2023-12-31-accounts - Hope Project (Lesvos)

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Hope Project (Lesvos) Annual Accounts 31 December 2023

Registered Charity 1195697

THE HOPE PROJECT (LESVOS)

website:https://www.hopeprojectgreece.org

Trustees Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023

Trustees:

Mr Peter Beddoes Mrs Monica Hogg Dr Polly Pallister-Wilkins Ms Sarah Jones

Registered Address:

9 Tan Y Graig Mold CH7 1QE

1. Introduction

The trustees of Hope Project (Lesvos) present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended December 2023. The report has been prepared following the guidelines set out by the Charity Commission and in compliance with the governing document of the charity.

The whole project has been in operation in Lesvos island, Greece since 2015. Our aim is to provide aid, physical goods, services, support and advice to refugees.

2. Objectives and Activities

Our Mission:

To provide support and aid to refugees and displaced persons on the island of Lesvos, with a focus on ensuring dignity, safety, and access to essential services.

Objectives:

The charities prime objectives for the year included:

Providing essential supplies such as food, clothing, and hygiene products to refugees.
Offering psychosocial support and community building activities.
Advocating for the rights and dignity of displaced individuals.

THE HOPE PROJECT (LESVOS)

Key Activities:

During the reporting period, Hope Project (Lesvos) undertook several key activities:

 Aid distribution: We continued to provide residents of the neighbouring refugee camp with the items that they needed for their day-to-day living, clothing and toiletries and occasional pharmacy items, reaching over 10,000 individuals.  Volunteer Engagement: Mobilized over 80 volunteers from both refugee and international communities to support operations.

 Advocacy and Awareness: engaged in advocacy efforts, including partnerships with other organisations, to raise awareness about the ongoing refugee crisis, through social media and conferences in Europe.

 Support Services: provided ongoing mental and physical health support, organized community activities, including art and educational programs through The Hope Project Art. The art project as well as covering fine art and classes for those less skilled established an area for experimental and abstract art.

This has proved very popular with artists of all abilities as a way of expressing themselves but also to have fun and a break from the extremely challenging conditions of the camp.

3. Achievements and Performance

Distribution Efforts:

Despite challenges, we successfully distributed essential items to over 10,000 individuals, ensuring that newly arrived refugees receive timely aid.

The appointment system in place, instituted during the pandemic to deal with new arrivals at the camp, has been kept on as it provided very useful to keep a record and deal with new service users on a one-to-one basis allowing us to provide what is really needed and minimize waste . Throughout the year we relied mainly on material and financial donations to fulfill the need for clothing and other items for the approximately 3000 residents in the camp.

We also endeavoured to cover special-needs requests such as additional items for babies, i.e. blankets nappies, toiletries and clothing.

Volunteer Engagement:

Our volunteer program expanded, with 80 new volunteers joining ,bringing diverse skills and backgrounds that enhanced our operations.

THE HOPE PROJECT

(LESVOS)

Advocacy Successes:

Our advocacy work included participating in several campaigns and forming strategic partnerships with Hamburger Hilfskonvoi, MSF, Open Arms and Sea Watch, helping to amplify the voices of those we serve.

Community Impact:

The psychosocial programs, including art therapy and educational workshops, positively impacted 60 participants, providing them with a sense of community and a platform for expression.

4. Financial Review

Income: £ 112,091 A decrease of 31%

Expenditure: £ 133,015 A decrease of 19%

Reserves: £30,000 Equivalent to 4 months of operations

5. Governance and Management

Trustees Meetings:

The trustees met six (6) times during the year to review operations, finances, and strategic direction. Key decisions included, expanding programs, securing new funding sources and the way forward in the future.

Compliance:

The charity remains compliant with all regulatory requirements and no safeguarding incidents reported during the period.

Plans for the Future:

Looking forward, Hope Project (Lesvos) aims to:

Expand our reach to more refugees and displaced persons.
Increase advocacy efforts to influence policy changes.
Strengthen our volunteer program by enhancing training and support.
Secure additional funding to sustain and grow our operations.

THE HOPE PROJECT (LESVOS)

7. Conclusion

The trustees would like to thank all donors, volunteers, and partners for their continued support the past year has been challenging, but with the collective efforts of our community, we have made significant strides in fulfilling our mission.

Approved by the Trustees on: 21.08.2024

Signed on behalf of the trustees:

Name Mr Peter Beddoes Position Chair of Trustees Date 21.08.2024

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Hope Project (Lesvos)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Hope Project (Lesvos) (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Name: Philip Hughes

Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any): ACA (member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales)

Address: Llangoed, Ruthin Road, Mold, CH7 1QQ

Date 21 August 2024

Hope Project (Lesvos) Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2023

Incoming resources Donations and legacies Resources expended Raising funds Charitable activities Other Total Reconciliation of funds: Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds funds £ £ £ 104,491 7,600 112,091 8,891 8,891 109,038 7,600 116,638 7,486 7,486 125,415 7,600 133,015 (20,924) - (20,924) 76,356 - 76,356 55,432 - 55,432	2022 £ 147,478 16,495 135,188 6,441 158,124 (10,646) 87,002 76,356

Hope Project (Lesvos) Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023

Notes Current assets Bank/building society balances Other current assets and prepayments Current liabilities Trade creditors Net current assets Net assets Funds of the charity - unrestricted Balance at start of period Net movement in funds Total funds	56,103 1,850 57,953 2,521	2023 £ 55,432 55,432 76,356 (20,924) 55,432	75,853 3,183 79,036 2,680	2022 £ 76,356 76,356 87,002 (10,646) 76,356

Hope Project (Lesvos) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023

1 Accounting basis

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.

2 Analysis of expenditure

Raising funds Publicity fees Website costs Charitable activities Refugee Cost - Food Refugee Cost - Clothes Refugee Cost - Pharmacy / Welfare Art Supplies Staffing costs Travel and subsistence Warehouse Rent Warehouse Electricity Warehouse Heating Warehouse Water Warehouse repairs Other Telephone and internet Postage Stationery and printing Insurance Sundry Bank charges Accountants fees Tax Legal & Professional	2023 £ 8,376 515 8,891 38,674 5,823 1,211 1,732 34,596 5,354 22,433 2,731 1,199 1,534 1,351 116,638 2,891 272 - 819 60 510 1,996 938 - 7,486	2022 £ 15,924 571 16,495 41,720 2,548 805 4,091 46,128 5,068 20,273 8,241 492 1,162 4,660 135,188 2,272 106 187 819 114 1,399 1,294 - 250 6,441