- **ANNUAL REPORT** - — **Supporting communities, enterprising minds and active citizens** **1[ST] JUNE 2023 to 31[ST] MAY 2024** ## **Contents Page** |||Page| |---|---|---| |Highlights from the Chair||2| |Outputs and Milestones||3| |What we did||4| |Building upon our Track Record||7| ||Tackling Health Inequalities|7| ||Coffee Mornings|7| ||Bedford African Event|8| ||Nutrition and Cooking|8| ||Ladies Exercises|9| ||Skills and develop programme|9| ||Covid 19 and Vaccine awareness|10| ||ESOL & IT Programmes|10| ||In house Community TV & Radio|11| |Working with other Community Groups & Organisations||12| |Challenges and Opportunities||15| |ACCM (UK) Finances and Grants||18| |Our Plans for Next Year||19| |Service Users’Comments||20| ## **HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CHAIR** The Charity has now settled in our new home at Cauldwell Community Centre in Althhorpe Street. We are grateful to the Council and our funders who have enabled the Centre to be refurbished and improved making it fit for the purpose, & able to be fully used by the community. The Centre has now had its long-awaited new fence around the Centre installed to make it safer for users, staff and the community. A full Committee guided by agreed Terms of Reference and ACCM (UK) has been established & continues to manage the Centre as tenants. We are now looking forward to getting the community involved in their local Centre. As Chair, I am proud of ACCM (UK) reaching this milestone of owning an asset to manage on behalf of the Community and moving forward after the difficult times of covid-19 lockdowns, continuing to support our vulnerable users. The year has also been crucial in raising relevant core funding to continue making a difference to our users’ lives. The highlight in our fundraising has been securing core restricted funding of £369,149 from The National Lottery Community Fund (TNLCF) and 3 years non-restricted funding of £75,000 from Lloyds Bank Foundation (LBF) that includes their important Enable and Enhance Programmes. The Enable and Enhance Programmes, fully funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation, has enabled the Chairty to undertake its various events & activities, enhanced by learning and sharing information and good practice with other organisation through a Peer-to-Peer Programme or via Teams/Webinars with appointed Consultants from Cranfield Trust and other agencies. These Enable programmes will be assisting with the recruitment of staff, reviewing our publicity and staff training which are all invaluable in the development of the Charity going forward. Our reaching out to make a difference programmes, continued to help break down barriers, tackle abuse, improve access and use of statutory services, enabled us to reach 3,224 beneficiaries with limited staff and financial capacity. We also work closely with wide range of local partners to improve access to services, via joint workshops, information sharing and referrals, especially training in understanding the needs of the local BAME community. I am also proud of ACCM (UK)’s operations, progress made and continuing growth in delivering services. Is strength and health is due to the leadership of the Director, the support, and inspiration of her team of staff and volunteers, my fellow Trustees and our funders, supporters and partners, making it all possible to meet our objects and aims. We do acknowledge there are risks in taking on responsibility for our new Centre, but with support from Lloyds Bank Foundation Enable Programme and the Council, we feel able to manage these risks. We are very grateful to Bedford Borough Council for supporting the Charity with rent free office provision & premises and for its improvements to the Centre and its surrounding areas enabling it to return to its normal function and by utilised by the Community. As we look ahead in our new home, we see opportunities and challenges. Despite securing core funding for the next four years to end of March 2028, we still need to pursue further sustainable funding sources, particularly as the funding environment has become so competitive since the pandemic. We will continue to build on our 16 years’ success to achieve, grow and succeed in taking on new challenges. On behalf of my fellow Trustees, I would like to thank the Director, staff, volunteers, users, supporters and most importantly our funders, particularly Bedford Borough Council, The National Lottery Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Locality, The Neighbourly B&Q, St John’s Hospital, The Gale Family Trust, House of Industry, The Harpur Trust, ScrewFix and more, who have provided us with important grants, that have made it possible for the project to continue being successful. I look forward to committing myself as Chair and serving ACCM (UK) for another successful and fulfilling year. Tarsim Lal Kalyan Chair / Director 2 **International Women’s Day** **Bedford African Community** **Legal Advice 35 cases Mental Health 310 cases No recourse to funding 23 cases Bereavement 5 cases** 3 ## **‘REACHING OUT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE’** ## **Highlights of the Year – 1[st] June 2023 to 31[st] May 2024** ## **One to One User Analysis** _**“I am a white British lady but when I met staff at ACCM (UK) I felt very much safe and supported that I felt as if they have known about me for a long time. ACCM( (UK) treats everyone like family - I was provided with counselling - since then I feel like myself again and I have found answers to my issues through therapy provided. Thank you.” E.T**_ It is often challenging to provide appropriate support, information, referral or guidance to our users who are victims of all forms of violence and the year between June 2023 to end of May 2024 was no different. The Covid-19 Lockdown impacted more on the BAME and other vulnerable communities that we serve than others. The impact is still being felt in 2024, as some victims are only just starting to venture out, report cases, & seek the support or information they need. The total number of individuals we supported on a one-to-one basis went up by 16%. Lockdown intensified problems as services that would normally help them, such as the NHS, Home Office, legal advisers or temporary accommodation were not fully opened or were still largely working from home, making it difficult for those without technology or the internet to access them. During the period June 2023 to May 2024 we supported following beneficiaries: - 386 victims of abuse. The majority (212) were victims of domestic violence with 11 victims of sexual abuse - 58 users were provided with telephone or face to face counselling - 310 individuals suffering from mental health needs, including anxiety, stress or trauma ## **Analysis of beneficiaries:** ## **User by faith:** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Users by Gender
Female
Male
o O
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|**Faith**|**No**|**%**| |---|---|---| |Moslem|245|68| |Hindu|24|7| |Christian|75|21| |Sikh|16|4| |Ravidassia|25|7| |Not known|1|0| |Total|**386**|| 4 ## **Analysis of services:** **Reason for referral (some will be counted more than once)** |**Analysis of services: **|**Analysis of services: **|**Analysis of services: **| |---|---|---| |**Reason for referral (some will be counted more than**
**once)**||| ||**No**|**%**| |Domesticviolence|212|22| |Sexual abuse|11|1| |Mental health|310|32| |Modernslavery|5|1| |Counselling|58|6| |Information/support|112|12| |Helped into employment or education|6|1| |FGM/HBV /FM|15|2| |Children –Child Protection|6|1| |Social Benefits / No recourse to pub-
lic funds|23|2| |Housing /Benefits|48|5| |Legal|35|4| |Bereavement|5|1| |Multiple reasons|108|11| |Total|**954**|| |**Users by Race**||| |---|---|---| |**Race**|**Total**|**%**| |African/African Carib-
bean|38|15| |White British|36|14| |Pakistan|165|64| |Bangladeshi|59|23| |Chinese|2|1| |Spanish|9|4| |East Europeans|6|2| |||| |||| |||| |Arabs|11|4| |Indians|43|17| |Unknown|17|7| |**Total**|**386**|| |||| 5 **----- Start of picture text -----**
120 109 101
100
80 59 63
60
30
40
19
20 5
0
18 - 2526 - 3536 - 4546 - 55 56 -65 66 and Not
over known
Series1
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Summary of Data:** - Number of One to One users increased by 7% - 78% identified as female and 22% male - Majority of the beneficiaries were aged 26 - 35 years followed closely by 35 – 45 years - 64% were of Pakistan heritage - 68% were of Moslem Faith • 52% of beneficiaries self-referred with 38% referred by third party groups, such as Faith Leaders or other organisations **Victims’ voices heard:** I am a victim of DV I was in _**“**_ “My mum self-confidence need and ACCM UK helped has come back since she has started to attend the and supported me Thank _MA_ health and wellbeing you. sessions run by ACCM (UK). I feel as if my mum has come out of a cage!! My Mum is now so confident in herself. Thank f i th d @=e 6 > **Tackling Health Inequalities & Wellbeing** ~~el~~ Now that we have settled at Cauldwell Community Centre, we have continued to run our Tackling Health Inequalities Programmes – Reaching Out to make a Difference but not as much as we would like. While the Centre has at times looked like a building site due to the carious improvement work taking place, activities or events at the Centre were limited due to health and safety issues. Despite these works, we adapted to continue reaching out to our existing users, who moved with us from previous address at Woburn Road, while also reaching out to attract new local users in the Cauldwell and Kingsbrook Wards. We have continued running workshops, services, events, including our free coffee mornings, yoga and other exercises, health eating and nutrition, mental health days, Bedford African Community Events, ESOL, IT, Skills and Development and more. ## • **Coffee Mornings** Coffee Morning sessions, run every Thursday, have become established and are attracting various users from difference backgrounds. Sessions start with exercises/yoga for ladies, who then stay to join others for a coffee/tea and cake catch up. Some of the attendees are elderly users, living alone, who use the Coffee Mornings to get out, meet new friends and share stories. They can also get advice &/or information about any issues of concern. Some sessions are organised so that stake holders such as Public Health can come and give a talk, check high blood pressure or give out current updates on flu or covid jabs. This year, around 900 people have attended our Coffee Mornings. We hope to introduce more activities in 2024/2025 after our improvement works are completed, & we are particularly excited about the sound control acoustics planned which should improve the experience for those using the hall. As part of the Coffee Morning activities, some of the users help with gardening before they settle down to a hot cup of coffee and cake or a biscuit. 7 ## • **Bedford African Community** On 8[th] June 2024, ACCM (UK), in partnership with Bedford African Community Groups, organised the Bedford African Community Event at the Harpur Suite, in Bedford Town Centre. This popular town centre event attracts on average over 600 people to bring Bedford, from a diverse range of communities, with some coming from as far as London, Leicester, Northamptonshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire and more. At the event, we share African culture through music, food, dance, magic, storytelling and colourful costumes. In 2023/24, around 800 people attended, with majority saying it was the best event ever, & just over 22% telling us it was their first time attending such an event. _“Are there any classes for Africana culture, especially music and storytelling in Bedford so my children can learn something about their heritage?”_ _“This is the best African event I have attended so far. What is the date next year?”_ _“The dancers were great, especially the Ugandans and the men playing the wooden instrument.”_ ## • **Nutrition and Cooking** Cauldwell Community Centre, with its large kitchen facility, has enabled the Charity to start providing nutrition and cooking sessions. The economic hardship that followed the end of lockdown caused various social, economic and health concerns, especially when followed by the cost of living crisis, as some were not able to return to work. This resulted in communities who were already vulnerable to fall further into poverty, necessitating help from food banks or social benefits. 8 Teaming up with a Nutritionist, we started running nutrition, advice and cooking healthy meals on a budget session. These sessions also included advice and information on budgeting, where to shop for cheap food & other essential items. We ran ten session and 40 people attended, the majority of them from migrant communities, & many attending our ESOL Classes. - **Ladies Exercises** Thursday mornings, between 10.00 and 11.00 am, before our coffee mornings, we run Ladies Only exercise and workshops in creative arts to build their confidence, while keeping fit. Yoga is always their favourite exercise as it helps them relax, & provides them with learning techniques to do at home with their family. During the sessions, the ladies also have time to share experiences, stories, make friends and learn from each other. At 11.00 am the ladies join everyone else for an open coffee morning which can include men from various heritages. - **Skills and Development Programme** Our Skills and Development sessions support people who are not economically active or have lost their jobs to train in new skills, build confidence in searching for or changing careers into new areas. In the Year 2023/2024, we had 96 Learners on the programme funded by SEMLEP and the Council. Since the programme started in 2019, the Charity has supported over 354 people into 9 employment, education or volunteering, and some have gone on to college in Bedford or Luton to continue their learning. Working in partnership, Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council collaborate to deliver the Multiply Programme. This consists of a number of courses aimed at improving maths / numeracy combined with life skill for adults. ACCM (UK) is the lead delivery partner in this government-funded programme, and we now have course schedules leading up to end the first quarter of 2025. Early next year, we will be jointly planning courses for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026, with demand increasing all the time. - **Covid -19 and Vaccine Awareness** The Charity continues this important work in raising awareness and promoting the vaccine as a preventive measure to communities from East Europe, Africa and the African Caribbean, the majority of whom did not taken up the vaccine. Unfortunately, the virus is still present in the community, with new strains evolving all the time. ## • **ESOL and IT Programmes** We resumed our ESOL and IT sessions at Cauldwell Community Centre in January 2023 continuing in the year 2023 to 2024. For this year we had 89 Learners in ESOL and 47 in IT. Our courses are free & have become very popular, leading to a waiting list for both ESOL and IT sessions. We are currently the only provider in Bedford. To celebrate achievement and build learners’ confidence we held a celebration event to award learners with their Certificates of Achievement in December 2023, with High Sheriff of Bedfordshire the Guest of Honour. In May 2024, we held another event with certificates presented, with the Deputy Mayor of Bedford, Cllr Jim Weir, as Guest of Honour. 10 ## • **In-house Community TV and Radio** This is a joint venture by ACCM(UK) and BRHF, both registered charities based in Bedford, serving the local community and wider audiences. Our in-house satellite studio is linked to the main Sky channel 765 which is available on Free View, Internet and other social media platforms with a wide reach. For televising community programmes, we buy the airtime, which needs to be pre-booked in advance and depends on availability of a slot and is at the discretion of the trustees of the main channel. Our Community Radio is still work in progress as we are still sorting out the equipment to set it up. Watch this space! Main Aims and Objectives of the Services are: - To promote the furtherance of ACCM (UK)’s programmes, including raising awareness on our health and wellbeing events and activities, workshops & providing information about current health concerns and interests that benefit our users and wider communities. It is hope that this facility will also enable professionals, users and service providers to discuss, share and inform local communities about issues of concern &/or interest such as mental health, diabetes, high blood pressure, vaccinations and more. - To promote under recognised and underrepresented community groups by providing the TV facility, to enable them to broadcast their community related programme/s. **----- Start of picture text -----**
TV Studio
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11 ACCM (UK) works with a wide range of local, regional, national and occasionally international partners and networks to help support our target communities, and also raise the issues that they face at different levels. Our work involves sharing learning, supporting outreach and cross-referrals with the following: - Bedford Borough Council – Working with their Safeguarding, Housing, Education, Adult Social Care, Equalities, Parks, and Public Health Teams. We support the Council’s strategies to tackle and improve the health and wellbeing and promote the wellbeing of Bedfordshire’s most vulnerable communities by running health and well-being programmes, outreach programmes in community settings or liaising with Council officers to support victims of all forms of violence in search of protection, housing, benefits, or safer streets promotion. The Council also provides trainers to support our health and well-being and ESOL programmes. - Bedford Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Health / NHS – Joint work promoting current health issues or concerns, reaching out to minority and harder to reach communities to give out information, either by organising free coffee morning sessions, or health and wellbeing events to improve health outcomes. - Local GP’s and BRCC – Supporting health outreach checks, referrals in partnership with mosques, temples and community centres at times which are convenient to a wide range of communities and age groups. - Bedfordshire CAB and Social Benefits – To support people experiencing financial hardship with translation/interpreting &/or completing online forms. - English Learning Partnership is working with us on ESOL to provide Tutors, sessions and learners from other areas. - Bedfordshire Refugee and Asylum Support Services (BRASS) and Polish British Integration Centre (PBIC) – Both refer their beneficiaries to our ESOL and skills development programmes. BRASS works with new immigrants/refugees, some of them are victims of cultural practices such as FGM or child marriage and refers them to us to provide appropriate information on the law and support. PBIC also refers victims of domestic violence, to provide support into legal advice, housing or benefits if required. - East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) – Recovery College – organising joint health and wellbeing activities. - Bedford Domestic Abuse Partnership (PDAP), Victim’s Support, Bedfordshire Police, Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA) - Working in partnership to support victims of violence. - Relate and The Samaritans – Ongoing referral pathways for our community members when in need. - One Housing, YMCA/IMPAKT and Women’s Aid Luton – Providing emergency housing for victims fleeing from abuse or homeless vulnerable people. - Various local Religious and Community Leaders – Helping to promote our work within - their communities and congregations and using their Faith Radios to make announcements 12 - to promote our activities or events and making venues available, often free, for our ac- - tivities and workshops. - ACCM (UK) also works with various other local community and faith groups to deliver services, outreach or organise joint events such as with Bedford Indian Community and British Ravidassia Foundation’s Bedford Festival of Lights that is run in November each year, attracting over 1,000 people. - ACCM (UK) also supports local grassroots communities by offering them use of rooms, hall and kitchens to bring their communities together, hold meetings, have fun, organise talks to raise awareness about issues of interest and concern, share diaspora, culture and faith and more. This is part of the Charity’s aim, to reach out engage and bring communities together, especially in Cauldwell Community Ward that has numerous communities including, Italian, East European, African, African Caribbean and South Asian. The Centre is for the community to access and use. - Be an Ally this Ramadan – Women Only Event. Over 300 people attended Bedford’s first - women-only Iftar earlier this month, hosted by Rosebuds Bedford Sisters, a local female Muslim community group. Hosted at The Marquee in Kempston Hardwick, the theme of the event on 3rd April was ‘Be an Ally this Ramadan’ and guests included a mix of women from Bedford’s diverse communities. The event was open to all, including community and statutory organisations, with approximately 300 people attending the event on the day, including Susan Lousanda, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Ladies attending the Be Aly this Ramadan Our Director in colourful dress with other organizations Directors or Leaders Shapna Khanam, Chair of Rosebuds, shared her dedication to empower and support women and stated that, “Bedford’s first women-only Iftar united women from diverse backgrounds in a powerful display of allyship, marking a significant step towards solidarity in our community.” Through our track record, we are recognised as having as inclusive community, welcoming everyone and working with a range of partners, facilitating joint conferences, events, training, health talks and workshops with many of our partners listed above to address current and emerging community needs, while maximizing cost-effectiveness, outreach networks and expertise, complementary skills, & ensuring quality standards and cultural sensitivity in addressing complex and sensitive casework or awareness-raising campaigns on issues such as suicide, female genital mutilation, forced marriages and domestic violence. 13 We also work with both the local Fire Service and Park Wardens to deliver sessions on home and personal safety, providing equipment and checks. These sessions are important for our elderly community members who may not have the ability to improve things or due to their isolation may not feel safe without information. 14 ## **Challenges and Risks:** - While the takeover of the management of Cauldwell Community Centre offers great opportunities as our base and home, there are also risks as the Centre is located in one of Bedford’s most deprived Wards - Cauldwell, where most residents are vulnerable, struggling with high living costs, elderly and of migrant heritage. - Although the Centre is a capital liability requiring continuous upkeep, since mid-2023, the Council has done its best to carry out a lot of work on the Centre, including the installation of a fence around the perimeter. This is very much encouraging but there is much to do, all of which requires capital funding. - There have been significant increases in demand for our services, especially after moving to Cauldwell Community Centre. This is putting significant pressure on our relatively small staff and volunteer capacity. We attempt to manage this by ensuring all staff and volunteers receive the supervision and support they require. The introduction of short waiting lists or spreading events and activities over the week or months, to help manage the demand has been necessary and we continue with our efforts to raise further core funding to help increase staff and volunteer capacity to alleviate this. - As demand of our services at the Centre increases, any plans for significant refurbishments requiring the closure of part of the centre must be managed to minimise their impact whilst preserving health & safety needs. As a contingency to this, we would look to deliver more of our services in other outreach facilities on a short-term basis. This would ensure a continuation of our work and engagement with those most in need. - Succession planning - The current Director has indicated that she wishes to stand down at the end of 2025 and a new Director needs to be recruited in the next year to take over. The risk is when Trustees will be able to find suitable replacement. The Charity has spoken to Lloyds Bank Foundation, and they will be supporting ACCM (UK) in their succession planning and recruitment through their Enable Programme. Locality has also offered support towards drafting Job Specifications, advertising and Recruitment. - Increasing our number of Trustees - Currently the Charity is looking to increase the number of Trustees to our Board and are being supported by Lloyds Bank Foundation (LBF)’s Enable Programme. There is a risk, as we have previously experienced, that we may not identify suitable candidates, however, we are confident that with the support of LBF, we will be successful. - Trustees, staff and volunteer training – As highlighted above, currently the team of Trustees, staff and volunteers is operating at full capacity, which gives little time and space for developing their skills through training. Through the development of the new Community hub, this may be further compromised. However, we aim to increase the number of Trustees and volunteers over the next 2-years to help meet the capacity needs at both governance and delivery level. 15 • ## **Opportunities:** - The Year 2023/2024, as highlighted above, has been a successful year in securing core funding, both restricted funding from The National Lottery Community Fund of £369,149 over four years from April 2024 and non-restricted funds from Lloyds Bank Foundation of £75,000 over three years from October 2023. The Charity can now concentrate on delivering its work to meet our aims and objectives. The Charity is now financially sustainable for the next four years and staff are being paid a proper salary for their work. - The Charity was busy in 2023/2024 with increases in demand for our services as we continued reaching out to make a difference to the needs of our local communities. As we settle in our new home, we will continue to develop the Centre to become a thriving local Community Hub. We are grateful to the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jim Weir, for his support in making this possible & helping us get most of the necessary works done with the Centre now looking both inviting and safe, attracting more users to the Centre. - We continue to work closely with our partners, including Councillors and staff from different departments across Bedford Borough Council including Housing, Properties, Safeguarding and Public Health, as well as colleagues from Bedford Hospital, various GP surgeries, Bedfordshire Police, NHS CIS and diverse community organisations, including Bedford African Community Group, that run events. - The Centre now has a Management Committee, with approved Terms of Reference, made up of two Local Councillors, two ACCM (UK) Trustees, two former Cauldwell Committee members, & a local resident. The Committee is supported by the Director and Administrative Officer in their work and meetings. This is important as decisions about the Centre are now being made by a Select Committee that meets four or five times a year, or more, as required. - We will continue working closely with local Community and Faith Leaders who continue to support our work to reach more people, especially those who are more reluctant to get out and about or are housebound. We will continue to encourage them to refer vulnerable people, especially the elderly, victims of abuse and young families to access our events, activities, information or support. We hope to continue supporting our publicity and promotions work through Faith Radio announcements and during prayer congregations, as communities trust their Faith and Community Leaders as a source of information, especially those who are housebound or do not speak English. - As we settle in our new home and start developing the Centre we have reviewed our website www.accmuk.com and are now reviewing all our other publicity materials to better reflect our work and improve the Charity and Centre’s profile within the wider community. A refreshed image and profile will improve our reach and further engage with harder-to-reach communities. Some of our plans include running events based on International Food or Cultural Themes such as Mexican, African, South Asian, Chinese, and so on, where we will charge a minimal fee for an evening out with food, entertainment from the named culture. This will attract over 100 people per event. - The Charity, working with Bedford African Community Group, will continue to run 16 • Bedford African Community Events, not just in the town Centre but also in the Community Centre, encouraging African communities to use the Centre for their activities as well as running formal events organised with our partners to bring information to them from service providers enabling them to make informed decisions on a variety of topics such as immigration, violence, modern slavery, health etc. - Working with local women with a passion for food, we also aim to develop a Community Food Kitchen, where meals will be prepared and sold to earn income for them and the Centre, while also servicing those in need such as the elderly or homeless people with a hot meal. We have ladies with the appropriate qualifications ready to start the Community kitchen which it is hoped will feed 25 older people a day & around 20 homeless people a week. - We are ready for the 2024/2025 challenges building on our opportunities. 17 ## **ACCM(UK) Finances & Grants** ## **Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2023** ||**Notes**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds (£)**|**Restricted**
**Funds (£)**|**Total**
**Funds (£)**
**2022**|**Total Funds**
**(£) 2022**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Incoming Resources:**|||||| |Activities in furtherance of the
Charity's objects|||||| |Grant Receivable||30,361|63,993|94,354|95,773| |Fees and Bank Interest|||||| ||||||| ||||||| |**Total Incoming Resources**||**30,361**|**63,993**|**94,354**|**95,773**| ||||||| |**Resources Expended:**|||||| |Cost of activities in furtherance of
Charity's Objects|||||| |Direct Charitable Expenditure||3,372|11,871|15,243|16,590| |Management and Administration|||||| |Office rent and services||0|0|0|0| |Salaries||25684|46446|72130|67813| |Training||0|105|105|4860| |Accountancy and professional fees||8492|9624|18116|4885| |Volunteer Expenses||348|324|671|384| |Travel & subsistence||362|160|522|820| |Consultancy||0|0|0|1679| |Administrative||9,193|3,588|12,781|9878| |Subscriptions||0|456|456|497| |Bank Charges||174|46|220|237| |Staff Miscellaneous||605|1,154|1,759|1,387| |**Total Resource Expended**||**48,230**|**73,773**|**122,003**|**119,741**| |**Net (Expenditure/Income) for the**
**Year**||**-17,869**|**-9,780**|**-27,649**|**-23,968**| |**Total Funds at 1st June 2022**||**25,602**|**30,208**|**55,810**|**79778**| |**Total Funds 31st May 2023**||**7,733**|**20,428**|**28,161**|**55,810**| 18 ## **Our Plans for Next Year** - _**Bringing people together and building strong relationships in and across communities**_ – The project will continue our reach, links and engagements with the local communities, and focus upon those we have not been able to reach or missed, especially those isolated, elderly, minorities and homeless people. From our community centre and venues across Bedford, we will bring the community together to help them develop and build links and relationships with each other, and with our range of partners. Importantly, through the project and the range of support, referrals and links, we will help our community members to build links with statutory agencies and mainstream providers, ensuring that they are aware of what assistance is available to them, and that they do not fall between the cracks. - _**Improving the places and spaces that matter to communities**_ – This will support the delivery of our work at our Community Hub and Centre, which itself continues to be improved and developed. Over the next year we will be increasing the useable outdoor space to include a community garden, rest and play area, to encourage the use of outdoor spaces for improved health and the environment. As an outdoor space, it will encourage our users to learn or enjoy gardening by keeping the spaces tidy or planting vegetables, flowers, herbs or fruit they can enjoy. - _**Enable more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage**_ – Our project helps community members to recognise and tackle health issues that they are facing, through the links developed with other service providers, partners and other charities. Tackling issues or need at the earliest possible stage, will help with recovery or making a difference to their lives. As we have built trust over the last 16 years, being trusted by our community and engaging with them and through word of mouth, we will be able to reach out to more ‘hidden’ people in need. Our training and education support (ESOL, IT, Managing Money, Skills and Development sessions) help our community members to develop their English-speaking skills, enable them to communicate, access and use statutory services, get information from mainstream media, and engage with other communities in the local area while participating in local activities. We continue to help and enable our users to access social media, pay bills, search for information for jobs or training, make appointments, applications or join education programmes via Zoom. Our Skills and Development sessions help people who have lost their jobs, or are new in the UK, to build their confidence in searching for new jobs, and improve and support with interview skills. - _**Enable the Charity to increase its number of Trustees –**_ The Charity after securing large grants now needs to increase its Trustees numbers. We are being supported by Lloyds Bank Foundation through its Enable Programme to recruit new Trustees. By the end of the 2024, the Charity hopes to have recruited at least two or more new Trustees. 19 ## _**What Our Users and survivors told us:**_ - I would like to thank you and your team for such fantastic support for our mutual clients. Each and every one of them have been touched by your kindness and compassion in these troubled times. I have reached out to many foodbanks in our local area and you outshine them all! Going over and above to ensure that everyone receives the food they need. A very big heartfelt thank you!! _AK_ - “I was a victim of HBV and forced, arranged marriage – I was disowned by my family. When I had no one to help a friend told me to go to ACCM (UK). ACCM(UK) gave me support that no other services gave me. It has been one year now, I have come a long way, passed my driving test and I am a solicitor. I am today where I am because of ACCM (UK). Thank you Sarah and team for all your support.” _A.B_ - “I was referred by mental health services to ACCM (UK). I was supported throughout till to date, I was a victim of domestic violence. Rehana and Sarah gave me the hope- I am now a new me- I am no longer with the mental health services and I have started to live again. I am now working, and I would like to say a huge thank you to ACCM(UK). _ST_ - “My mum use to be always stressed with issues. It would always show on her face. Since ACCM (UK) project worker met mum it’s like mum is suddenly getting better. Mum has improved since she started going to ACCM (UK) health and wellbeing sessions. I am pleased to say my mother is now smiling more often and is getting her confidence back”. _Client’s Daughter_ - “My mum’s self-confidence has come back since she has started to attend the health and wellbeing sessions run by ACCM (UK). I feel as if my mum has come out of a cage!! My Mum is now so confident in herself. Thank you for opening the doors for mum”. _Mrs S’s Daughter_ - “ When I was so down, a friend told me to go and see someone at ACCM (UK). As an Asian male I found it difficult and embarrassing to seek help as you get laughed at. I visited ACCM (UK) and spoke to a Support Worker. After a chat, she understood what I was experiencing and booked me on counselling programme. After 6 sessions, I am now confident and coping with new life without panic reactions to life. Thank you so much ACCM (UK) you have changed my life.” _Mr AH_ 20 - I was abused beaten; I had nowhere to go. ACCM UK helped report to police, find me a new home and continued to provide one-to-one counselling. Sarah helped apply for the Domestic Violence Concession as I was abused, I got help with benefit and after securing my settlement status. I am now learning English after being encouraged to join the class for free. I was helped with my CV and I now got a paid job and independent and safe. _HK_ - I thought my daughter in law was useless until she joined ESOL classes at ACCM (UK), she secured a good paid job, we can now afford better lifestyle including going out for meals. I now mentor mothers to let their daughters in law go out, learn and gain employment to improve the family and community. Mrs HK 21 **CONTACT:** ACCM (UK) Cauldwell Community Centre 51A Althorpe Street Bedford MK42 9HF Tel/Fax: +44 1234 356 910 Mobile: +44 7712482568 Email: **info@accmuk.com** Website: **www.accmuk.com Twitter: @ACCMUK Facebook: ACCM UK** Charity Number: 118904 Company by Guarantee Number: 06584024 22 **More information and photos can be found on our website www.accmuk.com** **Or can be requested by contacting us at info@accmuk.com or 01234 356910.** ## **FUNDED AND SUPPORTED BY** : ## **Local Councillors** **AND MANY MORE** 23 CCM ACCM (UK) Trustees, Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31st May 2024 ACCM(UK} Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 COMPANY INFORMATION DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES Tarsim Lal Kalyan CHAIRPERSON Gurdeep Sanghera SECRETARY Mark Barry DeGietelink TRUSTEE Bukola Gagar TRUSTEE REGISTERED OFFICE Cauldwell Community Centre 51A Althorpe Street Bedford MK42 9HF BANKERS Lloyds TSB Bank plc High street Bedford MK40 ISB ACCOUNTANTS Egemole & Co Accou ntants 29 Mansfield Road Sheffield S12 2AE Company Limited By Guarantee No. 06584024. Charity status No. 1128904. ACCM(UK) Financial Ststement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 INDEX PAGE Directors. and Trustees, Report Accou nta nts, Report Statement of Financial Activities and Income and Expenditure Balance Sheet Principal Accounting Policies Notes to the Financial Statement Independent Examinerfs Report ACCM{UK) Financial Ststement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 DIREcfoRS' AND TRUSTEES, REPORT the dlrectors and trustees present their report and the finanual statements for theyearended 3tst May 2024. Prlndpal a¢￿vItIes, oble¢ts and or8anis•tson:. The principal actlvltles and obJedives of the charity are the relief of poverty and sickness, the advancement of educatSon, the preservation and the protection of good health amon8 ethnic minoritie5 in England and Wales and other parts of the wodd. In settlnB these objettives the twstees have considered the Charlty CommI￿lOn,$ gener318uidan¢e on publi¢ benefit. The charity Is consNtuted as a ¢ornpany liinited by guarantee and is therefo￿ governed by its memorandum and arbdes of a$50(iation. Olrectors, and Trustees, Respon￿bIlItIeS Company ar￿ charity law requlre the trustees to prepare financial statements for each accountlng perlod whlch give a true and fair view of the state of affaits of the charity and of the Sncome and expenditure the trustee5 are required to:_ Selert suitable accountlng polides and then appty them conslstentfy. Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and Pfudent. Prepare the financial stalements on the going concem basis unless It Is Inappropriate to presume that the charlty wlll coniinue in busine5S. The dlrectors and trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posltlon of the tharity and to eriable them to ensure that the rinanclal statements comply with the Charities ACL They are also responsible for the preventlon and detection of fraud and tsther Irregularitie5. Revlew of Activlties The trustees, ￿VIew of activities is set out in a separate doujment. Reserves Policy The charlty has a reserves policy in place. Page I ACCM{UK) Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 DIRE￿oRs, AND TRUSTEES, REPORT Summary of Flnancial Position The Statement of Hnandal Actlvlties shows net resources of {£276491 for the year. Reservès amount to £28161 of whlch E20428 lie in restricted funds cotnmitted to spedfic purpose. Rlsk Mana8ement The trustees have asse55ed the major risks to whith the tharfty is expthsed. in particular those related to the . operations aRd finances of the trust and are satisfied that system5 are in place to mitigate the exposure to ajor risks.. Dlrectors and Trustees All directors of the company are also trustees of ihe charfty. There are no other trustee5. the trustees retlre At the forthcom1r￿ Annual Generdl Meeting but are ellgiblè for ￿-appointment. The trustees may appoint a person as a trustee to fill a vacancy or to a¢t as an additional trustee. Thi5 report Is prepared In accordan￿ with the wal Fxovision of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small comyanles. The report ol the dlrectors and trusteÈ was approved by the board on behalf by'.- nd slgned on its Tarslm Lal Kalyan Chair Pa8e 2 ACCMIUK) Flnancial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 ACCOUNTANTS REPORTTO THE TRUSTEESIMEMBERSOFACCM IUK) The followlng rewoduos the text of the report prepared for the dlTeCtor5 in respett of the cornpany's annual unaudlted finandal statsments, from whlth the aCcO￿ts set outon p¥es 4 to 8 h)ve betn prepared. As descrlbed OD the balance sheet you are resFwsltrAe for the preparatlon of the flnarKial state￿￿￿t$ for the yearended 3tst May 2024 a5 setout cm pages 4t09 andyou £onslderthat the company Is exemptfrom audlt. In accordante wlth your Instruct(on5, we have (wi￿[ed these unaLKlited flnanc4al statements In order to a55i5t you to fulfil your statutory reswJnslbilille5, from the at£tyJntin8 records and informatlon and explanatlons supplied to us. 3010712024 Egern￿e & Co Accountsnts 29 Mansffeld Road Sheffield S12 2AE Page 3 ACCM(UK) Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTivrrtES AND INCOMEAND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT Notes Unrestricted Restrirted Total Fund5 Total Fund5 Funds Funds 2023 2024 Incomlng Resources Actlvltles In fvrtherarKe of the Charity's objects Grant Receivable Fees and Bank Intèrest 30361 63993 94354 95773 Total Incomln8 Resouros RÈswr¢es Expanded: Cost of actlvities in furtheran 30361 63993 94354 95773 Of Charities oblects Dlrett Charltable Expenditure 3372 11871 15243 16590. Management & Admlnlslratlon offi￿ Rentand selv1￿$ 10711 Salarles 72130 67813 Trainin8 Accountancy and professional fee5 Volunteer EX￿￿$@$ Travel & Subsisten 105 105 4860 8492 9624 18116 4885 323 671 384 362 IfA) 522 820 Consultanry Admlni5trative Subscrlptlon Bank Charges 1679 9193 12781 9878 456 456 497 174 220 237 Staff Miscellaneous 605 1154 1759 1387 Total Resources Expended 48230 73773 1221K)3 119741 Net IExpendlture)Ilncome Forthe Year -17869 -9780 -27649 -23968 Total Funds Istjune 2023 25602 55810 79778 Total Funds 3tst May 2024 7T33 2(M28 28161 55810 Page 4 ACCM(UK) Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST MAY 2024 2024 2023 Notes Currerit A55et5 Bank Alc 29411 57155 Cash 550 29961 455 57610 2￿1 57610 Creditors: Amount fallln8 due withln one year 00 Net Curreni Assets 28161 55810 Net Assets Income Funds Unre5trlrted Income funds Restricteil Income funds 7733 25602 2(1428 30208 Total Fund5 28161 55810 The company is ertitled to exervption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year en¢Jed 31 May 2024. The Members have not required the company to obtain an audlt of it5 flnancial statements for the year ended 31 May 2024 In accordance wlth Sectlon 476 of the Companles Act 2(M)6. The dlrectors acknowledge their responsibilities for.'- al Ensurlng that the company keeps accounUng records whlch comply wlth Sectlon of the Companles Act 2(K)6 and bl Preparlng flnanclal statements which give a true and falrview of the stste of affalrs of the company as at the end of each financial year and of its profit or loss for each financial year in accordan￿ with the requirements of section 396 and whlch otherwlse comply wlth the requlrèments of the Companles Act 2006 to flnanclal statements, so far as applicable to the company. The a￿Ounts have been prepar￿ in accordarbce with companle5 With the 5pe(ial pro¥isi¢)ns of part 15 of the Companies Act 2CK)6 relating to companies subject to the small companie5 regime. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on bghalf bv. and signÈd On it5 Tarsim Lal Kalyan Chalr Page S ACCM(UK) Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 PRINC1PALAccou￿nNG POLICIES These financial statements have been prepared under the histortcal cost conventlon and in accordance wlth the appllcable Unlted Kingdom Reportin8 Standards, the Charitles Act 1993, and the Accountlng and Reportlng by Charitie5-Statement of Recommended Prartice ISORP 2Th)51. Grants recelvable Grants in Tr5pect of revenue items are wrttten off to the income and pxpendlture account in the period to which they relate. Grant5 In respect of specific projects are C￿lled to a rertrltted fun(L agalnst whlth relevant expÈndlture Is charged. Grants are not rÈcognised as recelvable uniil all eonditions for recelpt have been met. Where donor imposed re5trittions apply to the timing of the related expenditure, a5 a pre-condition for Its use, the grant Is treated as deferred Income untll those restrlrtlons are met. Grants relatlng to fixed assets a￿ credlted to a restricted fund on the income and expenditure account from whith arnounts are released to revenue over the same perifxl as the depre¢lation per1￿￿ of the ￿leVant assets. Dlrect charltable expendlture This will comprise all expenditure relating dlrectty to the objects of the charity. Mana8ement and admlnlstT*lve expendI￿re Thls relates to expendItU￿ Incurred on the day io day running of the charfty and not directly on proje￿. Tan8lble flmed assets and depredatlon TanÈlblè ftxèd assets are stated at cost depredatlon. Depreclatlon Is calculated to wrltè down the Cost of the fixed assets over their expected useful lives. The rates used are as fdlowed:. Fixtures and Flttings Equlpmènt 15 Straight Line straight Llr 15 Fund accounting FurK15 held by chadty are wther'.- Unre5trlcted funds - These are fvnds whlch ¢an be used in acwrdance with the tharitable objecti¥es at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted fund5- These are fund5 that can only be used for particular re5trirted purpose5 Within the objects of the charlty Page 6 ACCM(UK) Notes to the Financial Statement forthe Year Ended 31st May 2024 11 Grants recelvable Grants were received from various organisation5 for the payment of salarie5, consultancy, trdlnin8 and other running costs and are Ilsted In note 5 to the accounts. The amount re￿IVed In the year was £63993 21 Net lexpendlturell1n￿me for the year 2024 Thls Is stated aftercharging:" Attountants remunerntlon 2bl Staff Costs and Numbers Salarles and Wa8es 72130 No employee eamed rn0￿ than £6CIXKJ per annum12024-nlll. 31 Tanglble Assets Equlpment Furnlture Total Cost At 31105124 Depreclatlon Charge for ihe year NBV 31105124 NBV 3V05123 Page 7 ACCMIUK) Notes to the Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 4} Credltor$- Amounts fall1￿ due wlthln oneyear 2024 Accruals & trade creditors 1800 51 Re5trlrted funds The income fvnds of the tharlty Include restrlcted funds to be a￿led for specific purposes. The detai15 of the funds are set out below'.- Movement in Re￿ur Balan￿ at Balance at 3Y05124 OU06123 Incomlng Outgc*ing The National Lottery Communlty Fund 22503 12637 9866 Bedford Borou8h Councll Afrlcan Event 5490 5490 Bedford 8orough Councll-covid 2387 2387 The Harpur Trust S￿) Screwfix 4650 4650 Loc311ty 8578 1422 Compass CIC 15231 15231 House of Industry 17764 2236 The Gale Family Trust The Nelghbourly B&Q 35(K) 1246 2254 South East NHS 4431 4431 NHS 8LMK ISD9 St John's Hospital 2000 TOTAL 63993 T3773 20428 Page 8 ACCM(UK) Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OFACCM IUKI I report on the acwunts of the company for the year ended 31 May 2024, which are set out on paEes I to 8. Respectlvè responslbllltles of irustees and &Yamlner The trustees Iwho are real so the director5 of the company for the purposes of Compa￿ lawl are re5pon5ible for thp preparatlon of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audlt Is not requlred for thls year under Section 43121 of the Ch3ritÉes Act 1993 (the 1993 Attl and that an Independent examinatlon Is needed. It Is my responslbllity to.. Examlne the accounts under section 43 ofthe 1993 Act- To follow tho procedures laid down in the general Directions gi¥en by the Charity Commission under section 43171 Ibl of the 1993 A¢t- and to state whether partlcular matters have come to my attention. 8asls of Independent examlner's report My examlnafjon was carried oul in ac¢ordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examlnation includes are view of the accounting recor(ts kept by the tharity and a comparison of the a¢¢ounts presented wlth those records. It also Indudes consideration of any unusual item5 or disc105ures in the accounts, and seeking eiplanations from you as trustees cty)cemlng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the eviden￿ that would be requlred in an audit and ¢onsÈquèntly no opinion is given as to whethèr thè accounts present a 'tnJÈ and falr vlÈw' and therefore Is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examlnef'5 Statemenl In connection wlth my examinatlon. no matter has ￿me to my attention- l. Whlth glves me reasonable cause ro belleve that in any materfal respect the ￿quirements. . To keep accountln8 rÈcords In ac¢ordano with Sèttlon 386 of the Companles Act 2006,. and To prepare accounts whlch accord with the accountlng records. comply wlth the accountlng requlrements of Section 396 of the Companie5 Act 2￿6 and with the metho(ts and principles of the kwunting and Reportln8 by Charities-staternent of Recommended Practlce ISORP 2005} have not been met: or 2. To whl¢h, In my o￿nIOn, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper urKlerstanding of the accounts to be read)Èd. Jude Egemole Dated.. 3010712024 Egemole & CoAccountants 29 Mansfield Road Sheffleld S12 2AE PaBe 9 ACCM(UK) Flnanclal Ststement for the Year Ended 31st May 2024 INDEPENDE￿ EXAMINERS REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES OFACCM IV I report on the accounts of thecompanyfor theyear ended 31 2024,whlth oreset out on pages I to 8. Resptttlve respon￿lIftIes of trust4a aryl The trustees IW1￿ are real so thè dlrettors of the ({¥n￿ for the purwses of company lawl are respor￿1b]e for the preparatlon of the acwints. The tN5tees cortslder thal an audkt Is ntst requlred for thls year under sect5on 43121 of the Charltles Art 1993 It1￿ 1993 Actl Hnd that an Independent examlnatlon Is needed. It Is my respon$lblllty to: . Examlne the account5 under 5e¢*lon 43 of the 1993 A¢L' To follow tho proredur85 laid down In the gerberal D1￿CtIo￿t &ven by Ihe Charfty Commlsslon undersectton 43171 Ibl of the 1993 Act,. arkl to state whether parucularmatters have Come tc my attention. Bas15 01 lThlependernt 8¥amkn￿$ report My examlnatlon w85 carried out in acconlance with the general tArecUons Bfven by the Charlty Comrnlsslon. An eKamlnatlvn Ir￿ude5 are YIBW of the ac0)Un￿n8 re¢wd5 kept by the ¢lArfty and a compadson gf tp accourts FKe5ented wlth thosèreccrds. It aLso IndJde5 ¢￿IderatI(￿ of any unusual Ilems Dr (msdosures In the aEKounts, and SeokI￿ exPl￿atIorS from you as trustees c(*KtrnI￿ any $uth matters. The pro*dU￿$ Undertak￿ do not provldè all thè eVIden￿ that wwld be repulred in an audlt and consequendy no op1￿1￿ Is Bfverr as to whether the a¢c04mts prasent a 'tFue falr vlew, and therofore ts Ilrnited to th￿e mittors Set out In the statement below. Independent a(amlner'sstateme Ir connectlon wlth my examlnallon. no matter has LJ)me to myattention.. l. Whlch me rEa50nablecause to belle¥e in ary rnat￿al resk*¢tthè rewlrements.. • To keep records In arcordancewlth Sactlffl 386 of the CompanlesAct 2rxJ6,' 8nd • To Prepa￿ aixounts whlth acccffd wtth thè accouftrl￿ recorth cCffipty￿th the ac¢owth8 requlrements of sectlon 396 of the Companles Act 2t￿l6 and wllh the rrethots and princlple5 of the AcDyJntlrg and Rèportl by Charftle$-Statement clReeommended Pra¢ttcÈ (￿jRp 2￿5} hve not teen met: or 2. To whl¢h, In my oplnlorn attentlon Sh￿Ik1 be dra*n Irtr order to ewble a woper understsnthn8 of the accounts to reathed. Jude EBèmole Doted.. 3010712024 EgèmolÈ & Co Ar(xjun￿ts 29 Mansfield Road Sheffield 512 2AE Page 9