AGM

On 9th January 2015, LASSN held its Annual General Meeting, and said goodbye to Christine Brett, who had been on the board of Trustees for 6 years, and 5 as Chair. Here is a copy of her notes, for those who were unable to attend in person - which we post with thanks, appreciation and best wishes for the future LASSN Annual General Meeting, 9th January 2015  Chair’s Report This will be the last time I stand here to present the Trustees report and accounts up to 31 March last year to our members and supporters and also when we talk about what has happened since our last AGM. All members should have received a copy of the Report and Accounts and all of you can I trust see a copy and take it away.  This is our public record and is sent to both Companies House and the Charity Commissioners. Kentigern, our treasurer will speak in more detail about the financial statements and answer questions! As Chair I will take any questions you may have on the report of the Trustees. In fact the Annual Review with the owl on the front gives the highlights of the crucial work that is done by LASSN and the achievements for the year. Inevitably the Annual Report is an historic document so the AGM is also an opportunity to include a review of the year so far. Leaving is an opportunity for reflection and I’ve looked back over my notes for previous AGMs.  There have been common threads. Our Mission to meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugees in Leeds and raise awareness of issues facing them is unchanged and has been the driving force for everything Trustees, staff and volunteers have done. So positive reflections: LASSN’s achievements and the difference made to the lives of those asylum seekers and refugees we have supported. This cannot be over-estimated and the sadness is that we have not been able to do more. The overwhelming enthusiasm of volunteers. Without them, LASSN would not exist. The dedication of Trustees and staff The resilience of LASSN in facing year in year out financial difficulties The courage and fortitude of asylum seekers and the determination of refugees Milestones including 10 years as a Charity and our 1,000th volunteer Sadly however an equally common thread of my 6 years as a Trustee has been that of challenges faced. A hostile environment in which we work A reduction in funding streams with more charities applying for shrinking pots A reliance on grant aid Shrinking reserves – built up largely through the generosity of individual donors and supporters. We were able to use them to maintain services and help ensure LASSN survived where many others had to close or reduce services) The necessity to issue notice of redundancy to staff with regularity that showed we were increasingly in an unsustainable position. Last year we were able, as in previous years, to rescind the notices of redundancy but Trustees and [...]