REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 04733478 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1104507

Report of the Trustees and

Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31st March 2025

for

SOLACE SURVIVING EXILE AND PERSECUTION

Page

Reference and Administrative Details

1

Chairperson's Report

2

Report of the Trustees

3

to

7

Report of the Independent Auditors

8

to

11

Statement of Financial Activities

12

Balance Sheet

13

Cash Flow Statement

14

Notes to the Cash Flow Statement

15

Notes to the Financial Statements

16

to

26

TRUSTEES

C Follin

Mrs L Ward (resigned 28/6/24)

E Goodwin (Chair)

L Bolton

P H Coltman

A Temple-Smith (resigned 1/7/24)

N Moran (appointed 2/7/24)

Dr D Agoro (appointed 2/7/24)

P Gayford

C O'Brien (appointed 2/7/24)

REGISTERED OFFICE

Manor House

Manor Street

Leeds

LS7 1PZ

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER

04733478 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER

1104507

AUDITORS

Thomas Coombs Limited

Statutory Auditor

Chartered Accountants

3365 The Pentagon

Century Way

Thorpe Park

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS15 8ZB

BANKERS

Unity Trust Bank

Four Brindley Place

Birmingham

B1 2JB

KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

K Ashworth (Chief Executive Officer)

A Burghraef (Clinical Director)

Last year, I noted the negative impact of the government's Illegal Migration and the Safety of Rwanda Acts on people who use our services. While the immediate threat of removal to Rwanda has now gone, the wider hostile environment faced by refugees and asylum seekers has intensified. The rhetoric from parts of the political right continues to cause fear and uncertainty, which has a serious and damaging effect on the mental health of our clients.

The need for Solace's services has never been greater, yet the economic climate remains difficult. Some of our funding comes through contracts with statutory agencies, but we remain dependent on charitable grants, and there are relatively few funders willing to invest in specialist organisations like Solace. We are incredibly grateful to our funders for the support they give us, and the acknowledgement of the need for the work we do.

Despite challenges, we are proud to report another successful year. Among our achievements:

Over 6,600 therapy sessions delivered to more than 820 people.

- The delivery of 278 groups reaching communities who might otherwise struggle to access support.

- Specialist training to equip professionals working with trauma and displacement.

- Strengthened partnerships with health providers, refugee organisations, and community groups to ensure joined-up, compassionate care.

We were also honoured this year to be selected as a Weston Charity Award winner from over 150 applicants. This recognition is a powerful endorsement of our work and provides us with both grant funding and, importantly, the opportunity to work with Pilotlight. Pilotlight brings together senior business leaders to help charities strengthen their strategy, governance, and sustainability - support that will be invaluable as Solace plans for the future.

What makes Solace unique is not only our clinical expertise but the way we place people with lived experience at the centre of our work. Their voices continue to shape our services, ensuring we remain responsive, relevant, and rooted in the real needs of those who turn to us for support.

Looking ahead, our priorities are clear: to protect access to trauma-informed therapy, broaden our reach, and amplify the voices of refugees and asylum seekers at a time when they are too often silenced. Working with the Weston Awards programme will help us strengthen our foundations and prepare for the future with confidence.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and trustees. Their experience, skills, and compassion are the backbone of Solace, and I thank them all - managers, administrators, clinicians, and volunteers - who provide vital therapeutic support at individual, group, and system levels.

I would also like to thank our CEO, Kathryn Ashworth, for her inspirational leadership, and our Clinical Director, Anne Burgraef, who has been with Solace for virtually its entire existence. I am also grateful to our Trustee board for their time, energy, and insight, and I warmly welcome our newest members.

Finally, I want to thank our funders and partners, whose belief in our mission enables us to continue providing specialist mental health support to those rebuilding their lives in safety. Together, we are making a difference - and with your support, Solace will remain a place of healing, resilience, and hope for many years to come.

Elaine Goodwin

Chair of the Board of Trustees

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2025. 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 Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

Solace's objects read:

"The objects of the Company shall be to alleviate the sickness, distress and suffering of refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced persons in the United Kingdom and particularly in the Yorkshire and Humber region ("the area of benefit"), in particular those suffering from mental health problems or emotional difficulties, by providing a range of services including but not limited to therapeutic interventions, advocacy, training and opportunities for social support with the object of improving the life of said persons."

Significant activities

Refugees fleeing persecution arriving in our region face many challenges and Solace was established specifically to address their mental health needs and support their emotional wellbeing. The people we work with have experienced multiple losses, of home, family, culture, status and employment among other things. Many have endured torture or witnessed violence against their family members or their close community. Their journey to the UK can take many years and when they arrive they continue to face disbelief, hostility and many barriers to accessing support. As a result, refugees are often highly stressed and are much more likely than the general population to suffer from mental and physical illnesses.

Some of the stories of our clients are bravely demonstrated in videos on our website and in our online training. https://www.solace-uk.org.uk/what-they-say/films

https://www.solace-uk.org.uk/training/new-free-e-learning

To achieve our charitable purpose, Solace provides a range of services, and works as holistically as possible to support the people referred to us. We are well known in the region, and work closely with a number of partners both formally and informally to try and meet the multiple and complex needs of refugees.

Specifically we provide:

- Talking therapies for individuals, families and children

- Pain management therapy

- Group work

- Training and consultancy to other organisations to help them understand the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers

- Resources and videos in different languages to help refugees and asylum seekers.

Solace has two main strategic aims, to deliver transformative therapeutic support to people fleeing persecution, and to improve other services and systems so refugees are better able to access support and flourish in their community.

Hostility towards refugees and asylum seekers was very overtly and publicly demonstrated this year as racist violence broke out in the summer of 2024. Many of our clients live with fear every day, but this very visible outpouring of hatred in our local communities was a very real demonstration of underlying tension and hostility ramped up by political rhetoric, disinformation and the use of dehumanising language. The impact on the people we support was enormous. Many are already struggling to deal with the trauma of war and violence, and the ongoing cruelty of the asylum system in the UK. Solace's aim is to help people feel safe and welcome, which is so much more than the absence of hostility. We do our best to provide a welcome which helps people feel safe so they are able to begin their recovery even whilst in the midst of the asylum process and all the turmoil this generates.

We know that many people who attend therapy or one of our groups have attempted to take their own life whilst in the UK. Our Farsi Speaking Men's Group has had a particular impact in supporting people who have actively considered suicide. It is facilitated by a Farsi speaking therapist who has successfully enabled a level of peer support and trust to be developed which has had some powerful outcomes. We are grateful to Leeds Suicide Prevention Fund for providing funding for this group to continue throughout 2024-25

"This is the first time I've talked about the torture, it's the only place I feel safe"

"I had no contact with others until now"

"Nothing is like this group. I've lost my family and I'm very alone. This is now my family".

This year we have continued to partner with Nordoff Robbins Music therapy and Fall into Place Theatre Company to provide drama and music therapy sessions. We have also provided stress management groups in Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford, an online women's group, and a yoga group provided by one of our wonderful volunteers. These groups provide a safe place to learn from peers, reduce isolation and improve wellbeing. It is often helpful to our clients to be able to access a group when their therapy sessions come to an end so they maintain their attachment to Solace.

We have also continued to develop our training and consultancy and we have delivered reflective practice groups for staff and volunteers in 4 voluntary sector organisations in the region.

Our training courses also continue to be popular with over 2000 people now completing our free e-learning and over 200 people attending training courses this year. We have spent time this year consolidating our training offers and updating our website, and although there is further work to be done we now have three courses advertised on our website and we continue to design and deliver bespoke training in response to requests from a range of organisations. This remains an important part of how we achieve our strategic objective of sharing our knowledge and expertise so asylum seekers and refugees can access more effective support.

Public benefit

The Trustees have considered the guidance issued by the Charity Commissioner regarding "public benefit" and plan activities in line with this guidance.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

During the year 1260 people attended a therapy appointment and 212 people attended a group session. Overall we supported 1341 different individuals. We received 850 new referrals which is an increase of 145 compared to the previous year. Demand for our services continues to increase every year.

We use Core 10 to help us assess the difference we have made and last year 83% of the people who completed 2 or more measures had made improvements to their emotional wellbeing. Considering the high levels of distress and complex life situations people face this level of improvement is remarkable. It is a testament to the skill of our therapists and the dedication of all our team in creating a place that feels safe enough to begin the process of recovery or healing.

We use a range of methods to assess our impact, and in addition to Core 10 we also obtain feedback from our clients, write case studies and provide therapist reflections on the work we do.

Feedback consistently demonstrates the value of our holistic approach, the impact of our reports and letters of support, and the way in which we work in partnership with a wide range of organisations and professionals for the benefit of our clients.

Plans for future periods

We met as a whole team in April 2025 to refresh our strategic plan, and to refine and articulate our therapeutic approach.

We have committed ourselves to seeking funding to enable development work in line with our strategic objectives, and affirmed our aim of doing more than delivering services as we try to constructively challenge oppressive systems and influence policy developments.

Our video resources for refugees are now available in 9 languages and we will continue to translate them into more languages, promote wide use of them and obtain feedback on the difference they are making.

We are at the initial stage of implementing our vison for introducing Refugee Mental health Champions to NHS Talking Therapy Services across the region and 9 organisations have agreed to take part in the pilot programme. We will deliver this over the coming year.

We continue to develop our training programme, and will be reviewing and adding the training for GPs to our suite of options on our website. We also aim to update and improve our free e-learning courses and enhance accessibility by improving our website.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

Solace's income and expenditure increased from the previous year as we delivered more activities, but as various funding streams came to an end during the year we end the year in a deficit position. We continue to seek funding from a wide range of sources, and in the first part of the financial year 2025 26 we have secured additional funding which means we expect to break even again in the coming year.

Our largest item of expenditure continues to be salaries at 80% of our total expenditure. Our staff and volunteer team remains our most valuable asset, and we are committed to retaining and celebrating the expertise that is held by these individuals. Solace is very grateful to our team for being so willing to work flexibly, and move between different projects as funding streams come and go. We are also grateful to funders which have provided unrestricted or core funding which has provided some stability and security for the organisation overall. Whilst we continue to struggle with short term funding, maintaining a core team brings a financial risk, but the Trustees are committed to a fundraising strategy that enables the team to remain in place and avoid redundancies as far as possible.

Our largest sources of funding continue to be Local Authorities and Integrated Care Boards throughout the region. This means we are able to provide a service throughout the whole of Yorkshire and Humber, although what we are able to provide varies in each area.

Reserves policy

The Trustees updated our reserves policy this year to better reflect the actual risk and level of expenditure required to meet any unforeseen expenditure, manage cash flow and wind up the charity if required.

Having taken into account that the risk of all funding streams ending at the same time is very low, the Trustees are confident that with appropriate reserves in place they would have time to make changes to ensure financial viability, or close the charity in a planned way. Our reserves policy now states that we aim to hold free reserves which amount to 3 months salary costs, plus one quarter of our total rent and estimated redundancy obligations.

The lease of our office in Leeds comes to an end on 31st January 2026 although we expect to extend this. There are therefore 10 months remaining on the existing lease at an estimated cost of £38,000 (one quarter of this amount is £9500). Our salary costs are approximately £88,000 per month, (3 months is £264,000). Redundancy payments are estimated to be approximately £100,000. We therefore aim to hold £298,500 in unrestricted reserves.

At the end of the financial year the charity had a total of £236,514 in free reserves.

Albeit free reserves have reduced by £42,709 since March 2024, as noted above this is mainly due to maintaining a core team of experienced therapists and avoiding redundancies, so the charity remains in a strong position to respond to new funding opportunities quickly. We are pleased to have been able to secure new contracts at the start of the new financial year because of the approach we took this year in maintaining our team. We now anticipate achieving at least a breakeven position in the year to March 2026 and maintaining an incremental movement towards targeted free reserve levels, which gives confidence to the Trustees that Solace has adequate reserves and is able to deliver it's charitable objectives and continue to provide the public benefit it was established for.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and constitutes a company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. The company was formed on the 14th April 2003 and registered as a charity on 23rd June 2004.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Solace advertises for trustees in a variety of ways, including information on its website, word of mouth and through Solace's Anti-discrimination & Inclusion sub-committee. There is an application form for potential trustees. When someone shows interest in becoming a trustee, they meet with two current trustees to discuss what is involved in more detail and the current trustees then bring the application to the Board. The Board of Trustees takes into account the need for a range of skills and experience to be represented to ensure effective management and the desirability of achieving diversity within the membership, particularly with regard to individual experiences, gained either through personal life experience, or through professional work background. The Trustees also reflect on the balance of gender, ethnicity and age.

The degree of training and support given to new trustees is dependent on a number of factors; for instance, how well they know Solace, how well they already understand the roles and responsibilities of a trustee, how much they know about the problems facing refugees and asylum seekers, and so on.

Constitutional provisions regarding trustees

Solace's Articles of Association require the automatic retirement of officers and longer-serving trustees at the AGM. Those so retired can be asked to continue serving. However, all trustees are required to resign after 6 years in post. They can rejoin the Board if they are asked and at least 12 months have passed.

Decision making

The Board meets at least quarterly, either in person or on zoom. This makes it easier for people who live at some distance from Leeds and those with other commitments to attend. Papers (including the minutes of sub-committees) are circulated in advance and minutes circulated afterwards.

There are three sub-committees that report to the Board; the Management committee, the Clinical committee and the Anti-discrimination & Inclusion committee. Trustees usually attend at least one of these. Both the Clinical and Anti-discrimination & Inclusion committees have knowledgeable non-trustee members to help the Board understand issues and make better decisions.

The Board of Trustees signs off all formal Solace policies, makes decisions about acceptable levels of risk, and formally agrees significant new initiatives. Certain bank transactions must be authorised by a Trustee and expenditure over £7,000 must be approved by the Board. Day to day activities are delegated to staff.

A trustee is usually involved in the appointment of senior staff but not with the appointment of the majority of staff. Staff salaries are tied to external salary scales.

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees (who are also the directors of Solace Surviving Exile and Persecution for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).

Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to

-	select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

-	observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

-	make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

-	prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware:

-	there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; and

-	the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

AUDITORS

The auditors, Thomas Coombs Limited, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 3rd December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

E Goodwin - Trustee

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Solace Surviving Exile and Persecution (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31st March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

-	give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31st March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;

-	have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

-	have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

-	the information given in the Report of the Trustees for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

-	the Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

-	adequate accounting records have not been kept or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

-	the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

-	certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

-	we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

-	the trustees were not entitled to take advantage of the small companies exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing the Report of the Trustees.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Based on our understanding of the entity and industries in which it operates, we identified the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to the application of charitable funds and data protection. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Charities Act 2011.

We assessed the susceptibility of the company's financial statements to material misstatement and how fraud might occur, including through discussions with the directors, discussions within our audit team planning meeting, updating our record of internal controls, and ensuring these controls operated as intended. We determined the principal risks were related to posting journal entries to manipulate profits, and management bias in accounting estimates, especially accrued and deferred income.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

- Performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships.

- Identified and tested journal entries and identified any significant transactions that were unusual or outside the normal course of business.

- Investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.

- Challenged assumptions and judgements made by management in determining significant accounting estimates, in particular in relation to accrued and deferred income.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed audit procedures which included, but were not limited to:

- Agreeing financial statements disclosures to underlying supporting documentation.

- Discussions with management of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations.

- Reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.

At the completion stage of the audit, the engagement partner's review included ensuring that the team had approached their work with appropriate professional scepticism and thus the capacity to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the further removed non-compliance of laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement relating to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Christopher Darwin FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Thomas Coombs Limited

Statutory Auditor

Chartered Accountants

3365 The Pentagon

Century Way

Thorpe Park

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS15 8ZB

3rd December 2025

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donation, grants and legacies

3

392,777

785,230

1,178,007

1,178,001

Investment income

4

924

-

924

-

Total

393,701

785,230

1,178,931

1,178,001

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

5

General activities

420,886

821,241

1,242,127

1,135,507

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(27,185

)

(36,011

)

(63,196

)

42,494

Transfers between funds

17

(15,524

)

15,524

-

-

Net movement in funds

(42,709

)

(20,487

)

(63,196

)

42,494

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

279,223

29,270

308,493

265,999

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

236,514

8,783

245,297

308,493

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

12

-

-

-

-

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

13

66,875

61,823

128,698

34,739

Cash at bank and in hand

266,475

7,298

273,773

414,717

333,350

69,121

402,471

449,456

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

14

(91,836

)

(60,338

)

(152,174

)

(135,963

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

241,514

8,783

250,297

313,493

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

241,514

8,783

250,297

313,493

PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES

16

(5,000

)

-

(5,000

)

(5,000

)

NET ASSETS

236,514

8,783

245,297

308,493

FUNDS

17

Unrestricted funds

236,514

279,223

Restricted funds

8,783

29,270

TOTAL FUNDS

245,297

308,493

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 3rd December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

E Goodwin - Trustee

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash generated from operations

1

(140,944

)

201,348

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities

(140,944

)

201,348

Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period

(140,944

)

201,348

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period

414,717

213,369

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period

273,773

414,717

1.	RECONCILIATION OF NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

2025

2024

£

£

Net (expenditure)/income for the reporting period (as per the Statement of Financial Activities)

(63,196

)

42,494

Adjustments for:

(Increase)/decrease in debtors

(93,959

)

168,537

Increase/(decrease) in creditors

16,211

(9,683

)

Net cash (used in)/provided by operations

(140,944

)

201,348

2.	ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS

At 1/4/24

Cash flow

At 31/3/25

£

£

£

Net cash

Cash at bank and in hand

414,717

(140,944

)

273,773

414,717

(140,944

)

273,773

Total

414,717

(140,944

)

273,773

1.	GENERAL INFORMATION

Solace Surviving Exile and Persecution is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Manor House, Manor Street, Leeds, LS7 1PZ.

The members of the charitable company are the Trustees named on page 1. In the event of the charitable company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charitable company.

2.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared 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 1st January 2019)'. Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the charities accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Going concern

Subsequent to the year end, the charity has secured new contracts and anticipates achieving a breakeven position in the year to March 2026. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity's ability to continue for a period of not less than 12 months from the date of the approval of the financial statements and accordingly the financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Grants are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance Sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.

Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use.

Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the company's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost (or deemed cost) or valuation less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Costs includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.

Depreciation is provided to write off the cost less the estimated residual of tangible fixed assets by equal instalments over their estimated useful economic lives as follows:

Fixtures and fittings

- 100% straight line

Computer equipment

- 100% straight line

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The Charity pays defined contributions into the pension schemes of employees. These amounts are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as they become payable and in accordance with their functional classification.

Financial instruments

The charity only enters into transactions in 'basic' financial instruments which result in the recognition of assets and liabilities; these include trade and other debtors and creditors, bank balances, loans from banks and other third parties, and loans to related parties. These are recognised in the company's balance sheet when it becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial assets (other than those classified as payable within one year) are initially measured at cost and are subsequently carried at cost or amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses. Basic financial assets classed as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities (other than those classified as payable within one year) are initially measured at present value of future cash flows and subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Basic financial liabilities classed as payable within one year are not amortised.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amount reported in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Liabilities and provisions

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation, Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities as a finance cost.

3.	DONATION, GRANTS AND LEGACIES

2025

2024

£

£

Donations

10,662

9,287

Grants

812,886

792,467

Charges for services

354,459

376,247

1,178,007

1,178,001

Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:

2025

2024

£

£

AB Charitable Trust

30,000

-

Reducing Inequalities Advice Service Bradford

37,294

21,781

Syrian Development Project

21,963

23,218

Connecting Opportunities

-

13,304

Child & Family Wellbeing Service

401,036

331,093

Spring Project

58,172

122,122

Henry Smith projects

38,700

73,982

National Lottery Community Fund, Lifeline Leeds

43,401

46,776

The Children's Society

-

32,008

Urban House Maternity Project

2,465

17,981

Refugee Therapy Project Wakefield

12,500

3,110

St Augustine's Centre MHA Project

17,744

-

Leeds Asylum Support Grant

38,094

7,764

Resource Development

10,419

2,125

LCC Winter Pressures

-

27,250

Bradford Wellbeing Hubs

23,738

49,953

Early Help Project

38,500

-

Leeds Suicide Prevention Fund, Farsi Group

7,333

-

BBC Children in Need

12,527

-

Other Grants

19,000

20,000

812,886

792,467

The nature of grants received is more fully explained at note 17.

4.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

£

Deposit account interest

924

-

5.	CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

Direct

Support

Costs (see

costs (see

note 6)

note 7)

Totals

£

£

£

General activities

1,231,627

10,500

1,242,127

6.	DIRECT COSTS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

2025

2024

£

£

Staff costs

995,040

895,897

Rent, rates, service charge, & utilities

59,470

38,100

Insurance

3,112

2,179

Telephone

4,902

7,628

Postage and stationery

3,159

4,324

Sundries

2,657

1,352

Interpreters

101,463

119,813

Client and staff expenses

25,267

28,057

External Supervision

6,745

6,228

Bank Charges

311

287

Training

3,645

2,624

IT support

9,107

9,870

Professional fees

16,749

8,648

1,231,627

1,125,007

7.	SUPPORT COSTS

Governance

costs

£

General activities

10,500