Charity number: 291530
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 March 2023
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Contents Page For the year ended 31 March 2023
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 3 |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 to 15 |
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Report of the Trustees For the year ended 31 March 2023
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Chair's report
2022-2023 was another challenging year on many levels for our members and our organisation due to the lingering mental health issues caused by prolonged months of isolation during the Covid-19 crisis, compounded by an energy crisis leaving many worried about heavy bills to pay and an increase in food prices caused by inflation.
Our team went above and beyond to encourage members to continue to venture out and stay active. Despite all its challenges, 2022-23 saw numbers of attendees increase at our in-person events including our twice weekly lunch club and its satellite events such as our Tai Chi / dance classes, garden club, health events and talks demonstrating an appetite of the community to gather and help each other out in those difficult times. We would like to thank Hackney Council for their continuous support through their lunch club grant ensuring our elders have access to home-made healthy food and through their main grant, allowing us to spread our wings through our Welcome Back to Good Health project, ensuring members engage in physical activities in order to stay fit in their old age.
We also would like to thank Edgar E. Lawley Foundation and the Greater London Authority through their Building Strong Communities Fund, supporting us in our effort to reconnect and empower the Vietnamese, Southeast Asian and wider community. VLC-Centre 151 team of staff and volunteers rose to the challenge and provided a safe space for all to gather and express their concerns. Through our 1-to-1 advice sessions and our signposting services we managed to support many individuals through their hurdles. We also continued to provide our phone befriending service to ensure members who could not attend our activities physically would still receive support from us and a friendly ear to share their worries with.
Our participation in the Community Champions programme supported by Hackney Giving allowed us to continue delivering key information to our service users about current health issues. We combined this activity together with many opportunities for our members to socialise since this plays a huge part for their mental wellbeing: trip to the seaside, Christmas gathering, story time, Vietnamese New Year celebrations.
VLC-Centre 151 was also part of the Warm Welcome initiative this winter, gathering organisations all around the UK able to offer warm and welcoming spaces to those who could not afford to heat their home. With that in mind, we continued our effort to improve our building and raised funds to install new double glazing in our basement rooms. Thanks to Asda Foundation and National Lottery Community Fund / Awards for All, we will be able to realise this project in 2023-24.
2022-23 has been a year of recovery for our finances with now 60% of our budget raised through our charitable activities compared to 40% last year. It has been a relief to see the artistic community keeping embracing VLC-Centre 151 as a space for creation through our collaboration with Van Huynh Company as well as local community groups making the most of our spaces. The steady recovery of our financial model means that our charity is able to continue to strategise furthering our mission to be a beacon of hope and pride and a safe space for our immediate community members whilst embracing the wider community within Hackney/London.
We are planning for another difficult winter again with projected head winds in the overall economy, social pressures impacting SE Asian/global majority community, rising cost of living but for now let us celebrate the resilience of our members, community and organisation who have pulled together during those difficult times to respond in emergency. Our final thanks goes to all our partners, charity organisations and statutory organisations across Hackney who have extended their support to us, showed so much solidarity in the past few years and without whom we would not be standing here today.
1 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Report of the Trustees Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The trust's objects are the promotion of any charitable activities for the benefit of the refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in particular the relief of poverty, the advancement of education and the provision of facilities for recreation and leisure. The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are the operational policies listed below which are reviewed on a regular basis.
Finance Policy and Procedure Confidentiality Procedure Health and Safety Policy Complaints Procedure Vulnerable Adults and Children Protection Policy Grievance Policy & Procedure Staff Safety and Harassment Policy Roles of the Management Committee Training Policy Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure Risk Assessment Policy Environmental Policy
The trustees have considered the Charity Commision's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Significant events
The financial position of the charity at the end of the financial year is as detailed in the attached financial statements. The charity received funding from charitable sources totalling £105,734 (2022: £117,687) during the year. It is financially dependent on funding from these sources.
Reserves
It is the policy of the trust that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month's expenditure. The trustees considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the trust's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The trust was established by a charitable constitution on 23 March 2003.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The trustees and the officers, which also refer to as the Management Committee, within it are selected at each annual general meeting.
The Management Committee comprised of 11 members. 3 co-optees of which 1 member must be from Laotian and 1 from Cambodian Community. The Term of office of elected members is 2 years. Half of these members will be retired annually and be eligible for re-election. The Amendment of the Constitution in 1995 states not more than 3 Co-optees shall be co-opted by the Management Committee as non-executive members. They shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the Management Committee and shall serve until the next general meeting after individual co-option. The Management Committee is a policy making body and shall meet not less than 4 times a year. The day-to-day affair is managed by a Standing Committee that includes Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.
There were no related parties identified during the year.
The trustees has assessed the major risks to which the trust is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Name of Charity
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
Charity registration number 291530 Principal address 151 Whiston Road
London
2 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Report of the Trustees Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
E2 8GU
Trustees
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Mr Thinh Van Lai (Chairman) Mrs Sobopha Owen (Vice chair) Mr Tai Phat Tu (treasurer) Mr K Phomavongsa (Vice chair) Mr Dam Van Huynh (Secretary) Mrs Anna Thao Lai Mrs Loan Anh Nguyen Mr Tran Kien Dan Mr Gac Van Nguyen Mr Dinh Pham Mr Andrew Philip Coggins MBE
Independent examiner
Andrew M Wells FMAAT Counterculture Partnership LLP 99 Western Road Lewes East Sussex BN7 1RS
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by
............................................................................. 26 August 2023
Mr Thinh Van Lai (Chairman)
3 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees
For the year ended 31 March 2023
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiners statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Andrew M Wells FMAAT
Counterculture Partnership LLP
99 Western Road
Lewes
East Sussex BN7 1RS
26 August 2023
4 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 March 2023
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4/5 Total Net income/expenditure Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 100 63,246 63,346 (66,983) (66,983) (3,637) 299,190 295,553 |
Restricted funds £ 42,388 - 42,388 (30,864) (30,864) 11,524 - 11,524 |
2023 £ 42,488 63,246 105,734 (97,847) (97,847) 7,887 299,190 307,077 |
2022 £ 66,404 51,283 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117,687 | ||||
| (91,774) | ||||
| (91,774) | ||||
| 25,913 273,277 |
||||
| 299,190 |
5 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Statement of Financial Position As at 31 March 2023
| Notes | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Fixed assets | |||
| Tangible assets | 10 | 191,006 | 193,800 |
| 191,006 | 193,800 | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 11 | 2,496 | - |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 115,213 | 110,072 | |
| 117,709 | 110,072 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 12 | (1,638) | (4,682) |
| Net current assets | 116,071 | 105,390 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 307,077 | 299,190 | |
| Net assets | 307,077 | 299,190 | |
| The funds of the charity | |||
| Restricted income funds | 13 | 11,524 | - |
| Unrestricted income funds | 13 | 295,553 | 299,190 |
| Total funds | 307,077 | 299,190 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
Mr Thinh Van Lai (Chairman) Trustee
26 August 2023
6 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2023
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Charities Act 2011.
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
Going concern
The financial statements are prepared, on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention.
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure:
Taxation
As a registered charity, the company is exempt from income and corporation tax to the extent that its income and gains are applicable to charitable purposes only. Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the company, and is therefore included in the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, are stated at cost or valuation less depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost or valuation of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis:
2. Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations received | 100 | - | 100 | 100 |
| Grants received | - | 42,388 | 42,388 | 66,304 |
| 100 | 42,388 | 42,488 | 66,404 |
7 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
Analysis of grants received
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Arnold Clark Community Fund | - | 1,000 |
| ASDA Foundation | 7,500 | - |
| Edgar E. Lawley Foundation | 1,500 | - |
| Hackney Council Lunch Club | 12,381 | 12,381 |
| Hackney Council Main Grant | 7,322 | - |
| Hackney Giving | 3,730 | 6,853 |
| Independent Age | - | 15,000 |
| Mayor of London's BSC Fund | 9,955 | - |
| National Lottery Awards for All | - | 10,000 |
| The London Community Foundation | - | 18,500 |
| 42,388 | 63,734 | |
| ncome from charitable activities | ||
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| Community activities | ||
| Hall bookings | 57,443 | 49,183 |
| Luncheon club | 5,099 | 1,990 |
| Tai Chi | 212 | 40 |
| Membership fee | 145 | 70 |
| Others | 347 | - |
| 63,246 | 51,283 | |
| 63,246 | 51,283 |
3. Income from charitable activities
8 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
4. Costs of charitable activities by fund type
| s of charitable activities by fund type | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2023 | 2022 | |
| funds | funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Direct cost | ||||
| Events and activities | 5,034 | 6,526 | 11,560 | 6,110 |
| Travelling | 706 | 820 | 1,526 | 2,450 |
| Postage and stationery | - | 44 | 44 | 205 |
| Others | 1,039 | 120 | 1,159 | 500 |
| Telephone | 363 | 574 | 937 | 937 |
| Website and marketing costs | 204 | 135 | 339 | 341 |
| Premises costs | 9,912 | 5,843 | 15,755 | 21,824 |
| 17,258 | 14,062 | 31,320 | 32,367 | |
| Management | ||||
| Staff costs - wages & | 35,334 | 15,703 | 51,037 | 49,198 |
| salaries | ||||
| Staff costs - pension | 706 | 823 | 1,529 | 1,402 |
| contributions | ||||
| Depreciation - leased assets | 2,794 | - | 2,794 | 2,794 |
| Funding consultancy | 2,000 | - | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Duty manager | 7,727 | - | 7,727 | 2,573 |
| Governance costs | ||||
| Accountancy fees | 1,164 | 276 | 1,440 | 1,440 |
| 49,725 | 16,802 | 66,527 | 59,407 | |
| 66,983 | 30,864 | 97,847 | 91,774 |
9 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
5. Costs of charitable activities by activity type
| Support costs Community activities Staff costs - wages & salaries Staff costs - pension contributions Accountancy fees Depreciation - leased assets Events and activities Travelling Postage and stationery Others Telephone Website and marketing costs Premises costs Funding consultancy Duty manager |
2022 2023 Support costs Activities undertaken directly £ £ £ £ 51,037 51,037 - 49,198 1,529 1,529 - 1,402 1,440 1,440 - 1,440 2,794 2,794 - 2,794 11,560 - 11,560 6,110 1,526 - 1,526 2,450 44 - 44 205 1,159 - 1,159 500 937 - 937 937 339 - 339 341 15,755 - 15,755 21,824 2,000 2,000 - 2,000 7,727 7,727 - 2,573 97,847 66,527 31,320 91,774 31,320 66,527 97,847 91,774 |
|---|---|
6. Analysis of support costs
| nalysis of support costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Community activities Management Activity Governance costs Activity |
2023 £ 65,087 1,440 66,527 |
2022 £ 57,967 1,440 |
| 59,407 |
10 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements Continued
For the year ended 31 March 2023
7. Net income/(expenditure) for the year
This is stated after charging/(crediting):
| 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Depreciation of assets held under hire purchase | 2,794 | 2,794 |
| agreements | ||
| Accountancy fees | 1,440 | 1,440 |
| Staff pension contributions | 1,530 | 1,402 |
8. Staff costs and emoluments
Total staff costs for the year ended 31 March 2023 were:
| Salaries and wages Pension costs Community activities |
2023 £ 51,037 1,530 52,567 2023 4 4 |
2022 £ 49,198 1,402 |
|---|---|---|
| 50,600 | ||
| 2022 4 |
||
| 4 |
9. Comparative for the Statement of Financial Activities
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments from: | |||
| Donations and legacies | 2,669 | 63,735 | 66,404 |
| Charitable activities | 51,283 | - | 51,283 |
| Total | 53,952 | 63,735 | 117,687 |
| Expenditure on: | |||
| Charitable activities | (7,029) | (84,745) | (91,774) |
| Total | (7,029) | (84,745) | (91,774) |
| Transfers between funds | (1,138) | 1,138 | - |
| Net movement in funds | 45,785 | (19,872) | 25,913 |
| Reconciliation of funds | |||
| Total funds brought forward | 253,405 | 19,872 | 273,277 |
| Total funds carried forward | 299,190 | - | 299,190 |
11 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
10. Tangible fixed assets
| Land and | Fixtures and | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost or valuation | buildings | fittings | Total |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| At 01 April 2022 | 276,559 | 45,327 | 321,886 |
| At 31 March 2023 | 276,559 | 45,327 | 321,886 |
| Depreciation | |||
| At 01 April 2022 | 82,759 | 45,327 | 128,086 |
| Charge for year | 2,794 | - | 2,794 |
| At 31 March 2023 | 85,553 | 45,327 | 130,880 |
| Net book values | |||
| At 31 March 2023 | 191,006 | - | 191,006 |
| At 31 March 2022 | 193,800 | - | 193,800 |
The depreciation charge for the year is £(2,794) in respect of assets leased under finance leases or hire purchase contracts.
11. Debtors
| Amounts due within one year: Prepayments and accrued income |
2023 2022 £ £ 2,496 - 2,496 - |
|---|---|
12. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
2023 £ 198 1,440 1,638 |
2022 £ 3,242 1,440 |
|---|---|---|
| 4,682 |
12 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
13. Movement in funds
Unrestricted Funds
| Balance at | Incoming | Outgoing | Transfers | Balance at | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/04/2022 | resources | resources | 31/03/2023 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Designated | |||||
| Building fund | 193,800 | - | (2,794) | - | 191,006 |
| Building maintenance | 15,000 | - | - | - | 15,000 |
| fund | |||||
| Redundancy Fund | 12,000 | - | - | - | 12,000 |
| General | |||||
| General | 78,390 | 63,346 | (64,189) | - | 77,547 |
| 299,190 | 63,346 | (66,983) | - | 295,553 | |
| Unrestricted Funds - Previous year | |||||
| Balance at | Incoming | Outgoing | Transfers | Balance at | |
| 01/04/2021 | resources | resources | 31/03/2022 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Designated | |||||
| Building fund | 196,593 | 1 | (2,794) | - | 193,800 |
| Building maintenance | 12,000 | - | - | 3,000 | 15,000 |
| fund | |||||
| Redundancy Fund | - | - | - | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| General | |||||
| General | 44,812 | 53,951 | (4,235) | (16,138) | 78,390 |
| 253,405 | 53,952 | (7,029) | (1,138) | 299,190 |
Purpose of unrestricted Funds
Building maintenance fund
This has been established to ensure funds are available for essential maintenance at 151 Whiston Road.
Redundancy Fund
Given ongoing funding uncertainties, we have established this fund to ensure we can meet our financial obligations should we have to make any posts redundant.
Building fund
The Designated Building Fund consists of the value of the lease on the 151 Whiston Road property which expires in March 2086.
General
These are to be used in running a community centre.
13 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
Restricted Funds
| Restricted fund Restricted Funds - Previous year Restricted fund |
Balance at 01/04/2022 £ - - Balance at 01/04/2021 £ 19,872 19,872 |
Incoming resources £ 42,388 42,388 Incoming resources £ 63,735 63,735 |
Outgoing resources £ (30,864) (30,864) Outgoing resources £ (84,745) (84,745) |
Transfers £ - - Transfers £ 1,138 1,138 |
Balance at 31/03/2023 £ 11,524 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11,524 | |||||
| Balance at 31/03/2022 £ - |
|||||
| - |
Purpose of restricted funds
Restricted fund
Delivering activities for the general community attending Centre 151 as well as providing a vital service for members of the communities from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
14. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Analysis of net assets between funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible | Net current | Net Assets | |
| fixed assets | assets / | ||
| (liabilities) | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General | |||
| General | - | 77,547 | 77,547 |
| Designated | |||
| Building fund | 191,006 | - | 191,006 |
| Building maintenance | - | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| fund | |||
| Redundancy Fund | - | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| Restricted funds | |||
| Restricted fund | - | 11,524 | 11,524 |
| 191,006 | 116,071 | 307,077 |
14 of 15
Community Centre for Refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 March 2023
| Previous year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible | Net current | Net Assets | |
| fixed assets | assets / | ||
| (liabilities) | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General | |||
| General | - | 78,390 | 78,390 |
| Designated | |||
| Building fund | 193,800 | - | 193,800 |
| Building maintenance | - | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| fund | |||
| Redundancy Fund | - | 12,000 | 12,000 |
| Restricted funds | |||
| 193,800 | 105,390 | 299,190 |
15 of 15