## **Portsmouth City of Sanctuary Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2022** The trustees present their annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022 and confirm they comply with the Charities Act 1993, as amended by the Charities Act 2006, the trust deed and the Charities SORP 2005. ## **Reference and Administrative Information** Charity Name: Portsmouth City of Sanctuary Charity Registration Number: 1192913 Principal Office: St. Lukes Church, Greetham Street, SOUTHSEA, Hampshire, PO5 4LH Board of Trustees: Malcolm Little, Shamila Dhana, Denise Callender, David Handley, Golam Chowdhury Auditors: Independent Examiner Angela Weston ## **Structure, Governance and Management** Portsmouth City of Sanctuary (PCoS) is comprised of likeminded organisations, working together to offer safety and support to anyone fleeing violence and persecution, or who is seeking sanctuary. A growing list of 165 supporting organisations share a vision to raise awareness and address local issues of vulnerability and indignity, with inclusiveness, kindness and compassion. An ambitious humanitarian charity, PCoS delivers a practical welcome and ongoing support to Portsmouth migrants in particular. We do what we do as motivated project leaders and volunteers to help some of our most at risk and disorientated community members. In 2021, these included asylum seekers dispersed to Portsmouth and Gosport, as well as refugee nurses now working voluntarily at QA Hospital. The need for this support has been particularly acute during the pandemic, and PCoS's impact in our first year as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) has been profound. As support services from other agencies have stopped, PCoS has demonstrably ramped up and kicked off new initiatives, some for the first time in the city, and all in partnership. We are justifiably excited for the future and the many clients we serve. Participating statutory and non-statutory organisations include Portsmouth’s major faith, community, veteran, education, health and arts groups. We launched in 2019 to help join the dots and promote existing best practice in Portsmouth. Whilst aligned with the national City of Sanctuary movement (leveraging its best practice and reach), we are entirely independent and non-political/religious, believing everyone deserves dignified and compassionate treatment. Portsmouth City of Sanctuary is constituted as a CIO with the Charity Commission in 2019 under charity number 1192913. ## **Organisational structure** The charity trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. The trustees give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits. The trustees meet together as a body monthly and are responsible for all decisions taken in relation to running the charity. To assist in the smooth running of the charity the trustees have support from a number of volunteers that carry out the charity’s objectives. ## **Recruitment and appointment of trustees** The existing trustees are responsible for the recruitment of new trustees. Potential trustees would be invited to attend trustees’ meetings as observers and would be given more details of the charity’s aims and activities and, if all agree, they would then be proposed as new trustees at the subsequent trustees’ meeting. This process allows due consideration of the person's eligibility, personal competence, specialist knowledge and skills. ## **Induction and training of trustees** Following appointment, new trustees are introduced to their new role and a guide to the policies and procedures adopted by our charity. A number of publications from the Charity Commission are also provided including the guidance on charities and public benefit. This ensures that new trustees are aware of the scope of their responsibilities under the Charities Act. ## **Risk management** The trustees are satisfied that systems are in place, or arrangements are in hand, to manage risks. In particular, insurance cover is in place and the finances are kept under review. Appropriate DBS checks, supported by regularly reviewed policies, are made for all those who work with children or other vulnerable groups. ## **Charitable Objectives and aims** 1. To raise general awareness and action regarding the poor mental health, safety, English, knowledge, integration, accommodation, income, status, and other orientation issues faced by sanctuary seekers, refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants and their dependents 2. To advance the knowledge and co-ordinated social inclusion of sanctuaryseekers, to assist them in life and to adapt and integrate within a new community 3. To relieve poverty (many sanctuary-seekers have limited recourse to public funds), particularly by the provision of donated nappies, toiletries, food, and similar items 4. The promotion of equality and diversity, by the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of age, status, race, sex, and sexual orientation Portsmouth is proud to offer safety to anyone who is seeking sanctuary. It matters not whether those in need have been here five days or five decades. ## **2021/22 Key Activities and Achievements** - With partners, helped launch and run Portsmouth’s first referral drop-in for trafficked and abused migrant women. 20 victims of modern slavery, FGM, HBV and the city’s sex trade have been assisted weekly from May 2021 within a safe, trusted ‘Haven’ - Volunteer-led new asylum seeker ‘Welcome Box’ project (includes visiting all Portsmouth and Gosport asylum properties, and supporting QA refugee nurses) - Launched new city-centre multi-agency Refugee Hub at St Luke’s in October, offering vital casework, English classes, food, bikes and Baby Basics - ‘Energise Me’ dance and football activities project - Local resident and refugee shore clean-up, gardening and tree-planting ‘Action Asylum’ project with partners, helping to improve integration and English in the community - Sponsorship of Spaces of Sanctuary; we anticipate many SoS venues (schools, libraries, faith groups, GP surgeries) with visible stickers located across the city, providing immediate safety for anyone speaking to a staff member - Trained many volunteers, placement students and interns, and supported FwB’s drop-in at All Saints - Two PCoS trustees helped frame PCC’s agreed 2040 City Vision, and promote Third Party ‘hate-crime’ Reporting Centres - Social media reach of over 13,000 Instagram users and a 34% increase in followers over the last 6 months ## **How our activities deliver public benefit** The charity carries out a wide range of activities in pursuance of its charitable aims. The trustees consider that these activities as described above, provide benefit both to those seeking sanctuary and the wider community of Portsmouth. Our projects promote integration, reduce social isolation for migrants in the city, builds skills, and empowers and promotes friendship, volunteering, and wellbeing among the community. Financial review Balance Sheet Portsmouth City of Sanctuary As at 31 March 2022 Flxed Assets Tangible Assets 550.00 Current Assets Cash al bank and in hand DebtorslPrepayments 20,445.98 0.00 20,445.98 Cr•dltors Amounts falling due within c￿le year N•t Cumnt Assets 20 445.98 Total Net Asss•ts 20 995.98 REPRESENTED BY: Accumulat￿ funds ReStr￿ted unrestn.cted Accumulated funds at 31 March 2022 20,445 98 550.00 20.995.98 I have examined the accounting records of PortsM¢￿th City of Sanctuary for the period ended 31 $1 March 2022 together ￿1￿ Ihe supporing vouchers aTrJ re*ipts provided. AngeL4 Weston I can confmi to the best of my kn￿ledge that the IrKome and ExpeTrJilure Accnunl and Balance sheet a￿ in ac£ordance the accwnts.ng records and that the balan￿ at bank has been verrfied lo the bank statements Incom• & Exp•nditur• Portsmuth Clty of s￿c￿ary F(Y the perlod eThJed 31 March 2022 Incom• Grants Lcul c￿n(lI Grants 0(￿atiOnS Charitable A¢livitE3 Total Incom• 29.851.CM) 17,223.66 1,963.94 1.613.46 50,652.06 Cog1 d Charltablo ActlvFtI•# 8ikes Coacti Tramirwj ErwJlish & Dance da53es Welcorne Boxes AdvertJsin9 & ma￿eb'n9 c{￿SU1￿ng Entertwnment-100% t￿81DeS8 Gerberal ExFtnses InsurarKe Legal Expenses Pmtsr¥J & SlatK)nery Renl Repairs & Malntenance Travel - National Total Exp•ndltur• 413.15 3,523.LX) 750.CKI 2,739.24 611.95 221.60 15,909.36 1,298.73 243.79 $45.89 50.CXI 1,237.33 1,472.50 120.43 519.11 29,656.08 Net Su