasting impact on a marginalised young person living alone in the UK. An example of this Arun* (name changed) who we began working with on a family reunion application in 2019. We supported this young person to attend appointments with his solicitor, ensuring his voice was heard, and ensured his case was progressing. When the Home Office refused the application, we provided the solicitors with statements and additional evidence to prove the need of the young person at appeal. In 2022 Arun’s mother arrived at Heathrow airport. They were reunited after 8 years of separation and now live together in North West London.
Page 13 | Annual Report 2021-22
POLICY & CAMPAIGNS
We've been campaigning on issues that impact negatively on unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people - fighting against the erosion of their rights and for a better settlement for young people who seek safety in the UK.
Letter
In July 2021 we wrote to the government with the support of 46 other organisations, raising the alarm about deaths by suicide amongst young refugees.
Voice in media
We've been a voice for unaccompanied young people in press and media (incl. BBC News, Guardian, Independent and Financial Times), speaking out on issues that affect them.
Parliamentary work
Cross-sector work
We've been supporting the work of the Refugee and Migrant Children's Consortium, actively leading on mental health policy work.
We've worked with parliamentarians to raise issues in parliament, including supporting an amendment to the Borders Bill, and speaking out against changes to age assessment process.
Page 14 | Annual Report 2021-22
We've been a voice for young asylum-seekers and refugees in the Guardian and on BBC News
Page 15 | Annual Report 2021-22
TEAM DA'ARO YOUTH
In 2021/22, our team grew from two staff to four staff. We welcomed two new staff members as part of our new Youth Casework Service: Sarah Akberet Robson and Ibtisam Adem joined us as Youth Caseworkers, both working part-time. They join Benny Hunter as Project Coordinator and Dehab Woldu as Operational Manager.
We continue to be thankful to our incredible volunteers for their patience and hard work. That includes our youth work volunteers who helped out during the last year: Mikal, Aden, Adonay, Aron, Desta, Geordie, Jessica, Miheret, Simon, Yohana, Yordanos and Yorsalem – and our kitchen support who was busy preparing yummy food: Freweyne.
We're so hugely thankful to the community members who have brought food or otherwise helped in whatever way to make Injera Club a success.
We welcomed seven new trustees to the board during this year, bringing our total to nine trustees.
Page 16 | Annual Report 2021-22
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
What we spent money on in 2021-22
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Admin Costs
7.4%
Rent Costs
12.7%
Payroll
53%
Direct Support
19.2%
Youth Activities
7.7%
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In the year ended 31st March 2022, our total income from donations and grants was £102,943.
Expenditure during that same period was £114,340.
Reserves at the end of the financial year are £49,178. This amounts to £21,715 in unrestricted reserves and £27,463 in restricted reserves, consisting of 3 restricted funds.
Page 17 | Annual Report 2021-22
Reserves Policy
DYP is currently dependent on mainly grant funding to sustain its activities. This means that if there were to be a shortfall in grant funding level it is likely that DYP would have to close services.
To avoid closure if funding difficulties were to happen the Trustee Board has agreed to keep a certain level of financial reserves to ensure that main operations can continue for a period of 3 months minimum.
The main concerns of the Trustee Board are to ensure:
that staff can continue working, primarily to secure new funding that clients are supported to move on to other services
Reserves will be built up from unrestricted income.
Page 18 | Annual Report 2021-22
THANKS
Thank you to everyone who donated and fundraised for us in 2021 – 2022. Every one off contribution, donation to a fundraiser, and monthly contributor, has allowed us to grow month on month and continue to support the young people that we support.
We are very grateful to our major funders, without which we couldn't do the work that we do: Choose Love, Manpin Foundation, Do It Now Now and The National Lottery Community Fund.
Page 19 | Annual Report 2021-22
TRUSTEES
During the period 2021/22 period the following persons were trustees: John Abraha Appointed as trustee on 8th April 2021 Yohannes Bahru Appointed as trustee on 20th September 2021 Elaine Chase (Secretary) Appointed as trustee on 28th March 2020 Futsum Kahsa (Chair) Appointed as trustee on 28th March 2020 Hadgu Kiflai Appointed as trustee on 8th April 2021 Berhane Semere Appointed as trustee on 8th April 2021 Petros Tesfai (Treasurer) Appointed as trustee on 8th April 2021 Yacob Woldehiwot Appointed as trustee on 8th April 2021 Nardos Yemane Appointed as trustee on 8th April 2021
Page 20 | Annual Report 2021-22
Governance and Management
Da'aro Youth Project is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
Our governing document is a 'constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members other than its charity trustees'.
There must be at least three charity trustees. If the number falls below this minimum, the remaining trustee or trustees may act only to call a meeting of the charity trustees, or appoint a new charity trustee. The maximum number of charity trustees is 12. The charity trustees may not appoint any charity trustee if as a result the number of charity trustees would exceed the maximum. The majority of trustees must be people who claim Eritrean heritage.
At every annual general meeting of the members of the CIO, one-third of the charity trustees shall retire from office. If the number of charity trustees is not three or a multiple of three, then the number nearest to one-third shall retire from office, but if there is only one charity trustee, he or she shall retire. The charity trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. If any trustees were last appointed or reappointed on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be
determined by lot; The vacancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the annual general meeting.
The members or the charity trustees may at any time decide to appoint a new charity trustee, whether in place of a charity trustee who has retired or been removed, or as an additional charity trustee, provided that the limit on the number of charity trustees would not as a result be exceeded; A person so appointed by the charity trustees shall retire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting after the date of his or her appointment, and shall not be counted for the purpose of determining which of the charity trustees is to retire by rotation at that meeting.
Page 21 | Annual Report 2021-22
All of our activities are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the benefit of the public. The Trustees have had regard to Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees' report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
c/o Streatham Space Project, Sternhold Avenue, London, SW2 4PA
info@daaroyouth.org.uk
Charity No. 1189245
Charity Name No (if any) Da'aro Youth Project 1189245
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period Period start date Period end date To from 1st April 2021 31st March 2022
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds funds funds funds to the nearest to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ £
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to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Grants 4,484 83,945 - 88,429
Donations 14,234 - - 14,234
Fundraiser for Victim of Acid Attack - - - -
Refunds 281 - - 281
Sub total (Gross income for AR) 18,999 83,945 - 102,943
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - -
Total receipts 18,999 83,945 - 102,943
A3 Payments
Freelance Workers - 131 - 130.65
Salaries incl. HMRC - 54,272 - 54272.30
Payroll Expenditure - 385 - 385.20
Staff Recruitment 1,115 - - 1115.00
Staff Travel and Expenses - 3,302 - 3302.39
Training and Supervision - 1,489 - 1488.80
Volunteer Costs 372 - - 372.45
Insurance 261 - - 260.94
Materials and Equipment - 867 - 866.97
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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
01/20/2023
1
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Youth Activities - 710 - 709.70
Youth Club Food and Delivery Costs 6,584 - - 6584.44
Young Person Direct Support 416 - - 415.76
Youth Club Rent - 4,680 - 4679.94
Office Rent - 9,808 - 9807.60
Fundraising 318 - - 318.25
IT Equipment - 6,006 - 6006.25
Stationery, Postage and Printing - 295 - 294.62
Telephone 961 - - 960.80
Attack Victim Expenses - 21,518 - 21517.52
Miscellaneous Costs 851 - - 850.87
Refunds - - - 0.00
- -
Sub total 10,879 103,462 - 114,340
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - -
Total payments 10,879 103,462 - 114,340
Net of receipts/(payments) 8,120 - 19,517 - - 11,397
A5 Transfers between funds - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 13,595 46,980 - 60,575
Cash funds this year end 21,715 27,463 - 49,178
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Unrestricted | Restricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories | Details | funds | funds | |
| B1 | Cash funds | Advice Project Funds | to nearest £ - |
to nearest £ 14,726 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2
01/20/2023
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use
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Injera Club Funds - 8,216
Fundraiser for attack victim
- -
Core Costs
21,715 4,521
Total cash funds 21,715 27,463
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s)) OK OK
Unrestricted Restricted
funds funds
Details to nearest £ to nearest £
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Fund to which
Cost (optional)
Details asset belongs
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
Cost (optional)
Details asset belongs
Printer IT Equipment 175
Laptops IT Equipment 1,689
Case Management System IT Equipment 5,010
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CCXX R3 accounts (SS)
3
01/20/2023
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
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-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which Amount due
Details liability relates (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
----- End of picture text -----
Signature Print Name
CCXX R4 accounts (SS)
01/20/2023
4
CC16a
Last year
to the nearest £
60,810 6,041 21,892 55 88,798
-
88,798
9,885 10,891 140 169 879 1,763 597 254 647
CCXX R5 accounts (SS)
01/20/2023
5
184 8,036 751 853 - 96 2,195 101 325 920 87 - - 38,774
-
38,774
50,024 - 10,551 60,575
Endowment funds
to nearest £
-
CCXX R6 accounts (SS)
6
01/20/2023
-
OK
Endowment funds
to nearest £
-
Current value (optional)
-
Current value (optional)
-
CCXX R7 accounts (SS)
01/20/2023
7
-
When due (optional)
Date of approval
CCXX R8 accounts (SS)
8
01/20/2023
CCXX R9 accounts ISSI 0112012023
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALE5 Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the truste members of Da'aro Youth Project On accounts for tho year ended 31¥t March 2022 Charity no (If any) 1189245 Set out on pages l Teport to the trustees on my examinats.on of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year enthd 31103 12022. As chaTrtVs trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the arxounts in accordance with the requirements of the Char((ies Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). Responslbilities •nd basis of report I report in respect of my examination of th6 Tt'S accounts Garnied out urmyer sec*'on 145 of the 2011 Act arhy in carying out my examination, I have followed all the appficabte Diredions given ty the Chanty Commission under section 145{5}(b} of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matertal matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection wrth the examination (other than that discloseAI below") which gvRs me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. th8 accounting records we not kept in accwdance wrth section 130 of the Charities A&" or the accourrts did not accord Yéth the accountlng recoThls; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conGeming the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter consKlered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have Come a(xoss no other matters in connection with the examination to whith attention should be drawn in thK8 report in order to enable 8 proper undeTStanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the wOlS in the brackets rf they do rt apply. Slgnod: Date: 2511012022 Nama: Nathaniel Appiyah ACMA Rolovant professlonal qualification(s) or body (If any): CHARTERED INSTITLrfE OF MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS Addross: Kemp House.160 City Road L(On EC1V 2NX