Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statement 1st April 2020 - 31st March 2021 Charity Commission Registraion No. 1189561 ## **CONTENTS PAGE** ## **Page 3 Our Mission & Our Values** ## **Page 4** ## **Legal & Administrative Information** ## **Page 5 Statement of Trustees Responsibilities** **Page 6 About Us** ## **Page 8 Where we are** ## **Page 9 What we do** ## **Page 10 Structure Governance & Management** **Page 11 RBB Chairperson & Founder Statement** **Page 12 Financial Overview : Income** ## **Page 13 Key Achievements** **Page 15 Thank You** ## **Page 16 Independent Examination** ## **OUR MISSION** ## **Humanitarian aid whatever it takes!** Aiming to empower people who are displaced by involving them in the decision-making processes to the provision of support, we at Refugee Biriyani & Bananas provide urgent aid and basic necessities with dignity and equity. We also advocate for and share stories of, or from the people we are supporting; aiming to raise awareness and be a voice. We volunteer to fill gaps in humanitarian care, boosting morale and sustaining people on their journeys as people who are displaced. ## **OUR VALUES** Page 3 ## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** ## **Trustees on 31st March 2021** Ruhi Akhtar - Chair of Trustees Rhian Planchant - Treasurer Angela Curry Deborah Flounders Jane Elizabeth Hetherington ## **Registered Address** 52 Clifton Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE4 8DQ. ## **Constitution** Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with England and Wales number 1189561 ## **Independent Examiner** Kay Wightman / Accounting for Good CIC. 10a Front St, Winlaton, Blaydon-on-Tyne. NE21 6DD ## **Bank** The Co-operative Bank p.l.c. ## P.O. Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester. M60 4EP **Website** : www.refugeebiriyanibananas.org **Facebook** : RefugeeBiriyaniAndBananas **Instagram** : Refugee_biriyanibananas **Twitter** : RBBOrganisation Page 4 ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSABILITIES** ## **Year Ending 31st March 2021** The trustees are pleased to present their annual report and financial statement for the year ended 31st March 2021. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting principles set out by the Charity Commission and comply with the charity’s constitution. The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law of the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. This must give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is appropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. Page 5 ## **ABOUT US** ## **Background** Refugee Biriyani & Bananas (RBB) was formed initially as a grassroots movement in response to the escalation of the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015. They were a group of friends who decided to cook and distribute 2,500 portions of biriyani and bananas for all residents of the unofficial refugee camp in Dunkirk, Northern France. When they group returned home, they felt that could not turn their backs on the people affected by the refugee crisis, and they knew they had to continue to help. They then decided to form a grassroots organisation called Refugee Biriyani & Bananas (RBB) after ‘The Biriyani Mission.’ With 82.4 million people currently displaced globally (UNHCR), since 19th May 2020, RBB is a registered charity in the UK and aims to support vulnerable people worldwide, including but not limited to: Victims of War - Oppression Political Persecution Poverty - Natural Disaster - Refugees and Asylum Seekers Displaced People - The Homeless Page 6 RBB consists of a team of volunteers and aid workers from all over the world and is led by Ruhi Loren Akhtar, a team of trustees and field coordinators on the ground. This annual report highlights our activities in the first year as a registered charity. It shares where our funds come from and the difference it is making in the lives of those we are supporting. There will be insights from the RBB Family and our community as we try to do our part in accompanying and supporting people during a humanitarian crisis. Page 7 ## **WHERE WE ARE** During this year we have primarily been supporting those on the Greek Island of Chios, where the majority of the people who are displaced there, were residing in Vial Camp. It has been a distressing time for those in the crisis where : - At its peak, there were approximately 6000 people in our population of support. - People were subject to another terrifying winter, living in tents and makeshift shelters without heating, lighting, electricity and basic life necessities. - The volunteers and NGO community were still recovering from right-wing attacks on aid workers and the community we are supporting, including a colleagues warehouse being burnt down. - There were major fires in Vial Camp, burning down infrastructure and leaving people with even less to survive on. - Governmental changes meant people were further at risk facing cuts in the meagre cash, food and accommodation allowances they received. ## **Case Study 1 Quote:** A message from a single mother from Afghanistan who receives our aid packages, with two children aged three and five years old. She was living in Vial Camp in an unofficial make-shift shelter; and after receiving a positive decision on her asylum application, her cash, food and accommodation allowances were cut. - The Coronavirus pandemic left people further isolated, with less resources as NGO’s struggled to operate due to safety and restrictive measures. Page 8 ## **WHAT WE DO** Our provision of emergency aid and basic necessities can include food, water, shelter, medical supplies, clothes, shoes, season specific aid (i.e. sunscreen in the summer or firewood in the winter), baby products and hygiene packs. We assess the needs and communicate with the affected populations as well as colleagues on the ground to identify priority gaps. We work with the community we are supporting, providing opportunities to be a part of the RBB team and family. We remain mobile, pivoting to meet the most urgent needs and staying until the situation is stable. Where applicable we will raise funds to buy aid on the ground, supporting the local economy. Otherwise we seek aid from supporters elsewhere who can send containers or pallets of aid filled with collected and bought aid, if deemed that this is more cost for specific aid distribution goals. We aim to be a voice and raise awareness about the global displaced peoples crisis. We share people's stories and experiences , advocating for them and campaigning for human rights. Page 9 ## **Structure, Governance and Management** During this year, RBB Has been governed by five charity trustees each in place for the full term. Our constitution provides for a minimum of three trustees and a maximum of seven trustees. New trustees can be appointed by existing trustees and can serve for three years and any charity trustee is eligible for reappointment. Upon appointment trustees declare their commitment and giving of their time and experience freely and no trustee remuneration was paid during this period. Trustees met via video call over the previous year as indicated by our constitution. Face to face meetings were not possible due to Coronavirus pandemic and for safety measures. All meetings were chaired and minuted by the Chair of trustees. In between meetings, trustees communicate regularly using email, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to keep each other uptodate on projects and to approve or decline projects and expenditures. The broad strategy, areas of activity and focus for the charity are reviewed on an ongoing basis due to the fast changing nature of the crisis for displaced people and sudden emergencies requiring a flexible and needs based approach. Page 10 ## **RBB Chairperson and Founder Statement** I am proud to introduce the Refugee Biriyani & Bananas 2020-2021 annual accounts on behalf of our team. Despite the challenges we faced within this year we continued to strive towards our goals to advocate for and support the people within our population of service. The people we are supporting in Greece come from countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Yemen, Pakistan as well as East, West and Sub-Saharan Africa (Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia). I am burdened by the injustices against mankind and the inhumanity I witness. The conditions in the Greek refugee camps are poor and you can sense depression, desperation, and isolation in the air for those seeking asylum at the gateway to Europe. We have grown stronger as an organisation by introducing and implementing better processes and policies to strengthen our safety, governance, transparency, financial diligence and accountability. During this year our key projects were: - The Brothers Campaign - Providing support and advocating for displaced males who are single and from family units residing in refugee camps, squats and other unstable settlements, who can often be left behind in aid work. Food security and nutrition with dignity. - The Prison Run - Supporting and advocating for asylum seekers who are in detention or recently released from detention. - Providing additional support to people who have had their cash, food and accommodation allowances cut as they have received a positive decision on their asylum cases or a second rejection on their asylum applications. This includes ferry tickets for those with second rejections and having to leave the island and suitcases/backpacks for those travelling to the mainland. - Additional support during crises including fires in camp, snowfall and extreme weathers and Coronavirus Pandemic. - As well as population wide distributions, we also have an individual, personcentred care approach. We base our humanitarian efforts after liaising closely with those we work with and for and focus on continuity and building trust. Page 11 ## **FINANCIAL OVERVIEW** ## **INCOME** **During the financial year of 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021 our income totalled £119,277.00. Here is the breakdown of the income and relevant categories:** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Individual Donations (£9,600)
8%
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Grants (£39,210)
32.9%
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Crowdfunding (£70,467)
59.1%
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TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS : £51,915
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TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS : £67,362
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**The Accountants Independent Examination can be viewed at the end of this report.** Page 12 ## **KEY ACHIEVEMENTS** Thank you to everyone who donated to us, raised funds for us, volunteered with us remotely or in the field, sent us aid, shared our social media posts and gave us the encouragement to keep going. Special THANKS to all those from the asylum-seeking community who volunteered with us despite being in a difficult situation themselves. Together we are the RBB family and here are some examples of the difference we were able to make with your monetary and material donations combined: **----- Start of picture text -----**
£2,698.80 was raised and
spent to repatriate the body
of a young man from
Palestine, who sadly died on
the Greek island of Chios
whilst seeking asylum.
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£56,065 was spent on food
and water. With funds raised
and donated items we were
able to distribute 21,401
individual food packs and
hygiene items.
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Page 13 **----- Start of picture text -----**
We bought enough shoes
and socks to keep 1,859
pairs of feet warm at the
height of winter.
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With in-kind donations and
bought aid 1,887 sleeping
bags and 3,774 thermal
socks were distributed for
winter and after a camp fire
destroying belongings.
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We provided 120 donated
bicycles with helmets and
locks bought with £1,147.35
of RBB funds to families
and individuals.
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Page 14 ## **THANK YOU** We are grateful to all our supporters, donors, volunteers and coordinators on the ground and also those who worked with us remotely. Together we were stronger to provide humanitarian aid en mass with dignity. Together we were able to use a person centred approach to care and support people on their journeys to safety and a better life. Together we advocated for and raised awareness of the people we are aiding and the situations they face as displaced. ## **Case Study 2 Quote:** _‘Ruhi and the RBB team are fabulous. The work they do is amazing, making a huge difference to a lot of lives. Lives that have been made so difficult by circumstances outside of their control._ _Volunteering with RBB has been life changing for me and my wife Leila, and we can’t wait to get involved again!_ We pledge to continue to support and advocate for displaced people in the upcoming year. Ruhi Loren Akhtar _I am honoured to be a part of the team and through them I’ve met people, both within the organisation and the community we are supporting, who’ll be friends for life.’_ - Richard Sheridan from London, UK volunteered with RBB, with his wife Leila and daughter Ruby, in Chios and Thessaloniki, Greece. Page 15 REFUGEE Independent examinerfs report on the accounts WRNANI i BANANAS Section A Independeiit Exaii)Iiier s Report Report to th• tru•t• members ol Refugee Biriyanl & Bananas CIO On accounts for th• yo•r ended 31 Marth 2021 Charfty no Ilf any) 1189581 8•t out on p•ge8 14 I roport to the tru*e88 on my examInati￿ ol the accounts of the abovo chaffty (Ih• TTh￿ for tho yoar ended 31 Marth 2021. R••poMlbllltl•• and As the t*arlty tru*ee8 of the Tnmt, you ar• resp￿1b￿ for the preparatlon ba•1• of roport of the a￿lUnts In accordance tho rnquIrem￿t8 of the Charrtm Acl 2011 nho Ai*). I report In rosp8Ct of my examin•tlon of the Tru8t'8 accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrylw out my examinatlon. I have followed the appllcabb 04rectlons glven by the Chartty C¢xnmb88lon und•r 8•dbn 145(5){b) of the Act. I have complated my ox*mination. I confim that no m•l•rfal matters hav• come to my attentlon (other than that dwlo8ed tJel(yw") In connedlon wlth tho examlnation whlth gtr408 me cau0• to bellove that In, ary matwlal accounllrva rocord8 ww• not kopt In acC￿￿8n¢8 ••ctlon 130 th• Act tho axounts do not accord wlth tho accoUn￿ng rxord8 I have no concarM and have come acxo88 no mattern In connection wrth th8 oxaminatlon to ￿lch attentlm should bo dravm In ordw to ￿•blO a propgr under•tsnding of th• accounts to be r•ach•d. ' dgbte the In the braGkets Iflhey (k) not ath. Dat•: 7 June 2022 Ind•p•nd•nt •XamI￿￿5 •tatom•nt s￿n•d. Nam•: K•y WgMm•n Relevant profu•lonal quallficatlon{s) or body (ff any): FFA, FFfA Addrw: AccMfjng for Good CIC. 10a Front Street, Wnlaton, Tyno •rKI NE216DD Sectio)ii B D15(-.1051&ro Onw c¢ynplete rf the axaminar needs to h￿hlIght matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examination of charity amnts: dlrectlons and guidance for examinws). Glve here brl8f detalls (rf any Iteffls that tho examlner wl•he• to dh¢lo80. Ithough extensive records were kept these were not of the standard needed to enable us to complete our work arKI substantial reworkirvj was required to ensu￿ that the rec¢)rd8d infonnation was kept corredy induding a&8wJnirvJ It to restricted and unrestricted fur￿￿n9 and en8urirtrJ that personal (related paty) and char￿1 oxpandlure were aeparated. his wa8 due lo the charlty ￿Ing Unab￿ to open a charlty bank account duflng he pand8mlc and as the trustees were out of the UK they LMed a personal bank account for chafrty buslness. We needed to split personal arKI Charlty oxpandrtur• Mulilng at the year orKI of a bank por80nal bank account to have had £13062.07 of charity morny arKI £41(Kl.06 of pw8Mal (related party) This wadice was dlscontinued In 2021 when a charty bank account was . and the per80nal account Use has been dlscontlnuad, any balanc• the personal account wa8 paid to the charity in August 2021 and therefore doe8 not forni part of thole accounts. 2616/2 REFUGEE Recel ts and •nts accounts IPIYANI & BANANAS F•rth• J1fv)3r2021 Soclioii A Receipts ai)d payiiioi)ts fun fundb A1 Fu •7J IJ i• R•il 41,71• 104wo ••• lai>l• .341 11,OZI ££££ Seclioii B Slalciiiieiil ol assols ,111(I Iiabililies at tl)e eiicl of tlie i)èriod C•¢•gor fvnd nd• fun 84*4•1ts rntsln•d ftyth• Dbtails 411• a6