2025-03-31-accounts - African Community School

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		AFRICAN COMMUNITYSCHOOL
		31 MARCH 2025
			Page
		CONTENTS
				.
		Content page	1-2
		Company Information	3
		Trustees’ Report	4-10
		Independent Examiner’s Report	14
		Statement of Financial Activities	12
	_	Balance Sheet	13
,		Notes to the Financial Statements	14		,
		DetailedIncomeandExpenditure	15-16

AFRICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL COMPANY INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Management Committee Trustees

Caroline Anne Hickey............... Chair Myles Ejegi-Memeh......Co-Chair/Secretary Josiah Cherry.............00c.000 Peasurer Amii Louise Mcintosh..................Member Mary Fasipe.............ccseceeseeeeeeeeMember Rosalind Joseph ....................... Member

Charity Registration Number 1087936

_ Ofsted Registration Number

Registered Office

African Community School The Print House 18-30 Ashwin Street, Hackney London E8 3DL

Bankers Barclays Bank Plc ; Kingsland Branch P. O Box 3628 London E8 2JX

Independent Examiners London Accountancy Practice 161 Sumner Road London SE15 6JL

AFRICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Chair / Trustee Report

It is with immense gratitude that | recognise the dedication and hard work of our Programme Manager Kome Owuasu and our office support staff; our committed Saturday School teachers and teaching assistants, volunteers, our behind-thescenes supporters and our active Board of Trustees. Thanks to their combined efforts, African Community School (ACS) has delivered another successful year.

Over the past year ACS has maintained a strong presence in the community while steadily growing our diverse programme of educational and support activities. We have continued to strengthen delivery even as the sector faces increasing pressure from rising costs and growing demand.

' We have also focused on capacity building ensuring our services remain sustainable and effective. This has included strengthening internal processes and maintaining : consistent, high-quality delivery, while continuing to deepen community engagement and remain a trusted reliable partner to both the Voluntary and Community Sector and statutory organisations.

On behalf of the trustees, | would like to thank all our funders and donors for their continued support. Without your contribution we would not be able to deliver such a strong and varied programme that supports children, adults and families across our community.

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Principal Activity

The objective of African Community School is to improve literacy among people living in Hackney in general, particularly to those of different ethnic minorities thereon. The main objectives of African Community School are:

a) To advance the academic education of children from the ages of 5 to 16 years plus through the provision of various out of school education support/ activities/projects.
b) To provide teaching support and learning of National Curriculum Subjects.
c) To promote and raise awareness amongst community groups, parents and teachers on supplementary education.

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Overview

During 2024—25 African Community School (ACS) continued to provide holistic . community-led support to children, young people, adults and families. Our work combined supplementary education, mentoring for children and young people, adult learning, parenting and family support, wellbeing activities, and practical hardship support (including food and fuel assistance).

Achievements

Over the year ACS delivered the following key outcomes:

.
e 600 children received face-to-face support in English, Maths and Science through supplementary education.
e 900 adults gained new skills through vocational and non-vocational adult learning, including accredited courses.
e 400 adults took part in wellbeing and creative activities to improve confidence, connection and mental wellbeing.
e 80 parents engaged in Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) parenting classes. » 150 volunteers supported delivery across programmes. e« Families received practical hardship support including: o Gas/electricity top-ups (500 families) o Tesco vouchers (800 families)
Toiletries, fuel support and vouchers delivered as part of broader wraparound support reaching up to 5,000 families overall across the year (through a combination of support routes and distribution points).
e 100 children received Christmas gifts through donations.

Education, mentoring and youth support

ACS delivered weekly supplementary education and mentoring to support attainment, confidence and wellbeing. This included 1-to-1 and group tuition and. broader wraparound support for families.

Key delivery highlights: e Supplementary education: Regular English, Maths and Science support (KS1—KS4) to strengthen learning, homework completion and exam readiness.
e Mentoring: “Best You Can Be” mentoring supported young people aged 9-18, matching them with professional mentors to build educational confidence, social skills and future plans.
e Holiday programme: 45 children were supported through summer holiday provision including activities, sports and a hot meal.
Reported impact for children and young people included: e More positive attitudes to learning and improved motivation , e Increased self-esteem and self-awareness e Improved understanding of cultural background and stronger cultural identity e Increased educational attainment (as evidenced through engagement and learning progress shared by participants and families)

Adult learning, parenting, and family/community learning ACS delivered free learning opportunities to build skills, confidence and employability, alongside support for parents and carers.

_ Adult learning (900 adults): e Accredited and non-accredited courses including: Essential Digital Skills, Functional English and Maths, ICT, PC Maintenance, Launching an Online
‘ Business, CV writing and interview preparation. ; e Additional qualifications included areas such as adult social care, childcare/early years, support work in schools and colleges, mental health, dementia awareness, food safety, and emergency first aid at work.
Parenting and family support: » NVR classes supported 80 parents (as recorded across the year) to strengthen relationships and improve approaches to behaviour and conflict at home.
e Parent workshops and awareness sessions supported engagement in education, culture and community life.

Reported impact for parents and families included:

e Increased digital skills and access to online services e Parents better able to support their child’s education and engage with schools e {mproved basic skills for many parents and stronger early literacy support at home
e Stronger communities and increased social integration

Wellbeing and community activities

ACS delivered a range of open-access and group wellbeing activities to support mental wellbeing, reduce isolation and build healthy routines.

Delivery included: e andCreativearts/crafts)activities for adults (including painting, jewellery. making, card making

|

» Fitness and movement activities including Zumba, mindfulness and wellbeing sessions
e Activities delivered across community venues and local settings, including health and community spaces. .

Heart Health in Our Hands (ACH Women)

This programme aimed to improve heart health awareness and reduce cardiovascular risk for African and Caribbean heritage residents in City and Hackney, with a strong focus on women. The programme was culturally sensitive, community-led and delivered in trusted spaces.

Programme activities included:

Weekend walking groups (January—June): two groups, targeting 20 women
Zumba classes: weekly sessions for 16 weeks, targeting 15 women
Online heart health talks: monthly sessions (Jan, Feb, Apr, May), targeting 75 participants
Community health fair (with Pembury Community Centre): targeting 120 women, including health stalls and talks on healthy eating and screening
Monthly heart health information sessions: ongoing sessions focused on awareness and monitoring (including blood pressure)

’ Towards the end of the programme, ACS gathered feedback through discussions and focus groups to help participants reflect on progress, address barriers and connect to ' local services for ongoing support.

Collaboration, partnerships and community leadership

ACS worked closely with local partners and networks to strengthen support pathways for families. This included collaboration with wellbeing networks and mental health support routes and hosting a VRU Innovation Grant for the Change in Youth organisation.

Funding and supporters (as recorded during the year)

ACS is grateful to the organisations that funded and supported our work including: e Hackney Council Adult Learning e North East London Integrated Care Board (NEL Health Inequalities funding) e The Mercers (Propel grant), Skipton Charity, Barnardo’s, Hackney HAF, Co-op e Hackney Council Household Support Fund, ELBA, Hackney Giving e CAMHS Alliance and Hackney Council Community Infrastructure Grant

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What next

In 2025-26, ACS will focus on:

e Deepening impact in education: sustaining supplementary education and mentoring support with a continued focus on attainment, reduce exclusion rates looking at system change and confidence.
« Strengthening family support: expanding targeted parenting and family learning support where need is highest.
e Growing adult learning pathways: improving progression routes from basic skills into accredited courses, employability and volunteering.
e Maintaining cost-of-living support: continuing hardship support and ensuring families can access help quickly through trusted routes.
e Measuring outcomes more consistently: strengthening simple monitoring (attendance, progression, feedback) to evidence impact for funders and partners.

Thank you to ail funders, partners and donors who supported this work during 2024-25.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document

African Community School was established by a constitution on 7 July 2001 and is registered in England & Wales as a charity on 9 August 2001. Registered charity number 1087936 awaiting to re-register for Ofsted

Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committee: At each AGM, the management committee members may retire but are eligible for re-election. All service users are eligible for nomination as trustees, as are other interested persons.

Trustee Induction and Training

New trustees are furnished with the charity's constitution and other literature relating to the organisation and its work. They are briefed on their legal obligations under Charity Law, the committee and decision-making processes, and the charity's recent financial performance. Trustees attend an induction evening where they can meet _ responsibilities.other trustees, staffTrusteesetc. Theyare alsoare alsoencouragedprovidedtowithattenda descriptionexternal trainingof theireventsroles and where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.

Risk Management

The trustees have drawn up a risk register that provides dates and details of action to reduce the risks faced by the charity. The charity also purchases a range of insurances. The charity continually reviews the organisation's risk and has a comprehensive risk assessment policy and procedure.

Financial Review

There is a gradual and sustainable increase in the financial position of the school as in previous year with a surplus of £187,440 in 2025 and £4,366 in 2024. The total funds retained at the end of the year are £697,099 which include £12,915 of unrestricted funds, £77,400 of designated funds and £606,784 of restricted funds.

Reserves Policy

The school has a policy of maintaining reserves of at least 6 to 9 months operating costs to enable it to cope with any sudden loss of income or adapt to changes with smooth transitions.

AFRICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the project and the income and expenditure of the project for that period. ,

In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

e select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; e make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; e prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the project will continue in operation.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the project. They are also responsible for safe guarding the assets of the project and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. _

, This report was approved by the Board on BO.[ 12. /....2028 and signed on its behalf by

| | report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the African Community School for the year ended 31 March 2025. | Responsibilities and basis of report | Asthe theaccounts charityin trusteesaccordance of the with organisation,the requirements you are responsibleof the Charities for the preparationAct 2011 (‘the of Act’). | | report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under | section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. . Independent examiner’s statement , | have completed my examination. | confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in | _ any material respect:

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT’S REPORT ON THE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO THE TRUSTEES OF AFRICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations_ 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which isnot a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

| have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Sign DD AEB R Date TfL ceccesrsesevee. 2025, Ade Adebambo, CPFA, MBA, ACIS, ACMA, London Accountancy Practice 161 Sumner Road

Sojourner Truth Centre London SE15 6JL

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AFRICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

	Unrestricted Restricted ” 2025 ” 2024
Incoming Resources Donations, LegaciesandGrants IncomingResourcesfrom CharitableActivities InterestEarned	Fund Fund Total Total £ £ £ £ - 497,440.06 497 440 234,933 11,583.93 - 2,368 1,867.83 .
TotalincomingResources	13,452 497,440 §10,892 237,301 SSL 297,507
Charitable activities	10,814 312,638 " 323.452 232,934
TotalResourcesExpended	SS 10,814 312,638 323,452 232,934 EEO BOL 292,954 —
NetIncomingResources	2,637 184,802 187,440 4,366
Balances broughtforward	87,678 421,981 509,659 505,293
Fundbalances carriedforward	me 90,315 606,784 697,099 509,659 OUI 909,699

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|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |AFRICAN|COMMUNITY|SCHOOL| |BALANCE|SHEET| |AS|AT31|MARCH|2025| |"|2025|"|2024| |FIXED ASSETS|£|£|£|£| |Tangible|Fixed Assets|-|-| |CURRENT ASSETS| |Debtors|-Rent|Deposit|-|-| |Cash|at|Bank and|in|Hand|699,099|511,659| |699,099|§11,659| |CURRENT|LIABILITIES| |Creditors|and Accruals|-|-| |Accountancy|Fees|/ Bookkeeping|2,000|2,000| |2,000|2,000| |697,099|509,659| |REPRESENTED|BY:| |FUNDS:| |Unrestricted|Fund|12,915|87,678| |Designated|Fund|77,400|-| |Restricted|Fund|606,784|421,981| |697,099|509,659| |Approved by the Management Committee on...|‘39 ;|fi2/|2025| |and|signed|on|its|behalf by:| |Sign.|CUHK|LA|i| |Sign.O|—seido|cesses. Treasurer|

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

AFRICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1. Basis of preparation of Financial Statements The financial statements are prepared under the historic cost convention and include the results of the charity’s operations which are described in the report of the Trustees /trustees all of which are continuing.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statements of Recommended Practice for charity accounts.

The charity has taken advantage of the exemption of Financial Reporting Standard No 1 from the requirements to produce a cash flow statement on the grounds that it qualifies as a small charity

1.2. Incoming Resources Revenue grants are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities on the earlier _ date of when they are received or when they are receivable, unless they relate to a specific future period, in which case they are included on the Balance Sheet as deferred income to be recognised in the future accounting period.

1.3 Grants received for specific purposes are accounted for as restricted funds in the Statement of Financial Activities.

1.4 Restricted Funds

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is identified to the fund, together with a fair allocation of management and support costs.

1.5 Unrestricted Funds Unrestricted funds are donations and other incomes received or generated for the objects of the organisation without further specified purpose and are available for general funds.

1.6 Designated Funds

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Management Committee for particular purposes such as Redundancy and Overhead costs.

1.7 Resources Expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities.

AFRICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)

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||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |2.0| |CREDITORS|2025|"|2025|r|2024| |£|£| |Creditors|and|Accruals|-|-| |Accountancy|Fees/ Bookkeeping|2,000|2,000| |2,000|2,000| |3.0| |DETAILED|INCOME| |FOR|THE|YEAR|ENDED|31|MARCH|2025| |INCOMING RESOURCES|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |Fund|Fund|”|2025|”|2024| |Grants,|Legacies|and|donations|£|£|£|£| |~|Barnado|Children|charity|-|4,000|4,000|6,000| |Coop|Flexible|-|990|990|1,868| |Hackney|Giving|-|5,000|5,000|-| |;|Vru|Innovation-|Change|in Youth|-|.|36,623|36,623|-| |HCVS-|Other|-|9,555|9,555|1,800| |Mercer's|-|77,502|77,202|77,502| |LB|Hackney|- HAF|Holiday|-|12,094|42,094|5.145| |Main|Grant|-|69,960|69,960|56,792| |CVD|Match funding|-|14,938|44,938|-| |Household|Support|-|5,000|§,000|-| |Compass|Wellbeing|-|-|10,784| |Family Action NVR|Parenting|-|-|-|20,060| |MIND|-|129|323|429,323|17,130| |The|Learning Trust|-|Adult|Learning|-|133,105|133,105|25,816| |Hackney|Parochial|-|-|-|10,000| |Volunteer Centre|-|1,000|1,000|1,470| |Income|from|other Activities|11,232.97|-|41,233|4,318| |Sum|Up|351|-|351|818| |Heritage|Program|-|-|-|934| |Give|as you|Live|-|-|-|566| |Skipton|-|1,350|4,350|-| |Interest|Earned|1,858|-|1,868|-| |Total|Incoming Resources|13,452|497,440|510,892|237,301|

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AFRICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (continued)

4. DETAILED EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Total| |Fund|'|Fund|”|2025|”|2024| |QUTGOING|RESOURCES|£|£|£|£| |Staff Salaries/ENIC|-|149,578|149,578|105,785| |Tutors|Fees/|Sessional Workers|-|27,196|27,196|26,270| |HMRC|-|30,449|30,449|34,299| |NEST Pensions|-|3,229|3,229|3,128| |Rent/ Room|Hire|-|17,901|17,901|25,233| |Food|Parcel|/|Refreshments|-|4,522|4,522|1,675| |Volunteers|Expenses|-|763|763|113| |HAF|Holiday scheme|-|773|773|1,650| |Teaching|Materials|-|24,210|24,210|16,337| |.|Under 5 Vouchers|/ Creche|-|-|-|2,880| |Subscriptions|& Membership|-|6,127|6,127|567| |Data|Protection|Registration-|ICO|-|47|47|35| |Hackney|Giving-|Household|Fund|-|.|3,300|3,300|-| |Hoxton|Health|-|3,920|3,920|7,131| |Blackhawk|Network|-|7,475|7,475|3,500| |Change|in|Youth|UK|Fund|-|33,623|33,623|-| |Telephone|-|177|177|158| |IT Development costs|4,000|.|°|4,000|.| |Stationery &|Postage|800|-|800|1,095| |Book keeping|/Payrall|Expenses|4,200|-|1,200|-| |Barnados|exps|-|1,001|1,001|733| |Admin /IT/ Qbooks|2,941|-|*|2,941|2,212| |Saturday|Sch|Refund|327|oo|327|80| |Accountancy|Fees|1,400|oe|1,400|1,400| |Insurance|-|||969|969|1,014| |Sundry|Expenses|146|i377|523|640| |TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED|10,814|312,638|323,452|—-:232,934|

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