## **Causeway Borough of Sanctuary Group Charity Number - 103454 Trustees Report - 2023** 

## **About the Charity** 

Our group promotes the inclusion and welfare of newcomers to the Causeway area. We work mainly through contacts with local voluntary, statutory, community and faith organisations in welcoming and assisting people regardless of their ethnicity, race, nationality or religious affiliation. We celebrate the contribution of refugees and asylum seekers  to the local community and challenge hostility and discrimination against them. 

## **How the Charity is funded** 

The charity has been funded this year from remaining monies raised in previous years and a donation from Ballywillan Presbyterian Church Outreach Fund. 

## **Administration** . 

The group met four times: in May 2022 (zoom), Sept 2022 (in person), Nov 2022 (zoom) and Feb 2023 (in person). 

The Trustees are: Yvonne Boyle, Richard John, Ahmed Sharieff, Rev Bert Richie, Christine Turner,  Lee Millen and Angela Watts. 

## **Activities undertaken and the furtherance of the Charities Purposes** 

This year we have worked closely with the local Causeway Coast and Glens Council to respond to identified community needs as numbers of asylum seekers and refugees increase. We attended several of the Causeway Cost and Glens Council Information Days for asylum seekers and refugees. 

We again provided gifts in December to local Syrians.  We asked the Mayor, Cllr Richard Holmes, to host a reception for local Syrians at Council HQ in Coleraine which took place on 1st June 2022. An interpreter who was a CBoS Committee member assisted in the evening. We had a great turnout and we enjoyed refreshments, a tour of the Council Chamber and speeches from the hosts and the Syrians. 

We successfully applied for funds from the Honourable the Irish Society for transport for asylum seekers to the Coleraine Mosque during Eid which was co-ordinated by the Coleraine Muslim Association. 

We continue to be in touch with City of Sanctuary Coordinator for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Gun Orgun. 

## **Yvonne Boyle Chair**