2022-03-31-accounts

Bridport Refugee Support Campaign

Registered Charity No 1192063

Trustees’ Annual Report

for the year ended

31 March 2022

Contents

		Page
1.	Charity details	1
2.	Structure	1
3.	Trustees	1
4.	Charitable objects	1
5.	Origin and development of the Charity	2
6.	Main activities and achievements	3
7.	Public benefit	4
8.	Governance and management	5
9.	Volunteers	5
10.	Fundraising	5
11.	Financial review	6
12.	Declaration	7

1. Charity details

Name: Bridport Refugee Support Campaign Charity Number: 1192063 Registered Address: 6 New Zealand Farm Close Bridport Dorset DT6 3FR

2. Structure

Bridport Refugee Support Campaign (BRSC) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are the Charity trustees. Our governing document is the BRSC constitution adopted on 29 October 2020.

3. Trustees

All trustees listed below were initially appointed on 29 October 2020 for terms ranging from 2 to 4 years:

Lucy Campbell (resigned 06 June 2021) Julie Frew (re-appointed 29 October 2022) Mark Gage Richard Jenner (re-appointed 29 October 2022) Vice-Chair Ann Langridge Treasurer Barry Lovejoy Chair Margie Savory (Barbour) Catherine Scott (re-appointed 29 October 2022) Alan Weston Alistair Woodcock

4. Charitable objects

Our objects, as set out in BRSC’s constitution, are:

To relieve financial or other hardship amongst those seeking asylum and those granted refugee status and their dependants, in particular those living (temporarily or permanently) in Bridport and the surrounding area within West Dorset, by providing housing, advice and practical support (including grants or loans) to meet identified needs. And, in relation to those people as are mentioned in this clause:

• (a) To advance the education and training of those in need thereof so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within a new community.

• (b) To relieve unemployment by the provision of vocational and skills training, advice and support.

• (c) To preserve and protect physical and mental health.

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• (d) To promote social inclusion for the public benefit amongst those who are socially excluded on the grounds of their social and economic position, by providing education and training in the English language and by assisting them to integrate into society.

• (e) To provide facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation with the aim of improving the conditions of life of those who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances.

• (f) To advance the education (including through cultural activities) of the public in general, and for the public benefit, about issues relating to those seeking asylum and those granted refugee status and their dependants.

5. Origin and development of the Charity

• 5.1 In February 2020, a group of local residents came together to discuss the possibility of helping one or more refugee families to resettle in Bridport and the surrounding area, under the Home Office’s Community Sponsorship scheme which enables community and other groups to support refugees wishing to come to the UK. We set up a steering group to take this initiative forward.

• 5.2 Over the next few months the steering group met regularly (via Zoom due to Covid lockdown restrictions). Our initial work focussed on:

• (a) finding out more about the Community Sponsorship scheme and Home Office requirements;

• (b) assigning roles and responsibilities to steering group members (e.g. financial management, publicity and fundraising, housing, safeguarding, preparing the Home Office application);

• (c) agreeing a constitution and applying to become a charity;

• (d) making contact with various organisations, including other refugee sponsorship groups, local community groups, Bridport Town Council, Dorset Council (whose approval was required for us to apply to the Home Office) and organisations providing support and training to sponsorship groups;

• (e) developing initial publicity materials, including a leaflet about our organisation (now named Bridport Refugee Support Campaign) and a Facebook page;

• (f) establishing a contacts/supporters database and an email system to keep supporters informed about the Campaign’s activities;

• (g) investigating fundraising avenues.

• 5.3 We became a registered Charity on 29 October 2020, with most members of the steering group becoming trustees of the new body.

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6. Main activities and achievements

• 6.1 From late 2020 onwards, our main priority was to resettle a family. This entailed a wide range of activities, including:

• (a) raising sufficient funds to enable us to support the family on arrival in the UK and for a minimum of one year thereafter (see section 10 below);

• (b) ensuring that the family would have access to key services, including schools, healthcare, welfare benefits, interpreting and translating services and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teaching;

• (c) securing housing for the family, negotiating tenancy terms, decorating and furnishing the property, meeting safety requirements and arranging the supply of water, gas, electricity, telephone and broadband;

• (d) recruiting and training volunteers to provide support to the family (e.g. teaching English, driving the family, decorating);

• (e) putting in place safeguarding arrangements;

• (f) preparing and translating a welcome pack for the family, including details of life in the UK and of local services and facilities;

• (g) making the formal application to the Home Office and meeting its various requirements including trustee training and obtaining local authority support.

• 6.2 Two challenges in particular are worth noting. Firstly, the Home Office only allocates a family to a sponsorship group once it has approved an application, so we had to plan support without knowing the family’s composition, circumstances, language and any special needs that it might have (e.g. relating to disability). Secondly, securing housing proved to be difficult, as the family would not be eligible for social housing for at least two years after arrival and private rented housing in the area is expensive and in short supply. However, in September 2021 we were offered suitable private rented accommodation in Bridport.

• 6.3 Our application to the Home Office was approved in early November 2021. The next four months were extremely busy as we finalised housing arrangements (including refurbishing the property) and put in place arrival/welcome and initial support arrangements.

• 6.4 The family arrived in the UK on 23 February 2022. They are from Sudan and comprise two adults and two children aged 11 and 7.

• 6.5 We are successfully implementing our programme of support to the family, which is being delivered by Campaign volunteers and trustees. This support includes:

• (a) teaching ESOL in the home to both the adults and the children (the adults also attend an ESOL class provided by Skills and Learning Dorset);

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• (b) supporting the children at school alongside teachers and teaching assistants;

• (c) liaising with the school, NHS services and other bodies;

• (d) driving the family to appointments and taking them on trips;

• (e) helping the adults to find employment.

• 6.6 The whole family’s language skills are progressing and they are integrating well into the Bridport community.

• 6.7 During 2021 and early 2022, we also continued to develop the organisation, including establishing a website and consolidating our contact database and email service (ensuring that we comply with data protection laws).

• 6.8 Our activities focussing on wider public benefit are considered in section 7 below.

7. Public benefit

• 7.1 We have organised or participated in a number of events designed to increase public awareness of the issues facing asylum seekers and refugees.

• 7.2 In December 2020, we organised an awareness event as part of the “Exile: A Mind in Winter” music and art event at Bridport Arts Centre. This included a refugee speaker from another South West Community Sponsorship group.

• 7.3 In June 2021, we organised. with the author, a public presentation and accompanying Q&A session on a book,“Seeking Sanctuary”, which looks at the history of refugees arriving in Britain.

• 7.4 In June 2021, we provided a speaker at a meeting of the Bridport Women’s Institute.

• 7.5 In September 2021, we helped organise a refugee-themed evening at Bridport Community Shed, featuring drama, poetry and songs.

• 7.6 In February 2022 we released a short film called “Welcome To Bridport”, written and directed by Margie Barbour, one of our trustees. The film was narrated by an Arabic speaking Bridport resident, looked at the town and its services and amenities, and featured local people from a variety of backgrounds delivering the message that refugees are welcome in Bridport. The film was made available on the Bridport Town Council website and screened at Bridport Arts Centre as part of Refugee Week 2022. It was subsequently re-edited and narrated in Ukrainian. This version is available on YouTube (as “Ukrainian Bridport Welcome With Subtitles”).

• 7.7 We were twice interviewed by BBC Radio Solent (June 2020 and February 2022).

• 7.8 More generally, we took the opportunity at our fundraising events (see section 10 below) to talk not just about the Community Sponsorship scheme but also about wider issues facing asylum seekers and refugees. For example, our market day

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stall in June 2021 carried information by a local historian on the history of refugees in Bridport, focussing on Belgian refugees arriving during the First World War.

• 7.9 The trustees of BRSC confirm that we have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.

8. Governance and management

• 8.1 BRSC’s current trustees are drawn from the steering group that set up the Campaign. We come from a range of backgrounds including the private, public, charity, trades union and arts sectors. Several trustees have experience of working with refugees while others have relevant experience such as teaching ESOL, providing advice on social welfare matters, working with young people, fundraising, management at a senior level and charity governance.

• 8.2 In early 2023, we will review our objectives for the coming financial year, including governance arrangements.

• 8.3 We have a number of policies in place, including:

• (a) a financial procedures summary;

• (b) a complaints policy for use by the family if it has concerns about services or support provided by BRSC;

• (c) a safeguarding policy.

9. Volunteers

• 9.1 As at March 2022, we had recruited and trained 14 volunteers.

• 9.2 We require all trustees and volunteers to undergo Disclosure And Barring Service checks at the appropriate level.

• 9.3 One of the trustees has been designated the role of Volunteer Manager And Coordinator.

10. Fundraising

• 10.1 We were required to raise a minimum of £9,000 in order to apply to the Home Office to resettle a family. Following advice from other organisations involved in Community Sponsorship, the trustees set a fundraising target of £15,000. Despite limitations on our ability to raise funds as a result of Covid lockdown restrictions, we achieved this target by the end of August 2021.

• 10.2 During 2020 and 2021 we ran a number of stalls in the centre of Bridport on market days, to publicise the Campaign and raise donations. At some of these stalls we sold jams, chutneys, plants, bric-a-brac and tote bags. We produced and sold Christmas cards in both 2020 and 2021. We ran a garage sale in December

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2020 and a Rock For Refugees event in October 2021, featuring four local music acts. We launched a successful Crowdfunder appeal in July 2021.

• 10.3 Some of our supporters organised fundraising events for the Campaign. For example:

• (a) Seafair, a collective of local artists, held a dinner party on Zoom (November 2020);

• (b) a supporter undertook a sponsored bike ride, setting up a separate Crowdfunder appeal for this event.(September 2021);

• (c) supporters organised two fundraising curry nights (March 2022).

• 10.4 As at 31 March 2022, we had raised a total of £33,802. £23,668 of this income came from donations, including £10,260 from the two Crowdfunder appeals, £7,460 from individuals and £2,642 from local community groups and charities. In addition, £7,483 was raised through events and £2,151 through the sale of merchandise. In September 2020, Bridport Town Council awarded us a grant of £500 towards set up and publicity costs.

11. Financial Review

• 11.1 Full details of BRSC’s financial position as at 31 March 2022 are set out in our annual accounts. A statement of financial activity is set out below:

Year Ending	31 March 2022	31 March 2021
	£	£
Income
Donations	18,754	4,914
Grants	-	500
Other	8,520	1,114
Total Income	27,274	6,528
Operating Expenses	16,872	348
NET INCOME	10,402	6,180

• 11.2 As at 31 March 2022, BRSC’s net assets totalled £16,582, of which £15,977 was cash held in a current account with the Co-operative Bank. Net assets comprised £16,410 unrestricted funds and £172 restricted funds.

• 11.3 Our reserves of £16,410 are held solely for the furtherance of BRSC’s charitable objects. The trustees have not designated any reserves for specific purposes.

• 11.4 BRSC has no paid employees. No remuneration or expenses were paid to the trustees other than expenses incurred directly supporting BRSC’s activities.

• 11.5 There are no funds in deficit and there are no uncertainties about BRSC’s ability to continue as a going concern.

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12. Declaration

The trustees of Bridport Refugee Support Campaign declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature Full name Barry James Lovejoy Position Chair of Trustees Date 11 January 2023

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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign

Registered Charity No 1192063

Accounts

For the year ended

31 March 2022

Bridport Refugee Support Campaign

Accounts

Contents

	Page
Charity Information	1
Treasurer’s Report	2
Statement of Financial Activity	3
Balance Sheet	4
Notes to the Accounts	5
Independent Examiner’s Statement	8

Bridport Refugee Support Campaign

Charity Information

Trustees

Mr Barry Lovejoy Chair of Trustees Mr Richard Jenner Vice-Chair Ms Ann Langridge Treasurer Ms Margie Barbour Publicity and Fundraising Lead Ms Julie Frew Language Lead Mr Mark Gage Data Controller Mr Alistair Woodcock Safeguarding Officer Ms Catherine Scott Family Liaison Mr Alan Weston Projects

Date of Appointment

29 October 2020 29 October 2020 29 October 2020 29 October 2020 29 October 2020 29 October 2020 29 October 2020 29 October 2020 29 October 2020

Registered Office

6 New Zealand Farm Close Bridport DT6 3FR

Registered Charity Number

1192063

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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign

Treasurer’s Report

The treasurer presents her report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022.

This is the second year the charity has been operating. The financial target to raise £15,000 to enable a refugee family to be settled in Bridport was met and exceeded. This enabled a successful application to the Home Office under the Community Sponsorship programme and the arrival of a family in Bridport in February 2022.

The charity has achieved a net income for the year of £10,402. Total funds available to the charity stand at £16,582 and includes a small amount of pre-paid insurance costs. This money is held mainly as unrestricted funds (£16,410). There is also £172 left from the grant from Bridport Town Council. This will continue to be spent on educational activities within the town.

Income was mostly obtained through two very successful crowdfunding campaigns. Fund-raising events including stalls and concerts also raised a substantial amount. Another successful sale of Christmas cards made a useful addition to funds as well as events organised by individuals not connected with the charity. Tote bags with the charity’s logo were also put on sale during the year, including on the newly created charity’s web-site. In total £27,274 was raised through all fund-raising activities.

Expenses for the year totalled £16,872 and were largely spent on refurbishing a flat for the family, rent retainers for the flat, interpreting and fundraising costs. The charity has no paid employees and there have been no remuneration or expenses paid to the trustees other than those incurred directly supporting the charity’s activities.

The statement of financial activity is shown on page 3.

The charity has recently completed its registration for gift aid. It is estimated this will generate another £2,700 in income which will be claimed in 2023.

There are no plans for major fund-raising in 2022, with the focus switching to supporting the family and continuing to provide information and education about community sponsorship of refugees.

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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign

Statement of Financial Activity

for the year ended 31 March 2022

	Notes	2021-2	2020-1
Income		£	£
Donations	3	18,754	4,914
Grants	4	-	500
Other	5	8,520	1,114
Total Income		27,274	6,528
Operating Expenses	6	16,872	348
NET INCOME		10,402	6,180

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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign

Balance Sheet

as at 31 March 2022

	Notes	2021-2	2020-1
		£	£
Fixed Assets		0	0
Current Assets
Prepaid expenses	7	59	58
Stock		546	0
Cash at bank	8	15,977	6,122
Creditors		0	0
Net assets		16,582	6,180
Funds of the Charity:
Restricted funds	9	172	268
Unrestricted funds	10	16,410	5,912
Total Funds		16,582	6,180

Restricted income funds represent money which can only be used for specified purposes.

Unrestricted income funds are funds available to be spent within the objects of the charity which can legally be spent wholly at the discretion of the trustees.

The financial statements on pages 3 to 7 were approved by the trustees and authorised for issue on:

31 March 2022

and signed on their behalf by:

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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign

Notes to the Accounts

for the year ended 31 March 2022

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2019.

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest pound.

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

2. Independent Examination

As the charity has a gross income over £25,000 in this financial year, there is a requirement for these accounts to be independently examined. This examination has been undertaken and no matters of concern have been uncovered. The independent examiner’s report is shown on page 8.

3. Donations

Donations are recognised on a receivable basis when the funds have been received.

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total 2022	Total 2021
	£	£	£	£
Donations from individuals	3,364	-	3,364	4,276
Donations from community groups	1,154	749	1,903	-
Donations from registered charities	-	519	519	-
Donations through Crowdfunder	10,260	-	10,260	-
Donations at events	376	-	376	100
Street collections	444	-	444	538
Legacybequest	1,888	-	1,888	-
TOTAL	17,486	1,268	18,754	4,914

Donations from individuals continue to be the main source of funding. Two crowdfunding campaigns were conducted during the year, a general request for funds and also a sponsored bike ride. Both exceeded their targets.

Several donations were received from Bridport-based community groups either to support the charity’s activities in general or for specific items for furnishing the property.

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4. Grants

The grant received from Bridport Town Council in 2021 continues to be used to support the objectives of the charity. The purpose of the grant is to educate and inform the Bridport community about the campaign and the reasons for it and allows expenditure associated with organising events. This year £96 was spent from this fund, leaving £172 remaining.

5. Income from Fundraising

5.1 Events

5.1 Events
Event	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total 2022	Total 2021
	£	£	£	£
New House Farm	3,066	-	3,066	259
BRSCplant and bric-a-brac stalls	1,444	-	1,444	-
Rock for Refugees	1,166	-	1,166	-
SeekingSanctuary	555	-	555	-
Print Sale	600	-	600	-
Other	240	-	240	153
TOTAL	7,071	-	7,071	412

5.2 Merchandise

Item	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total 2022	Total 2021
	£	£	£	£
Tote bagsales	241	-	241	-
Christmas card sales	1,208	-	1,208	1,271
TOTAL	1,449	-	1,449	1,271

6. Expenditure

6.1 Fundraising

Expenses for staging fundraising events was £78 and was spent from unrestricted funds.

6.2 Charitable Activities

6.2 Charitable Activities
	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total 2022	Total 2021
	£	£	£	£
Educationalpublicity	-	96	96	232
Propertyrent	2,567	-	2,567	-
Propertyrefurbishment	6,328	1,268	7,596	-
Interpretingcosts	1,870	-	1,870	-
ESOL costs	607	-	607	-
Digital inclusion costs (laptop, mobiles,broadband)	1,008	-	1,008	-
Arrival costs and interim support payments	2,080	-	2,080	-
Volunteer expenses	36	-	36	-
TOTAL	14,496	1,364	15,860	232

Property costs and costs settling and supporting the family formed the bulk of the expenditure on charitable activities.

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6.3 Other

6.3 Other
	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total 2022	Total 2021
	£	£	£	£
Insurance	177	-	177	116
Administration	122	-	122	-
Merchandise sold costs	635	-	635	5691
TOTAL	934		934	917

7. Prepaid Expenses

Insurance has been prepaid up to end August 2022.

8. Cash at Bank

Cash is held in a current account with the Co-operative Bank.

	Unrestricted Funds	Restricted Funds	Total 2021	Total 2021
	£	£	£	£
Cash at bank	15,805	172	15,977	6,122

9. Restricted Funds

The Bridport Town Council grant awarded in 2021 continues to be spent on publicity materials and the BRSC web-site, leaving a balance of £172.

10. Unrestricted Funds

As at 31 March 2022 no amounts have been set aside from the available unrestricted funds for specific purposes.

1 2021 Christmas card costs are shown separately for comparison purposes. Last year’s Christmas card sales were undertaken for publicity purposes, to raise awareness about the charity

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