ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
Registered Charity Number 1213316
CONTENTS
-
Introducing SRSG
-
Charitable status, trustees and how we are managed
-
Our Activities during the year
-
Our objects and public benefit
-
Financial summary 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026
-
Registered address and email address
Introducing Stockport Refugee Support Group
Stockport Refugee Support Group (SRSG) runs a weekly Saturday lunchtime drop-in for refugees and asylum seekers living in Stockport. We aim to provide a non-judgemental, multifaith environment where other creeds, languages and cultures are respected. However, our visitors also learn from us about everyday life in the UK, which helps them to fit in with what must be a strange environment.
Our group was formed 25 years ago. In the face of growing hostility towards refugees, our dropin demonstrates that many in Stockport welcome refugees and asylum seekers. Without it, our visitors would feel more isolated and excluded.
We provide:
-
A space for visitors to sit and chat
-
Outdoor and indoor play for children, including board games, crafts and sports
-
Informal English conversation classes
-
Sign posting to information and advice
-
Explanation of the meaning of letters and other information that visitors receive
-
Help with form filling
-
A hot vegetarian meal
-
A food parcel for every family, using food bought from FareShare
-
Occasional trips to local attractions and advice sessions
Charitable status, trustees and how we are managed
SRSG existed as a voluntary group since 2001. In 2025, to enable greater access to funding, we registered with the Charity Commission as a CIO. Six members of the committee had several years of experience running the group, so it made sense for them to become the initial trustees. We also have committee members who are not trustees.
1
Sector SRSR is entirely run by volunteers. There are no paid staff. We recruit volunteers through 3’s Volunteer Hub and by word of mouth. All our volunteers are DBS checked.
| TRUSTEES AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS | TRUSTEES AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS | TRUSTEES AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First name | Surname | Position | Role |
| Chetty | Walker | Trustee | Chair |
| Brigid | Rodgers | Trustee | Secretary |
| Pauline | Howell | Trustee | Treasurer |
| Joan | Bennett | Trustee | Funding |
| Rosemary | Jordan | Trustee | English conversation |
| Gillian | Gosling | Trustee | Children’s activities |
| Helene | Wander | Committee Member | Volunteer liaison |
| Rand | Mohammed | Committee Member | Visitor liaison |
New committee members are recruited from volunteers or visitors who have expressed an interest in taking on an active role with the charity.
The committee meets once a month on Zoom to discuss all aspects of the running of the group. Committee members share the following roles:
-
Volunteer management
-
Funding
-
Finance
-
English Conversation Classes
-
Advice and signposting
-
Children’s Activities
-
Annual review of safeguarding and health and safety policies
The committee members are also volunteers who regularly attend the drop-in, so there are many opportunities to observe and discuss the activities.
Our Activities April 2025 to March 2026
Over the year ending 31 March 2026 we:
-
Welcomed over 200 refugees and asylum seekers to the drop-in. They made a total of 2198 visits, with an average of 45 visitors per week. This was 2.8% less than the previous year. But 2024-25 was exceptional, with the highest number of visits recorded since lockdown.
-
The number of new visitors this year ( 96 ) was virtually the same as last year (98).
-
Our visitors originated from 25 countries. Visits from Iraq formed the largest group (19%), followed by Somalia (16%), Sudan (15%), Syria (14%) and Pakistan (10%).
-
On average, 10 volunteers helped at the drop-in each week. Volunteer availability has risen steadily since we lost several volunteers during lockdown. At the end of March 2026, we had 35 active volunteers.
2
The following people came to the drop-in to give advice to our visitors:
-
Martin Handley from Stockport Homes came to speak to our visitors about housing. He was accompanied by John Clarke, the Communities and Inclusion lead for Sector 3 (Stockport’s charity support service.)
-
The local community police officer spoke to visitors about reporting crime, keeping safe and being vigilant. The children were then shown around the police van, which he had parked in the yard, and were even allowed to try on the handcuffs, which they enjoyed immensely.
-
Aba Graham, the leader of SREP, also came to hold one to one advice sessions about immigration rights, which was very useful.
Outings to the seaside have been very popular in the past, but lack of sufficient funding made it impossible this year. However, a day trip is being organised for July 2026. Instead, an afternoon at Heaton Norris Park was organised in summer 2025, with games, henna painting, music and a delicious meal. Unfortunately, there was a bus drivers’ strike and heavy rain all day, so attendees were few. Those who did brave the elements enjoyed the day immensely.
Our young visitors are given supervised indoor and outdoor play. The small area outside the church is cut off by removable gates and the church elders have kindly arranged for hooks to be applied to hang the gates on during the session, making it a safe environment. Two volunteers work inside and two look after the outdoor play area. Volunteers have donated toys which are gratefully received and made use of. The older children are a little harder to entertain, so the majority of children who attend are of primary school age.
We received an award from Forever Manchester in January 2026 recognising the work we are doing to improve the lives of our visitors.
Our objects and public benefit
Our Governing Document lists the following objects.
To provide relief to refugees and asylum seekers living in Stockport by the provision of a dropin centre to provide support services so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt to a new community, with the objects of: -
(1) Relieving them from financial hardship and social isolation through the provision of food, a welcoming space and advice.
(2) Providing facilities for recreation and events with the object of improving the conditions of life of refugees and asylum seekers who have need of such facilities by reason of their social and economic circumstances.
Anyone who is a refugee or asylum seeker housed in Stockport may attend our Saturday drop-in. When new families arrive in Stockport, the council's Public Health Worker for Refugees tells them about the drop-in. Information about the drop-in is also spread via refugee networks, other refugee support organisations in the area and Sector 3.
3
Financial summary 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026
During the financial year 2025/26, SRSG applied to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Once this was granted we had to apply for a new current bank account with Unity Bank, as our previous account was for voluntary organisations that were not registered charities. This process was completed in January 2026.
Forever Manchester’s CDL Fund for During the financial year we received grants of £2000 from outings and events and £16,826 from the National Lottery (Awards for All) for running costs for 2 years. Our other income came from personal donations from members of the public
As the NL grant was for a substantial amount, we opened a linked Savings account with Unity Bank and deposited £16,000.00 in it in February 2026. Withdrawals will be made at regular intervals to cover monthly running costs of the drop in over the next two years.
We also applied to HMRC to have SRSG registered as a charity for tax purposes. This was granted and we can now apply for Gift Aid repayments on personal donations.
SRSG does not have any outstanding debts and the balance of our current account as at 31/3/2026 was £3880.81 and savings account £16039.32
Registered address
24A Ernocroft Road,
Marple Bridge
Stockport
SK6 5DY
Email address
srsg2011@gmail.com
4
Accounts
| Accounts | Accounts |
|---|---|
| STOCKPORT REFUGEE GROUP ACCOUNTS 1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026 | |
| INCOME | |
| Donatons from public | £394.00 |
| Forever Manchester CDL grant | £2,000.00 Cheshire Data |
| Natonal Lotery fund grant | £16,826.00 |
| Deposit refund face paintng | £65.00 |
| £19,285.00 |
EXPENDITURE
| Emerge (Fareshare) | £365.78 |
|---|---|
| Drop in food | £803.83 |
| Bags and takeaway containers | £209.20 |
| Insurance | £321.87 |
| DBS forms | £283.50 |
| Rent paid Tiviot Dale church | £5,148.00 |
| Travel | £119.10 |
| Play equipment | £223.52 |
| Kitchen equipment | £64.05 |
| Events (Christmas, Easter, Summer Party & Eid) | £1,241.89 |
| ESOL | £25.88 |
| Telephone/IT equipment | £98.96 |
| Deposit for keys to Tiviot Dale | £75.00 |
| Children's Hi vis vests | £66.97 |
| Miscellaneous | £4.00 |
| Installaton of brackets for barriers | £97.56 |
| Bank charges | £79.29 |
| £9,228.40 | |
| Current account | |
| Opening balance 1/4/2025 | £9,824.21 |
| Plus income for the year | £19,285.00 |
| Less expenditure | £9,228.40 |
| Less transfer to savings account | £16,000.00 |
| Closing balance 31/3/26 | £3,880.81 |
| Savings account | |
| Opening balance 15/1/26 | £0.00 |
| Transfer from current account 14/2/26 | £16,000.00 |
| Interest received 31/3/26 | £39.32 |
| Closing balance 31/3/26 | £16,039.32 |
Notes
Forever Manchester grant is specifically for special events - outings and parties The National Lottery grant is for 2 years’ operating costs (from 1/12/2025)
The Savings account was opened as we received £16,826.00 from the National Lottery and we
Page 1
Accounts
asystems Ltd, Stockport =CDL
e are able to earn income on the balance
Page 2
I & E
| Date | Description | IN | OUT | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/04/25 | Opening balance current account 20109813 | £9,824.21 | ||
| 01/04/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £390.00 | £9,434.21 | |
| 03/04/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £9,454.21 | |
| 04/04/25 | Donation Jane Jordan | £54.00 | £9,508.21 | |
| 08/04/25 | Deposit for keys to Tiviot Dale | £75.00 | £9,433.21 | |
| 09/04/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £9,407.38 | |
| 29/04/25 | Morton Michel (insurance) | £321.87 | £9,085.51 | |
| 30/04/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £9,079.51 | |
| 01/05/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £390.00 | £8,689.51 | |
| 01/05/25 | Gill Gosling drop in expenses | £56.41 | £8,633.10 | |
| 06/05/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £8,653.10 | |
| 13/05/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £8,627.27 | |
| 30/05/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £8,621.27 | |
| 02/06/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £390.00 | £8,231.27 | |
| 03/06/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £8,251.27 | |
| 04/06/25 | Gill Gosling drop in expenses | £80.33 | £8,170.94 | |
| 06/06/25 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £49.00 | £8,121.94 | |
| 11/06/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £8,096.11 | |
| 27/06/25 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £257.89 | £7,838.22 | |
| 30/06/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £7,832.22 | |
| 01/07/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £7,390.22 | |
| 03/07/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £7,410.22 | |
| 04/07/25 | Gill Gosling drop in expenses | £32.15 | £7,378.07 | |
| 10/07/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £7,352.24 | |
| 31/07/25 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £60.49 | £7,291.75 | |
| 31/07/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £7,285.75 | |
| 01/08/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £6,843.75 | |
| 04/08/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £6,863.75 | |
| 07/08/25 | Gill Gosling drop in expenses | £57.71 | £6,806.04 | |
| 12/08/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £6,780.21 | |
| 18/08/25 | Forever Manchester | £2,000.00 | £8,780.21 | |
| 31/08/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £8,774.21 | |
| 01/09/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £8,332.21 | |
| 02/09/25 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £164.14 | £8,168.07 | |
| 03/09/25 | Fran Devine (travel to Fareshare expenses) | £54.00 | £8,114.07 | |
| 03/09/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £8,134.07 | |
| 03/09/25 | Gill Gosling (drop in expenses) | £46.80 | £8,087.27 | |
| 03/09/25 | Ruth Baldwin (drop in expenses) | £4.48 | £8,082.79 | |
| 10/09/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £8,056.96 | |
| 16/09/25 | Heaton Norris cafe (party food) | £510.00 | £7,546.96 | |
| 22/09/25 | Mika Face painting | £190.00 | £7,356.96 | |
| 22/09/25 | Heaton Norris community centre hire fee | £80.00 | £7,276.96 | |
| 26/09/25 | Mika face painting (refund deposit) | £65.00 | £7,341.96 | |
| 30/09/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £7,335.96 | |
| 01/10/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £6,893.96 | |
| 03/10/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £6,913.96 | |
| 13/10/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £6,888.13 | |
| 13/10/25 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £140.91 | £6,747.22 | |
| 13/10/25 | Gill Gosling drop in expenses | £122.26 | £6,624.96 |
Page 3
I & E
| I & E | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/10/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £6,618.96 | |
| 03/11/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £6,176.96 | |
| 03/11/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £6,196.96 | |
| 06/11/25 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £145.23 | £6,051.73 | |
| 06/11/25 | Gill Gosling drop in expenses | £46.33 | £6,005.40 | |
| 10/11/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £5,979.57 | |
| 28/11/25 | Lottery grant | £16,826.00 | £22,805.57 | |
| 28/11/25 | A.P. Hughes (barrier brackets) | £97.56 | £22,708.01 | |
| 30/11/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £22,702.01 | |
| 01/12/25 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £22,260.01 | |
| 01/12/25 | Gill Gosling (drop in expenses) | £24.66 | £22,235.35 | |
| 03/12/25 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £22,255.35 | |
| 11/12/25 | Mika Face painting | £165.00 | £22,090.35 | |
| 11/12/25 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £22,064.52 | |
| 15/12/25 | Gill Gosling (drop in expenses) | £73.39 | £21,991.13 | |
| 17/12/25 | Rand Mohammed (party expenses) | £58.24 | £21,932.89 | |
| 17/12/25 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £221.06 | £21,711.83 | |
| 19/12/25 | Rand Mohammed (party expenses) | £35.00 | £21,676.83 | |
| 31/12/25 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £21,670.83 | |
| 02/01/26 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £21,228.83 | |
| 05/01/26 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £21,248.83 | |
| 13/01/26 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £21,223.00 | |
| 20/01/26 | Donation P. Martin | £50.00 | £21,273.00 | |
| 23/01/26 | Pauline Howell (kitchen equipment) | £57.09 | £21,215.91 | |
| 31/01/26 | Bank service charge | £6.00 | £21,209.91 | |
| 01/02/26 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £20,767.91 | |
| 03/02/26 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £20,787.91 | |
| 03/02/26 | Gill Gosling drop in expenses | £85.54 | £20,702.37 | |
| 09/02/26 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £143.35 | £20,559.02 | |
| 12/02/26 | Service charge – payout | £9.00 | £20,550.02 | |
| 12/02/26 | ACCOUNT CLOSED | |||
| NEW CURRENT ACCOUNT 20547242 | ||||
| 01/02/26 | Opening balance | £0.00 | ||
| 06/02/26 | Donation | £50.00 | £50.00 | |
| 12/02/26 | Balance transfer from account 20109813 | £20,550.02 | £20,600.02 | |
| 14/02/26 | Transfer to savings account | £16,000.00 | £4,600.02 | |
| 16/02/26 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £4,574.19 | |
| 19/02/26 | Jane Jordan ESOL expenses | £17.98 | £4,556.21 | |
| 27/02/26 | Brigid Rodgers (drop in expenses) | £140.52 | £4,415.69 | |
| 28/02/26 | Bank service charge | £3.29 | £4,412.40 | |
| 02/03/26 | Tiviot Dale rent | £442.00 | £3,970.40 | |
| 03/03/26 | Anonymous donation | £20.00 | £3,990.40 | |
| 04/03/26 | Gill Gosling (drop in expenses) | £54.11 | £3,936.29 | |
| 12/03/26 | Emerge (Fareshare) | £25.83 | £3,910.46 | |
| 31/03/26 | Rand Mohammed (party expenses) | £22.65 | £3,887.81 | |
| 31/03/26 | Bank service charge | £7.00 | £3,880.81 | |
| 31/03/26 | Closing balance | £3,880.81 | ||
| Savings account | ||||
| 15/01/26 | Opening balance | £0.00 |
Page 4
| I & E | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 14/02/26 | Transfer from current account | £16,000.00 | |
| 31/03/26 | Interest received | £39.32 | |
| 31/03/26 | Closing balance | £16,039.32 |
TOTAL
Page 5
I & E
| I & E | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Play | |||||||
| Rent | Fareshare | Travel | **Drop in food ** | Bags/containers | equipment | equipment | ||
| £390.00 | ||||||||
| £25.83 | ||||||||
| £390.00 | ||||||||
| £28.93 | £4.50 | £18.98 | ||||||
| £25.83 | ||||||||
| £390.00 | ||||||||
| £68.34 | £6.00 | £5.99 | ||||||
| £40.30 | £8.70 | |||||||
| £25.83 | ||||||||
| £51.30 | £20.10 | £64.99 | ||||||
| £442.00 | ||||||||
| £16.23 | £8.94 | £6.98 | ||||||
| £25.83 | ||||||||
| £35.49 | £25.00 | |||||||
| £442.00 | ||||||||
| £47.96 | £1.75 | £8.00 | ||||||
| £25.83 | ||||||||
| £442.00 | ||||||||
| £47.88 | £28.27 | |||||||
| £54.00 | ||||||||
| £37.90 | £7.50 | £1.40 | ||||||
| £4.48 | ||||||||
| £25.83 | ||||||||
| £442.00 | ||||||||
| £25.83 | ||||||||
| £36.48 | £27.50 | |||||||
| £80.08 | £42.18 |
Page 6
I & E
| I & E | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £442.00 | ||||||
| £55.82 | £16.00 | £9.92 | ||||
| £28.44 | 9.99 | |||||
| £25.83 | ||||||
| £442.00 | ||||||
| £13.71 | £10.95 | |||||
| £25.83 | ||||||
| 31.23 | 2 | |||||
| £9.90 | 44.68 | £19.60 | ||||
| £442.00 | ||||||
| £25.83 | ||||||
| £57.09 | ||||||
| £442.00 | ||||||
| £52.17 | £2.00 | £2.38 | £28.99 | |||
| £19.80 | £56.79 | £17.60 | £3.18 | |||
| £25.83 | ||||||
| £35.40 | £42.07 | £4.79 | £10.76 | |||
| £442.00 | ||||||
| 39.37 | 14.74 | |||||
| 25.83 |
Page 7
I & E
£5,148.00 £365.78 £119.10 £803.83 £209.20 £64.05 £223.52
Page 8
I & E
| I & E | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer | |||||||
| expenses | ESOL | Telephone/IT | DBS | Training | insurance | Miscellaneous | |
| £75.00 | |||||||
| £321.87 | |||||||
| £4.00 | .. | ||||||
| £121.50 | |||||||
| £22.99 | |||||||
| £66.97 |
Page 9
I & E
| I & E | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| £22.99 | £40.50 | ||
| £7.90 | |||
| £97.56 | |||
| £81.00 | |||
| £45.98 | |||
| £17.98 | |||
| £7.00 | £40.50 |
Page 10
I & E
£4.00 £25.88 £98.96 £283.50 £0.00 £321.87 £239.53
Page 11
I & E
| Bank | ||
|---|---|---|
| Events | charges | TOTAL |
| £0.00 | ||
| £390.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £75.00 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £321.87 | ||
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £390.00 | ||
| £56.41 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £390.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £80.33 | ||
| £49.00 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £257.89 | ||
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £442.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £32.15 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £60.49 | ||
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £442.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £57.71 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £442.00 | ||
| £65.00 | £164.14 | |
| £54.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £46.80 | ||
| £4.48 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £510.00 | £510.00 | |
| £190.00 | £190.00 | |
| £80.00 | £80.00 | |
| £0.00 | ||
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £442.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £9.96 | £140.91 | |
| £122.26 |
Page 12
I & E
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
|---|---|---|
| £442.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £145.23 | ||
| £46.33 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £97.56 | ||
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £442.00 | ||
| £24.66 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £165.00 | £165.00 | |
| £25.83 | ||
| 40.16 | £73.39 | |
| £58.24 | £58.24 | |
| £65.88 | £221.06 | |
| £35.00 | £35.00 | |
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £442.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £57.09 | ||
| £6.00 | £6.00 | |
| £442.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £85.54 | ||
| £143.35 | ||
| £9.00 | £9.00 | |
| 0 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £17.98 | ||
| £140.52 | ||
| £3.29 | £3.29 | |
| £442.00 | ||
| £0.00 | ||
| £54.11 | ||
| £25.83 | ||
| £22.65 | £22.65 | |
| £7.00 | £7.00 | |
| £0.00 | ||
| £9,228.40 |
Page 13
I&E £1,241.89 £79.29 £9,228.40 Page 14