Annual Report and Financial Statements of Lichfield District City of Sanctuary
For the year ended 5th April 2024
Charity Commission registration number: 1194691
2024 Report and Accounts for Lichfield District City of Sanctuary
Trustees Annual Report
Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 5[th] April 2024
Charity Commission registration number: 1194691 22[nd] June 2024
1 Objectives
Lichfield District City of Sanctuary is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) affiliated to the national City of Sa UK and registered with the Charity Commission. Our mission is:
To relieve the needs of refugees and asylum seekers resident in Lichfield by providing a network, services and suppo To promote equality and diversity in the public space, providing activities to foster understanding between people fr diverse backgrounds and to deepen relationships between the host community, refugees and asylum seekers, and o marginalised people.
“There must be an annual general meeting (AGM) of the members of the CIO ….. AGMs must be held at intervals of than 15 months. The AGM must receive the annual statement of accounts (duly audited or examined where applica the trustees' annual report, and must elect trustees as required under clause 13.”
The trustees of the charity are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have had due reg in their administration of the charity.
The Charitable Incorporated Organisation was registered on the 6[th] July 2021 with the Registered Charity Number 1 The charity has now been operational for three years. This report will include: Our work and achievements for the past year;
An explanation of the structure and decision-making of the organisation; Our relationships with other bodies; Streams of Sanctuary; The Trust Board and its members; Organisation membership; Our finances; Our vision for the future.
Reporting serious incidents: Serious incident is an adverse event, whether actual or alleged, which results in or risks significant harm to the charity’s beneficiaries, employees, office holders, volunteers or to others who come into con the charity through its work, loss of the charity’s money or assets, damage to the charity’s property or harm to the work or reputation. The trustees are not aware of any serious incidents in the last year.
2 Our history
Each year since the charity was established has been a year of growth. In the fifth year since forming Lichfield Distri Sanctuary, we have worked hard to achieve our two core objectives.
We were successful in our bid last year to the New Communities Resettlement Grant Scheme. Together with a gene grant from Lichfield City Council, we were able to continue our support of the Ukrainian community in providing En Language lessons at basic and intermediate level through our partnership with the English Class Private Language S based at Wade Street Church. We also provided a class in Community Engagement, Citizenship and Employment. T proved so popular and effective that the class rapidly made itself redundant by enabling up to fourteen students to employment of volunteering positions. We now have thirteen refugees from Syria settling in Lichfield, ten from Afg and one hundred and forty-nine from Ukraine. The small numbers from the middle east have acclimatised well to li and those adults able to work are doing so. Supporting the Ukrainian community is a different but equally rewardin Having a critical mass from one country allows them to form their own associations and organisations, despite the c differences evident in such a large country – the second largest in Europe. ‘Ukrainians in Lichfield District’ is an as y unincorporated group we support with activities and classes – in particular, art therapy classes for young children. W to expand and develop this work in the coming year. There are also a Ukrainian choir and a basketball group. We ha worked productively with Lichfield District Council on this – and finding a voice for the community in Lichfield. For all refugees, including arrivals from Hong Kong and Albania, we have provided practical support in job-finding, b start-up and volunteer placement; Clothing, toys, household utensils through our new storage facility (thanks to Su Lichfield); bicycles (thanks to Lichfield Re:Cycle) and transport to hospital and other medical appointments; and sup housing issues. We also enable the refugees to come together to share activities and trips across the nations. A very
successful and enjoyable trip to Sudbury Hall, enabled by the National Trust, saw around fifty refugees and membe the hall, viewing the children’s museum, picnicking on the lawn in glorious sunshine – and playing a confusingly enj united nations and multilingual game of rounders. There were only winners and no losers among the British, Ukrain Syrian, Afghan and others participating.
The Midlands group of Friends of Iona provide an annual barbecue/picnic and, again, about fifty refugees from Lich Birmingham enjoyed the hospitality of Beaudesert Activities Centre in May. Thanks to all the members who regular out to help on these joyful occasions.
In December, around forty members and supporters marched from the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum to Cru in Stowe Street to meet under the plaque of Francis Barber, born a slave in Jamaica, who became a council official i Lichfield towards the end of the eighteenth century. The Mayor of Lichfield, Ann Hughes, an LDCOS member, launc march against modern-day slavery, our chair, Warren Bardsley spoke outside the methodist Church and Francis’ de Cedric Barber, talked about the need for reparation for the harm done by largely European slavery to those nations are still the poorest in the world. Shortly after, a wonderful occasion hosted by two of our members saw eight fami young children meet Father Christmas for Brunch at The Tudor at Lichfield and receive gifts of food and toys to see through the Christmas period.
To meet our second objective, we interact regularly and positively with a number of local organisations to help dev culture of welcome in Lichfield. We work closely with our partner organisations and others, including: Curborough Community Association, Lichfield Foodbank, Lichfield Garrick Theatre, Lichfield Singers, Momo Drama Academy, the Trust, Middleton Hall, Oxfam, Kendall & Wall transport, Burntwood Spark, Staffordshire MIND, the West Midlands I Family Group, Fusion Credit Union, OneLichfield, Lichfield Cathedral School (soon to be the first School of Sanctuary area), TravelWood of Burntwood, Lichfield Cathedral, Central England Co-op, Richer Sounds, Wickes (thanks for the generous contributions), SureStore and HCB Solicitors. Holy Cross Church, Lichfield Masjid, Lichfield Methodist Chu Lichfield Quaker Meeting, St Chad’s Church and Wade Street Church have made history by being awarded Faith Pla Sanctuary status together. Burntwood Town Council, Lichfield City Council and Lichfield District Council work with u Staffordshire County Council, The Community Foundation for Staffordshire, Support Staffs and Staffordshire Counc Voluntary Youth Services.
Apologies for these long lists, but it is important to show how many organisations have accepted our key principles worked with us to help make the district of Lichfield, Burntwood and many villages a welcoming environment. And apologies to any we have inadvertently missed out! All of our members will now be receiving our newly-designed N regularly – thanks to Rosemary Bishop for adding this to her growing list of responsibilities.
Over our years of existence, we have also watched the local and national media for any signs of, usually inadverten disrespect for diversity in the community. Birmingham Mail took down an article which reported on local protests b residents, councillors and the police against a small Travelling family between Lichfield and Tamworth, but failed to talk to the travellers themselves; Lichfield District Council produced a tourism leaflet which recognised the rich vari people living in the area after a set of materials seeming to reflect the opposite; and Staffordshire Police reacted immediately when one of its officers gave a statement to Lichfield Live blaming an attempted robbery by people of European” appearance – a statement as meaningless as it was offensive.
3 Managing the charity
The Board of Trustees.
The charity has a constitution as its governing document, a Trust Deed dated 15[th] March 2021.The charity was crea that day and registered with the Charity Commission on 7[th] June 2021 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (C such, the charity has legal personality (the ability to enter contracts, sue and be sued, and to hold property in its ow rather than in the name of its trustees), and its members have limited liability (their liability in the event the charity insolvent is limited or nil).
Remuneration paid to Trustees
None of the trustees has been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from employment with the ch
Expenses paid to Trustees
The Board carries constitutional and legal responsibility for the conduct of the charity. No Trustee expenses have be incurred during the year. It has met on four occasions since the last AGM. Attendance has been as follows:
| Trustee | 24.6.23 (AGM) |
24.7.23 | 2.10.23 | 19.2.24 | 23.4.24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Bardsley (Acting vice chair) |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rosemary Bishop | ✓ | x | x | x | ✓ |
| Kate Bragger | x | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Harrison | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neil Kemp | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x |
| Alp Tageen Turani | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steve Wilkinson | x | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ |
The trustees have been a more stable support to the leadership of the charity this past year and have given helpful to its actions and its plans. Each year, the two longest-serving members are required to stand down. These are War Bardsley and Rosemary Bishop. However, they are both willing to continue their role on the board, if nominated. M will be informed of those trustees who will continue in their role after the AGM and of those wishing to be nominat trustees (this is, of course, open to any member). The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the Trustees may be co-opted by the members or by the other trustees in the course of the year.
Membership
“Membership of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation is open to anyone who is interested in furthering its purp who, by applying for membership, has indicated his, her or its agreement to become a member and acceptance of t members.” At the time of writing we number over seventy individual members and eight partnerships with other L organisations. We value members who join us because they support our core principles:
All asylum seekers, refugees and migrants should be treated with dignity and respect. A fair and effective process to decide whether people need protection should be in place. No one should be locked up indefinitely. No one should be left sick or destitute in our society. We should welcome the stranger and help them to integrate.
When you join us you are under no obligation to volunteer for tasks. But you will hear about our doings through ou emails and newsletters, including a calendar of future events, and we hope you might join our meetings and attend events we sponsor. We see ourselves mainly as an enabling organisation – making it possible for members to comm our principles through action. If, however, you would like to volunteer to help us to manage the numerous activitie endorse, we would be delighted. If you want to help out with the occasional event or project – see below!
Volunteering
As we said last year, none of our projects or plans, nor the administration of our charity, could take place without t commitment of volunteers. This might include welcoming visitors, laying out chairs and tables, helping to provide refreshments at events, planning events and visiting local groups to talk about our work. It can also include the man of the charity – helping with social media, taking on administrative tasks, becoming a member of our trust board or Action Group. We know that volunteering has been in sharp decline in England since the pandemic. It is now at a na historic low.
The main threat now to our continued work as a charity is the shortage of volunteers willing to take small but vit its leadership and management. Circumstances in our early days led to an over-reliance on four or five key volunt now plan to approach members (and non-members) to ask for specific roles to be taken on. Dividing and distribu leadership tasks will be critical to our survival. The meeting will include a plea from our chair to come forward, as number already have, to take on discrete tasks. Two trustees, for example, have now taken on the job of organiz donations of clothing, household goods and toys at our storage unit. A list of roles is attached to this report. Plea to one of the trustees or Action group members if you think you might be able to contribute. Every little helps!
Action Group
The Action Group is a team of some fourteen or so members who are involved in organising and delivering – with h needed - the day-to-day operations of the charity. The chair is Pam Tomlinson, who would be happy to talk to you a group. You could drop in on a meeting to see whether or not you feel you would like to contribute in this way. Than and other members – Rehana Firth, Sam Kirman, Shabnam
Policies
As we reported last year, we have a complete portfolio of policies which can be accessed via the website. These cov Protection, Equality, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Media Channels and Volunteering. We also have Public Liabil
Protection, Equality, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Media Channels and Volunteering. We also have Public Liabil Insurance. This is the essential set of policies for any charity that works with vulnerable people, conducting events a projects and sending volunteers out into the community on its behalf.
4 Financial Statements
The Financial Statements for the year 2023-24 and the Receipts and Payments Accounts are attached. The accounts been signed by the chair. They meet the demands of the Charity Commission for charities of our size. Thanks to Ros we are scrupulous in our financial controls and are able to announce a reasonable carry-forward from 2023-24. We indeed, more secure in our finances than in the capacity of our human resources to continue and develop our critic
5 The future
We were disappointed not to be awarded a grant by Lichfield District Council which would have offered, we believe exciting model of community development in Lichfield, meeting all four of the elements in their district plan to 205 enabling confident, prosperous, active and green communities. However, we hope to be more successful in an app the Community Foundation for the remainder of this calendar year. This will enable further support to refugee com in enabling them to construct their own futures.
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Lichfield District City of Sanctuary
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5th April 2024
Receipts and Payments Account
| RECEIPTS Donations and Legacies 3a Activities for Generating Funds 3b Income from Investments 3c Charity Activities 3d Other 3e Total Receipts PAYMENTS Raising Funds 4a Charity Activities 4b Other 4c Total Payments Excess of Receipts over Payments Transfer between Funds Net Movement for the year Cash at Bank and In Hand at 06th April 2023 5 Cash at Bank and In Hand at 05th April 2024 5 |
Unrestricted Funds £ |
Designated Funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Endowment Funds £ |
Total Funds 2024 £ |
Total Funds 2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14,575 | - | 21,538 | - | 36,113 | 12,240 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 0 | - | 8 | - | 8 | 0 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 14,575 | - | 21,546 | - | 36,121 | 12,240 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1,478 | - | 19,854 | - | 21,332 | 3,195 | |
| 13,118 | - | 373 | - | 13,491 | 5,388 | |
| 14,596 | - | 20,227 | - | 34,823 | 8,583 | |
| (21) | - | 1,319 | - | 1,298 | 3,657 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| (21) | - | 1,319 | - | 1,298 | 3,657 | |
| 2,903 | - | 1,617 | - | 4,520 | 924 | |
| 2,882 | - | 2,936 | - | 5,818 | 4,581 |
6
Lichfield District City of Sanctuary Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5th April 2024
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Funds 5 Other Monetary Assets(due to LDCOS) Liabilities(owed by the LDCOS) |
Unrestricted Funds £ |
Designated Funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Endowment Funds £ |
Total Funds 2024 £ |
Total Funds 2023 £ |
|
| 2,882 | - | 2,936 | - | 5,818 | 4,581 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
The notes on the following pages form part of these accounts
7
Lichfield District City of Sanctuary
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5th April 2024
1 Notes to the Accounts
The financial statements of Lichfield District City of Sanctuary PCC have been prepared using the Receipts and Payments basis.
There may be minor discrepancies in the totals as the pence are not being shown.
2 Description of Funds
Unrestricted funds are income funds of the charity that are available for spending on the general purposes of the charity, including amounts designated by the trustees for fixed assets for its own use or for spending on a future project and which are therefore not included in its "free reserves" as disclosed in the trustees' annual report.
Restricted funds comprise of two elements :-
a) income from trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest
b) donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the charity for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. The charity does not usually invest separately for each fund. Where there is no separate investment, interest is apportioned to individual funds on an average balance basis.
8
Lichfield District City of Sanctuary
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5th April 2024
| RECEIPTS 3 Donations and Legacies Voluntary Receipts 3a Regular giving (gift aided) Regular giving (non gift aided) All other giving and voluntary receipts including special appeals Gift Aid Recovered Other(internal tfs) Grants (recurring and one-off) Activities for Generating Funds 3b Other Fundraising Activities Receipts from Investments 3c Bank Interest Charity Activities 3d Other trading activities (magazine, bookstall etc) Other Receipts 4e Other Total Receipts |
Unrestricted Funds £ |
Designated Funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Endowment Funds £ |
Total Funds 2024 £ |
Total Funds 2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,601 | - | - | - | 1,601 | 1,165 | |
| 215 | - | - | - | 215 | 580 | |
| 1,721 | 4,690 | - | 6,411 | 8,222 | ||
| 636 | - | 38 | - | 674 | - | |
| 10,402 | - | 160 | - | 10,562 | 1,573 | |
| - | 16,650 | - | 16,650 | 700 | ||
| 14,575 | - | 21,538 | - | 36,113 | 12,240 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 0 | - | 8 | - | 8 | 0 | |
| 0 | - | 8 | - | 8 | 0 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 14,575 | - | 21,546 | - | 36,121 | 12,240 |
9
Lichfield District City of Sanctuary
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5th April 2024
| PAYMENTS 4 Raising Funds 4a Costs of Generating Funds Costs of Fund Raising Charitable Activities 4b Refugee Support Refugee Support - training Refugee Support - chattels Refugee Support - utilities Refugee Suport - food/travel Charity Running Expenses Bank charges Administration Insurance Cost of Trading(Magazine, bookstall etc) Other Payments 4c Room Hire/storage/refreshments Total Payments |
Unrestricted Funds £ |
Designated Funds £ |
Restricted Funds £ |
Endowment Funds £ |
Total Funds 2024 £ |
Total Funds 2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | 13,650 | - | 13,650 | 2,500 | ||
| 400 | - | 2,250 | - | 2,650 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 286 | - | 3,954 | - | 4,240 | 365 | |
| - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 356 | - | - | - | 356 | 204 | |
| 436 | - | - | - | 436 | 126 | |
| 1,478 | - | 19,854 | - | 21,332 | 3,195 | |
| - | ||||||
| 12,070- | 170- | 12,240 | 4,172- | |||
| 1,048 | - | 203 | - | 1,251 | 1,216 | |
| - | ||||||
| 13,118 | - | 373 | - | 13,491 | 5,388 | |
| - | ||||||
| 14,596 | - | 20,227 | - | 34,823 | 8,583 |
10
Lichfield District City of Sanctuary Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5th April 2024
5 Cash at Bank and in hand
| Fusion/Lloyds Current Account Petty Cash Total |
Unrestricted £ |
Designated £ |
Restricted £ |
Endowment £ |
2023 Total £ |
Total 2022 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | 4,520 | ||
| - | - | - | - | 61 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | 4,581 |
6 Loans
LDCoS does not have any loans.
7 Summary of Fund Movements
| Unrestricted Fund Designated Funds Restricted Funds Endowment Funds Total Funds |
Balance at 06th April £ |
Receipts £ |
Payments £ |
Transfers £ |
Balance at 05th April £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,520 | 14,575 | (14,596) | - | 4,499 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | 21,546 | (20,227) | - | 1,319 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 4,520 | 36,121 | (34,823) | - | 5,818 |
11
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