Stories of Hope and Home Registered Charity: 1195224 **ANNUAL REPORT APRIL 2022 - MARCH 2023**
@stories_of_home
hopeandhomestories
www.storiesofhome.org.uk
## **Our Vision**
_For people who have lived experience of the UK asylum system to have spaces for their stories and experiences to be shared and heard, contributing to a more wellinformed and welcoming society in which people who have sought sanctuary feel empowered, included, and re-humanised._
## **Our Aims**
_Stories of Hope and Home_ has dual, complementary aims:
to bring together people with lived experience of seeking asylum: to create safe spaces to build community and to explore and process their experiences.
to facilitate encounters and share stories with others: promoting learning, challenging misconceptions, developing empathy and inspiring action.
_Or,as stated in our constitution:_
_1) The promotion of social inclusion for the public benefit among refugees and asylum seekers in the West Midlands who are socially excluded on the grounds of their social and economic position, by providing a space and community in which to meet others, build friendships, practise the English language, learn communication skills and creatively explore stories and life experiences as a means of integrating into a new community._
_2) To advance the education of the public through the provision of activities and events which inform participants and develop their understanding of the lived experience of asylum seekers and refugees who flee persecution and settle in a new country, help to foster positive attitudes towards diversity and migration and counter misinformation._
## **Context: The Story So Far**
_Stories of Hope and Home_ came into existence in October 2019 and, having survived a pandemic, became a registered CIO (charitable incorporated organisation), charity number: 1195224 on 20th July 2021.
From the germ of an idea to fulfil a need, Stories of Hope and Home has grown and flourished. This report tells part of that story.
_**"Stories of Hope and Home is a charity where people from everywhere can come and feel welcomed."** Stories of Hope and Home Participant_
## **Context: The society that surrounds us**
The reality faced by people seeking sanctuary in the UK has become increasingly challenging. Political discourse and certain sections of the media have become ever-more anti-migration, and laws and policies have been introduced to make the lives of people seeking sanctuary progressively worse. Within the year to which this report relates we saw the introduction of the _Nationality and Borders Act_ and then the presentation of the _Illegal Migration Bill_ (now Act). The lengthy periods of time people are spending both in unsuitable hotel accommodation as well as waiting for decisions on their claims are having a serious impact on people's wellbeing.
It is not all dark clouds and thunder storms. We also find many seeds of hope. We are inspired by the resilience and joy we witness among the sanctuary-seekers despite all they are going through, and by the desire to offer compassion and welcome we see from those we encounter.
We know both aspects of our work are more needed now than ever.
## **A Year in Review: Building Community**
_Stories of Hope and Home_ brings together a group of people with lived experience of seeking asylum at regular twice-weekly sessions. Attendance varies, and includes both regular attenders and those who come and go. The group is close-knit and mutually supportive, with participants frequently describing the project as a "family”; but it always remains open and welcoming to newcomers too.
Regular sessions involve space to build community and for conversation, creative writing and lots of coffee and cake! These sessions are the bedrock which makes everything else possible. Trips and shared activities also play an important role in how we build community and deepen our connections with one another. We never miss an opportunity for a party or celebration. Through the year we have celebrated birthdays, a variety of cultural celebrations including Eid, Eritrean Christmas and Nowruz (Persian / Kurdish / Azeri New Year), and perhaps the best celebrations of all ...
_**"It's like a second family to me, and I know that if ever need any help or support I have Stories of Hope and Home to rely on."** Stories of Hope and Home Participant_
when we get to share in the joy of someone finally being granted their right to remain in the UK, often after a very long wait.
Beyond this time spent together as a group, one-to-one assistance offered to individual participants also makes an important contribution to creating this supportive community. By definition wide and varied in reach, this support includes both the practical and the emotional. Whether it is filling in forms, helping with studies, or offering a listening ear, we know that having somewhere to turn for help really matters.
_**"It means a lot to me. It is like a life story. Things happen in life and they make you to understand what life is."**_
_**"It has meant to me like a new chapter started in my life and shed a weight from my chest."** Stories of Hope and Home Participants_
## **A Year in Review: Outreach and Encounter**
Our programme of facilitated encounters took us to 23 different schools this year, of which we visited 20 for the first time. They included both primary and secondary schools and we met with children from three to eighteen and all ages in between, as well as leading sessions with groups of school staff.
_**"It helps me clear my emotions and also help the children know more about the Asylum System."** Stories of Hope and Home Participant_
_**"Educating them with sharing my experience makes me feel I matter in the society."** Stories of Hope and Home Participant_
In the face of hostile political discourse and the harsh realities experienced by those who have come to our country in search of safety, these young people restore our hope.
Without fail, the children we meet recognise the injustice and inhumanity of the asylum system. We see in them empathy, warmth and generosity. Above all we see their desire for change and their commitment to working to create welcoming, compassionate, fair communities. Their thoughtful reflections, insightful questions, and passion for action suggest the future is in good hands.
While our priority is visiting schools we have also encountered a number of other groups during the year including trainee teachers at the _University of Wolverhampto_ n, trainee Christian ministers at _Queens Foundation_ and addressing the CTBI ( _Churches Together in Britain and Ireland_ ) conference "Life Beyond Borders" .
_**"The visit really helped us to gain a better understanding of the reality faced by so many in regard to the trauma caused by life experiences in home country, journeys to the UK and challenges faced once here. There was lots of positive feedback. It was incredibly insightful and inspiring."** Teacher_
## **A Year in Review: Campaigning and Media**
Forced migration is a hot topic in media and political discourse but all too often it is a subject from which the voices of the people most concerned are excluded. Empowering people who have lived experience of seeking sanctuary to find and use their voice is at the heart of the ethos of _Stories of Hope and Home_ . Sometimes that is through poetry and performance, sometimes through encounters with school children, and sometimes through involvement in campaigning or speaking to the media.
_**"The project has helped me have opportunities to show myself as a migrant and change the stereotype of migrants who came to the UK through irregular routes."** Stories of Hope and Home Participant_
Many of the participants in _Stories of Hope and Home_ have added their voices to campaigns about the treatment of people seeking sanctuary. Several - participants contributed to a campaign video against the anti refugee laws. Others, after participating in the national conference, contributed to a video about the right to work produced by the Lift the Ban coalition.
Several _Stories of Hope and Home_ participants have shared parts of their stories with journalists, as another way of contributing to the conversation and changing perceptions. _(Underlined text takes you to different linked stories)_
_Stories of Hope and Home_ Participants have also engaged directly with elected representatives, including writing to local MPs. One of our participants addressed a full Birmingham City Council Meeting, who a confirmed they would sign the pledge against the anti-refugee laws, story covered in the local news.
_**“Stories of Hope and Home gives sanctuary to asylum seekers and makes many people understand the difficulties the asylum seekers and refugees are facing. By telling their difficult stories that they have faced we make more people involved to help them overcome those pasts.”** Stories of Hope and Home Participant_
## **A Year in Review: Creative Projects**
_**"I learned that people come to England with lots of different experiences and that although we have different backgrounds, there are many things that we have in common."** School pupil, audience member._
_**"My highlight of the event was the audience especially the school children showed so much excitement and keen interest during our performance. In fact it made me really emotional"** Stories Performer_
At the beginning of the year we had just started work on an exciting collaborative project with _Welsh National Opera_ and _Birmingham REP_ . Working with writer Stephen Camden and composer Daniel Blanco Albert, a script and score was devised that poetically meshed together parts of the participants' life stories.
The project culminated in an incredible performance of " _Refugee: What do you know about me?_ " where project participants performed alongside professional musicians and singers on the main stage of the Rep to an audience of 500 school pupils. It was an amazing day with very positive feedback from both the performers and the audience.
_**"I loved listening to the music. The personalities of the people on stage really came though in their acting."** School pupil, audience member_
As the year ended, work was well underway on our next major performance project: a play the group were devising and writing themselves. But more of that next year!
In between times there have been some other smaller creative projects: we performed some of our poetry at three different events during Refugee Week 2022, took part in a _"We Are Birmingham"_ art project with _Celebrating Sanctuary_ , discovered a unique part of British culture by performing a pantomime version of Cinderella in two primary schools just before Christmas, and contributed to a photography and writing project _"You can see me but I don't exist"_
## **A Year in Review: Festivals of Encounter**
In the summer of 2022 we returned to St Cassian's Centre, Kintbury where we held our first _Festival of Encounter_ twelve months earlier. We invited back some of those who had participated in our two previous festivals. Many brought friends or family members to share the experience. Friendships were renewed, stories were shared, poetry was written ... and much fun was had!
In March we were finally able to have our next _Festival of Encounter_ at Soli House in Alton. We say “finally” because after it had been twice postponed by Covid, it was a particular joy to come together at last. On the final morning someone described it as "walking in to loving chaos, like a family": testament to the success of these events. 24 hours earlier, we had only just met.
_**"No other experience gives you this opportunity, there is so much learning to be had from getting out of your comfort zone. Immersing yourself into an encounter like this allows 360 degree learning, reflections and knowledge to be gained. There's no 'us' and 'them' we are all just one group."** Festival of Encounter Participant_
In the autumn, we had the opportunity to speak about the pedagogy surrounding the festivals at the _TEESNet_ conference. It was a chance to reflect on and share our learning and to encourage others to explore this model of learning through encounter.
_**“It made me recognise that, unconsciously, I had predetermined ideas and views of asylum seekers and refugees. Encountering people in the way we did enabled me to gain an understanding of others' experiences that I would never have gained had I not participated. It was authentic, just people being people and that's what made it so significant.”** Festival of Encounter Participant_
## **Our Impact: a few statistics**
**64 adult participants**
**24 newcomers**
**21 accompanying children**
**For each of our nine indicators*, over 80% of participants identified a positive impact.**
**72 sessions**
**2 residentials 32 other trips and activities**
_**"My life has been enriched by the sense of friendship with others and belonging to my wider community. I feel privileged and thankful to be part of this family"** Volunteer_
_**"This project helps me to overcome a lot of difficulties and move on. Thanks to everyone who made this project."** Stories of Hope and Home Participant_
**23 nationalities**
_(* the 9 indicators we asked about were:_ _**Improve** mental wellbeing / feel happier,_ _**Improve** English,_ _**Feel** more confident,_ _**Discover** or develop new skills,_ _**Make** new friends / feel part of a community,_ _**Understand** the asylum process better,_ _**Feel** better integrated into my local community,_ _**Get** support when I need it)_
## **Our Impact: A few statistics**
## **28 school visits**
**23 different schools**
**23 Stories participants involved in school visits**
## **4200 students (approx)**
**10 other encounters**
_We asked schools to sum up their encounters in three words: this is what they said:_
**3 poetry performances 2 opera performances**
**2 pantomime performances**
**100% of schools said they would like to work with us again**
**100% of schools were able to identify actions they had taken in response to the encounter.**
_**"It was inspirational. A few sentences couldn't begin to do justice to the impact."** Teacher_
## **Who's who**
## **Trustees**
Tawasol Abdelsamad, Musharaf Abdullayeva, Emma Birks, Helena Madden and James Trewby.
## **Staff**
The charity employs one part-time (0.4FTE) member of staff as Project Manager, Stephanie Neville.
## **Volunteers**
We have appreciated the support of a number of regular and occasional volunteers.
## **With Thanks**
We are grateful to all our funders, partners and everyone who supports us in different ways to make what we do possible, including:
- Our funders: _(including funding received prior to the period in question which continued to support our work during this year)_
- Near Neighbours, The National Lottery _Awards for All_ , The Congregation of the Passion, The Westhill Foundation;
- the schools and organisations who have donated or fundraised for us;
- the individual and anonymous donors whose one-off or regular contributions have been invaluable in supporting our work;
- everyone who has bought a copy of our poetry book _“Soaring_ .
- _with Clipped Wings”_
- The Church at Carrs Lane and Birmingham REP who host our regular sessions.
- All who have collaborated on projects with us during the year: Asylum Matters, The Columban Missionaries, Near Neighbours, Welsh National Opera, Birmingham REP, Gignoux Photos, Celebrating Sanctuary, St Cassian's Centre, Birmingham Catholic Youth Service.
- The Birmingham Schools Of Sanctuary Network and all the schools who have invited us or engaged with us.
## **Contact Details**
If you are interested in learning more about Stories of Hope and Home, joining the project, or collaborating with us in some way, we'd love to hear from you!
info@storiesofhome.org.uk
07598922095
## **Financial Summary**
## **Income**
_*subject to independent examination_
|**Income**|_subject to_|_independen_|_examination_|
|---|---|---|---|
||**restricted**|**unrestricted**|**Total**|
|Grants|15000|6000|21000|
|Donations and gifts|0|7244|7244|
|Other|2610|1392|4002|
|Total Income|17610|14636|32246|
## **Expenditure**
|**Expenditure**||
|---|---|
|Staffing|9554|
|Travel and Subsistence|3055|
|Equipment, materials, resources and refreshments|375|
|Activity Costs (including room hire)|3545|
|Other|495|
|Total|**17024**|
Balance at 31/03/2023: £18,215
## _**Our full financial report will be available separately.**_
||**Stories of Hope and Home**
**Charity Name**|**Stories of Hope and Home**
**Charity Name**|**Stories of Hope and Home**
**Charity Name**|**1195224**
**No (if any)**|**1195224**
**No (if any)**|**1195224**
**No (if any)**|**CC16a**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**For the period**
**from**|01/04/2022
Period start date|**To**||31/03/2023
Period end date|||
|||||||||
|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||||
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest**
**£**
**6,000**
**7,244**
**542**
**-**
**-**
**425**
**425**
**-**
**14,636**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**14,636**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**250**
**2,145**
**-**
**120**
**82**
**-**
**2,597**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2,597**
**12,039**
**-**
**993**
**13,032**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**15,000**
**-**
**-**
**1,150**
**1,215**
**245**
**-**
**-**
**17,610**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**17,610**
**9,554**
**3,055**
**100**
**275**
**-**
**1,150**
**192**
**-**
**100**
**14,426**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**14,426**
**3,184**
**-**
**2,000**
**5,184**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**21,000**
**7,244**
**542**
**1,150**
**1,215**
**670**
**425**
**-**
**32,246**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**32,246**
**9,554**
**3,055**
**100**
**275**
**250**
**3,295**
**192**
**120**
**82**
**100**
**17,024**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**17,024**
**15,222**||**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|Grants|**6,000**||||||**2,800**|
|Dontions andgifts|**7,244**||||||**4,281**|
|Gift Aid|**542**||||||**-**|
|Payments for participation in Festivals of
Encounter|**-**||||||**240**|
|Payment of travel costs for encounter
visits|**-**||||||**24**|
|Payments for workshops and
performances|**425**||||||**-**|
|Book Sales|**425**||||||**550**|
||**-**||||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for_
_AR)_|**14,636**||||||**7,895**|
|||||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**||||||||
||**-**|||||||
||**-**||||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_**|**-**||||||**-**|
|**_Total receipts_**
**A3 Payments**||||||||
||||||||**7,895**|
|||||||||
|Staffing|**-**||||||**7,560**|
|Travel costs|**-**||||||**1,925**|
|Equipment,material and resources|**-**||||||**338**|
|Refreshments|**-**||||||**370**|
|Room hire|**250**||||||**-**|
|Activitycosts|**2,145**||||||**1,602**|
|Public liabilityinsurance|**-**||||||**192**|
|Payroll Costs|**120**||||||**60**|
|Website and domain name|**82**||||||**14**|
|Other / misc|**-**||||||**-**|
|**_Sub total_ **|**2,597**||||||**12,063**|
|||||||||
|**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**||||||||
||**-**|||||||
||**-**|||||||
|**_Sub total_ **|**-**||||||**-**|
|**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**||||||||
||||||||**12,063**|
|||||||||
||**12,039**|**3,184**|**-**||
**15,222**||**- 4,168**|
||**-**|**-**|**-**||**-**||**-**|
||**993**|**2,000**|**-**||**2,993**||**7,160**|
||**13,032**|**5,184**|**-**||**18,215**||**2,993**|
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
23/01/2024
1
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**|Signature
**Details**
**Details**
Cash at bank
**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**13,032**
**5,184**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**13,032**
**5,184**
OK
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
H. Madden|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of
approval|
|||H. Madden|29/09/2023|
|||||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
23/01/2024
2
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Stories of Hope and Home **members of On accounts for the year** March 31[st] 2023 **Charity no** 1195224 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 13-14 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2023.
- **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
**Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Signed: Date:** 23/1/24 **Name:** Chris Clements **Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 49 St Bernards Road Solihull B92 7AX
**October 2018**
1
**IER**