Bridport Refugee Support Campaign
Registered Charity No 1192063
Trustees’ Annual Report
for the year ended
31 March 2023
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
The trustees listed below served during the year. All were initially appointed on 29 October 2020 for terms ranging from 2 to 4 years:
Julie Frew (re-appointed 29 October 2022) Mark Gage Richard Jenner (re-appointed 29 October 2022) Vice-Chair Ann Langridge Treasurer Barry Lovejoy (re-appointed 29 October 2023) Chair Margie Savory (Barbour) (resigned 01 February 2023) Catherine Scott (re-appointed 29 October 2022) Alan Weston Alistair Woodcock (re-appointed 29 October 2023)
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:
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(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.
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(b) To relieve unemployment by the provision of vocational and skills training, advice and support.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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
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5.1 The organisation (later named Bridport Refugee Support Campaign) was set up in February 2020 by a group of residents from the Bridport area.
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5.2 Our initial aim was to settle a refugee family in the Bridport area under the Home Office’s Community Sponsorship scheme.
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5.3 Over the next two years, our work successfully focused on:
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(a) establishing the organisation, for example registering as a charity;
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(b) developing contacts with relevant local authorities, community groups and other organisations;
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(c) developing publicity materials, including a Facebook page and website;
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(d) establishing a contacts/supporters database and an email system to keep supporters informed about our activities;
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(e) raising sufficient funds to enable us to support the family on arrival in the UK and for a minimum of one year thereafter (we achieved our £15,000 target by the end of August 2021);
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(f) making a formal application to the Home Office and meeting its various requirements;
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(g) securing private rented housing for the family, refurbishing and furnishing the property and arranging the supply of utilities;
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(h) 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;
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(i) recruiting and training volunteers to provide support to the family;
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(j) putting in place arrival and welcome arrangements, including writing and translating a welcome pack for the family;
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(k) undertaking public education/awareness work on issues facing asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
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5.4 Our application to the Home Office was approved in early November 2021. The family arrived in the UK on 23 February 2022. They are from Sudan and comprise two adults and two children aged 10 and 6 on the date of arrival.
6. Main activities and achievements
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6.1 During the year, we implemented a programme of support to the family, delivered by Campaign volunteers and trustees. This included:
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(a) teaching ESOL in the home to the adults, supplemented by more informal language teaching (the adults also attend ESOL classes provided by Skills and Learning Dorset);
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(b) supporting the children at school alongside teachers and teaching assistants;
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(c) liaising on the family’s behalf with the school, health services, central and local government agencies and other organisations;
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(d) driving and accompanying family members to appointments and taking them shopping and on trips;
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(e) helping the adults to find employment.
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6.2 The family’s language skills have improved markedly since their arrival, especially towards the end of the year.
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6.3 One adult is now in part-time paid employment and the other is gaining work experience (currently unpaid). One adult also undertakes voluntary work in the community.
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6.4 In March 2023, at the last of a series of post arrival support visits run by the national support and training organization RESET on behalf of the Home Office, the adults reported that they really liked living in Bridport and felt that they had made many relationships within the community. They also felt that the children’s education was going well. This mirrors the report of BRSC representatives at a (separate) meeting with RESET.
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6.5 During the year we spent £5,392 on providing support to the family. Our approach to support is to encourage the family to become increasingly independent over time. The family made considerable progress towards this during the year. We have made some changes to support arrangements from April 2023.
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6.6 We liaised with Dorset Council, Bridport Town Council and local community groups to try and establish a clear point of contact for hosting Ukrainian refugees and providing them with advice and assistance. One of our trustees was actively involved in the main community support initiative which included a weekly drop-in session at the Friends Meeting House in Bridport. We made a grant of £344 to Ukrainians hosted in Bridport to help with their own fund-raising activities, and we provided information to our contacts and supporters, including about how to provide financial support.
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6.7 We spent £787 supporting a refugee family from Central America who moved to Bridport during the year.
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6.8 Our activities focusing on wider public benefit are considered in section 7 below.
7. Public benefit
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7.1 During the year, we organised or participated in several events designed to increase public awareness of issues facing asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
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7.2 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 in June 2022. It was subsequently re-edited and narrated in Ukrainian. This version is available on YouTube (as “Ukrainian Bridport Welcome With Subtitles”).
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7.3 As part of Refugee Week in June 2022, we sponsored the screening of Limbo, a film about four asylum seekers sent to a remote island in Scotland while awaiting the processing of their refugee claims. The event took place at Bridport Arts Centre and was followed by a Q & A session that included a local refugee on the panel.
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7.4 Again for Refugee Week 2022, we organised an event in Bucky Doo Square in the centre of Bridport, featuring four local musical acts including a Syrian refugee and a women’s choir comprising Ukrainian nationals and refugees newly arrived in the area. We ran a stall at the event that offered information on issues facing asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. The stall also provided a range of refugee themed art and other materials, including materials for children.
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7.5 In August 2022, we sponsored a further event in Bucky Doo Square at which Ukrainian nationals sang and provided traditional cakes and bread for spectators and passersby.
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7.6 The trustees of BRSC confirm that we have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.
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8. Governance and management
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8.1 BRSC’s current trustees are drawn from the steering group that originally set up the Campaign. We come from a range of backgrounds including the private, public, charity and trades union 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.
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8.2 We have various policies in place, including:
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(a) a financial procedures summary;
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(b) a complaints policy for use by a BRSC resettled family if it has concerns about the services or support that we provide;
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(c) a safeguarding policy, implementation procedure and code of conduct;
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(d) a data privacy policy;
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(e) an applications for assistance policy and procedure, applying to requests for help from local asylum seekers or refugees not resettled by BRSC under the Community Sponsorship scheme.
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8.3 Since the end of year, we have agreed a process and timetable for reviewing policies and procedures, which we have started to implement.
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8.4 We are satisfied that our current governance and management arrangements are working well. However, there is a need to recruit new trustees, including those with skills similar to those of the two trustees who have resigned since the Campaign was established (see 8.5 below). We are in the process of developing a trustee specification and recruitment procedure.
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8.5 Lucy Campbell resigned as a trustee in June 2021 and Margie Savory (Barbour) resigned as a trustee in February 2023. We thank them both, for their work and valuable contributions to the Campaign.
9. Volunteers
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9.1 During the year, we engaged the services of 17 volunteers.
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9.2 We require all trustees and volunteers to undergo Disclosure And Barring Service checks at the appropriate level.
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9.3 One of our trustees is designated as Volunteer Manager And Co-ordinator.
10. Fundraising
- 10.1 We did not organise any specific fundraising events during the year.
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- 10.2 Nevertheless we continued to receive donations, including donations made at other events organised by the Campaign (see section 7 above and section 11 below for details).
11. Financial Review
- 11.1 Full details of BRSC’s financial position as at 31 March 2023 are set out in our annual accounts. A statement of financial activity is set out below:
| Year Ending | 31 March 2023 | 31 March 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Income | ||
| Donations | 6,413 | 18,754 |
| Grants | 1,700 | - |
| Other | 50 | 8,520 |
| Total Income | 8,163 | 27,274 |
| Operating Expenses | 7.504 | 16,872 |
| NET INCOME | 659 | 10,402 |
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11.2 As at 31 March 2023, BRSC’s net assets totalled £17,240, including:
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£4,072 cash held in a current account with the Co-operative Bank
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£12,625 cash held in an instant access savings account with the Bath Building Society.
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11.3 Net assets comprised £16,597 unrestricted funds and £643 restricted funds.
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11.4 Our reserves of £16,597 are held solely for the furtherance of BRSC’s charitable objects. The trustees have not designated any reserves for specific purposes.
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11.5 BRSC has no paid employees.
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11.6 No remuneration or expenses were paid to trustees other than expenses incurred directly supporting BRSC’s activities.
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11.7 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 13[th] December 2023
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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign
Registered Charity No 1192063
Accounts
For the year ended
31 March 2023
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 |
Bridport Refugee Support Campaign
Charity Information
Trustees
Mr Barry Lovejoy Chair of Trustees Mr Richard Jenner Vice-Chair Ms Ann Langridge Treasurer 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
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 2023.
This is the third year the charity has been operating. The year has been spent supporting a family from Sudan who arrived in the UK through the government’s Community Sponsorship Scheme.
The charity has achieved a net income for the year of £659. Total funds available to the charity stand at £17,241 and includes a small amount of pre-paid insurance costs. This money is held mainly as unrestricted funds (£16,598). There is also £643 remaining from the Home Office grant which was provided to assist with ESOL costs. This will continue to be used to develop the English language skills of the family.
Income was mostly in the form of gift aid which was claimed on the gift-aided donations of the previous years. Donations continued to be received although on a smaller scale than in previous years. In total £3,419 was raised through donations and supporters’ fund-raising activities.
Expenses for the year totalled £7,505 and were largely spent on supporting the family, in particular costs for interpreting, dental and medical care. The charity continued to pay for broadband and the TV licence.
The charity also spent £787 supporting a family from Central America recently granted leave to stay in the UK and who had moved to Bridport during the year. £344 was also given to Ukrainian families hosted in Bridport to help with their fund-raising activities.
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.
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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign
Statement of Financial Activity
for the year ended 31 March 2023
| Notes | 2022-3 | 2021-2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | £ | £ | |
| Donations | 3 | 6,413 | 18,754 |
| Grants | 4 | 1,700 | - |
| Other | 5 | 50 | 8,520 |
| Total Income | 8,163 | 27,274 | |
| Operating Expenses | 6 | 7,504 | 16,872 |
| NET INCOME | 659 | 10,402 |
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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign
Balance Sheet
as at 31 March 2023
| Notes | 2022-3 | 2021-2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Fixed Assets | 0 | 0 | |
| Current Assets | |||
| Prepaid expenses | 7 | 59 | 59 |
| Stock | 484 | 546 | |
| Cash at bank | 8 | 16,697 | 15,977 |
| Creditors | 0 | 0 | |
| Net assets | 17,240 | 16,582 | |
| Funds of the Charity: | |||
| Restricted funds | 9 | 643 | 172 |
| Unrestricted funds | 10 | 16,597 | 16,410 |
| Total Funds | 17,240 | 16,582 |
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:
30 May 2023
and signed on their behalf by:
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Bridport Refugee Support Campaign
Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2023
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 under £25,000 in this financial year, there is no requirement for these accounts to be independently examined. .
3. Donations
Donations are recognised on a receivable basis when the funds have been received.
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 2022-3 | Total 2021-2 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations from individuals | 3,369 | - | 3,369 | 3,364 |
| Donations from community groups | - | - | - | 1,903 |
| Donations from registered charities | - | - | - | 519 |
| Donations through Crowdfunder | - | - | - | 10,260 |
| Donations at events | - | - | - | 376 |
| Street collections | - | - | - | 444 |
| Gift aid | 3,044 | - | 3,044 | |
| Home Officegrant | - | - | ||
| Legacybequest | - | - | - | 1,888 |
| TOTAL | 6,413 | - | 6,413 | 18,754 |
Donations from individuals continue to be a major source of funding. Gift aid was claimed and received from HMRC during the financial year
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4. Grants
A grant of £1,700 was received from the Home Office to pay towards English language teaching for the family. £1,057 was spent from this fund, leaving £643 to be spent.
5. Income from Fundraising
5.1 Events
No fund raising events were organised by the charity during the financial year.
| Event | Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 2022-3 | Total 2021-2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| New House Farm | - | - | - | 3,066 |
| BRSCplant and bric-a-brac stalls | - | - | - | 1,444 |
| Rock for Refugees | - | - | - | 1,166 |
| SeekingSanctuary | - | - | - | 555 |
| Print Sale | - | - | - | 600 |
| Other | - | - | - | 240 |
| TOTAL | - | - | - | 7,071 |
5.2 Merchandise
| 5.2 Merchandise | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 2022-3 | Total 2021-2 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Tote bagsales | - | - | - | 241 |
| Christmas card sales | 50 | - | 50 | 1,208 |
| TOTAL | 50 | - | 50 | 1,449 |
6. Expenditure
6.1 Fundraising
No expenses were incurred.
6.2 Charitable Activities
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 2022-3 | Total 2021-2 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Educationalpublicity | 266 | 173 | 439 | 96 |
| Propertyrent | - | - | - | 2,567 |
| Propertyrefurbishment | 228 | - | 228 | 7,596 |
| Interpretingcosts | 680 | - | 1,870 | 1,870 |
| ESOL costs | 1,057 | 1,057 | 607 | |
| Digital inclusion costs (laptop, mobiles,broadband) |
492 | - | 492 | 1,008 |
| Arrival costs and interim support payments |
100 | - | 2,080 | 2,080 |
| Ongoingsupport for family | 2,835 | - | 2,835 | |
| Grant to Ukrainian refugees | 344 | - | 344 | |
| Support for Central American family |
787 | - | 787 | |
| Volunteer expenses | 221 | - | 221 | 36 |
| TOTAL | 5,953 | 1,230 | 7,183 | 15,860 |
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Property costs and costs settling and supporting the family formed the bulk of the expenditure on charitable activities.
The charity also provided financial support to buy furniture for a family from Central America recently granted leave to stay in the UK and who had moved to Bridport during the year. £344 was also given to Ukrainian families hosted in Bridport to help with fund-raising activities.
6.3 Other
| 6.3 Other | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 2022-3 | Total 2021-2 |
|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Insurance | 178 | - | 178 | 177 |
| Administration | 82 | - | 82 | 122 |
| Merchandise sold costs | 62 | - | 62 | 635 |
| TOTAL | 322 | - | 322 | 934 |
Merchandise sold costs includes a write off cost of £49 (Christmas card left over stock).
7. Prepaid Expenses
Insurance has been prepaid up to end August 2023.
8. Cash at Bank
Cash is held in a current account with the Co-operative Bank and also in an instant access savings account with the Bath Building Society.
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 2022-3 | Total 2021-2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cash,current account | 3,429 | 643 | 4,072 | 15,977 |
| Cash,instant access savings account | 12,625 | - | 12,625 | - |
| TOTAL | 16,054 | 643 | 16,697 | 15,977 |
9. Restricted Funds
The Bridport Town Council grant awarded in 2021 has been fully spent on the educational activities it was awarded for. £643 is available for further ESOL support.
10. Unrestricted Funds
As at 31 March 2023 no amounts have been set aside from the available unrestricted funds for specific purposes.
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