Finance Score: -2

Governance Score: 6

Support Score: 7

Qualified accounts: -3
Strong growth: +2
Volatile income -1
No PartB

Good trustee age range: +3
Dynamic board: +3

Overall weighted support: +7

Overall GiG Score: 11

BEFRIENDING REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

BRASS supports asylum seekers and refugees in Bolton with a range of support including an advice service covering immigration/settlement issues, rights & responsibilities/citizenship, accessing services and employment. We also provide activities designed to improve language, confidence and employability skills as well as providing advocacy, befriending and volunteering opportunities.

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
A significant proportion of recent income was derived from major grant makers
The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

One or more trustees receive payments or benefits from the charity for providing services to the charity

Financial issues to consider:

The latest accounts were qualified
Income has been volatile recently but spending has been maintained
A PartB annual return has not been required and so detailed financial information is not available from the online data

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Y/E	Income £k	Spending £k	Surplus/ Deficit £k	Fundraising Cost £k	Total Funds £k	Unrestricted Funds £k	Mths Rsrvs	Staff	Volun- teers
?31/03/24	£162	£157	£6	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/03/23	£69	£144	£-75	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/03/22	£221	£159	£62	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/03/21	£175	£152	£23	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/03/20?	£166	£152	£14	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
31/03/18?	£191	£102	£89	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
30/04/17	£87	£107	£-20	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
30/04/16	£127	£112	£15	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
30/04/15	£112	£100	£12	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
30/04/14	£72	£71	£0	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Show more rows -->

Show financials table -->

Download accounts

Highest pay bracket: less than £60,000

Established: 12 years

www.brassbolton.org

malcolm@brass-bolton.org.uk

01204397152

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Listed activities

Economic/Community Development/Employment
Education/Training
General Charitable Purposes
Human Rights/Religious Or Racial Harmony/Equality Or Diversity
Other Charitable Purposes
Recreation
The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty

GiG Classification

Support for refugees & asylum seekers

How it operates

Other charitable activities
Provides advocacy/advice/information
Provides buildings/facilities/open space
Provides human resources
Provides services

Where it operates

Bolton,

Who it helps

Other Defined Groups

Who supports them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years

National Lottery Community Fund	£307,550
Tudor Trust	£62,000
DCMS	£8,550
Forever Manchester	£5,000

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
National Lottery Community Fund - Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers Womens Project
£7,550	28/09/2023	The funding will be used to offer a safe space for women to share their experiences as refugees and asylum seekers in conversation cafes ESOL classes as well as cooking and art projects . The project aims to support refugee and asylum seeker ....more The funding will be used to offer a safe space for women to share their experiences as refugees and asylum seekers in conversation cafes ESOL classes as well as cooking and art projects . The project aims to support refugee and asylum seeker women’s health wellbeing and social interaction.
National Lottery Community Fund - Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers (BRASS Bolton)
£150,000	17/09/2023	The funding will support Befriending Refugees and Asylum seekers (BRASS) to continue delivering immigration advice ESOL and general support from their community hub in Bolton to a wide range of refugees and asylum seekers across the town. BRASS was ....more The funding will support Befriending Refugees and Asylum seekers (BRASS) to continue delivering immigration advice ESOL and general support from their community hub in Bolton to a wide range of refugees and asylum seekers across the town. BRASS was formed in 2002 as a group of local volunteers responding to the arrival of refugees from the ethnic conflict in the Balkans. BRASS provides free and qualified immigration advice to guide and support service users through the asylum system. BRASS also provides support to help beneficiaries speak English also help with maths to support beneficiaries with timetables appointments sterling and purchases. BRASS provides a hub where refugees and asylum seekers can meet other people in the same situation to form friendships decrease isolation and help with self-confidence. Activities are delivered from the community hub and main activities include providing immigration and other advice. Additional support is offered through activities such as conversation cafes ESOL classes on line and face to face Pop up events training external events and outings.
Tudor Trust - Grant to BRASS
£2,000	22/03/2021	as an additional grant to support staff, volunteer and trustee wellbeing, to assist the organisation deliver its charitable purpose more effectively
Tudor Trust - Grant to BRASS (COVID19 Grant)
£2,000	17/09/2020 2	as additional funding towards the costs of adapting to new ways of working during the coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown, for a charity supporting asylum seekers in Bolton
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£8,550	21/08/2020	"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public ....more "The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."
Tudor Trust - Grant to BRASS
£58,000	30/07/2020 24	over two years as continuation funding towards the core costs of an organisation supporting asylum seekers and refugees in Bolton
Forever Manchester - BRASS Returns
£5,000	10/07/2020	Food vouchers for refugees and asylum seekers
National Lottery Community Fund - BRASS
£150,000	09/01/2020 36	Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers (BRASS) aims to support asylum seekers and refugees in Bolton to integrate into life in the UK. Funding will enable the organisation to continue to their programme of activities.
National Lottery Community Fund - Conversation Cafes
£9,450	16/05/2019 12	The charity will build on their existing Conversation Café model to keep up with demand from users. The project aims to see more people for whom English is not the first language using English outside of ESOL classes and in a genuine social space.
Bolton CVS - Grant to BRASS
£9,000	11/01/2019	Purchase vouchers for distribution to ervice users in need.
Tudor Trust - Grant to BRASS
£87,000	21/12/2017 36	over three years towards salaries and running costs at an organisation supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Bolton
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Grant to Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers
£12,500	29/05/2014	BRASS supports asylum seekers and refugees to overcome barriers to their settlement. Funding will enable the recruitment training and development of new volunteers from their beneficiary group
National Lottery Community Fund - From Asylum to Integration
£256,771	11/02/2013 48	This is a development of an existing project delivered by Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The aim of the project is to support asylum seekers and refugees with a range of services to help them overcome barriers to their settlement and ....more This is a development of an existing project delivered by Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The aim of the project is to support asylum seekers and refugees with a range of services to help them overcome barriers to their settlement and integration. One-to-one support will involve an initial needs assessment with common issues identified including a need to learn English, IT and social skills. Many referrals also having mental health needs.

Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Trustees (5)

Current Trustees appointed

Age Range of Trustees: 40-85

ANANIYA MISAIL Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Civil Engineer

CHRISTINE ALISON ROOT Appointed: 2018, Occupation: Consultant

MALCOLM NGOUALA Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Executive Director

PATRICIA HOLMES (Chair) Appointed: 2013, Occupation: None

PAUL CHRISTOPHER HAND-GRIFFITHS Appointed: 2015, Occupation: Retired

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 08/04/2013, number: 1151557
Registered at Companies House on 04/12/2012, number: 08318232

Gift Aid

NOT registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Policies in force

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Filing Record

10 returns made; all on time

Main office

Brass
The Park Lodge
Green Lane
BOLTON
BL3 2HX

Objectives

1. TO ADVANCE EDUCATION AND RELIEVE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AMONGST THOSE SEEKING ASYLUM AND THOSE GRANTED REFUGEE STATUS PARTICULARLY BY THE PROVISION OF ADVICE, SUPPORT AND TRAINING.2. THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE OF THOSE PERSONS WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE, INFIRMITY OR DISABLEMENT, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

Data Sources

Watch Inspiring Videos

Save the upside down forest

Change the ending - the pain of Alzheimers

Help Dads in prison stay in touch with their children