2022-12-31-accounts

SHROPSHIRE SUPPORTS REFUGEES (CHARITY NO. 1196673)

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD

19[™ ] NOVEMBER 2021 TO 31[sr ] DECEMBER 2022

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SHROPSHIRE SUPPORTS REFUGEES

Trustees' Annual Report for the period 19[th ] November 2021 to 31[st ] December 2022

This is the first report since registration and as such covers an extended period.

Reference and administration details Shropshire Supports Refugees Shrewsbury United Reformed Church Coleham Head Shrewsbury SY3 7BJ

Registered charity number 1196673

Trustees Role Dr Heather Thomas Chair Roger Ford Treasurer Jane Smalley Safeguarding Giles Bell Naur Marjan

Appointment date 21[st ] May 2021 27[th ] January 2022 27[th ] January 2022 27[th ] January 2022 21[st ] May 2021

Organisational structure

Shropshire Supports Refugees was registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation) on 19[th ] November 2021. The governing document is the constitution.

Appointment of Trustees

The charity's first trustees were appointed on 21[st ] May 2021 and serve for an initial term of five years. Subsequent trustees are appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity's trustees for a term of 3 or 4 years. A list of trustees can be seen above.

Objectives and Activities

The charity's objectives, as set out in the constitution, are as follows:

1. To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum.

2. To advance the education and the training of those granted refugee status and their dependants, to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within a new community.

3. To preserve and protect the physical and mental health of those granted refugee status and their dependants.

4. The relief of unemployment of those granted refugee status and those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, and in particular Shropshire, by the provision of vocational and skills training, advice and support.

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Overview Objective 1 - Public education

To advance the education of the public in general about the issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum.

To underpin the work that we do directly with the families and to create a more accepting and tolerant environment, Shropshire Supports Refugees networks, educates, raises awareness through events and nurtures empathy through the media, rolling out refugee awareness schemes and delivering talks to schools and groups through the City and Schools of Sanctuary.

Working in partnership with other local and regional organisations to raise awareness of our role in supporting the local community. The CEO regularly conducts talks in the community and to schools, colleges, and universities.

Objective 2 - Refugee education and training

To advance the education and the training of those granted refugee status and their dependants.

We provide English lessons with a qualified lead teacher and work with local education institutions and employers to help refugees and asylum seekers into education and employment. We source and facilitate volunteer opportunities for the people we support within the community.

Objective 3 - Preserve and protect mental health of refugees

To preserve and protect the physical and mental health of those granted refugee status and their dependants.

Shropshire Supports Refugees takes mental health seriously and we stay abreast of the latest developments and findings in the works of refugee and mental health. We run trauma and resilience building workshops and weave psycho supportive activities into all our events. Within our support hub we offer trauma workshops, complementary therapies, access to domestic abuse advisory services and a community space where everyone can be respected and heard. To maximise the physical health of refugees we form partnerships with the like of Energize Active Partnership and Shrewsbury Sports Village, we facilitate activities which encourage physical participation e.g., inter county football matches and take suggestions from the groups we support as to their preferred form of physical activity.

Objective 4 - Relief of unemployment

The relief of unemployment of those granted refugee status and those seeking asylum in the United Kingdom, and in particular Shropshire, by the provision of vocational and skills training, advice and support.

Shropshire Supports Refugees facilitate workshops with Enable and Landau Employment Services to assist the people we support into education and training opportunities. We support people to appointments at the Job Centre to help with translation and build confidence.

Alongside our English lessons, refugees are now able to sit exams within our support hub which lead to an English qualification and advancement into employment. We also support with driving lessons and facilitate formal educational opportunities like first aid and food hygiene courses.

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Management and day-to-day running of the charity

Any charity trustee may call a meeting of the charity trustees. Subject to that, the charity trustees shall decide how their meetings are to be called, and what notice is required. The meetings take the form of both in person and on line. No decision shall be taken at a meeting unless a quorum is present. The quorum is two charity trustees, or one third of the total number of charity trustees, whichever is greater, or such larger number as the charity trustees may decide from time to time. The first AGM is yet to be held.

Presented at the meeting is an agenda, summary of financial statements and a recording of the previous meeting for ratification.

We currently employ 16 members of staff. The breakdown of which is as follows:

• CEO {Safeguarding lead)

• 2 Administration

• 1 Activity Coordinator

• 6 Support Hub Staff

• 4 Support Workers

• 1 Education Welfare Officer

• 1 Project Support Manager

As staff were employed during 2022 by the CIC, no costs are borne by the charity within this period. All staff are safeguarding trained, DBS checked, and appropriate training provided. During 2022 we had approximately sixty volunteers in our records. They took part in one-to-one support work, donation hub sorting, fund raising activities and support hub work. All volunteers are DBS checked and appropriate training provided for their role.

We run a WhatsApp group which includes all the trustees, general information is fed through here. Information needing more consideration is emailed to all trustees.

Financial review for the year ended 31 December 2022

During the period under review, the charity ran alongside the CIC of the same name. The majority of activities, including transfer of staff, assets and cash, have occurred post year end.

The CIC will be closed in 2023 and all activity will be via the charity.

The accounts of the charity attached, show incomings of £59,075, with the majority of income coming from the following individual grants, and other grants towards core funding.

• Tide's Foundation - £9.8k for raising awareness of working with young people.

• Trinity College London - £12.Gk for education.

• Energize - £6.4k for provision of Yoga.

• LandAid - £4.3k for assistance with homelessness

Other income came from direct donations, fundraising events and online fundraising.

The charities running cost for the period was £8k and mainly related to ESOL, yoga provision and general supplies needed for refugees.

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Achievements and perfrmance

When news of conflict broke in Ukraine in February 2022 Shropshire Supports Refugees responded and with the imminent arrival of guests, the Community Hub was launched, located in the Riverside Shopping precinct in Shrewsbury town centre. The hub is designed to be a drop-in location offering signposting, help and support, employment guidance, activities and English lessons. The first three months of the project saw an empty shell of a building be transformed into a lively, welcoming and friendly destination for guests arriving in the county and their hosts.

Refugee Week

In June we celebrated Refugee Week, the theme was 'Healing'.

Our team of participants produced a vibrant programme of celebrations, from talks by the internationally acclaimed author Gulwali Passarlay, local authors, drumming and workshops culminating in a light show display.

In November 2022 we were informed of asylum seekers being relocated from Manston Immigration Centre to a hotel in Shrewsbury. We were able to respond immediately, purchasing essentials for the men and providing a welcoming reception.

SSR is delighted to have been recognised for the work done throughout 2022, receiving the Rotary Peace Award, the BBC Radio Shropshire Make a Difference award as well as the mayors award.

Strategic aims for the coming year

Objective One - To fully develop as a co-ordinating body for services that support people who migrate and are marginalised within Shropshire.

We will do this by:

• identifying the services that provide support for refugees and asylum seekers

• networking with other organisations and services across Shropshire and the wider West Midlands region to increase our knowledge of the field

• facilitating and participating in the sharing of best practice, knowledge, expertise and resources

• creating pathways to access services

• keeping up to date with local and national developments

Objective Two - To continue to provide advice and guidance to refugee families in accessing services and supporting them to develop their independence.

We will do this by:

• ensure we identify early on the level of need so that refugees can access the right service at the right time

• provide a base for drop-in sessions and face to face support

• using and developing the services of interpreters to ensure equality of access to information and service provision

• developing our use of social media to support families and individuals.

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• continuing to provide volunteer befrienders who can support families and individuals on a more informal basis

• liaising with other services sharing information and knowledge

Objective Three - To support all those of a refugee and migrant background to be able to participate successfully in the communities in which they live.

We will do this by:

• providing face to face and on line ESOL classes on a weekly basis

• identifying existing skills and knowledge of refugees and helping to support their access to employment opportunities

• offering vocational training opportunities

• understanding the backgrounds of each family to tailor support

• supporting children and young people to be able to fully access and successfully participate in education

• creating opportunities for socialisation within local communities

• supporting wellbeing and facilitating therapeutic support where necessary

• assisting/facilitating culture share through social occasions

• supporting and developing youth support

Objective Four -To continue to raise public awareness of migrant issues and ensure that people who migrate and who are marginalised will be heard and what they say is acted upon.

We will do this by:

• coordinating a series of events and talks during Refugee week in June

• undertaking talks and presentations to groups

• working with the media to raise awareness of the work we do and of the global migrant crisis

• working with schools to raise awareness of the needs of the refugees and migrants as well as the global migrant crisis

• take forward the Schools of Sanctuary programme

• continue to expand the volunteer base

• supporting those who have migrated to tell their stories and express their needs

Objective Five -To develop as a sustainable, independent and accountable organisation that champions the needs and aspirations of migrants and those who are marginalised across Shropshire.

We will do this by:

• being an excellent employer

• gathering feedback from those families and individuals that we support and using that knowledge to plan and design future support

• continuing to develop a range of formal and informal partnerships

• developing a fundraising policy which will ensure we explore all fundraising opportunities including for joint funding bids and joint delivery of services

• ensuring all regulatory standards are met

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• putting safeguarding at the heart of everything we do

• developing volunteering roles so that volunteers may use their existing skills to support those they work with

• providing training opportunities for staff and volunteers to develop new skills

• ensuring that the highest ethical standards are at our core

• ensuring all our operations adhere to the principles of environmental sustainability

• Accessing OISC registration and accreditation for some staff

• Recruiting and maintaining a board of trustees who bring a broad range of skills and work towards them being a beneficiary group.

• To attend strategic multi agency meetings with local authorities and also local/national networking and national conferences to ensure we are up to date on issues relating to migration and resettlement and that we are contributing to the narrative.

Objective Six - To raise funds to sustain the organisation in achieving the above objectives.

We will do this by:

• developing applications to be sent to a range of funders including small and larger charitable foundations and trusts, statutory organisations and individual donations.

• Fund raising through various methods inc. events, appeals and from individuals

This report was approved by the trustees at a meeting on .. 5 . . and signed on behalf ..!.1:.[1] Lb:--3 of the trustees by

i� ............................ � ..

Heather Thomas (Chair)

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DS FUNDS RECEMS ti.rect donatlohs Fundr￿￿1 •nts Grnnts PeOes fuThlrais¢w Funds receNed on behaWofOC TOTAI INCOME 5.10• 34.823 43311 3.456 818 818 PAYMEPIYS English access course IESCiI 663 AsWum setkers SUPPOrt Volunteer expenses TOTAL PAYMENTS 663 607 607 19) 160 CISH FUIIDSATTHE END OFThSYEAR 2JASS 27460 50.915 NDS ty405 TOT •ropthlre ￿ppryt5 Relwtts OC 818 byor Heather Thom•s ON behdff ¢rf the Trustee5

Trustees of Shropshire Supports Refugees 3-5 Mardol Gardens Mardol, Shrewsbury SY1 1PP

15[th] August 2023

Dear Trustees

Independent examiner’s report to the charity trustees of Shropshire Supports Refugees.

I report on the accounts of the Charity for the period ended 31 December 2022 on the page headed receipts and payments account.

Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

• follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145 (5) (b) of the Charities Act), and

• state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s report

I have examined your charity accounts in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission.

My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.

The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination and have no concerns. No matter has come to my attention which:

• gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

• to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act;

• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or

• to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Clare Beale (CGMA) Director on behalf of Greenbridge Consultancy Ltd

FACTORY FARM, FACTORY LANE, ORETON, KIDDERMINSTER DY14 8RJ TELEPHONE [phone] COMPANY REGISTRATION NO. 11724123