Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 22[nd] July 2021 Period start date To 30[th] September 2022 Period end date Charity name: Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees
Charity registration number: 1195256
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Charitable objects: To provide relief to refugees and their dependants and asylum seekers and their dependants, in particular but not exclusively those coming to the Cheltenham area by the provision of support services so as to advance them in life and assist them with the adaptation within a new community. Our aims as a charity: To foster compassion and cooperation between different communities in Cheltenham, helping local people understand the global refugee crisis and what people experience on their resettlement journey. To work with GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers), local authorities, and other partners including organisations and businesses, to help refugee communities truly grow and flourish. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.1 BBC V 9 |
As above, with the objects of: • Preserving and protecting their physical and mental health; • Advancing their education and training and to advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum; • Relieving them from financial hardship and unemployment; and • Assisting in the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of those persons who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances The Charity carries out these objects by: Running a weekly 'Hub' meeting open to all where refugees and asylum seekers and their dependents can come to meet others, meet residents, receive warmth, conversation and practical guidance, such as bike provision and repairs, signposting of the local area, as well as |
| entertainment and introduction to other local peers. Running a monthly Welcome Cafe so that refugees, asylum seekers and their dependents can come together to receive relief, socialise, share food and meet members of the local community. This aims to improve wellbeing and relieve hardship. Carrying out other activities and enhancements as advised and to provide help and support for emotional and physical wellbeing, such as football training, english language classes, support with the UK driving test and other practical support, such as digital infrastructure. The Charity also aims to raise awareness of the situation of refugees and asylum seekers locally and runs events and activities such as book clubs, film screenings and quiz nights to engage local people. By focusing on these core areas we achieve our strategic purpose to carry out public benefit as defined by the Charity Commission. |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The objects of the Trust are to provide relief to refugees and their dependants and asylum seekers and their dependants, and to advance them in life and assist them with the adaptation within a new community. The constitution contains the following statement: “Nothing in this constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for the purposes which are not charitable in accordance with section 7 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and section 2 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.” The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Para 1.38 | Our Charity is entirely run and our work entirely delivered by volunteers. We have over 122 active volunteers from across Cheltenham and are |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
managed by five trustees on an entirely voluntary basis. |
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|---|---|---|
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Support (inc. Hub and Community Café) This was a year when we finally emerged from the restrictions of Covid and could fully focus on face-to face activities again. We were able to re- start our weekly drop-in; “The Hub” with its mixture of refreshments, chat, games, practical support (e.g. bike repairs) and lots of laughter. Visibly and anecdotally we know this improves the wellbeing of attendees, provides relief from pressures and strains and gives some practical relief (e.g. bike repairs). We see a large number of repeat visits, relationships being formed and Hub numbers remain consistent. The monthlyWelcome Caféhas also been re- established and theWelcome Picnicin the summer returned for the fifth year with approx. 50 people travelling to attend, to play, relax and socialise. We saw people enjoy themselves and feel welcome in the town. For a second year in a row, we worked with theErnest Cook Trustfor summer activities for teenagers. The opening of 3 hotels to accommodate newly arrived asylum seekers (one of which is a few miles from the town centre) meant an increased need forbikesand we have a small group of volunteers sourcing and renovating bikes and regular maintenance sessions as part of the weekly Hub. Practical assistance enables refugees and asylum seekers to have greater control and agency in their situation and helps to improve wellbeing. Activities now include regularfootballtraining (and the occasional match), and visits to watch Cheltenham Town (courtesy of free tickets supplied by the club, via our Charity). This teamwork and physical activity helps to improve physical and mental wellbeing. We have worked with Cheltenham Volunteer Teachers (CVT) to develop English conversation classesinitially for adults from the resettled families, but increasingly for Ukrainian guests and for people seeking asylum. These skills help to improve communication, and thus opportunities and integration. Digital We continue to provide asylum seekers with IT |
equipment , wi - fi and phone top - ups to enable people to keep in touch with friends, family and lawyers as well as study, helping to improve their circumstances emotionally as well as practically. Events A highlight of the year, in terms of public awareness, was the visit of Little Amal to Cheltenham in Refugee Week . Little Amal is the 12-foot puppet of a 10 year old Syrian refugee child who has become a global symbol of human rights, especially those of refugees. Her journeys are ‘festivals of art and hope’ and have taken place around the world. We helped organise her visit with the Everyman, Cheltenham Festivals and Cheltenham Borough Council and we raised awareness of the visit in the town, leading to a spectacular turnout in the town centre to welcome Little Amal and draw attention to the refugee crisis. We have taken other opportunities to get our cause known and to raise awareness and empathy in the town – through quiz nights , taking-over the stewarding of the Pittville ParkRun and a mindfulness event during Refugee Week . The success of this can, perhaps, be demonstrated in the number of volunteers we have and times this year we have been picked as the chosen charity for local companies and events, and for whose support we have been very grateful.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | One of our objectives was to hold reserves to support our core purpose. Since July 2021 with significant fundraised income and interest in our cause we are now in a position to set up reserves. As income has increased we recognise the need to be more ambitious with our spending, and are planning for this in the coming year as we develop. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Financial position is secure - currently no reserves, no deficit, limited financial uncertainty ahead. In this reporting period the Charity has continued to grow from strength to strength, attracting donations and goodwill from local people and businesses as the war in Ukraine, public opinion and global attention on the situation has grown, alongside more temporary holding centres for asylum seekers locally. We have therefore had more donations than we have been able to spend, and as we grow as a small charity we intend to redress the balance through an increase in our activities and financial outlay on support infrastructure (e.g. bikes, digital relief) in the future. As a volunteer-run charity we face some capacity issues scaling up our activities, but have a development plan to address this, including an increase in volunteer commitments and raised awareness in the town, to enable more support to deliver our charitable objects in partnership. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees is preparing a Reserves Policy to be adopted in 2023 to enable us to continue to undertake our core charitable objects should the fundraising climate change. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | 0 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees is preparing a Reserves Policy to be adopted in 2023 in line with its charity development. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | No funds in deficit |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | No uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising)
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 |
Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CWR has a constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Apart from the first charity trustees, every appointed trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | CWR |
| Registered charity number | 1195256 |
| Charity’s principal address | CWR c/o Maggie Powell 4 Shaftesbury Hall, St Georges Place, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 3PX |
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sophie Kate Bourne (nee Wardell) |
Chair of Trustees | ||
| 2 | Paul Richard Baker | |||
| 3 | Simon Christopher Witcombe |
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| 4 | Nathalie Genes | Chair of CWR’s core groupof volunteers |
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| 5 | Margaret Ann Powell | Secretary of CWR’s core group of volunteers |
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional) Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations The trusteas declare that they have approved the trustses. report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signaturels) F.ull namo1$} Position (eg Secretary, Chair. etc> ca-, *£7 <4 /r C £thJ OLL Date z¢
| Charity No 1195256 Period start date Jul-21 To Period end date Sep-22 (date of charity registration) Starting Balance: £8,107.01 Closing Balance: £19,274.22 Income Expenditure Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees Report for the Financial Year 2021-22 |
Charity No 1195256 Period start date Jul-21 To Period end date Sep-22 (date of charity registration) Starting Balance: £8,107.01 Closing Balance: £19,274.22 Income Expenditure Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees Report for the Financial Year 2021-22 |
|---|---|
| Source Description Actual Item Description Actual |
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| Donations £8,323 £5,131 Support (inc. Hub & Community cafe) |
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| Private donations £1,850 £648 Expenses for the Hub |
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| Donations via website £2,834 £357 Expenses for Community Cafe |
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| Awesome women's group funded by Everyman £240 >>> Expenses for Awesome Womens Group £210 |
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| Corporate donations | £2,898 Eid Party £0 |
| Summer Picnic £259 |
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| £40 Asylum Seekers accommodation |
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| Essentials Clothing and food £460 |
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| Football team start up fund | £500 >>> Football team equipment & pitch hire £864 |
| Ernest Cook Trust woodland workshops £640 |
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| Bikes including a repair kit £1,168 |
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| Transport £484 |
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| Grants and Trusts | £1,865 >>> Digital £3,690 |
| Digital Poverty fundraiser | £1,865 Wi-Fi £335 |
| Barnwood Trust | £0 Phone top ups £350 |
| Laptops £3,006 |
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| Fundraising at Events | £11,293 date Events £807 |
| Give as you live 10k |
£1,619 <<< £575 £0 Further Together |
| Literature festival | £184 <<< Literature festival £116 |
| Christmas Carol Event | £110 <<< £0 Christmas Carol Event |
| Refugee Week | + the walk with Amal £441 <<< Refugee Week £119 |
| Montpellier Fiesta stall costs & activities |
|
| Stand up for Ukraine event | £5,092 Street stall licence £30 |
| Leckhampton open gardens £1,527 |
Expenditure at Events continued Actual Promotion Printing £38 |
|---|---|
| Cotswold Beer Festival £625 |
Volunteer social £0 |
| United Reform Church £565 Izzy Dean brownie sales £302 Highbury Congregation £252 |
Volunteer t-shirts £504 |
| Conversation classes £31 |
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| Stationary £31 |
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| Admin costs £540 |
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| Zoom Subscription/venue £173 |
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| £0 Meeting refreshments |
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| £235 Website |
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| £131 Public Liability Insurance |
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| DBS checks £0 |
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| Subtotal £10,198 |
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| Bank charges £115 |
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| Total £21,481 |
Total £10,314 |