## **Worcester City Welcomes Refugees** Registered Charity No. 1209008 **Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 July 2025** ||Page| |---|---| |Trustees’ annual report|1 - 3| |Accounts|4| |Notes to the accounts|5| |Independent Examiner’s report|6| ## **Trustees Report** ## **For the year 1[st] August 2024 to 31[st] July 2025** ## **Structure, governance and management** The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) governed by a constitution dated 8[th] July 2024. The charity was registered with the Charity Commission on 8[th] July 2024, Charity number 1209008. The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the Financial Statements were: Sunil de-Sayrah (Resigned on 2[nd] January 2025) Ruth Coates Simon Cottingham Chris Russell Brian Darwood The affairs of the CIO are managed by the Charity trustees, who meet regularly to review the financial situation, and decide matters of policy. ## **Objective and activities** The objects of the CIO are, for the public benefit in the Worcester city and surrounding area: To promote social inclusion among people who are refugees and asylum seekers, socially excluded on the grounds of their social and economic position, by promoting and/or co-ordinating, in partnership with voluntary, community and faith organisations, services and facilities designed to relieve need, prevent such people from being socially excluded and assist them to integrate into society and adapt to life within a new community and culture ## **Public benefit** The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. ## **Achievements and performance** Throughout the year, Worcester City Welcomes Refugees (WCWR) has supported Afghan, Syrian and other refugees who have settled in the city along with asylum seekers, in the Fownes Hotel, in Worcester City. We have been supporting refugees and those granted ‘Leave to Remain’ status, to open bank accounts, access their eVisa’s, claim U/C credits, attend Job Centre appointments, and apply for accommodation. We have also worked alongside Maximus, a government contractor engaged to help those with ‘Leave to Remain’ to access training and employment, and are grateful for their help until their contract finished in January. We also offer befriending, provide help and support to refugees turning houses into homes through the provision of non-essential items including TVs and toys for the children. English lessons, often on a one to one basis, help with transport to medical appointments, driving lessons, and moving as well as practically in the home and garden. We have taken refugee families on outings from Worcester Woods to Midlands Safari Park. For those in the hotel, over one hundred and twenty men, practical help with large amounts of clothing, shoes, sportswear, suitcases and resettlement packs. Provision of phones and SIM cards for communication with family and friends, bicycles and padlocks, as well as a wide range of advice, supporting and signposting those with wellbeing and mental health needs, appealing for those claiming to be under eighteen years old. Page 1 English lessons were provided twice weekly, supported by a number of volunteers, occasionally with music and singing, artwork and craft ensuring a memorable and enjoyable time. Working in partnership with Freedom Leisure, we have been able to provide sports trainers to enable access to the gym, 5 a side-football and Swimming passes. Several have been able to get three months gym membership free, which has proved very successful especially for those with bikes and has provided a real boost to their well-being. A number of outings took place with local visits to the Hive to sign up for library services, to city museums, the Cathedral and a group outing for a walk on the Malvern Hills. We have found volunteering opportunities for them with Bike Worcester, Rivers & Canal Trust, Community Gardens, Salvation Army, and Worcester Wildlife Trust. We have strengthened our partnerships with Migrant Help UK, West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership, Serco, Red Cross and Refugee Action. Locally, we are working with the City University, the City Communities team, and other Welcome Groups across Worcestershire and further afield. We have also been able to assist resettled asylum seekers from hotels in towns across the Midlands to shared houses in Worcester, with friendship as well as practical help like SIM cards, household items, toys for children and cycles to enable easier access to the city library. The trustees remain extremely grateful for a team of loyal and dedicated volunteers who provide financial support, or have given their time, donated or sourced phones, clothing or bikes and organized social events. In addition, grants received were from William A Cadbury Trust, Worcestershire County Council, Worcester City Council and donations from St Barnabas Church and Hope Church, for all, which we are very appreciative. Refugee Week, a national arts festival, was well supported and we helped to organized a number of activities in several locations across the city. This year’s theme was ‘Our Community as a Superpower’ and we worked with Amnesty International, other charities, Faith and Community groups, and businesses to raise public awareness. We have been involved in a number of promotional events and activities during the year including the Worcester Show and Volunteer Expo. It was a great success engaging with the public, signing up new friends, supporters, potential sponsors and asked to speak at local schools and organisations. We attended a number of training and networking events, along with conferences and strategic meetings, ensuring our voices were heard by key players and partners including, The Home Office, Serco, Migrant Help and other stakeholders. We have in place a number of policies including Safeguarding, Data Protection, Confidentiality/Privacy, Finance, Lone Worker and Equality Diversity & Inclusion. ## **Plans for the Future Period** The Trustees continue to meet with the operational team to ensure our ongoing support for the needs of the asylum seekers and refugees, in the most effective ways. Whilst the Governments’ long-term plan is for the closure of hotels, no clear alternative policy has been forthcoming. Our main grant funding from Worcester County Council and the City Council is likely to continue, and we will be developing additional funding streams. We have been working closely with Worcester City Council to help attain City of Sanctuary status and participated in a large presentation, network events, and liaising with and supporting local groups with similar objectives. As we grow, we plan to employ staff to undertake administration and other roles. ## **Financial Review** During the year the net surplus amounted to £942 (2024 surplus £5,633). This increased the overall funds of the charity to £7,815 as at 31 July 2025. The funds are made up of unrestricted funds of £6,793 and restricted funds of £1,022. Page 2 Reseryes Policv It 15 the policy of the Charity that unrestricted funds not designated for a specific purpose, be rnaintained at an equivalent level to between three and six month's expenditure. Risk Mana8ement The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposyre to these. The Trystees. report was approved by the Board of Trustee5. Brian Darwood Trustee uth oates Trustee Date.. Page 3 WCWR Accounts for the ear ended 31 Jul 2025 Receipts and Paym•nts Nth5 UNestrkted R•strictod Total Tcrtal 2025 2025 2025 2024 RoGelpts.' Worcesier City Counul Grani Worceslershire Counly Courtil Grant Wychavon District cou￿1 Granl William A CaLlbury Donalion Rotary Club Donalion donations Olher Income Inleresl received Total rgGglvgd 22.074 22,074 1,7C#) 5,(FJO 4.WO 3.014 3,014 345 100 25.648 1.700 10.247 ForAsylumS8•kers housed in lJo18ts.' Educalion 7.819 5.679 3.275 3.220 7.819 5.679 3.578 3.220 1.034 242 Sport Transport Communicallcns Soo81 events Bicydes Various I1￿￿j cost8 For Relugeés V8riou$ hwsiNJ ¢oSts EdLulion Refugee Week AdnNnistrats¥e eo&s." IT Systems costs InsLxance Volunteer% ryMl84e ewerA•8 Chanty Registration costs Bank cbarges Total gxpendltuv• 461 375 836 358 323 323 252 305 213 324 324 243 734 250 21 25.728 243 734 250 21 26,406 277 283 295 678 4.614 SuTplu￿(D•ffiChI 1,022 942 5,633 Fund balances al 01 August 2024 Fund balance$ at 31 July 2025 6.873 6,873 6,793 1.022 7,815 6,873 The Accounts were approved by the Trustaes on Brian Darwood Truytee Ruth Coates Trustee ## **Notes to the Accounts** 1. The Worcester City Council Grants are for the year to 31 May 2025, £20,360, of which £15,269 was received in the Financial year and for the year to 31 May 2026, £27,219, of which £6,805 was received in the Financial year. These grants are unrestricted. 2. The Worcester County Council Grant is for the period 01 February 2025 to 31 January 2026, £1,700, all of which was received in the Financial year. This grant is restricted and for improving access to sport and leisure activities for Worcester City refugees. 3. Volunteers’ mileage expenses £734 (2024 £283) are sums reimbursed to volunteers for the use of their own vehicles in carrying out the Charity’s purposes on the recognised HMRC mileage scale. Included in this sum is £362 paid to one of the Trustees in his capacity as a volunteer. 4. Fund balances are fully held in cash. 5. Employees – the charity had no employees in the year (2024 none). 6. Debtors – none. 7. Creditors – Mr E A Davidson Independent Examiners fee £250. (2024 Charity Commission Registration cost £250). Page 5 Independent Examinerfs Report on the Accounts Report to the Trustees of wOr￿ster City Welcomes Refugees on the Accounts for the period ended 31 July 2025 set out on pages 4 and 5. Respertlve re5ponslbilltle5 of Trustees and Exam5ner The charity's trustees are ￿spOnsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity'5 tru5tee5 consider that an audit 15 not required for this year under sertion 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Actl and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to-. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Chartties Act. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions 8Nen by the Charity Commissionlunder section 1451Sllbl of the Charities Act), and to state whether particular matters have come to My attention. Basi5 of independent examinerfs statement My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a compafison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considèration of anv unusual items or disc105ure5 in the accounts. and seeking explanations from the trustees concernin8 any such matters. The proodures undertaken do not provide all the evldence that would be requlred in an audit, and consequentfy no opinion is glven as to whether the accounts present a -true and fair" view and the report is limrted to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examlners statement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention.. 111 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 Charitie5 Act,. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accountin8 requirements of the Charities Act have not been met,. or 121 to which. in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper undeistandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Slgned Oate Edwin Davidson 145 Main Road Kempsev Worcester WR5 3LH Page 6