Global Link (Lancaster)

Aims, Objectives and Activities Global Link’s aim is to create ‘Reflective, caring and cohesive communities in a just and sustainable world’. Our mission statement is ‘Creative Learning and Action for a more just and sustainable world.’ Global Link is a Development Education Centre, providing creative and participatory learning experiences, to increase awareness of the global dimension and action towards a more fair and sustainable world. These include the 8 key concepts of: global interdependence, values and perceptions, sustainable development, social justice, diversity, citizenship, human rights, and conflict resolution. We are now the leading local charity providing integration, community cohesion, advocacy and casework support to asylum seekers and refugees which forms the bulk of our work. Strategic Goals Activities We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. These activities fit within the following descriptions of charitable purposes as set out in the Charities Act, for the benefit of the public: The advancement of education. The advancement of citizenship. The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution, and the promotion of racial harmony, equality and diversity. The advancement of environmental protection or improvement. Further details of our activities for the year are contained within the Chairperson and Executive Director reports on pages 2-5 of these financial statements. Educational Resources Our resource centre holds a variety of teaching packs, books, Persona Dolls, exhibitions, story boxes, artefacts and games available for loan. Websites The Global Link website is kept regularly updated with news items and resources produced through Global Link, including digital stories. Global Link operates a Facebook page which shares regular updates directly to the website. Global Link designed and created three further heritage websites www.documentingdissent.org.uk, www.learningfromthepast.net and more recently www.migrationstoriesnw.uk Global Link has also created the first website ‘by refugees, about refugees, for refugees’ which contains an abundance of useful information www.refugeehome.uk but is currently not operational as the time required to maintain it is not funded. Volunteers This year we had approximately 50 people volunteering for Global Link, mainly, but not exclusively, asylum seekers and refugees, who adopt a variety of roles, from heritage researchers, IT administration, construction and interior decorating, cooking and gardening, interpretation and casework support. Members We have no paying members. Indeed, we have decided that we will amend the membership section of our constitution to reflect the changing nature of our organisation. Plans for the Future We are consolidating our work as a refugee support community education centre. We continue to seek funding for global education, particularly relating to local action related to sustainability, Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities The trustees (who are also the directors of Global Link (Lancaster) Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. 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 the income and expenditure of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; observe the methods and principals in the Charities SORP; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements and; prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and 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 our commitment to address climate change. We continue to develop our community heritage projects. Risk Management The Risk register is reviewed annually. We continue to regularly review the strategic plan, and the Executive Director provides detailed narrative and financial quarterly reports to each Trustee meeting. Financial Review Income and expenditure was as per the planned budget, and similar to the previous year. The Charity remains in a healthy financial position and we are hopeful that this will continue for the next few years. Funds held at year end The accounts show funds of £585,194 of which £144,243 are restricted funds and £440,951 are unrestricted. £271,972 of these unrestricted reserves are designated to a buildings reserve and £69,901 are held in the revaluation reserve as per the reserves policy set out below. The balance of the unrestricted funds, £99,078 are not restricted in purpose by the funder, but have been raised to further Global Link’s planned activities and priorities and will be spent on mortgage repayment activities and operating costs in 2025-2026, in accordance with those plans and the expectations of funders. Reserves Policy The charity has a reserves policy, which identifies the restricted and designated funds required to meet future commitments, and a minimum level of unrestricted reserves to ensure that Global Link’s core activity could continue during a period of unforeseen difficulty. This has been calculated at approximately £44,575, which is 6 months of staffing and overhead costs. Funders None of our work would have been possible without funding this year from the Big Lottery Fund (including Reaching Communities, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Awards for All), Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council, the Henry Smith Trust, Pots of Possibility, Keystone, the £5k from Evan Cornish and NERC.