Charlty Reglstratlon No. 1196492 OM BRITSOM TRUSTEES. REPORT AND FINANaAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Trustees MAII M Bashir A Abdalla M Mire Charlty Number 1196492 Principal address Eversfield Centre 11 Eversfield Gardens London NW7 2AE Independent Examiner M&H Associates 124 Kemp House City Road London ECI 2NX
BRITSOM CONTENTS Pa8e Chairman's message Trustees, report Independent examinerfs report Statement of financial activities 8alance sheet Notes to the financial statements 9-11
BRITSOM CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 It Is my prlvllege to present the 2024-2025 Annual Report, which reflects another year of dedlcated service, progress. and resilience. Britsom remains steadfast in its mission to support the Somali Black, Minority, refugee, and migrant communities in Barnet. Over the past year, the impact of the ongolng cost-of-living crisis has deepened. Many familles contlnue to struggle to meet basic needs, with increased reliance on foodbanks and mounting pressures around housing insecurity. Eviction threats have become more frequent, and low-income households remain especially vulnerable to the rising costs of heatin& food, and essential services. On behalf of the Board of Trustees. l extend my sincere appreciation to our exceptional team of staff and volunteers. Their commitment, compassion, and perseverance have ensured that Britsom continues to be lifellne for many. l also wish to thank our service users for their trust, patience, and strength throughout these ongoing challenges. We are especially grateful to our funders and partners for their continued belief in our work and their vital SUPPOrt. As we look to the year ahead, we do so wlth determlnation, unity, and a shared hope for a more stable and equitable future. Chair
BRITSOM TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 The trustees present their report along with the Financial Statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note I to the accounts and comply with the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Prartice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 102)" (as amended for accounting periods commencln8 from l January 2016). Aims and objectives To highlight and address the needs of the Somali and BMER (Black, Minority. Ethnlc & Refu8ee) community in Barnet To work in partnership with other agencies and service providers to ensure the needs of the Somali and BMER community are known and met To provide facilities for education. leisure & recreation. sport, health promotion and social welfare for the children and young people To raise the educational achievement of the Somali. BMER and other disadvanta8ed children through after school classes To decrease the i501ation of Somali and 8MER women, children, the elderly and the disabled To improve the awareness and the access in the Somali BMER and other Communities of the available services To facilitate co-operation and understanding between Somali BMER community and othercommunities To influence social policy makers and service providers positively towards the needs of the Somall and BMER How our actlvltles dellver publlc beneflt The trustees have throughout the year paid regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in dealing with the aims and activities of the charity. People have benefitted from our services and have gained access to education, trainin8 and employment. Artlvltles Health and Wellbeing Physical Activities Debt Management Youth Club Employment Support/NEET Welfare Advice Supplementary Classes Home-school Liaison - to improve the educational opportunities of children, prevent school exclusion and improve the relationship between families and schools Job search and Job brokerage, volunteerin8 Opportunities and training. Workshops on: crime & drugs, health, community cohesion, social and cultural events Youth advice, sports activities and outings to theme parks and museums Family Support and mediation service Befriending and mentoring service, Tea and Talk parents, group Community consultation workshops SEN support programme Representing the Somali and BMER community at various Strategic forum5 Promoting harmony and diversity between the Somali, 8MER community and other communities.
BRITSOM TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Achlevements and Performance Advlce, Information and Guldance provlslons: over 400 people have benefited from our (AIG) servlces. Thls service increased during the coronavirus pandemic. Recent Achlevements Britsom has stepped up to help hundreds of additional people from all communities during the cost-of-living crisls. Volunteers, staff, and trustees have gone above and beyond to offer drop-in sessions to over 460 people through our advice and advocacy service, which saved many from extreme poverty. This service included housing and welfare advice, ensuring people received the support they needed Supplementary School: over 100 children have benefited the supplementary classes each week. The aim of this service is to support them with their homework to address the underachievement of the Somali and BAME chlldren and young people. Our supplementary school has Gold Quallty Framework Award. Welfare Advlce We provide support regarding accessing benefits, rent arrears, utilities. benefit entitlement, housing issues to hundreds of dlsadvantaged and excluded people from Somali / BAME communities In Barnet. Employment Support: over SO adults have benefited from our one-tone employment support and our monthly employment support workshop5 through online platform. Also. we have seen an increase in people wantln8 employment support servlce durlng the pandemic. Quallty Marks Advice UK, NRCSE, Street Games and London Youth: Britsom is officially a member of London Youth. Volunteering: our volunteers are the backbone of Britsom and have contributed over 3,800 hours equivalent in monetary terms. Influencing policy: Britsom works with a number of local strategic bodies to promote partnership working between the sectors and the local community. We are members of Advice UK, London Youth Young Barnet Foundation, Community Barnet, Barnet Supplementary School Forum, the Refugee Council, NRCSE and Greater London Volunteering. We continued to lobby for recognition of the needs of the Somall Community on various platforms. We have working agreement with Trinity Church Mill Hill and close working relationship with Hasmonean high 8irls' school. Events: we have an Annual Celebration where we reco8nise the achievements of students and volunteers. Funding The Trustees wish to offer their warm thanks to the following organisations for their generous support of Britsom during the period of this Financial Report: John Lyon's Charlty, Clty Brldge Foundatlon, The London Community Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Trust for London and Garfleld Weston Foundatlon.
BRITSOM TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Trustees MAII M Mire M Bashir A Abdalla Flnancial Revlew & Reserves Pollcy The Charity Commission for England recognised that there is a legal duty on Management Committee Members of Charities to set reserve level and justify that this is reasonable. To meet this responsibility and manage risk Britsom Management Committee Members have set an appropriate reserve level to meet the ongoing needs of the organisation. Britsom has no general fundin8 guaranteed annual income and therefore, as an acknowledgement of financial risk5 accrued through the day-to-day activities and ongoing services. The organisation5 aim to generate Sufficient unrestricted reserve5 to maintain operations for 5 months running cost and allow the servlces to continue. This reserve target was Set by the Management Committee on 09 December 2024 at £70,000 for 6 months, operation running cost. Investment powers and pollcy The Charitvs funds are to be spent in the short term and there are no long-term funds or athiance funds, which cannot be investments in the money market. Plans for Future Perlods 8ritSom aims to continue the delivery and consolidation of the current activities along with a number of new initiatives subject to availability of funds. We will also explore optlons for diversification of our income generation and funding sources to build Britsom's sustainability. The future planned activities are as follows: To sustain the service5 currently offered by the charity Work towards quality frameworks to the highest mark possible Fundraise for the core projects and for the key workers in the organisation. Undertake a review of existing funding and income generation. Attract funding for full time Chlef Executive Officer Attract funding for Educational and welfare support worker to work with our Children and Young People(CYP). Review of financial posltlon At the balance sheet date. the total funds of the Charity were £85,785.62 (2024; £168,126). Rlsk Management The Trustees have a risk management strategy, which comprises the following areas: • An annual review of the risks the charity may face. The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the plan. And the Implementations of such procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialize.
BRITSOM TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Strurturep governance and management The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is therefore governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Assoclation. The directors of the company are also trustees of the charity. Eligibility for membership of the charity and membership of the board of trustees is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association There are no restrictions in the 8overnin8 document on the operation of the charity or on its investment powers. other than those imposed by general charity law. Appolntment of trustees Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committee Members of the Management Committee are 11 recruited from volunteers within the Community. Trustee Induction and Training Most trustees are already familiar with the work of the charity as a result of being local people and due to their involvement in the charity. Additionally. new trustees are invited and encouraged to attend induction and training in relevant policies and procedures as and when necessary. Trustees, inductlon and tralnlng Management Committee Members receive and indurtion pack detailing their responsibilities, Code of Conducts, meeting tlmetable, conflict of interest policy and declaration forms, CC3 IResponsibilitie5 of Charity Trustees) paper and equal opportunity policie5. Management Committee Members volunteering for personnel, day to day activities and financial subcommittees. a. Induction of new Management Committee members will wherever possible be undertaken by the two most senior off ice holders and most senior staff members who have already undergone the induction procedure (the inductors). b. Induction of new Management Committee members will wherever possible take place at the Britsom office no later than ten working days after the election of the new Management Committee member. c. The new Management Committee member will be introduced to other Management Committee members and 8rltSom employees and volunteers and be given a description of the work each of them undertakes. d. The new Management Committee member will be shown round the Britsom off ice and wlll be expected to familiarlse themselves with the services provided and who takes the lead in providing those services. The inductor will provide the new Management Committee member with the following documents: The most up to date Charity Commission booklets outlining their roles and responsibilities The Constitution The Policies and Procedures File and the Annual Report The minutes of Trustees meetings . The contact details of all other Management Committee members.
BRITSOM TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Trustees, Responslbllltles: Trustees, responsibilltles In relatlon to the financlal statements. )1 The law applicable to charities in En8land and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financlal statements for each financial year which give a true and fair vlew of the state of affairs of the charity and of its financial actlvitles for that year. In preparln8 financial statements giving a true and fair view, the Trustees should follow best practice and: select sultable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended prattice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it Ss Inappropriate to presume that the charity wlll continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keepin8 accountin8 records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ascertain the financial position of the charity and ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Financial statements and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the trust deed. The Trustees are responsible for safe8uardin8 the assets of the charity and hence for takin8 reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. MAII Chair Dated: 10-May-2025
BRITSOM INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BRITSOM FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Examinerfs Report to the Trustees of Britsom Report to the trustee5 of Britsom, registered charity no. 1196492. on the accounts for the year ended 31103/2025 set out on pages 7 to 8. Responsibllitles and basls of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended. 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 Att"). 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 examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connettion 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 understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Address: M&H Assoclates 124 Kemp House City Road London ECI 2NX Date: 10-May-2025
BRITSOM STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AcnvrriES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Category Unrestricted Funds {£) Restricted Funds Total 2025 (£) Total 2024 {£) 1£) 205,432 Grants Donations Total Incoming Resources Staff and Management Salaries Sessional Workers Operations Total Resources Expended Net Incoming/ (Outgoing) Brought Forward11 Aprll 20241 Carried Forward (31 March 2025) 205,432 168,557 5,579 174,136 205,432 205,432 114,493.70 114,493.70 119,405 39,421 39,421 15,133 62,523.68 216,438.38 62,523.68 216,438.38 33,780 168,318 -11,006.38 -11,006.38 5,818 70,434 97,692 168,126 168,126 70,434 85.785.62 156,219.62 168,126
BRITSOM NOTES TO THE FINANCIALSTATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Accountlng pollcles Basls of preparatlon The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (as amended for accounting periods commencing from l January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102. The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin I not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows. The accounts have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but whlch has since been withdrawn. The accounts are prepared In sterlin& which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £. The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The prlnclpal accounting policies adopted are set out below. Incomlng resources Incoming resources are included in the SOFA when the charity can quantify the amount with reasonable accuracy. Resources expended Resources expended are recognlsed in the period in which they are Incurred. Resource5 expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Fund accounting Funds held by the charity are either: Unrestricted funds - these are funds which can be used In accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the Trustees. Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds- these are funds that can only be used for partlcular restrirted purposes within the object of the charity. Restrictions also apply when specified by the donor or when fund5 are raised for particular purposes. Expenditure that meets these criteria is identified in the fund.
BRITSOM BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 Category Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds {£) Total Funds (£) 1£) Fixed Assets Current Assets Cash at Bank and In Hand Total Current Assets Liabilities Net Assets 70,434 85,785.62 156,219.62 70,434 85,785.62 156,219.62 70,434 85,785.62 156.219.62 Funds Unrestricted Funds Restritted Funds Total Funds 70,434 70.434 85,785.62 156,219.62 85,785.62 85,785.62 70,434 The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 10 May 2025 MAII Trustee
BRITSOM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (CONTINUED Financial instruments The charity has elerted to apply the provisions of Section 11 '8asic Financial Instruments, and Section 12 '0ther Financial Instruments Issues, of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the charivs balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets and liabilities are offset. with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. Basic financlal assets Baslc financial assets, which Include debtors and cash and bank balances, are InitSally measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financlng transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised. Basic financlal liabilities Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans that are classifled as debt, are Initlally recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised. Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordlnary course of business from suppliers. AmoLJnts payable are classified as current Ilabilitles if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost Using the effective interest method.
BRITSOM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 20251CONTINUED) l. Analysis of Charitable Funds Analysis of Unrestricted Funds Movement5 Fund Balance at I Incomin8 April 2024 (£) Resources (£) Reserve Fund 70,434 Total Unrestrirted Funds Resources Expended {£) Balance at 31 March 2025 (£) 70,434 Analysis of Restrlcted Funds Movements Balance at I Incoming April 2024 (£) Resources (£) 97,692 205,432 Fund Resources Expended (£) 216,438.38 Balance at 31 March 2025 (£} 85,785.62 Restrirted Grants Total Restricted Funds Name ofthe fund Description, nature and purpose of the fund Grant fund to carry out activitie5 set by grantees Staff costs The average weekly number of employees remunerated during the year, calculated on a full- time equivalent basis. was S (2024- 5). No individual is remunerated at a level in excess of £30.000.