South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice (Registered charity, number 1199706) Financial statements for the period 6 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 Page Contents Trustees, annual report Independent examiner's report Receipts & payments account Statement of assets & liabilities Notes to the accounts 10-11 capLUS COMMUTr4,'TY ACCOUNTING
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice Trustees, annual report for the period 6 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 Full name South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justi Other names by which the charity is known SYRLJ (Working name) Organisation type CIO Reglstered charity number 1199706 Prin¢lpal address The Sanctuary, 37-39 Chapel Walk, Sheffield, S12PD Trustees Gary Bell, Chair Phil Moore, Secretary Patricia Anne Hudson, Treasurer Victor Mujakachi Christopher Cole Emma Rattenbury, from 1910912024 Peter Veal, until 2610312024 Independent examiner John O'Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG15GL Governance and management The Charity was registered on 19th July 2022 as a Charitsble Incorporated Organisation. with the intention of merging it with an unincorporated association of the same name (Registered Charity, number 1146748). Once due diligen had been completed, the merger of the charities was subsequently registered by the Commission on 11th December 2023, with a transfer date of 26th June 2023. and the unincorporated association removed from the Register. The methods adopted for the recruitment and appointment of new trustees are.. we request a CV and feference, which is then followed by an initial interview by the Chair and due diligence. The proposal to appoint is then considered by existing trustees and if aproved the applicant is invited to join and sign a declaration form.
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice Objectives and activities 1. To promote human rights (as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent United Nations declarations and conventions) throughout the world by all or any of the following means: a. Relieving need among the victims of human rights abuses b. Educating the public about human rights abuse c. Eliminating inffingements of human rights 2. The relief of financial hardship amongst asylum seekers, refugees, and their dependants in the South Yorkshire area by the provision of free legal advice and assistan 3. The advancement of education of the public about asylum law and practi South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice is a grassroots legal charity providing immigration legal services to migrants in South Yorkshire who are at risk of human rights abuses. We offer free legal representation to people whose asylum claims have been refused, we work to increase access to justice across the region, we provide training and qualification routes to practitioners entering the legal profession and pursuing a career in immigration and human rights law, and we advocate for a fair system for all migrants in the UK. Our vision All migrants in South Yorkshire have a¢5$ to justice and their human rights are protected. Our mission Our mission is to increase the provision of good quality immigration legal advice and representation for migrants across South Yorkshire. We currently do this through providing representation to refused asylum seekers in South Yorkshire., providing d1ct one-off immigration advice to migrants, via 'drop in, sessions., providing both paid and voluntary opportunities to undertake training and gain experien in the field of human ri9hls law- providing best Practi training to stakeholders and partners. Our values Respect We treat all clients, volunteers and staff with respect and dignity, and without judgement. Compassion We work with each client in the way that best suits them. We adapt our seiCe around the specific challenges and different experiences that our clients fa whilst navigating the legal system. Tenacity We work alongside our clients to explore all legal options and fight to ensure they get justice. Quallty We maintain high standards and are committed to providing an excellent quality of service to those we work with.
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice Summary of the main activities undertaken for the publlc benefit Legal casework and representation Our core service is the provision of immigration legal representation to refused asylum seekers and migrants with human rights related legal issues who are living in South Yorkshire. We offer in-depth ongoing legal representation to those who often have complex legal cases and face multiple barriers to engaging with legal services. We aim to se¢ure long term resolution of our clients, cases. One-off legal advice We provide one-off face to face legal advice though a local drop-in service. This service is open-access and is available to all migrants with human rights related immigration matters. We provide this service in Sheffield and Barnsley. Training and capacity building A key aim for SYRLJ is to build capacity in the sector. This includes providing training and qualification routes internally for our staff and volunteers as well as the provision of external training and capacity building. We work closely with local partners and community groups to increase understanding of immigration law in practice. We support refugee organisations, campaigning and community groups and local activist groups by providing legal expertise and guidance. We also create local spaces and neorkS for skills sharing and knowledge exchange within Ihe legal sector. Advocacy We are active members of several networks working to secure systemic change for our Client group and our sector at a national level. We are particularly passionate about working to ensure that the experiences of migrants, and of organisations working to support migrants in small regional contexts, are represented in national advocacy and policy work. We work to amplify the experiences and knowledge of our client group and local grassroots legal organisations at a national level. Background South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice fomied as an unincorporated charitable association in April 2012. It was founded in response to community concerns about the gap in local legal provision for people whose asylum Claims had been refused. Belmeen 2019 and 2021 SYRLJ faced a significant crisis. Our founder and Chair of Trustees Gina Clayton passed away following a period of illness and we lost several other board members as well as our Coordinator who had been with the organisation for 10 years. These challenges, alongside the impact ofthe Covid pandemic, took SYRLJ to a poinl where we had to question whether we could Gonlinue operating. However, knowing how critical the need for this service was, we resolved to meet these challenges head on. We have been able to build a stronger and more resilient organisation with a growing reputation for high quality legal work, excellent client care and a tenacious drive to improve access to justice for migrants across South Yorkshire and beyond.
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice In 2022 we expanded our service to include one-off immigration advice, open on a monthly basis to all migrants, including those who do not meet the remit for our substantive casework service. Public benefit statement The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit,. The public gain greater knowledge and understanding of the asylum system, refugee protection and human rights. The quality of advice and representstion is improved, speeding up the process, promoting more just and sustainable outcomes, which reduces pressure on public resources. Review of the year Over the period covered by this report we created three additional roles, growing to a staff team of eight and with support from our small team of volunteers we were able to deliver an excellent service providing high quality legal representation and advice. Our two trainee legal advisers and our paralegal continued to gain experience and legal qualifications including OISC qualifications and Solicitor's Qualifying Work Experience. We also recruited a Senior Legal Adviser who we supported to gain his Immigration & Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAASI Senior Supervisor qualification. This is part of our ongoing commitment to increasing aCsS to justice and improving the quality of legal services throLtgh training and support for the next generation of social justice lawyers. We also provide training opportunities and qualification routes to our volunteers. A high proportion of people who volunteered with us went on to secure paid work in Ihe legal sector. We are proud to play an active role in our community, building solidarity in the fa of far-right attacks and the hostile environment. Over the year we worked closely with local partners and played a key role in building relationships beeen small legal charities acfOSS the north to share learning and resources and combine our experien, expertise and strength to tackle some of the bigger structural challenges facing our sector. Following our decision in March 2023 to apply for a legal aid contract. we moved ahead with our application and with developing and updating our internal office and casework systems in line with requirements. Our application was successful and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the development of SYRLJ. As part of this process, we also successfully secured a Lexcel Quality Standard mark. Our hope is that in undertaking this work we can both enhance the legal support we are able to offer our clients and stand alongside other legal aid providers in the fight to protect this vital public service and uphold the principle of access to justice for all. In Mar¢h 2024 we were able to expand our one-off immigration advice service to offer sessions per month.
South Yorkshlre Refugee Law and Justlce Summary of our achlevements We provided legal representation to 119 clients - an irKxBase of 35% on the previous year. We also worked on Improwng the qualty ol our Servi delivery undertaking organisation wide training on trauma-infonned working and suicide prevention. We submitted 37 applications on behalf our dients, enabling them and their dependents to exit destitution arKI access accrmm<xJation and financial Suppo This represents a 54% increase on the previous year. We secur* status for 13 dients and thelr dependents and appeal rights for a fvrther 11 clients. We represented people from 31 different countries. We provided 217 people with one-off legal advice - an increase of 76% on the previous year. With the ongoing crisis in legal advice this service has b8oJme increasingly important. Our drop4n advice is provided in mutti-agency ¢ommunity settings that are well known and used and both seNi¢e users and stakeholders have feedback to us on the importanc8 of legal advice being available in these settings. We have increased our provision in this area based on this feedbac We supported our staff tèam to gain four new legal qualfficats'ons ranging from becoming an OISC Level 1 advisér to b8MIng a qualified IA4S Senior Supervising Caseworker. We worked with 9 volunteers over th8 course of the year, 6 of whom secured paid work in the legal sector. They also gained a range of legal qualifications from OISC accreditation through to becoming qualified immigration solicitors. We provided signposting and second tier advice to 191 service users and agen¢i8s. People c2ught up in the system as well as those working to support them are often passed from pillar to post and can find it very difficult to find the right servicEs. Whilst this work is not a central part of our seNi¢e off8r, we always want to share our knowledge and improve access to services where we can. We use our team's extensive knowledge and connections throughout the sector to signpost and advise effectively including sending resources and contact and referral infomiation via text. WhatsApp and email. We secured a Lexcel Qualty Standard Mark and were successful in securing a legal aid contract which will commence in the comlng year. Reserves Policy At its meeting held on 251h July 2024, the Board agreed that the organisation would hold reserves to cover a minimum of 3 months, op8rating costs. rising to a maximum of 6 months, and to keep this figure under regular review. Signed on behalf of the Charity's trustees: Signed Gary Bell, Trustee Date
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice for the period 6 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of South Yorkshire Refugee Law & Justice for the period 6 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the trustees of the charity 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 ¢harity's accounts tsrried 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 14515)Ib) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act., or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 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 John O'Brien FAIA, FCIE Employee of Community Accounting Plus Date
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice Receipts & payments account for the period 6 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 2024 Total Funds Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Note Receipts Donations & fuTrdraisirwJ Grants Gift aid received Serwces Total receipts 27212 86000 6511 4781 124504 27212 178567 6511 4781 217071 92567 92567 Payments Staff costs Office & premises costs SeThice Delivery costs Organisational costs Volunteer costs Total payments 54304 3795 10421 9257 390 78167 94374 2895 4482 148678 6690 14903 9257 390 179918 101751 Net receiptsl(paymentg) Cash funds at start of this period Cash funds at end of this period 46337 143439 189776 19184) 17501 8317 37153 160940 198093
South Yorkshire Refvgee Law and Justice Statement of asset5 and liabilities at 31 March 2024 20 Cash a8s0ts Bank accourts Cash in Not• 197938 155 198093 Othor monotary assets D8btors 6839 6839 A8$0ts r•talnod for th• charlty'$ own u80 Genèral equipmènt. Llabllttles Credltors 2762 2762 These financial stat8ments are accepted on behalf of the charity by: Signed Gary Bell. Tnjstee Dated l + 11125
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice Notes to the accounts for the period 6 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 1. Receipts & payments accounts Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand. The CIO was officially established in July 2022, however Ihe final transfer of assets, liabilities and operations from the unincorporated charity to the CIO took place on 28th June 2023. As the charity was formed through a merger, the financial statements cover the financial period from 61412023 to 311312024. Comparative figures for the old charity for the year to 514123 are not available as accounts were not prepared for that period. 2. Grants & donatlons Unr•strkt•d Restricted Total Disrupt The Brelms Trust British Red Cross Access to Justice FouTrdation Hilden Charitable Trust Lloyds Bank Foundation Gina Clayton Legacy FUTh Sheffield City Council 20000 20000 5000 38563 42004 7000 25000 25000 16000 178567 5000 38563 42004 7000 25000 25000 16000 86000 92567 3. Funds analysis Openlng R8colpts (Payments) balance Closlng balance Restricted funds The Brelms Trust furvj NLCF (SMDP PartrErship) Access to Justice IIOLTSI Hilden Charitable TrLLSt fu4 Open Ph'lanthropy fLnd 5000 {5000) 38563 142564) 42004 (37187) 7000 (7000) 10000 (54187 4001 4817 3500 3500 10000 13500 49004 8317 Unrestricted funds GerEral furKIs 143439 124504 143439 124504 78167 189776 {78167) 189776 10
South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice 4. Debtors HMRC Insurance prepayment 5179 1660 6839 5. Creditors HMRC balance owed for M12 Professional fees IT and payroll 112611 18761 625 12762) 6. Trustees remuneration Trustees received no expenses, remuneration or benefits in this period. 7. Glossary of ternis Debtors: These are amounts owed to the charity, but not received in the accounting period. Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity, but not paid in the accounting period.