Leeds Ukrainian Community Associaton ## Annual report & accounts 29/07/22-27/02/23 ## Introduction From the first day of the Russian invasion into Ukraine, Leeds Ukrainian Community Association has been helping victims of the war. The LUCA is working in two main areas: supporting those, who fled the war, here, in the UK; and sending medical and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. LUCA is also promoting Ukrainian culture via a series of history lectures, master classes based on Ukrainian traditions and Ukrainian Saturday School. On 29th of July 2022 Leeds Ukrainian Community Association, LUCA became a registered charity incorporated organisation. ## Chair’s statement We, trustees of our charity , have known each other for many years and used to come to Leeds Ukrainian community centre in Chapeltown since 2014 , that when the Maidan and Crimea annexation happened and our brave soldiers already were fighting off Russian aggression in eastern part of Ukraine. We all could not be indifferent to pleas for help from soldiers and veterans and were organising small Ukrainian community fundraising events , painting exhibitions and community collections since 2014 Sadly start of the war, as we know it on 24 th feb 22, has not been a surprise to us but still has been a shock due to vide scale of destructions Russians were inflicting on Ukraine , bombing cities and towns everywhere ,this has turned our lives upside down. We all have relatives, friends and acquaintances in Ukraine, in different regions of the country and were desperate to unite for support required in Ukraine for Ukrainians and to build stronger moral support network for us here, sharing information and tips about how to help relatives and wider community. We were all hoping this war will be short lived and in couple of weeks we will be able to start rebuilding the damage after the end of war. On the 27th February 2022 we had our first help request from the start of war ,from our old Ukrainian volunteer contact ,asking to help with purchasing of safety equipment .Everyone was pouring messages of support, including friends, work colleagues, neighbours and general members of public.We are forever grateful to British public for helping us in these difficult times. 1 JI,. blt£ ,,If IE AM8ULANCE Despite hoping the war will be short lived , we found ourselves realising that as war continues, more and more people require help , more destruction happen in Ukraine and it became clear our activities will be required for decades , long after the war has hopefully ended by then, in rebuilding Ukraine and supporting newly formed Ukrainian diaspora here, in west Yorkshire. 4 We worked closely with Leeds city council trying to make things easier for newly coming refugees in Leeds and surrounding areas , we have been an information centre for newcomers , we have organised free clothes and necessity shop ,where newcomers ,some deeply traumatised and with little possessions, could get whats required -ie clothes, household items, hygiene items ,food and ask for specific items or something extra just to make them feel better ,we even been distributing Vodafone sim cards to new arrivals , to help communication and isolation prevention. In Summer 22 we have started speaking club-helping displaced people communicate in English . We have formed a Saturday school for the children to learn Ukrainian language, history, traditions music and many more subjects.We have dedicated teachers,all newcomers from Ukraine, trying to make children experience at school fun ,despite those children suffering aftermath of leaving warzone and missing their fathers and family members ,left behind in Ukraine either fighting on frontline or supporting economy and vital infrastructure inside the country. We organise celebrations of Ukrainian significance ie Christmas dinner, kids St Nicholas day party and presents for 120 kids,Defenders day, Mother’s day, Ukraine independence day so people unite as a community and feel mutual support in a faraway country, away from home and loved ones 5 °l('I:i I.: I',Ili Ji 11 TKNYW VO 11 11 Our projects in 2022 financial year involved: Purchases of batches of safety equipment,safety boots and clothing, 2 bulk batches for wounded soldiers in hospitals (over 800 kits) , thermal underwear kits for soldiers (c 400 kits) Satellite phones and radio systems , plus running cost of operating those, hundreds of second hand mobile phones ,dozens of computer tablets ;dozens of tourniquets , 2 humanitarian aid trucks loads with 23 pallets of hygiene items, food, baby items etc; 6 power generators ,Solar power generator system ; lantern lights for orphanage ;debri clearing equipment 60 good quality winter waterproof sleeping bags made in Ukraine for Zaporizya national guard team . Fully equipped ambulance vehicle Structure, Governance and Management Leeds Ukrainian Community Association is a charitable incorporated organisation governed by a constitution. ## Board of Trustees Larysa Dumenka -Chair of Trustees Olga Callaghan-Trustee Viacheslav Semeniuk-Trustee Dariya Michayliv-Trustee and Secretary Oleksandr Povstyan- Trustee Gennadij Korolchuk-resigned August 2022 Roles of Trustees Responsible for shaping policies and making sure charity activities are in line with public benefit guidelines . Ensure that right policies and procedures, including policies and management processes for safeguarding , serios incidents are in place ,adhered to and reviewed regularly . ## Commitee board for the year 29/07/22-27/02/23 consisted of : Larysa Dumenka -Chair of Trustees Olga Callaghan-Trustee Viacheslav Semeniuk-Trustee Dariya Michayliv-Trustee and Secretary Oleksandr Povstyan- Trustee Julia Nelson-Legal Representative Objectves and Actvites 10 1.to provide assistance in the collection, organisation and onward transfer of humanitarian aid from Leeds to Ukraine and neighbouring countries assisting victims of the war in Ukraine 2 .to provide a community hub in Leeds to FAC: facilitate the broadening of knowledge about Ukraine and Ukrainians ; to promote the Ukrainian language, culture and heritage ; to provide support for Ukrainians by means of cultural and social events ; to provide practical support in the form of a free charity shop providing essentials for refugees ; to provide a meeting place for the Leeds community and existing Ukrainian community to welcome and assist Ukrainian refugees ## Achievements and performance a. Statement on public benefit Leeds Ukrainian Community Association was started initially due to numerous requests for assistance from Ukrainians in need due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and also the need expressed by other members of the public to have a trusted place to be able to donate in order to help these Ukrainians. LUCA is operating from the Leeds Ukrainian Community Centre. The centre is well known amongst members of the public which means that everybody has extremely easy access to speak to trustees of the charity about our work. The ease of access to these trustees has certainly helped to build a feeling of trust amongst those wishing to donate. The general public have realised that we can deliver aid as it is required in a timely and efficient manner with fully transparent activities. The many and varied requests completed have all come about from a need expressed by members of the public. Every single item purchased or help given in any other way has changed somebody’s life. When refugees started arriving in the West Yorkshire area they were signposted to the centre where we had set up a room full of anything people would need on immediate arrival. These refugees had absolutely nothing, they were unbelievably grateful, and many tears were shed when they saw how we could make their lives just a little easier. Requests have changed now to include items required when they start moving from a sponsor into their own accommodation. The help we have provided has made a difference to many lives of parents and children. The assistance provided to Ukraine has also been given because of requests received. Every one of our projects has been because of a particular need by the public in Ukraine. The benefits to all are that members of the public are easily able to donate as we are a local charity. Also, we provide a personal service and all help given can be given much quicker and more cost effectively than some larger charities. LUCA has proved to be of great public benefit on all fronts. Both from the perspective of the donor in that they have easy access to discuss any donations and projects that we might be planning and because of this we have been able to build up an atmosphere of trust. Our personal knowledge of Ukraine has been of benefit to those asking for assistance who have been reassured that any requests for assistance will be considered and dealt with quickly and efficiently. 11 Our work has also meant that we have been able to provide material assistance but also been a source of information and advice. This has meant that the refugees coming to us have been able to get the things they needed in one place without the need to search in many different places. The main benefits to the public are therefore that we are a local charity, easily accessible, have personal knowledge of and contacts in Ukraine and have been able to provide help quickly and in the correct place, have an understanding of the needs of the Ukrainian refugees arriving since the start of the war and can provide a place of safety for them and their children where they can start to rebuild their lives in the UK yet not forget that they are Ukrainian. ## Financial review - A. Accounts are prepared on receipts and payments basis. ## B. Going concern Atter making appropriate discussions, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that LUCA has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. ## C. Reserves policy At the year end, the Charity helds unrestricted General Funds of 1,345 . These funds will be used to further the Charity's objectives. The Trustees have agreed they should maintain the Charity's free reserves to a level of approximately three months expenditure and minimum of £1,000 . This policy is reviewed annually. 12 L88ds Ukrai￿1￿￿ CIKnmunity ABBDciDtion Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe period from 291D112022 2710212023 To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year tothe nearost tothe nearest£ lothe neares1£ tothe nearos1£ lothe near951£ A1 Recel DoTrabons 3.255 3,255 13,216 4,715 FuTrdraising ath¥ihes 4,715 Sub total(Gross income for AR) 16N71 4,715 21,146 A2 Asset and investment sales, Isee tsblel. Sub roral 16,471 4,T15 21,196 A3Pa •nts d lo u￿J81￿ SaletyEquipmenland 5,140 2.146 J,140 1146 Generators umanrfarian ￿di$M￿lIritèmS)artd tran5POrt cfjsl a In UK-evènts oroanised 3,931 3,931 1,432 pvents Fulldr815ing malerials cosl 238 2.T69 175 238 2,7fj9 175 Fufjdra151no cosl-oelwery. Doslage other 258 56 258 Sub total 15,39T 1N3 13 A4Asset and investmem ur¢has•s 59• tabl• Sub total 15.397 1,432 16￿29 Ner of re¢elprsl(paymentsJ A5 Transfers betseen fvnds A6 Cash funds last y•ar •nd Cash funds Ltyls yearend 1,07 J,213 4,351 1,07 3,283 4,357 Section 8 Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unre51ricted funds to nearest£ Restricted funds tonearest£ Endowment funds to neares1£ Categorles Dètalls B1 Cash funds Cash balance broughlfotW3rd alyear 1,OT4 3,283 Tffjalcash funds 1.074 3,283 Unrestricted fvnd5 lo no?re$t£ Restricted funds toneares1£ Endowmem fund5 to nearost£ B2 Other monetary assets Fund towhKh assetbek>n Cutrentvalue Detalls B3 Investm?nt a$sets Fund towhKh as5etbek>n Cutrentvalue Detalls B4 As8et8 retained for th• chadty's own use Fund towhKh ountdue lopton&ll When dye loptitinBII Details B5 Llablllves Signed ty one Or IWO tiustèès on Stgnature Pnnt Name Date of Laryss Dutnénka 0711012023 07/1012023 14