Charity number: 1204282
Date: 2026-01-12
Refugees Welcome in Richmond (RWinR) Annual Return and Financial Statements For the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Registered office: ETNA CENTRE 13 ROSSLYN ROAD RICHMOND TW1 2AR
Contact number: 07874412301 Email address:
charity@refugeeswelcomeinrichmond.org
Structure and management
Refugees Welcome in Richmond (RWinR) started in November 2015 as a group of concerned local people, initially seeking to support Syrian refugees arriving in Richmond upon Thames through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. We have since broadened our support for sanctuary seekers from all countries, UK government refugee schemes, and people seeking asylum in and around the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. In order to fulfill our purposes more effectively we became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 9th August 2023.
Charitable status
Since becoming a CIO, RWinR has operated with a Board of Trustees, together with one non-trustee board observer as our Nominated Safeguarding Lead. The Board meets regularly every six to eight weeks and communicates regularly in between minuted meetings of the Board. Some of our trustees have additional roles delivering the work of the charity.
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Governing documents, policies and procedures
RWinR operates according to its Constitution and the public policies and procedures as detailed on the Charity Commission website.
Board of Trustees
The RWinR Board of Trustees (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025) was chaired by:
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Valerie Booth (appointed 8 August 2023, resigned 20 January 2025)
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Susan Murray (appointed 20 January 2025)
With the role of vice chair held by:
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Susan Murray (appointed 8 August 2023, resigned 20 January 2025)
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Alexis Hatto (appointed 20 January 2025)
With the role of treasurer held by:
- Juliet Thompson (appointed 8 August 2023)
And the following trustees listed in alphabetical order by last name:
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Alistair Blunt (appointed 8 July 2024)
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Sarah Collett (appointed 8 August 2023)
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Jon Fayle (appointed 8 March 2024)
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Alexis Hatto (appointed 8 August 2023)
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Olga Pomazan (appointed 8 July 2024, resigned 4 November 2024)
Susan Attwood observed the Board as RWinR’s Nominated Safeguarding Lead.
Objectives and activities
The main purpose of RWinR is the promotion of social inclusion and improved well-being for the public benefit for sanctuary seekers in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and surrounding areas.
We aim to achieve the above by providing:
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a local befriending network that encourages and enables these individuals to participate more effectively with the wider community;
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social and recreational support and events involving the local community;
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advocacy and general support through services relating to employment, housing, health and wellbeing;
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education and training in English language and in vocational skills;
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food and other essential items;
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signposting to other charities and agencies for services beyond this charity’s remit;
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raising public awareness of issues relating to refugees and those seeking asylum.
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public beneft.
Achievements and performance
Our main activities during the reporting year have included befriending 10 individual sanctuary seekers providing a range of support in relation to housing, asylum requests, access to legal advice and employment opportunities. We have run a weekly social hub for Ukrainians and other clients at the Vineyard Community Centre in Richmond. Of the 43 sessions delivered 28 gave access to and interpretation for Citizens Advice, one session offered employment advice from WorkMatch and 9 therapeutic clay workshops were provided.
We have worked closely with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. As Richmond is a Borough of Sanctuary we are members of the Richmond Sanctuary Partnership Working with their new department for Refugees Services, we have provided information and support for anyone arriving in the Borough in need of sanctuary. This has included helping the council host an accommodation information evening to advise Ukrainians in search of rental accommodation.
Additional integration activities have included working with Turner’s House to enable a women’s art project, working with Cooking-Up to offer workshops about eating and cooking on a tight budget, providing access to places at Kew Park Rangers football summer school for sanctuary seeking children, running cultural tours for Ukrainians, access to English lessons and vouchers for bicycles from the Barnes Bike Sale.
For an overview of our latest impacts to date, please visit our website at: - https://refugeeswelcomeinrichmond.org/our impacts/
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Financial statements
Review of financial position at the end of the period
RWinR has £5,994 in cash at 31 March 2025 and the Trustees believe this is sufficient to carry out the charity’s purposes in 2025/2026.
CC16a to March 2025.xlsx
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating
why they are held
RWinR holds reserves of £500 which is sufficient to cover one year’s administration costs
Amount of reserves held
£500
Reasons for holding zero reserves
N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit
N/A
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity
continuing as a going concern
N/A
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(HARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES 12114282 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perfod To 1$1 31st Mafth 2025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted fund8 Endowment fvnd¥ Last year monttr Totsi fund8 A1 Recelpts t)onabS GiftAid Grdnt 10 Sub tOts1(Gr inCTh8 for ARJ 5,011 4011 203 A2 A68et and Investment sales, (see table). Sub total S.011 s,oit 303 A3 Payments 1.110 1.110 529 230 274 214 Inwrekin1tr¥n¥*bTr wvices Events 625 390 Sub total 1126 1.247 A4 Ass•t and investment $•• tabl• Sub total 625 2.125 1.247 Net ofr8ewpts/{paym•nts) AS Trnnsfern between fund8 A6 Cash lund8 last yèar ¢nd Cash funtts this yearend 3.S11 62S 1886 s£s 3.10U 4,052 3,108 5.399 595 CCXX R1 arxovnts ISSI 08101r2026
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unre$tri¢ted funds to nE8mt £ Re$tri¢tsd fttnds Er7dowment funds Catagorlos Details ¢0 fieaiest£ 81 Cash funds (ReSthck¥1 is tr Ukrww refiys) Total ¢ash funds 5.399 595 •xrtB)) Re¥trict funts lo rwrest£ Endowmerrt funds to 5ar8St£ fvnds to wYest£ Delall$ Fund tO7thich cuentVale onal Details Cost l¢)rthnaD 83 Investmont assets Fund towhich CuTh•ntvalue on81 Detslls 84 Assets rntained for th8 charity's own use Fund towhich lbi knourrt due onal When due onal Details B5 Llabllitigs sttJrd by one trustees on rhalf of all the trustees natu Print Name Date ol rov81 Susan Murr8 JUlt Thompson CCXX R2 a(Xtr {SSI OW0112028