## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From 1 April 2024 To 31 March 2025**
## **Charity name: Friends of Refugees London**
## **Charity registration number: 1200601**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To promote social inclusion for the public
benefit among people who are seeking
asylum, those granted refugee status and
their dependents and vulnerable migrants
in London who are socially excluded on the
grounds of their social and economic
position.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|A befriending network that encourages and
enables the above individuals to participate
more effectively with the wider community.
Advocacy and general support including
through accompanying individuals to
appointments such as medical, with the
local or immigration authority. Signposting
to other charities and agencies for services
beyond the charity’s remit.|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The trustees confirm that they have had
due regard to the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public benefit. In
our decision-making processes, we have
carefully considered the principle set out in
that guidance to ensure our activities
deliver clear and meaningful public benefit.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**N/A**|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|**N/A**|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Our volunteers are the backbone of our
work and provide direct support to people
seeking asylum and refugees in our current
area of operation, the London Borough of
Lewisham.|
|Other|||
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|Friends of Refugees London has made a
significant impact by providing one-to-one,
face-to-face befriending services to
refugees in the London Borough of
Lewisham. This in turn has helped reduce
social isolation and supported the wellbeing
of often marginalised individuals by
fostering a sense of community and
belonging. Beyond individual benefits, the
charity’s efforts have contributed to a more
inclusive and compassionate society. This
work enriches society, encouraging
diversity and empathy within the
community. Recruited and trained 15
volunteers, 6 befriending matches
Continued relationship with 2
organisational partners in the local area.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|A major objective was to expand our
service provision outside of the Lewisham
area. By year end, we had started
discussions in two other London boroughs.|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|**N/A**|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|**N/A**|
|Other||**N/A**|
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|No income or funds raised. Minor
expenditure funded by the Trustees.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**N/A**|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**Nil**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**No significant expenditure**|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**N/A**|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**N/A**|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47||
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**CIO**|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|In selecting individuals for appointment as
charity trustees, the charity trustees must
have regard to the skills, knowledge and
experience needed for the effective
administration of the Charity.
The charity trustees endeavour to seek
applications from individuals who have
experience of forced displacement.
CVs and covering letters by prospective
trustees are reviewed by the current
trustees, and two interviews are held with
different sets of current trustees. New
trustees are recruited by majority vote, and
are offered a trial period of around three
months, before they are registered as full
trustees.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Policies and procedures adopted for the induction Para 1.51 and training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
## **Reference and Administrative details**
Charity name
|Other name the charity uses|Friends of Refugees London|
|---|---|
|Registered charity number|1200601|
|Charity’s principal address|Friends of Refugees London
3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE|
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## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Karen Anthea
Canty||||
||Shaharazad Salas
Abuel-Ealeh||||
||Frances Catherine
Ray||||
||Josephine Wagner
Poedenphant||||
||Essette Gebra
Emmanuel||September 2024|Existing trustees (listed at 1-
4)|
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity|N/A|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|N/A|
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own
assets|N/A|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|
|**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|||
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|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
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## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
## **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
|**gne** **on ea o**
**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**|**carys rusees**|**carys rusees**|
|---|---|---|
||||
||Shaharazad Salas Abuel-Ealeh|Frances Catherine Ray|
||
Trustee|Trustee|
||31 January 2026||
||31 January 2026||