**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

Financial statements & Trustee reports 

For the year ending 31 March 2025 Charity Registration Number: 1099490 



**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

Contents For the year ending 31 March 2025 

Page 

|Legal and administrative information|1|
|---|---|
|Trustees’ report|2-6|
|Independent examiner’s report|7|
|Statement of financial activities|8|
|Balance sheet|9|
|Notes to the accounts|10-13|





**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Trustees’ Report** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

Legal and Administrative Information 

For the year ending 31 March 2025 

Status: 

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 18 December 2002 and registered as a charity on 19 August 2004. Please note that the organisation changed its name from British Somali Community to British Somali Community Centre on 15[th] May 2025. 

Company number: 04620527 Charity Number: 1099490 

04620527 

Registered Office & Business Address: 

7-9 Crowndale Road London NW1 1TU 

Trustees: Osob Mohamed … Chair Dr Sana Omar Zeinab Abdi Muse … Treasurer Sucdi Hashi … Member Rahma Mao … Member Hafsa Issa-Salwe                         … Member 

Trustees: 

Bankers: 

Natwest Bank, Camden Town Branch 166 Camden High Street London NW1 0NW 

Accountants: 

Issa Associates Chartered Certified Accountants 40a Maygrove Road London NW6 2EB 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Trustees’ Report** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

## **BSCC Purpose and Work** 

The British Somali Community Centre is a community organisation working to ensure improved civic participation and equitable access to services for BAME communities. Founded in 1995 by BAME women, we provide invaluable services in housing, education, employment, para-legal advice, and other forms of community support. Our mission is to address structural barriers in order to reduce the inequality gap faced by BAME communities. 

BSCC started in the London Borough of Camden, but now works across many boroughs of London, including Westminster, Haringey, Islington, Hackney, Brent, Barnet. Over the years, BSCC has become an important anchor for London’s Black community. We receive a large number of visitors on our premises from Camden and surrounding boroughs, seeking all manner of support and advice. We have earned the trust of our community members, and our Trustees include women from the wider BAME community in Britain. Our operations are run by 6 staff with support from 25 volunteers, who are all BAME women and many of whom are young people. We have earned the trust of a number of statutory and voluntary agencies including housing services, education, police, and NHS Trusts, and frequently serve as a liaison between them and the communities we represent. 

Our participatory and inclusive approach inspires us to consult with the community on an ongoing basis to understand their needs and priorities. All our projects emerge from needs directly expressed by the community, and we have successfully raised funds for many such communityoriginated projects benefiting particularly BAME young people, women, and the elderly. We work with full awareness of intersectional discrimination, which affects our target groups with multiple layers of disadvantage. We co-produce all our projects with the community, providing them with opportunities to directly participate and lead. 

The support of Camden’s Community Partner Fund is vital to the British Somali Community Centre, enabling it to continue serving as a trusted hub for local residents. This funding helps sustain essential programmes that promote social inclusion, wellbeing, and access to advice and support, particularly for some of Camden’s most vulnerable communities. By investing in the Centre, the Community Partner Fund strengthens community cohesion, empowers families and young people, and ensures that culturally appropriate services remain accessible and responsive to local needs. 

## **Our current projects are as following:** 

## **1. Youth Safety Project** 

This project aims to empower young people through sports, steering them away from risky and/ or criminal activities and towards meaningful employment and apprenticeships. We receive referrals of young people from the Metropolitan Police, Camden Safety Net and the Violence Reduction Unit, and we in turn refer young people to these agencies where we believe their interventions would be helpful. Further, we support parents to spot early signs of risky behaviour, grooming, and drug and knife crime, giving them the confidence and skills to support their children effectively towards better life choices. We also offer advice to parents of young people who are involved with the criminal justice system. In order to address long-standing mistrust of the police, as well as racism within the police forces, we organise regular meetings between the police and the community. 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Trustees’ Report (continued)** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

## **2. Access to services** 

This is one of our core and longest-standing projects, in which we offer support for families through surgeries and casework. We offer in-depth advice on welfare rights and housing, helping users to submit housing applications, appeal against evictions, complete universal credit applications, maximise incomes, etc. We also signpost them to legal and health experts where we cannot directly help. As access to welfare is increasingly done through digital platforms, we skill up and assist service users to navigate the digital world. Where needed, we also help to overcome the language barrier, for instance by accompanying users to meetings with housing providers, translating letters from authorities, etc.  This project has taken on particular significance in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, as the crisis has disproportionately affected our communities. 

## **3. Supplementary school and holiday club** 

We run very successful and oversubscribed free Supplementary School and Homework Club for children from 7-17, that has significantly increased their confidence to engage with education and improved the attainment levels. Operating since the foundation of the organisation, the Supplementary School is a core project with key funding by John Lyons Charity. We receive reports from parents and from schools about improved achievement of young people who attend our School and homework club, and there is confidence that our interventions core subjects makes a significant positive difference. We support 60 young people twice week with booster support in addition to the normal supplementary schoolwork. The Homework Club continues throughout the year, giving young people consistent ongoing support until their targets are achieved. Alumni of the Homework Club have gone on to successful careers in business, education, public service, charity, policing, law, and the NHS. This project supports over 60 young people and children per year at all key stage levels, including SEND education and tailored support for students at risk of truancy and anti-social behaviour in their mainstream schools. 

The Holiday, Activities and Food (HAF) programme operates as a sub-section of our Supplementary School and has proven highly effective in engaging children and young people during school holidays. Funded by the Camden Young Foundation, the programme runs consistently across all school holiday periods, providing continuity of support outside term time. Each holiday, the programme supports 40–50 young people for 2–5 weeks. A structured programme of indoor and outdoor activities is delivered, including educational visits, sports sessions, and creative and competitive learning activities. All participants receive healthy, nutritious meals alongside practical sessions on nutrition, healthy cooking, and positive eating habits. The programme helps reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour by keeping young people positively engaged in a safe environment. Monitoring and feedback show improved confidence, social skills, and readiness to learn, while parents report increased understanding of healthy eating and improved routines at home. 

## **4. BSCC Football Project (Girls & young women)** 

This project, funded by GO London!, provides football practice and coaching for BAME women and girls (aged 14-25) and builds leadership, confidence, assertiveness, and independence. There are 40 regular participants who attend weekly sessions. Apart from football coaching, they can 3 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Trustees’ Report (continued)** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

also get support to achieve professional coaching qualifications. This activity is helping diversify the sport in response to the success of England’s Lionesses. We have also supported some participants from this project to access opportunities for wider recognition in diverse fields. For instance, our users from this project recently participated in Camden Multimedia Youth Safety Award (run by Camden Youth Services). BSC supported them to enter the competition and gave them advice on producing short videos speaking against VAWG and Islamophobia, for which they won the top award. Another group in the previous year submitted a video on making football more accessible for women and girls and won the runner-up award. 

## **5. Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Project:** 

This project offers 1:1 support for victims of VAWG, working with 5-10 women and girls per week. We also offer monthly workshops for groups of women, reaching 30-40 women per month. In Camden, we lead the campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation, collaborating with the community to raise awareness, for instance through community events and school programs. 

We advocate to strengthen government policies to eliminate FGM, and we train enforcement agencies on intelligence-led and culturally sensitive ways to implement anti-FGM policies effectively. We are also working with Mind and the NHS to advocate for culturally sensitive mental health services for the BAME community. We train them in providing culturally sensitive support for women who have faced trauma of war, domestic violence and FGM. We have also trained 24 BAME women as Community Mental Health Champions under this project, equipping them with confidence and knowledge to support those within the community who are struggling with their mental health. Three participants have gone on to become accredited Community Mental Health Practitioners and now work with statutory and voluntary agencies. The others continue to offer less specialist support at community level for those struggling with their mental health. 

## **6. ESOL and IT Classes:** 

Our ESOL and IT classes support adult women of mixed ages from the local community, providing essential skills that improve confidence, independence, and access to employment and services. The programme currently consists of two groups, delivered as one session per week, with classes divided into Beginner and Entry levels to ensure appropriate learning support. Each session supports approximately 15 learners and is delivered by a qualified, professional teacher. Due to consistently high demand and strong attendance, we plan to expand the programme to two weekly sessions to increase access and reduce waiting lists. Funded by City Bridge, the programme helps learners develop practical English language and basic IT skills, enabling them to better engage with schools, healthcare providers, and wider community services. Monitoring shows increased confidence, improved communication skills, and greater digital inclusion among participants. 

## **7. Parent Support with School’s and Social Services Project:** 

This project offers advice to BAME parents to help them, and their school-aged children navigate the education system more successfully. Each week, at least 10 parents come to our drop-in sessions, where they gain skills enabling them to actively engage with their child's 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Trustees’ Report (continued)** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

education and build stronger links between school and home, especially for children who are at risk of truancy or educational underachievement. Additionally, we collaborate with Camden Learning Services to improve BAME parents’ participation in school governance systems, for instance through training and workshops on becoming school governors, being part of parent teacher associations, etc. We also offer workshops and support for parents on SEND education awareness. 

## **Financial Review** 

This financial year we had unrestricted income of £2,556 and restricted income of £258,157, Total income was £260,713. We had a net movement of -£456 on the unrestricted income and a net movement of £71,467 on the restricted income. The charity had unrestricted reserves of £56,675 and restricted reserves of £232,465. Total Reserves for 2024-2025 were £289,140 _._ 

## **Public benefit statement** 

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the Trustees have considered S.17 of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance ‘public benefit: running a charity (PD2). The achievements and activities above demonstrate the public benefit arising from the charity’s activities. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The BSCC’S policy is to maintain a level of unrestricted and undesignated reserves equivalent to six months' expenditure. Currently we are working towards achieving this target. 

## **Risk Management** 

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which BSCC is exposed and are satisfied that those systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks including maintaining a risk register, which is reviewed annually. 

## **Investment Policy** 

The charity does not produce a sufficient surplus to invest, as priority must be given to building our unrestricted reserves. 

## **Plans for future** 

We have diversified substantially to develop a strong income stream from trusts, foundations, corporates, members, venue hire, supporters, and individual donors. Our growing portfolio of unrestricted income venue hire, and donations are a significant contribution to our growth. We have put in place a range of mechanisms to ensure we can continue to secure institutional income from the private sector, individuals, and grant-making institutions. 

## **Independent Examiners** 

The charity appointed Issa Associates as our independent examiner. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in Note 1 to the accounts and comply with the BSCC’s Memorandum and Articles, the Companies Act 2006, and the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities," issued in March 2005. 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Trustees’ Report (continued)** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

The trustees' annual report and the strategic report were approved on 20.05.2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: 

…………………………. Osob Mohamed Chair British Somali Community Centre 7-9 Crowndale Road, London, NW1 1TU 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Independent Examiner’s Report To The Trustees of British Somali Community Centre For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

I have examined the accounts on pages 8 to 9. 

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner 

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.  The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. 

It is my responsibility to: 

- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, 

- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and 

- to state whether matters have come to my attention 

## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement** 

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission.  An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records.  It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters.  The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 

- Accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or 

- The accounts do not accord with such records; or 

- The accounts do not comply with relevant accounting requirements under section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination: or 

- The accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102). 

I 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. 

--------------------------------------Issa Associates Chartered Certified Accountants 40a Maygrove Road London, NW6 2EB 

Date: 20[th] May 2025 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

|**Notes **<br>**_Incoming resources_**<br>From charitable activities<br>2<br>Investment income<br>2<br>**Total incoming resources**<br>**_Resources expended_**<br>Charitable activities<br>3<br>Governance costs<br>4<br>**Total Resources Expended**<br>Net income/(expenditure) for the year<br>Net movement in funds<br>**Fund balances at 31 March 2025**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**funds**<br>**funds**<br>**Total**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>2,556<br>258,157<br>260,713<br>220,626<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**2,556**<br>**258,157**<br>**260,713**<br>**220,626**<br>3012<br>168,807<br>171,819<br>114,882<br>-<br>17,883<br>17,883<br>5,662<br>**3,012**<br>**186,690**<br>**189,702**<br>**120,544**<br>(456)<br>71,467<br>71,011<br>100,082<br>57,131<br>160,998<br>218,129<br>118,047<br>**56,675**<br>**232,465**<br>**289,140**<br>**218,129**|
|---|---|



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## **BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Balance Sheet** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

|Notes<br>**_Fixed assets_**<br>Tangible assets<br>6<br>**_Current Assets:_**<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**_Creditors:_**_amounts falling_<br>due within one year<br>7<br>**_Net Current Assets_**<br>**_Total Assets less current liabilities_**<br>**_Funds of the charity:_**<br>Restricted funds<br>Unrestricted funds|2024<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>1,202<br>1,992<br>324,118<br>245,787<br>324,118<br>245,787<br>(36,180)<br>(29,650)<br>287,938<br>216,137<br>289,140<br>218,129<br>232,465<br>160,998<br>56,675<br>57,131<br>289,140<br>218,129<br>2025|
|---|---|
|||



For the financial year ended 31 March 2025, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under s477 of the Companies Act 2006; and no notice has been deposited under s476. 

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with s386 and preparing accounts which give  a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year, and  of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the company. 

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to small companies' regime. The financial statements on pages 1 to 6 were approved by the board and signed on their behalf by: 

**………………………………..** Date: 20 May 2025 Osob Mohamed 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

## **1 Accounting Policies** 

- _1.1 Basis of accounting_ 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice, _Accounting and Reporting by Charities_ (Revised SORP 2015) and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities. 

- _1.2 Incoming Resources_ 

Grants and donations are recognised on accruals basis. 

Incoming resources are reported gross. 

- _1.3 Resources Expended_ 

Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT that cannot be recovered. 

Expenditure that is directly attributable to specific activities has been included in these cost categories. Where costs are attributable to more than one activity, they have been apportioned across the cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of those resources. 

## _1.4 Depreciation_ 

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. 

Provision for depreciation of tangible fixed assets held by the charity is made at an annual rate of 25% on straight line basis. 

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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **2.         Grants and Donations** 

|GLA Go London<br>Zurich insurance<br>City of London<br>Camden Careers<br>**2.         Investment Income**<br>Interest receivable<br>L B of Camden<br>James Wigg Practice<br>Total Incoming Resources<br>Other Donations<br>GPDQ Limited<br>John Lyons (Supplementary school)<br>Rental income<br>Young Camden Foundation|Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>2,556<br>2,556<br>Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>-<br>2,556|Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>18,284<br>95,000<br>8,170<br>47,861<br>14,000<br>37,466<br>-<br>36,236<br>1,140<br>-<br>-<br>258,157<br>Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>-<br>258,157|2025<br>Total<br>2024<br>Total<br>£<br>£<br>18,284<br>26,729<br>95,000<br>49,900<br>8,170<br>9,804<br>47,861<br>93,531<br>14,000<br>21,810<br>37,466<br>12,755<br>-<br>2,790<br>36,236<br>-<br>1,140<br>-<br>-<br>620<br>2,556<br>2,687<br>260,713<br>220,626<br>2025<br>Total<br>2024<br>Total<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>260,713<br>220,626|
|---|---|---|---|



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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

**For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

## **3a.         Direct Charitable Expenditure** 

|HAF Young people activities<br>Youth activities project<br>Light & heat<br>Mind of Camden repayment<br>Events & outings<br>**3b.          Support Costs**<br>Publicity & promotions<br>Insurance<br>Sundry expenses<br>Total Charitable Activities<br>**4.            Governance**<br>Total Resources Expended<br>Audit and Accountancy<br>Legal and Professional<br>Telephone, fax, Internet<br>Printing, Postage, Stationery<br>Refreshments and activities<br>Rent and service charges<br>Wages and salaries<br>Volunteer expenses<br>Depreciation<br>Supplementary school tutors|Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>1,022<br>739<br>150<br>1,101<br>3,012<br>3,012<br>Unrestricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>3,012|Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>24,307<br>98,936<br>753<br>2,025<br>24,452<br>5,422<br>4,562<br>1,361<br>1,809<br>577<br>530<br>4,073<br>168,807<br>Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>168,807<br>Restricted<br>Funds<br>£<br>3,000<br>14,883<br>17,883<br>186,690|2025<br>Total<br>2024<br>Total<br>£<br>£<br>24,307<br>24,146<br>98,936<br>59,274<br>753<br>329<br>2,025<br>1,716<br>24,452<br>18,479<br>5,422<br>1,973<br>4,562<br>3,206<br>1,361<br>84<br>1,809<br>-<br>577<br>648<br>530<br>1,549<br>4,073<br>1,547<br>168,807<br>112,951<br>2025<br>Total<br>2024<br>Total<br>£<br>£<br>1,022<br>778<br>739<br>-<br>150<br>114<br>1,101<br>1,039<br>3,012<br>1,931<br>171,819<br>114,882<br>2025<br>Total<br>2024<br>Total<br>£<br>£<br>3,000<br>1,500<br>14,883<br>4,162<br>17,883<br>5,662<br>189,702<br>120,544|
|---|---|---|---|



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**BRITISH SOMALI COMMUNITY CENTRE** 

## **Notes to the Accounts** 

## **For the year ending 31 March 2025** 

|**5**<br>**Paid employees**<br>5.1<br>_Staff costs_<br>Gross wages salaries and benefits in kind<br>Employers National Insurance costs<br>5.2<br>_Number of employees_<br>The average monthly number of employees during<br>the year was:<br>Charitable activities<br>**6**<br>**Tangible Fixed Assets**<br>**Cost**<br>Additions<br>**Depreci**<br>**7**<br>**Creditors – Amounts falling due within one year**<br>Other creditors<br>31 March 2024<br>At 1 April 2024<br>At 31 March 2025<br>At 1 April 2024<br>Charged in the Year<br>At 31 March 2025<br>At 31 March 2025<br>**Net Book Value**|2025<br>2024<br>£<br>£<br>98,690<br>35,932<br>246<br>-<br>98,936<br>35,932<br>2025<br>2024<br>Number<br>Number<br>8<br>7<br>8<br>7<br>**Office**<br>**Equipment**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>11,770<br>11,770<br>250<br>250<br>12,020<br>12,020<br>9,779<br>9,779<br>1,039<br>1,039<br>10,818<br>10,818<br>1,202<br>1,202<br>1,992<br>1,992<br>2025<br>2024<br>£<br>£<br>36,180<br>29,650<br>36,180<br>29,650|
|---|---|



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