THE HIGHLANDS SUPPORT REFUGEES SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC047492 **Trustees Annual Report From 1 st July, 2023 to 30th June 2024** ## **Trustees’ Annual Report** Please find enclosed the annual report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner’s report from the 1st July, 2023 to 30th June, 2024 from the Trustees of The Highlands Support Refugees. ## **Reference & Administrative Information** Charity Name The Highlands Support Refugees Charity No. SC047492 Charity Founding date 7th June, 2017 (THSR existed as a non-incorporated company from early 2016 - 7 th June, 2017) Charity Address: 17 Stratherick Gardens Inverness IV2 4LX ## **Current Trustees:** Secretary filled at present time by interim secretary and recruit a volunteer to take on the role . Committee continue to try – Joint Treasurers - Chair (became trustee in 2024) ## **Current Committee/Board Members:** (stepped down 2024) ## **Resignations from committee 2023-2024:** (summer 2024) voted in by committee as interim Secretary until post is filled at 2024 AGM * ## **Structure Governance and Management Constitution** The Highlands Support Refugees is a Scottish Incorporated Charitable Organisation (SCIO). It is governed by its constitution. The charity was granted charitable status by OSCR on 07/06/2017. Appointment of Trustees The Trustees of The Highlands Support Refugees help form the board of the charity and normally meet on a monthly basis. The board may at any time appoint any person to be a charity trustee - by way of a resolution passed by majority vote at a board meeting. Under the constitution, there must be a minimum of four and not more than ten elected trustees. ## **Management** The trustees are responsible for the strategic direction, decision making and governance of the charity. The trustees are particularly aware of their responsibilities for Health and Safety at depot sites around the Highlands and Islands where donations are collected, sorted and distributed. In addition to Employers and Liability insurance cover, our trustees and volunteers have up-to-date first aid qualifications. As well as Trustees the charity’s board is made up of unofficial committee members who help guide and support the charity. Objectives and Activities Charitable purposes. The organisation’s purposes are: To provide relief to those affected by the refugee crisis across Europe, the Middle East and the rest of the World. By bringing people together from across the Highlands to provide practical support to combat the refugee crisis and to provide support to refugees re-homed across the Highlands and Islands. The promotion of religious and racial harmony by promoting awareness of the refugee crisis across the Highlands and changing public perception about refugees. Activities Our main activities include: Collecting donations of clothes, medical materials, food and monetary donations from people and communities across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Distributing these donations to Refugee camps across Europe, the Middle East and the rest of the World. Distributing aid to re-settled refugees in the Highlands and Islands region and helping provide them with household goods. Selling items not suitable for donation at car boot sales and on Ebay. We are often invited to speak to local groups about our ongoing work, experiences in refugee camps, and information regarding the current refugee crisis. These groups include church and faith groups, primary and secondary schools, Scouts, events organised by the Highland Council, and local political groups. Most recently THSR were represented at Inverness Interfaith’s annual Holocaust Memorial Day event. Organising inclusive events in the region to promote refugee solidarity and bring together refugees re-settled in the area. To provide a means for refugees in the region to meet people from the local community and vice versa. Fundraising events to provide finances to fund the charities activities. Liaising and working with other similar organisations to better distribute aid and establish new links with other refugee camps and areas affected by the refugee crisis. Funding and promoting trips for local members of the community to volunteer at refugee camps abroad. So far we have had 19 THSR volunteers volunteer at refugee camps across Europe.At the time of writing, two volunteers (F&A) have returned to Turkey to volunteer there. This volunteering is carried out by individuals and not as volunteers for THSR. Lobbying government and local councils to re-settle more refugees in the region and help combat and end the refugee crisis in general. See below AGM for 2023-2024 for update on Charities activities over the last year. ## **THSR AGM 13th November, 2024 1745hrs – 1930hrs** Inverness Impact Hub & Zoom ## **Apologies** ## **Attendees** Welcomes Need to be out of the Impact Hub no later than 1945 ## **Chair Report** The finer details can be found on the yearly OSCR report which will be on the OSCR website under THSR and will also be emailed to the committee and anyone else interested in seeing it. Main activities include fundraising, collecting donations and shipment of aid, the provision of donated clothes to asylum and refugee families in the local community in partnership with the highland council re-settlement officers. This year we have continued to work closely with Distribute Aid as well as some new groups which can tell us about shortly. We also continued to donate funds to a variety of refugee Action groups and aid groups on the ground. and others have been instrumental in providing clothing and equipment to newly re-settled refugee families that have arrived across the Highland Region. The Trustees and board/committee members agree on a sum of money to spend on each family. ## **donation distribution report** This year has seen a constantly changing picture in refugee camps across the world making collecting aid challenging. Smaller donations have been sent to Calais effectively this year. Utopia and Refugee Women’s Aid has been an effective partner this last year, too. Both organisations share warehouse facilities and staff, at times. One shipment has been sent to both this year. Surplus donations also sent to Ukraine via TASH based down South. TASH work with a Lorry company who take to the Polish border and at present the shipments are currently free of charge and TASH will take all items from THSR. 2024 shipments to date: 3 to TASH 2024 and 1 to Calais. Current tally since 2015 approx. approximately 62 shipments of aid in the form of a van full of boxes, palletised boxes, 20 and 40 ft containers full of aid. To 9 different countries which include France, Ukraine, Greece, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Serbia, Germany. Secretary Report stepped down from THSR in the Summer) As of yet we have not managed to find a replacement for the role of Secretary although has volunteered to fill in on an interim basis in the meantime. ## **Treasurer’s Report (covers last financial year and current account balance)** Coop account change of signatories with as new treasurer. Overall, we are in a good financial position. Current balance end of November: £13, 319. Money sent to Palestine Medical Aid recently. Monthly donations continue as do patterns in fundraising. Income fairly similar throughout the course of the year although expenditure has decreased slightly due to savings made with Ord storage costs being cut and stopping the electricity payments. See current OSCR annual returns on their website for further details. Just search The Highlands Support Refugees. has agreed to sign off the financial returns for OSCR again this year. ## **Lochaber Supports Refugees** ## **)** talking about sister group Lochaber Supports Refugees and what they do. There is not a lot to report from LSR. They continue to have 4 regular volunteers and (not as regular as she would like this year). The unit is open every Monday and Thursday for donations from 11 until 1. Donations are not as plentiful in the last 18 months as they were previously but they are still trickling in, being sorted and has current inventory. We help locally if required particularly by health visitors or the local baby bank. Sometimes there are families in particular need of certain items for the children and we supply them if possible. In return the baby bank donates surplus items to us. We have ample storage for all our filled boxes and more. Also happy to sort / store donations from Skye although there have been none in recent months. ## **Sleatfugees** Gwen MacGuaire unable to attend AGM. Our sister group on Skye Sleatfugees based on Skye continue to provide financial support via fundraising and sort and pack aid and send aid to Fort William for sorting and inventorising. Sleatfugees recently raised £152 for THSR at a fundraiser on Skye and also shipped 26 boxes of age to Refuweegee in Glasgow. ## **Hilton Depot premises )** Hilton has now been the home of the THSR depot for over 2 years. Total no. boxes approx 300 @ depot currently 10 regular volunteers. Tuesday 10 -1pm. Some Americans from Mormon church also in attendance. Donations recently received from Tesco Inshes from off the shelf. Electricity suppliers has moved from EDF to British Gas thanks to Lorna’s hard work. Public Liability Insurance has also changed from Keegan and Pennykid again thanks to Lorna for organising that. We got a much cheaper rate this year with Markel International Insurance Company Limited. Edinburgh University students collection arrived at the depot. Belladrum 100 sleeping bags were processed this year at the Hilton depot. Lifescan box delivery continues with John. Supporting resettled families is continuing with the hard work of and other volunteers. She continues to use the depot as the vehicle to allow this to happen. Ukrainian refugees from Thurso visited and volunteered at the depot this year. We have recently helped out homeless centre at Ness bank with spare donations. opened up as housing for asylum seeks which THSR are providing aid to. with en gave an update of activities at the premises. She continues to build a strong relationship , resettlement officer for the Highland Council. ## **Drop off points** Updated on Facebook. They largely remain unchanged with a couple of new ones popping here across the Highlands. New members added to the committee Need a new Secretary. Chair ideally though happy to remain in post if required. ## **Current Committee re-election** appointed as Secretary 13/11/24) New Interim Committee (pending new appointments) Trustee re-election (stepping down as a Trustee and Committee Member 13/11/24) (appointed Trustee 13/11/24) ## **Current Trustees** ## **Committee/Board Members** ## **Any Questions?** 1. has requested petty cash float for depot. 2. n asks if it is worth letting Raigmore Primary school know about THSR. This is where the asylum children at Cameron Barracks attend. Do they need anything? 3. Shall we buy a leaving gift who has been on the THSR committee for over nine years. 4. - Do we want to ship to Lebanon? How viable a project is this? 5. raises the question of Medical Aid and discusses the workshop and training she attended with the broader committee. ## **MAIN DISCUSSION POINTS @ AGM REGARDING YEAR 2025 PLANS FOR THSR** Aims of the discussion as follows: - How to spend the money. - Lebanon - not enough aid to make it financially viable. 300 boxes in total between THSR and - LSR. £3000 is the cost. Will take a few months to gather donations and the demand may have changed. proposes we instead focus on Calais this year. - Committee approve continuation of aid being sent to Calais. Plan to send aid to Calais before - Christmas. - Continue working with TASH. Remaining 100 boxes to TASH. - Belladrum – just sleeping bags, has expressed an interest to be involvemed again. - If we agree to continue to ship aid what structure should these operations take? - plan to visit Calais next summer. - Fundraising plans discussed for next year. Multicultural night. Committee members discussed in turn their views on the above. A discussion surrounding Belladrum and whether to proceed with a collection in 2023 occurred. It was agreed that a more in depth discussion would take place at the next committee meeting. ## **MAIN DECISIONS MADE AT AGM** • Committee happy to approve petty cash. £100 will be transferred to bank account by will withdraw and keep for the depot to use. - Committee approve continuation of aid being sent to Calais. Plan to send aid to Calais before - Christmas. • Committee Agree to purchase THSR legends award for to thank her for her 9 years of service at a cost of £75 • Committee agree to focus on Calais shipments for next year but accept other opportunities may arise and to make a decisions on this as the year progresses. - Committee agree to send financial donation to Lebanon instead of shipping aid. - agrees to fill the role of Secretary as is seconded and nominated by members of the committee. • agrees to become a Trustee for the charity with stepping down from the charity committee. - Committee agree to organise Belladrum Collection again in 2025 MAIN ACTIONS: - to Trustee list - liase with re: Cameron Barracks Raigmore Primary school children. - to organise petty cash between them. - award – with look into hosting and helping organise the lunch for - to make a poster for THSR • J to email logo to L - to look into how to donate financially to Lebanon charity she has been involved - in. - Plan to have meetings every 2 months. 6 ideally for the year. - 19th Febrauary lunch with volunteers at UHI Next committee meeting: 12th February, Wednesday 6pm. 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We have hddMfixodassQt¥ investments, nu Iiaknlitie5 and noconbwent liabiWtiE5. weoperateoDa tssh bas￿ Wnhb31arKes he￿ Inor current￿Oll￿ta￿d0￿ePavpaIac￿unl Wodo nottmy APPENDIX 3 OSCR S(ottith Charity Reguhknr Inde endent examiner's re Report to the The Highlands Support Refugees trusteeslmembers of ort on the accounts Registered charity SC047492 number On the accounts of the charity for the period Peric#J start date Month 07 Period end date Year Year 01 2023 2024 Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance responsibilities of with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment {Scolandl 2005 Act and the trustees and examiner Charities Accounts Iscotlandl Regulation5 2006 las amended). The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10111 {dl of Ihe Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 4411) Icl of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts examiner's statement Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charrty and a compari50n of the accounts presented wth those records.11 also indudes consideration of any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's In the course of my examination. no matter has come to my attention statement | 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements" to keep accounting records in acc￿[danCe with sectK)n 4411) la) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and to prepare accounts which accord wrth the accountsng records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations have not been met. or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Date: Signe Nam Relevant profe55ion qualificationl5} or bod (if any 0110212025 Addres