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2023-03-31-accounts

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Table Of Contents

Welcome 03-04
About us 05
Our Services 06
Our Staff & Volunteers 07
Our Values 08
Our Performance in Numbers 09
Education, Training & Employment 10-14
Employability Programme 10-11
Creative English & ESOL 12
Digital Skills 13
Raspberry Pi 13
Hatch UK Youth 14
Youth & Community Services 15-24
Youth Connection 15
Holiday Activity Club 16
Organisational Support & Development 17
Community Inspiration Awards 2022 17-24
Community Reassurance & Well being 25-27
Nieghbourhood Watch Scheme 25
DBS Eligibility Check 25
Easy Fundraising 25
Long Covid Engagement 26
Data Bank 27
Charity Information 28-31
Funders & Sponsors 32

03

WELCOME

It is with great pleasure and gratitude that we present our Annual Review for the previous financial year. Last year has been a year unlike any other, presenting unprecedented challenges for our charity that have tested the strength and adaptability of our organisation. In the face of these challenges, our commitment to empowering individuals and uplifting communities remained unwavering. We are proud to share the impactful strides we've made in our mission to empower and uplift the communities we serve. Staff and volunteers have continued to deliver excellent services with the limited funds available during a time of greater service demand. Full details of the projects and services are detailed in the report. We will highlight some of the key areas of work that have taken place this year.

One of our core initiatives in 2022 focused on addressing the growing need for education in the face of a changing digital landscape. Our focus on education and skill development, particularly in English language proficiency and digital literacy, became increasingly critical as remote communication and online learning became the new norm. In response, we doubled down on our efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, had the tools and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Through our targeted programmes, we have successfully helped individuals in our community acquire essential English language and digital skills. By doing so, we aim to narrow the educational gap and empower individuals to participate fully in today's interconnected world.

Recognising the challenges faced by young people in securing meaningful employment opportunities, the Hatch Programme funded by Youth UK, was as a beacon of hope for young people seeking employment opportunities. We facilitated skill-building workshops, networking events, and real life work opportunity in collaboration with KFC. This initiative not only addressed the immediate needs for job opportunities but also equipped young individuals with the skills and guidance necessary to navigate the competitive job market successfully. The success stories of participants who found meaningful employment through the Hatch Programme are a testament to the transformative impact of this initiative.

Celebrating community spirit and positive contributions has always been at the heart of our work. The Community Inspiration Awards, an initiative of the Community Foundation, provides a platform to recognise and honour individuals and groups whose exceptional efforts have made a lasting impact. These awards celebrate the unsung heroes whose dedication and compassion have made a lasting difference in the lives of those around them. The awards not only shine a light on those who have gone above and beyond but also inspire others to contribute to the collective well-being of our community. This year we had more VIP dignitaries join us in handing out the awards, lead by our Chief award presenter Andy Street, the Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority.

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As a response to the economic challenges faced by many families, our Holiday Scheme went beyond providing free breakfast and lunch. We aimed to create an environment where children and families could thrive, offering not only nourishment but also sports activities to keep children and youth physically active and day trips to places which they may not be able to afford to visit. The smiles and laughter of the participants echoed the success of this initiative, reinforcing our belief in the transformative power of community support.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of challenges, we remain committed to our mission of fostering a sense of belonging, empowerment, and positive change. None of our achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers, and partners. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering support, enabling us to continue our vital work. Your commitment fuels our determination to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

The challenges may persist, but with your continued support, we are confident in our ability to overcome them and continue making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Thank you for being a part of the Community Foundation family. Thank you for joining us on this journey of impact and empowerment. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient community for all.

Bashir Ahmed MBE Chairman

Nozmul Hussain Chief Executive

The challenges of 2022-23 brought forth by cost of living have been particularly taxing for us and the community we serve. Uncertainty, financial strain, and increased demand for essential services have created an environment where resilience and adaptability are paramount. However, it is during these trying times that the true spirit of community shines brightest.

ANNUAL REPORT

ABOUT US

Community Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life of hard to reach and marginalised communities living in areas of multiple deprivations. We do this by setting up creating new projects to develop communities to help themselves.

OUR WORK STREAMS

OUR PHILOSOPHY

The concept of helping others to help themselves is an ancient notion; our core philosophy is based on an old Chinese proverb:

‘Give a person a fish and they will eat for a day. Teach them how to fish and they will eat for a lifetime.’

01.

Develop projects and services to address underlining issues of social exclusion, crime, homelessness, health inequality, unemployment and educational under achievement.

02.

Encourage civic participation and engagement of marginalised communities.

03.

Build capacity of individuals and organisations to help them improve themselves, their organisation and their community.

05

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06

OUR SERVICES

Rainbow Day Nursery Education, Training Apprenticeship Programme & Employment Traineeship Scheme School Work Experience College Placement Graduate Internship Scheme Voluntary Work Programme Employment Workshops Life Skills English Programme

Job Club Suited and Booted Social Enterprise Programme Community Economic Development Hatch Employability Raspberry Pi Digital Skills

Community Reassurance Pride in our Neighbourhood DBS Check Service

& Well being Campaign Picnic in the Park Community Question Time Community Needs Neighbourhood Watch Survey Scheme Know your Neighbour Canal Adoption Scheme Medina Food Bank Community Awareness Healthy Living Workshops Long Covid Engagement Coffee Mornings Easy Fundraising Data Bank

Youth & Community Community Inspiration Summer & Winter Holiday Services Awards Scheme Organisational Youth Residential/camp Development Family Day Trips Youth Leadership Scheme Deen Academy Youth Connections Kids Sports Day in the International Park Children & Youth Services

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07

OUR STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

Community Foundation has a unique staffing arrangement. Most of our admin and project staff consists of people who have been out of work for a long time or have not been able to secure a job due to limited experience of work. As part of our Education, Training and Employment programme we have been able to offer a number of apprenticeships, work placements for undergraduates and postgraduates, traineeship as well as work experience for children from local secondary schools.

We support all our staff with monthly development training to enhance their confidence, skills and knowledge to better undertake their job roles. Our staff comes from diverse backgrounds and there is a real mixture of ethnicity, age, ability and gender. People on work placement go through an intensive on the job training to quickly learn essential work skills to successful carry out them tasks. Quality time is given by the Chief Executive on a 1-1 basis regularly to all staff to support and motivate them to lead and deliver their projects successfully.

We seek to instil a sense of ownership and ‘can do’ attitude in our staff and giving them the platform and encouragement for them to reach their full potential. This approach has received a lot of positive feedback from all the past and present staff who go on to do new and varied work, which without the opportunity at Community Foundation they would not have realised.

Community Foundation’s volunteers are major contributors to our projects and services, without whom we would struggle to carry out the range of services we provide. This year, great strides were made to optimise the recruitment processes and volunteer development programme to better match their interest with our projects. As part of this process, a new volunteer agreement has been introduced that outlines the expectations we have of our volunteers and what they can expect from us in return.

The charity is very involved in the community and relies heavily on voluntary help. Besides our staff, over 20 regular volunteers assist with running our projects and services, enabling us to offer so many services and projects with minimal staffing costs than would otherwise be the case.

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08

OUR VALUES

Our values have served as a compass, guiding us through challenges and triumphs, and inspiring us to strive for excellence in all that we do.

RESPECT & EQUALITY

We value others strengths, abilities, who they are as a person, and show courtesy to everyone & strive to provide opportunities to underprivileged segments of society regardless of gender, race, or religion.

COMMITMENT

We value following through on decisions and promises we make- we do what we say. We are enthusiastic about bringing our energy and skills into the workplace. We value determination and persistence in achieving our goals.

CREATIVITY

We value dreaming of what is possible. We look for innovative and different ways to do our work more efficiently whilst valuing, imagination, experimentation, and fun in serving our community.

INTEGRITY

We value honesty and transparency and being straightforward and genuine in all our dealings with people. We will treat every person with dignity and respect. We are sensitive to diversity and difference.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

We engage with our communities, by not working in isolation. We practise our problem-solving abilities, share our knowledge, and give our time and resources to make concrete positive contributions to our communities.

COOPERATION & PARTNERSHIP

We value the opportunity to work together with a common purpose towards a common goal. We recognise and value the strengths and expertise of others and seek to work with a diverse range of people to improve quality of life for everyone in the community.

ACHIEVEMENT

We value others strengths, abilities, who they are as a person, and show courtesy to everyone & strive to provide opportunities to underprivileged segments of society regardless of gender, race, or religion.

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09

Our Performance in Numbers

At the heart of our mission lies a profound commitment to uplifting communities and igniting positive change. As we reflect on the past year's journey, our performance in numbers serves as a testament to the impactful strides we've taken together, hand in hand with the communities we serve.

2

3 Apprenticeships Traineeships

458 School 900 Free980 School Holiday Club Meals ServedHoliday Club Participants to ChildrenParticipants

6 European Youth Exchange Participants

30 English & Digital Learners

45 Free tablets and sim cards distributed

5 Organisations Supported

15 Youth Employment Support

5 College Student Placements

4 University Student Placements

10

EDUCATION, TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME

Community Foundation offers formal and non-formal education, training and work opportunity for youth and adults to enhance their employability and provide essential office work skills such as handling telephone calls, sorting mail, drafting document, filing, preparing invoices, researching, etc.

We provide the following opportunities:

Internships for graduates to become work ready.

Since 2011 we have been running our own work programme for local people. Every year we undertake a special recruitment drive to offer various work opportunities. Protocol Group, Aspiration Training and Cracker Jack Training are our registered training providers who we have been in partnership with for several years. Through our programme, the apprentices successfully attained essential practical skills in their chosen career as they completed each module. They managed to develop their self-confidence and key presentation skills through their day-to-day work as an apprentice. The work environment allowed them to experience working as an actual member of staff and by having set tasks and deadlines, they learnt to meet the expectations employers would have of an employee and prepare them for the real world of work.

The following people were supported through our employability Programme this year:

ANNUAL REPORT

¥* COIAIAUMrtY FOU1401bTION 11 College Student Placement Labir Ali Level 3 Business University College 8irmingharn Universi Colle e 8irmin ham University College Birmingham University College Birmingham Walsall College 1111112022- 0910612023 0811112022-0910612023 06105/2022-0810712022 1110412022- 0710612022 0411012021- 0810412022 Aboubacar Camara Gaudminas Pilaskis Raheem Deen Level 3 Business Level 3 Business Level 3 Busines5 Hanifa Mahmoud Level 2 Childcare Traineeship Humairaa Ashraf Level 2 Business Admin Reihan Hus5ain Level 2 Business Admin Protocol Training Group Protocol Training Group Protocol Trainin Group 1710412023-0510712023 1310312023-0610412023 2011212022-1110112023 Luther Mboun Level 2 Business Admin Voluntary Work Hayate Ahmed Gill Plumridge Fundraising and Marketing Intern ESOL teacher 03110/2022-2911112022 2511012022-2011212022 ANNUAL REPORT

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CREATIVE ENGLISH & ESOL

Community Foundation delivered English classes in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Faith Action with an aim to make it easier for those with limited spoken English to access the NHS and health services in the UK. We delivered English lessons surrounding health through drama, roleplay, and discussion to those with limited spoken English. Our classes brought together learners from different countries, including Ukraine, Turkey, Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria & more.

Following the completion of this programme, we decided to continue delivering ESOL classes to those with limited spoken English, supported by volunteers. We are now continuing to deliver classes surrounding different topics, for example, visiting the airport, shopping & hobbies. We create dynamic lessons that are both engaging and interactive. We believe in the power of active learning, so our classes emphasize participation, discussion, and hands-on activities. Through a combination of speaking, listening, reading, and writing exercises, we foster a wellrounded approach to language acquisition.

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DIGITAL SKILLS

Community Foundation delivered the Digital Skills Programme in partnership with Good Things Foundation to those with limited digital awareness and knowledge. This comprehensive course empowered learners to enhance their digital literacy, enabling them to access online services, search for employment opportunities, explore hobbies, and much more. In an effort to address digital and data poverty, we extended support to eligible participants by providing tablet devices and data sims through Good Things Foundation's Data Bank. This vital assistance granted beneficiaries the means to access the internet, opening up new opportunities that were previously out of reach for them.

RASPBERRY PI

Community Foundation in partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation developed an initiative to support children from low-income households. Recognising the significance of digital access and its impact on education, recreation, and personal enrichment, this partnership has provided computer devices to children who were previously unable to afford them. Children were provided with devices to utilise for educational purposes, recreation and to enrich their minds. Children who received the devices came from low-income households and were in receipt of free school meals. This initiative has allowed them to excel in their schoolwork, and utilise the device for their hobbies, where they previously would have been inaccessible due to not being in possession of an appropriate device.

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HATCH YOUTH EMPLOYMENT

In partnership with UK Youth and KFC, Community Foundation provided young people who were not in education, training or employment (NEET) with the opportunity to get on the career ladder, develop their employability skills and earn a wage. Young people took part in a series of preemployment workshops before entering the workplace for a 4-weeks paid work placement, in the hospitality sector.

On 14th March 2023, we conducted the first Hatch induction, introducing the Hatch Youth Employment scheme to young people. From a pool of 70 applicants, we carefully selected our first batch of young participants. During the induction, they were provided with a comprehensive presentation that outlined the programme‘s benefits, the valuable skills they would acquire, the engaging employment workshops they would attend, and the opportunity to address any queries they had. Due to high demands, we held our second induction session, accommodating even more enthusiastic young people.

Group 1 commenced their employment modules in May 2023, delivered at our City Centre location. This group consisted of 15 motivated young people who would attend employment workshops before their 4-week work placement either at KFC or an alternate location. The employability modules served as an invaluable preparation phase, equipping the young people with essential knowledge on CV building, workplace etiquette, completing applications, fostering effective teamwork, enhancing communication skills, and more, all aimed at ensuring a successful experience in the workplace. At their work placements, young people were able to gain on the job experience, interact with customers, gain transferable skills and they were also provided with a guaranteed interview with KFC. The programme will be followed by a further 2 groups going through the same process.

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YOUTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES

YOUTH CONNECTION

Youth Connections is a platform for young people to work together with other young people from across Europe and surrounding countries to discuss issues of common interest, share experiences and learn from each other and come up with thoughts and ideas to better respond to them.

Community Foundation in Partnership with Business Mentality from Greece delivered a 10-days Erasmus plus non-formal training on Digital Transformation from 31 March - 9 April 2022. The programme was attended by 45 participants from the United Kingdom, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, Norway and Bulgaria. The programme encouraged young people to use digital tools and resources more effectively, through non-formal education activities. By adopting this approach, the programme sought to equip participants with both hard and soft skills essential for thriving in the rapidly evolving digital era.

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HOLIDAY ACTIVITY CLUB

During the Summer and Winter school holidays, Community Foundation organised a Holiday Activity Club, supporting children in receipt of free school meals. They were provided with fun and engaging activities, day trips and healthy, nutritious meals throughout the day.

In the Summer, the scheme was held from 1st August– 25 August 2022 for children 5 – 16 years of age. Following the success of this, the winter scheme took place from 19 Dec – 22 Dec 2022 in Small Heath. Children took park in sports activities, workshops and watched educational films. We had facility to accommodate up to 200 children in Small Heath.

As part of the scheme, children were provided with healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch meals, as well as snacks throughout the day. For breakfast, a variety of cereals and toast were offered to the children. During lunchtime, the children enjoyed a diverse array of meals, including pasta, chicken wraps, spaghetti, tuna & egg mayo sandwiches, along with a piece of fruit.

To keep the children engaged and active, a range of exciting sports activities were organised. They enthusiastically participated in dodge ball, football, basketball, rounders, and cricket, fostering teamwork, physical fitness, and fun throughout the programme. In addition to this, to keep the children active and energised, a personal trainer volunteered her services and conducted daily CrossFit classes, ensuring they achieved their recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

With the team from Bring it on Brum, children took part in a simple cooking class where they learnt how to make a fruit sundae. The scheme also provided children with various workshops on healthy eating, arts and crafts, gardening and cooking. Further to this, children and families attended exciting day trips to West Midlands Safari Park, Dovedale Peak District, Drayton Manor Theme Park and Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Parent Feedback:

“I wanted to say thank you to Community Foundation for the fantastic and well organised holiday club; my kids enjoyed it very much and said it was their best holiday club so far. I wanted to give my feedback as I believe this foundation deserves very good feedback. Thank you again for your effort and memorable fantastic Summer Holiday Club.”

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ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT

Community Foundation provides a number of support services to charities and voluntary organisations. Community Foundation has supported 5 organisations in the past year in organisational development. Our advisors have supported organisations in creating governing documents, charity & company registrations, opening bank accounts, staff/trustee training & more.

COMMUNITY INSPIRATION AWARDS 2022

After a long two years gap due to the Covid lockdown, the 10th Community Inspiration Awards Ceremony was held on the 29th March 2022 at the prestigious Al Miraj Banqueting Suite in Birmingham. The awards ceremony was hosted by Nozmul Hussain founder and Chief Executive of Community Foundation. The chief guest this year was Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority who was joined by Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner; Richard Kirby, Chief Executive of Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Kevin O’Keefe, Chief Executive of Dudley City Council; Cllr Suzanne Hartwell, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health at Sandwell City Council; Richard North, Force Response Chief Superintendent of West Midlands Police; Dr Angela Jeffery, Director of Regional Projects, Aston University; Julie Doyle, Chief Executive, Longhurst Group; Gary Taylor, Assistant Chief Fire Officer from West Midlands Fire Service; Pat Carvalho, Principal and Chief Executive, Birmingham Metropolitan College; Cllr Ian Courts, Leader, Solihull City Council and Board Member, Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Community Inspiration Award is a unique initiative of the Community Foundation, to recognise outstanding contributions made by hard working staff from public sector organisations, businesses, community organisations, and ordinary members of the community who have made extraordinary contributions.

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Our judges shortlisted 75 nominees from the hundreds of high calibre nominations received this year from the Midlands and surrounding areas. The public voted on the shortlisted finalists to decide the results, with awards presented to 47 runners-up and winners by a host of senior officers from various organisations across the private and public sectors. Community Foundation would like to congratulate all finalists and winners and thank all our sponsors, without whose support this event will not have been possible. A special thank you to our Diamond sponsor the Longhurst Group, for their incredible support for this year’s Community Inspiration Awards.

The shortlist and award winner for the 2022 Community Inspiration Awards was as follows:

COMMUNITY CATEGORY: LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Andy Street, Mayor, West Midlands Combined Authority

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DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA PROPERTIES MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Richard Kirby, Chief Executive, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

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ENVIRONMENT CHAMPION AWARD – SPONSORED BY MIAPI

Award Presenter: Kevin O’Keefe, Chief Executive, Dudley City Council

SPORTS AWARD - SPONSOREDBY AL MIRAJ BANQUETING SUITE

Award Presenter: Cllr Suzanne Hartwell, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Sandwell City Council

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VOLUNTEER AWARD - SPONSORED BY AUDIO VISUALS 2 RENT

Award Presenter: Richard North, Force Response Chief Superintendent, West Midlands Police

EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Dr Angela Jeffery,Director of Regional Projects, Aston University

GOOD NEIGHBOUR AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Julie Doyle, Chief Executive, Longhurst Group

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PUBLIC SERVICES CATEGORY:

COMMUNITY REASSURANCE AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA PROPERTIES MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner

PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

Award Presenter: Kevin O’Keefe, Chief Executive, Dudley City Council

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FIRE FIGHTER AWARD - SPONSORED BY AL MIRAJ BANQUETING SUITE

Award Presenter: Gary Taylor, Assistant Chief Fire Officer,West Midlands Fire Service

HEALTH AND WELL BEING AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Danielle Oum, Chair, NHS Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust

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EDUCATION SERVICES AWARD

Award Presenter: Pat Carvalho, Principal and Chief Executive, Birmingham Metropolitan College

BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE AWARD - SPONSORED BY MIAPI

Award Presenter: Cllr Ian Courts, Leader, Solihull City Council & Board Member, Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership

COMMUNITY ORGANISATION AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Julie Doyle, Chief Executive, Longhurst Group

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COMMUNITY REASSURANCE & WELLBEING

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME

Community Foundation has set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme covering most of the Lozells Area. All residents of the area are able to become a member of the scheme and help in making sure that the area is strong, clean, and a safe place to live.

The purpose of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is to:

DBS ELIGIBILITY CHECKS

Community Foundation registered to be able to processes applications to check eligibility for DBS check, to help those that were required by law to verify they were able to work or volunteer with children and/or vulnerable adults.

EASYFUNDRAISING

Community Foundation registered for easyfundraising to receive a donation every time somebody registered on the scheme did online shopping. Our supporters and well-wishers who joined the scheme helped us to raise over £100 without them having to pay a penny.

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LONG COVID ENGAGEMENT

In partnership with BVSC & the NHS, Community Foundation delivered a Long Covid Community Engagement activity in order for BVSC to evaluate the impact as a part of NHS Post Covid Syndrome Service. This work was undertaken to engage with local communities to help tackle increasing health inequalities in relation to Long Covid. We delivered Long Covid workshops, informing people of the symptoms of Long Covid, what to do if you think you have Long Covid and we discussed the support available. We delivered the workshops in 4 locations, including: JMIC Mosque, Small heath; Masjid-ENoor, Aston; Birmingham Masjid & Dawah Centre, Lozells; and Quayside Tower, City Centre, allowing us to reach individuals from a range of demographics.

Following the delivery of the workshops, all participants completed a survey about Long Covid and informed us on whether they were better informed about Long Covid following the delivery of the workshops.

27

DATA BANK

Data poverty refers to the inability of individuals or households to access and afford data services required to participate fully in the digital world. It can severely limit their access to educational resources, job opportunities, government services, healthcare information, and social connections. As more aspects of our lives move online, those without access are at a significant disadvantage.

Supported by Good Things Foundation, Community Foundation has distributed over 28 sim cards to individuals experiencing data poverty. The digital divide remains a critical issue in our society, with many Individuals and communities lacking access to essential online resources and opportunities due to limited or The distribution of these sim cards has been extremely beneficial as it has enabled service users to access the internet from their devices; allowing them to learn new skills, connect with loved ones, find job opportunities, and stay informed about local and global events.

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CHARITY INFORMATION

Our charity is controlled by its governing document, a memorandum and association and article of association, and is set up as a not for profit company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. The company was first registered on the 23rd March 2010 and applied for charity registration on 23rd January 2014.

Community Foundation is a grassroots voluntary organisation which seeks to improve the quality of life of marginalised and hard to reach communities living in areas of multiple deprivations. We set up initiatives and projects to develop communities to help themselves.

The charity is organised with a management committee (Board of Trustees) who oversee the overall activities and one of the committee member is nominated as a chairperson, to monitor the day to day running of the charity.

The following officers served in the board of trustees for the current year:

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chair Mrs Jessica Hope Saunders Secretary Mr Gaus Uddin Treasurer Mrs Irmana Parvin Asst. Treasurer Mr Abdullah Mohammad Ismail

Principal Appointed Officer

Mr Nozmul Hussain Company Secretary

Trustee Induction and Training

New trustees undergo an orientation day to brief them on: their legal obligations under charity and company law, the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and inform them of the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. During the induction day they meet key employees and other trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.

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CHARITY INFORMATION

Organisation

The board of trustees administers the charity. The board normally meets quarterly. The Chief Executive is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for all operational matters.

Remuneration

All trustees (directors) give of their time freely and no director received remuneration in the year.

Risk management

The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:

an annual review of the principal risks and uncertainties that the charity faces;

the implementation of procedures designed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The charity trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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CHARITY INFORMATION

Community Foundation was established and registered in March 2010.

Our Governance Structure

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Chairman
COMPANY
TREASURER TRUSTEES
SECRETARY
Our Management Structure
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE

----- Start of picture text -----
COMMUNITY
EDUCATION TRAINING & CHILDREN & YOUTH
REASSURANCE & WELL
EMPLOYMENT SERVICE SERVICE
BEING SERVICE
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CHARITY INFORMATION

COMPANY REGISTRATION: 7199617 DATE OF REGISTRATION: 23RD MARCH 2010

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1155455

REGISTERED AS A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE IN ENGLAND

HEAD OFFICE

15th Floor Quayisde Tower 252-250 Broad St Birmingham, B1 2HF

REGISTERED & PRINCIPAL OFFICE

20 St Silas Square, Lozells, Birmingham, B19 1QW

EMAIL

info@thecommunityfoundation.org.uk

WEBSITE

www.thecommunityfoundation.org.uk

PHONE

0121 312 0135 07918 546 577

communityfoundationuk

comm_foundation

community.foundation

ANNUAL REPORT

¥* COMMUMrtY FOU1401bTION 32 FUNDERS & SPONSORS Birmingham Cty Council Dudley I I BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER NEAR NEIGMWOURS .el.rThil..iir) 4¢-- NHS Sandwell Birmingham Community Healthcare GoodThings NHS Foundation Tfusl Foundation NHS Aston University Sandwell and West Birmingham BIRMINGHAM UK ogether NHS Trust .4BMet IvitMtA DWP DepartnRnt f Work ond Pensi￿$ IJ West Midlands Combined Authority JI( }IOlJ i Fl TESCO Canal & River Trust Longhurst CMAFd61MG PIA( LIVÈS ANNUAL REPORT

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

(A Company Limited by Guarantee)

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER 7199617 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1155455

1

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 March 2023

CONTENTS

Page
Charity Information 3
Chairman’s Report 4 - 5
Charity Objectives and Activities 6 - 8
Report of the Trustees 9 -24
Independent Examiners Report 25 - 26
Statement of Financial Activities 27 - 29
Balance Sheet 30
Notes to the financial statement 31 - 34

2

CHARITY INFORMATION

REGISTERED NAME:

Community Foundation

WORKING NAMES:

Community Foundation The Community Foundation

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 7199617 DATE COMPANY REGISTERED: 23 March 2010 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1155455 DATE CHARITY REGISTERED: 23 Jan 2014 REGISTERED ADDRESS: 20 St Silas Square, Birmingham B19 1QW

COMPANY SECRETARY

Nozmul Hussain

TRUSTEES (Directors):

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chair Mrs Jessica Hope Saunders Secretary Mr Gaus Uddin Treasurer Mrs Irmana Parvin Asst. Treasurer Mr Abdullah Mohammad Ismail

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Nozmul Hussain

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Redwood Accountants & Tax Consultants Certified Public Accountants CPAA 98 Lozells Road Lozells Birmingham B19 2TB

BANK DETAILS

Lloyds Bank Smethwick Branch 116 High St, Smethwick, West Midlands B66 1AE

3

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 March 2023

The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report together with the consolidated financial statements of the charity and its subsidiary for the year ending 31 March 2023 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).

Chairman’s Report

It is with great pleasure and gratitude that we present our Annual Review for the previous financial year. Last year has been a year unlike any other, presenting unprecedented challenges for our charity. The past year has been marked by unprecedented challenges that have tested the strength and adaptability of our organisation. In the face of these challenges, our commitment to empowering individuals and uplifting communities remained unwavering. We are proud to share the impactful strides we've made in our mission to empower and uplift the communities we serve.

Staff and volunteers have continued to deliver excellent services with the limited funds available during a time of greater service demand. Full details of the projects and services are detailed in the report. We will highlight some of the key areas of work that have taken place this year.

One of our core initiatives in 2022 focused on addressing the growing need for education in the face of a changing digital landscape. Our focus on education and skill development, particularly in English language proficiency and digital literacy, became increasingly critical as remote communication and online learning became the new norm. In response, we doubled down on our efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, had the tools and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Through our targeted programmes, we have successfully helped individuals in our community acquire essential English language and digital skills. By doing so, we aim to narrow the educational gap and empower individuals to participate fully in today's interconnected world.

Recognising the challenges faced by young people in securing meaningful employment opportunities, the Hatch Programme funded by Youth UK, was as a beacon of hope for young people seeking employment opportunities. We facilitated skill-building workshops, networking events, and real life work opportunity in collaboration with KFC. This initiative not only addressed the immediate needs for job opportunities but also equipped young individuals with the skills and guidance necessary to navigate the competitive job market successfully. The success stories of participants who found meaningful employment through the Hatch Programme are a testament to the transformative impact of this initiative.

Celebrating community spirit and positive contributions has always been at the heart of our work. The Community Inspiration Awards, an initiative of the Community Foundation, provides a platform to recognise and honour individuals and groups whose exceptional efforts have made a lasting impact. These awards celebrate the unsung heroes whose dedication and compassion have made a lasting

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difference in the lives of those around them. The awards not only shine a light on those who have gone above and beyond but also inspire others to contribute to the collective well-being of our community. This year we had more VIP dignitaries join us in handing out the awards, lead by our Chief award presenter Andy Street, the Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority.

As a response to the economic challenges faced by many families, our Holiday Scheme went beyond providing free breakfast and lunch. We aimed to create an environment where children and families could thrive, offering not only nourishment but also sports activities to keep children and youth physically active and day trips to places which they may not be able to afford to visit. The smiles and laughter of the participants echoed the success of this initiative, reinforcing our belief in the transformative power of community support.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of challenges, we remain committed to our mission of fostering a sense of belonging, empowerment, and positive change. None of our achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers, and partners. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering support, enabling us to continue our vital work. Your commitment fuels our determination to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

The challenges of 2022-23 brought forth by cost of living have been particularly taxing for us and the community we serve. Uncertainty, financial strain, and increased demand for essential services have created an environment where resilience and adaptability are paramount. However, it is during these trying times that the true spirit of community shines brightest.

The challenges may persist, but with your continued support, we are confident in our ability to overcome them and continue making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Thank you for being a part of the Community Foundation family. Thank you for joining us on this journey of impact and empowerment. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient community for all.

Bashir Ahmed MBE Chairman Community Foundation

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CHARITY OBJECTIVES

  1. To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community in inner city areas of England in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.

  2. To advance in life and help young people through:

(a) The provision of recreational and leisure time activities provided in the interest of social welfare, designed to improve their conditions of life;

(b) Providing support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.

The vision that shapes our annual activities is embedded in the Chinese proverb that we have adopted and adapted: “Give a person a fish and they will eat for a day. Teach them how to fish and they will eat for a lifetime.” Ancient it may be, but it is as true today as ever and this proverb continues to guide all our projects and services.

The strategies employed to achieve the charity’s aims and objectives are defined through our three core work streams:

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of marginalised and hard to reach communities living in areas of multiple deprivation by setting up initiatives and supporting projects to develop communities to help themselves.

The concept of helping others to help themselves is far from new. It was exemplified in ancient times in the Chinese proverb: “Give a person a fish and they will eat for a day. Teach them how to fish and they will eat for a lifetime.” Ancient it may be, but it is as true today as ever.

Paramount to our approach is to address the barriers to good quality of life- worklessness, social exclusion, ill health, and educational underachievement.

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OUR WORK STREAMS

OUR VALUES

Community Foundation management, staff and volunteers are united by a common set of values.

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OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

Community Foundation has a unique staffing arrangement. Most of our admin and project staff consists of people who have been out of work for a long time or have not been able to secure a job due to limited experience of work. As part of our Education, Training and Employment programme we have been able to offer a number of apprenticeships, work placements for undergraduates and post graduates, traineeship as well as work experience for children from local secondary schools.

We support all our staff with monthly development training to enhance their confidence, skills and knowledge to better undertake their job roles. Our staff come from diverse backgrounds and there is a real mixture of ethnicity, age, ability and gender. People on work placement go through an intensive on the job training to quickly learn essential work skills to successful carry out their tasks. Quality time is given by the Chief Executive on a 1-1 basis regularly to all staff to support and motivate them to lead and deliver their projects successfully.

We seek to instil a sense of ownership and ‘can do’ attitude in our staff and giving them the platform and encouragement for them to reach their full potential. This approach has received a lot of positive feedback from all the past and present staff who go on to do new and varied work, which without the opportunity at Community Foundation they would not have realised.

Community Foundation’s volunteers are major contributors to our projects and services, without whom we would struggle to carry out the range of services we provide. This year, great strides were made to optimise the recruitment processes and volunteer development programme to better match their interest with our projects. As part of this process, a new volunteer agreement has been introduced that outlines the expectations we have of our volunteers and what they can expect from us in return.

The charity is very involved in the community and relies heavily on voluntary help. Besides our staff, over 20 regular volunteers assist with running our projects and services, enabling us to offer so many services and projects with minimal staffing costs than would otherwise be the case.

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The following is a summary of our key achievements in each of our three work strands.

S1: EDUCATION TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME

Community Foundation offers formal and non-formal education, training and work opportunity for youth and adults to enhance their employability and provide essential office work skills such as handling telephone calls, sorting mail, drafting document, filing, preparing invoices, researching, etc.

We provide the following opportunities:

Since 2011 we have been running our own work programme for local people. Every year we undertake a special recruitment drive to offer various work opportunities. Protocol Group and Aspiration Training is our registered training provider who we have been in partnership with for several years. Through our programme, young people successfully attained essential practical skills in their chosen career as they completed each module. They managed to develop their self-confidence and key presentation skills through their day-to-day work. The work environment allowed them to experience working as an actual member of staff and by having set tasks and deadlines, they learnt to meet the expectations employers would have of an employee and prepare them for the real world of work.

The following people were supported through our employability Programme this year:

Apprenticeship

Charlotte Dutton Level 3 Nursery Nurse Apprenticeship 10/05/2021-08/04/2022

University Student Placement

Yeseul Kim Masters Social Policy University of Birmingham 12/12/2022-23/05/2023 Daechul Kwon Masters Social Policy University of Birmingham 12/12/2022-03/05/2023 Idris Malik English University of Birmingham 15/06/2022-03/08/2022 Minji Beak Masters Social Policy University of Birmingham 29/11/2021-06/04/2022

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College Student Placement

Labir Ali Level 3 Business UCB 11/11/2022- 09/06/2023 Aboubacar Camara Level 3 Business UCB 08/11/2022-09/06/2023 Gaudminas Pilaskis Level 3 Business UCB 06/05/2022-08/07/2022 Raheem Deen Level 3 Business UCB 11/04/2022- 07/06/2022

Traineeship

Humairaa Ashraf Reihan Hussain Luther Mboungo

Protocol Training Group 17/04/2023-05/07/2023 Protocol Training Group 13/03/2023-06/04/2023 Protocol Training Group 20/12/2022-11/01/2023

Voluntary Work

Hayate Ahmed Gill Plumridge

Fundraising and Marketing 03/10/2022-29/11/2022 ESOL teacher 25/10/2022-20/12/2022

CREATIVE ENGLISH & ESOL

Community Foundation delivered English classes in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Faith Action with an aim to make it easier for those with limited spoken English to access the NHS and health services in the UK. We delivered English lessons surrounding health through drama, roleplay, and discussion to those with limited spoken English. Our classes brought together learners from different countries, including Ukraine, Turkey, Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria & more.

Following the completion of this programme, we decided to continue delivering ESOL classes to those with limited spoken English, supported by volunteers. We are now continuing to deliver classes surrounding different topics, for example, visiting the airport, shopping & hobbies. We create dynamic lessons that are both engaging and interactive. We believe in the power of active learning, so our classes emphasize participation, discussion, and hands-on activities. Through a combination of speaking, listening, reading, and writing exercises, we foster a well-rounded approach to language acquisition.

DIGITAL SKILLS

Community Foundation delivered the Digital Skills Programme in partnership with Good Things Foundation to those with limited digital awareness and knowledge. This comprehensive course empowered learners to enhance their digital literacy, enabling them to access online services, search for employment opportunities, explore hobbies, and much more.

In an effort to address digital and data poverty, we extended support to eligible participants by providing tablet devices and data sims through Good Things Foundation's Data Bank. This vital assistance granted beneficiaries the means to access the internet, opening up new opportunities that were previously out of reach for them.

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RASPBERRY PI

Community Foundation in partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation developed an initiative to support children from low-income households. Recognizing the significance of digital access and its impact on education, recreation, and personal enrichment, this partnership has provided computer devices to children who were previously unable to afford them. Child were provided with devices to utilise for educational purposes, recreation and to enrich their minds. Children who received the devices came from lowincome households and were in receipt of free school meals. This initiative has allowed them to excel in their schoolwork, and utilise the device for their hobbies, where they previously would have been inaccessible due to not being in possession of an appropriate device.

HATCH UK YOUTH

In partnership with UK Youth and KFC, Community Foundation provided young people who were not in education, training or employment (NEET) with the opportunity to get on the career ladder, develop their employability skills and earn a wage. young people took part in a series of pre-employment workshops before entering the workplace for a 4-weeks paid work placement, in the hospitality sector.

On 14th March 2023, we conducted the first Hatch induction, introducing the Hatch Youth Employment scheme to young people. From a pool of 70 applicants, we carefully selected our first batch of young participants. During the induction, they were provided with a comprehensive presentation that outlined the program's benefits, the valuable skills they would acquire, the engaging employment workshops they would attend, and the opportunity to address any queries they had. Due to high demands, we held our second induction session, accommodating even more enthusiastic young people.

Group 1 commenced their employment modules in May 2023, delivered at our City Centre location. This group consisted of 15 motivated young people who would attend employment workshops before their 4-week work placement either at KFC or an alternate location. The employability modules served as an invaluable preparation phase, equipping the young people with essential knowledge on CV building, workplace etiquette, completing applications, fostering effective teamwork, enhancing communication skills, and more, all aimed at ensuring a successful experience in the workplace. At their work placements, young people were able to gain on the job experience, interact with customers, gain transferable skills and they were also provided with a guaranteed interview with KFC. The programme will be followed by a further three groups going through the same process.

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S2: YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT

Community Foundation provides a number of support services to charities and voluntary organisations. Community Foundation has supported five organisations in the past year in organisational development. Our advisors have supported organisations in creating governing documents, charity & company registrations, helping to open bank accounts, and providing staff and trustee training.

YOUTH CONNECTION

Youth Connections is a platform for young people to work together with other young people from across Europe and surrounding countries to discuss issues of common interest, share experiences and learn from each other and come up with thoughts and ideas to better respond to them.

Community Foundation in Partnership with Business Mentality from Greece delivered a 10days Erasmus plus non-formal training on Digital Transformation from 31 March - 9 April 2022. The programme was attended by 45 participants from the United Kingdom, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, Norway and Bulgaria. The programme encouraged young people to use digital tools and resources more effectively, through non formal education activities. By adopting this approach, the program sought to equip participants with both hard and soft skills essential for thriving in the rapidly evolving digital era.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITY CLUB

During the Summer and Winter school holidays, Community Foundation organised a Holiday Activity Club, supporting children in receipt of free school meals. They were provided with fun and engaging activities, day trips and healthy, nutritious meals throughout the day.

In the Summer, the scheme was held from 1[st] August– 25 August 2022 for children 5 – 16 years of age. Following the success of this, the winter scheme took place from 19 Dec – 22 Dec 2022. Children took park in sport activities, workshops and watched educational films. We had facility to accommodate up to 200 children in Small Heath.

As part of the scheme children were provided with healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch meals, as well as snacks throughout the day. For breakfast, a variety of cereals and toast were offered to the children. During lunchtime, the children enjoyed a diverse array of meals, including pasta, chicken wraps, spaghetti, tuna & egg mayo sandwiches, along with a piece of fruit.

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To keep the children engaged and active, a range of exciting sports activities were organized. They enthusiastically participated in dodgeball, football, basketball, rounders, and cricket, fostering teamwork, physical fitness, and fun throughout the program. In addition to this, to keep the children active and energized, a personal trainer volunteered her services and conducted daily keep Fit classes, ensuring they achieved their recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

With the team from Bring it on Brum, children took part in a simple cooking class where they learnt how to make a fruit sundae. The scheme also provided children with various workshops on healthy eating, arts and crafts, gardening and cooking. Further to this, children and families attended exciting day trips to West Midlands Safari Park, Drayton Manor Theme Park and Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

COMMUNITY INSPIRATION AWARDS 2022

The 10th Community Inspiration Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday 29th March 2022 at the prestigious Al Miraj Banqueting Suite in Birmingham. The awards ceremony was hosted by Nozmul Hussain founder and Chief Executive of Community Foundation, with our chief guest Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The Community Inspiration Award is a unique initiative of the Community Foundation, to recognise outstanding contributions made by hard working staff from public sector organisations, businesses, community organisations, and ordinary members of the community who have made extraordinary contributions.

Our judges shortlisted 75 nominees from the hundreds of high calibre nominations received this year from the Midlands and surrounding areas. The public voted on the shortlisted finalists to decide the results, with awards presented to 47 runners-up and winners by a host of senior officers from various organisations across the private and public sectors. Community Foundation would like to congratulate all finalists and winners and thank all our sponsors, without whose support this event will not have been possible. A special thank you to our Diamond Sponsor Longhurst Group, for their incredible support of the Community Inspiration Awards.

List of Awards and Results Community Category:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Andy Street | Mayor | West Midlands Combined Authority

Finalists: Madeleine Holland Wenford George Blair Patricia Earle – Women’s Federation for World Peace Noran Flynn – SHINE@NechellsPOD Professor Abdul Rashid Gatrad OBE

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Results: 2nd runner-up: Madeleine Holland 1st runner-up: Wenford George Blair Winner: Professor Abdul Rashid Gatrad OBE

DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA PROPERTIES MANAGEMENT

Simon Foster | West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner

Finalists:

Abiline and Leyla Grace McShane – Walsall Friends of GRT Cllr Obaida Ahmed – Wolverhampton City Council Cllr Zafar Iqbal – Birmingham City Council Cllr Will Gill – Sandwell Council Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE – Wolverhampton City Council

Results:

2nd runner-up: Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE – Wolverhampton City Council 1st runner-up: Cllr Zafar Iqbal – Birmingham City Council Winner: Cllr Obaida Ahmed – Wolverhampton City Council

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AWARD - SPONSORED BY LOONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Richard Kirby | Chief Executive | Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Finalists:

Dana Klamprárová – Czech & Slovak Club UK CIC Jill Appleton – The Feast Mashkura Begum – Saathi House Mohammad Fahim – Afghan Community and Welfare Centre

Results:

2nd runner-up: Mohammad Fahim – Afghan Community and Welfare Centre 1st runner-up: The Wellbeing Community Choir Winner: Dana Klamprárová – Czech & Slovak Club UK CIC

ENVIRONMENT CHAMPION AWARD – SPONSORED BY MIAPI

Award Presenter: Kevin O’Keefe | Chief Executive | Dudley City Council

Finalists: Green Rivers Community Association Alishia Zafar Hannah Picken – Wild Earth Movement Toqueer Ahmed Quyyam Paul Greenaway

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Results: 2nd runner-up: Green Rivers Community Association 1st runner-up: Toqueer Ahmed Quyyam Winner: Paul Greenaway

SPORTS AWARD - SPONSORED BY AL MIRAJ BANQUETING SUITE

Award Presenter: Cllr Suzanne Hartwell | Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health | Sandwell City Council

Finalists:

Daryl Chambers – InPower Academy CIC Julie Davis - #DoingOurBit Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team – Dudley Council Sara Clarke – Transplant Games, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Vasant Parikh – B.A.P.S Swaminarayan Mandir

Results:

2nd runner-up: Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team – Dudley Council 1st runner-up: Sara Clarke – Transplant Games, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Winner: Daryl Chambers – InPower Academy CIC

VOLUNTEER AWARD - SPONSORED BY AUDIO VISUALS 2 RENT

Award Presenter: Richard North | Force Response Chief Superintendent | West Midlands Police

Finalists: Janet Davies – Brownhills Community Association Mary German Tara Fitzgerald – West Midlands Fire Service Zaynab Sohawon – Think4Brum Louis Johnson BCyA

Results:

2nd runner-up: Louis Johnson BCyA 1st runner-up: Zaynab Sohawon – Think4Brum Winner: Janet Davies – Brownhills Community Association

EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Dr Angela Jeffery | Director of Regional Projects | Aston University

Finalists: Alishia Zafar Beth Dennis Mohammad Umar Muhammad Huzaifah Momina Kauser

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GOOD NEIGHBOUR AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Julie Doyle | Chief Executive | Longhurst Group

Finalists: Carol Dealey – Quinton and Oldbury Food Bank Chris Jones – Just Straight Talk Sameera Hussain – Migrant Help Stacey Rollinson – Just Straight Talk Mary German

Results:

2nd runner-up: Stacey Rollinson – Just Straight Talk 1st runner-up: Sameera Hussain – Migrant Help Winner: Carol Dealey – Quinton and Oldbury Food Bank

Public Services Category:

COMMUNITY REASSURANCE AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA PROPERTIES

MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Simon Foster | West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner

Finalists:

Dr Anes Ceric – Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network Georgina Johnstone – West Midlands Police Service Maureen Connolly – Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid John Street – Free@Last SHINE@NechellsPOD

Results:

2nd runner-up: John Street – Free@Last 1st runner-up: Maureen Connolly – Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid Winner: SHINE@NechellsPOD

PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

Award Presenter: Kevin O’Keefe | Chief Executive | Dudley City Council

Finalists:

Andreea Rimniceanu – Birmingham City Council Covid Response Team – Dudley Council Delia Mills – Delia Mills Dr Justin Varney – Birmingham City Council Najma Begum – EPIC

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Results: 2nd runner-up: Najma Begum – EPIC 1st runner-up: Covid Response Team – Dudley Council Winner: Delia Mills – Delia Mills

FIRE FIGHTER AWARD - SPONSORED BY AL MIRAJ BANQUETING SUITE

Award Presenter: Gary Taylor | Assistant Chief Fire Officer | West Midlands Fire Service

Finalists:

Drew Ricketts – West Midlands Fire Service Northfield Fire Station Blue Watch – West Midlands Fire Service Russell Jones – West Midlands Fire Service Steve Bednell – West Midlands Fire Service Tara Fitzgerald – West Midlands Fire Service

Results:

2nd runner-up: Steve Bednell – West Midlands Fire Service 1st runner-up: Northfield Fire Station Blue Watch – West Midlands Fire Service Winner: Tara Fitzgerald – West Midlands Fire Service

HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Danielle Oum | Chair | NHS Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust

Finalists:

Beverley Cunningham – ASH Foundation Dawn Carr – Heat CIC and Legacy West Midlands Dr Justin Varney – Birmingham City Council Lisa Stalley Green – University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Shahzia Matloob – Walsall Healthcare Trust

Results:

2nd runner-up: Dawn Carr – Heat CIC and Legacy West Midlands 1st runner-up: Dr Justin Varney – Birmingham City Council Winner: Beverley Cunningham – ASH Foundation

EDUCATION SERVICES AWARD

Award Presenter: Pat Carvalho | Principal and Chief Executive | Birmingham Metropolitan College

Finalists: Abed Ahmed Belinda Bissell – Just Straight Talk Emma Johnson – Oasis Academy (Foundry and Woodview Schools) First Class Foundation Shabnum Bi – Anglesey Playgroup

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Results: 2nd runner-up: Abed Ahmed 1st runner-up: Shabnum Bi – Anglesey Playgroup Winner: First Class Foundation

BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE AWARD - SPONSORED BY MIAPI

Award Presenter: Cllr Ian Courts | Leader | Solihull City Council and Board Member | Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership

Finalists: Salt and Pepper Rainbow Day Nursery Al Miraj Banqueting Suite Poncho Khana Marlene Fortes – CreHeart CIC

Results:

1st runner-up: Poncho Khana 2nd runner-up: Marlene Fortes – CreHeart CIC Winner: Rainbow Day Nursery

COMMUNITY ORGANISATION AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Julie Doyle | Chief Executive | Longhurst Group

Finalists: Creative Therapy Services – Murray Hall Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre KSIMC of Birmingham (Al-Abbas Islamic Centre) Lizzie Hayes – Dudley Counselling Centre (Lighthouse Counselling) The Living Well Team

Results:

2nd runner-up: Creative Therapy Services – Murray Hall 1st runner-up: Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre Winner: KSIMC of Birmingham (Al-Abbas Islamic Centre)

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S3: COMMUNITY REASSURANCE AND WELLBEING

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME

Community Foundation has set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme covering most of the Lozells Area. All residents of the area are able to become a member of the scheme and help in making sure that the area is strong, clean, and a safe place to live.

The purpose of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is to:

DBS ELIGIBILITY CHECKS

Community Foundation registered to be able to processes applications to check eligibility for DBS check, to help those that were required by law to verify they were able to work or volunteer with children and/or vulnerable adults.

EASYFUNDRAISING

Community Foundation registered for easyfundraising to get a donation every time somebody registered on the scheme did online shopping. Our supporters and well-wishers who joined the scheme helped us to raise almost £200 this year without them having to pay a penny.

LONG COVID ENGAGEMENT

In partnership with BVSC & the NHS, Community Foundation delivered a Long Covid Community Engagement activity in order for BVSC to evaluate the impact as a part of NHS Post Covid Syndrome Service. This work was undertaken to engage with local communities to help tackle increasing health inequalities in relation to Long Covid. We delivered Long Covid workshops, informing people of the symptoms of Long Covid, what to do if you think you have Long Covid and we discussed the support available. We delivered the workshops in 4 locations, including: Jami Mosque and Islamic Centre in Small heath; Masjid-E-Noor in Aston; Birmingham Masjid & Dawah Centre in Lozells; and Quayside Tower in the City Centre allowing us to reach individuals from a range of demographics.

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Following the delivery of the workshops, all participants completed a survey about Long Covid and informed us on whether they were better informed about Long Covid following the delivery of the workshops.

DATA BANK

Data poverty refers to the inability of individuals or households to access and afford data services required to participate fully in the digital world. It can severely limit their access to educational resources, job opportunities, government services, healthcare information, and social connections. As more aspects of our lives move online, those without access are at a significant disadvantage.

Supported by Good Things Foundation, Community Foundation has distributed over 70 sim cards to individuals experiencing data poverty. The digital divide remains a critical issue in our society, with many individuals and communities lacking access to essential online resources and opportunities due to limited or no internet connectivity. This initiative aims to bridge this gap and empower those affected by data poverty.

The distribution of these sim cards has been extremely beneficial as it has enabled service users to access the internet from their devices; allowing them to learn new skills, connect with loved ones, find job opportunities, and stay informed about local and global events.

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RESERVES POLICY

Reserves are needed to bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover costs associated with winding down the organisation if ever it is required. The trustees consider that the ideal level of reserves to provide cover for six months would be £150,000. We are planning to increase our reserve year on year to achieve our target.

GOVERNING DOCUMENT

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a memorandum and association and article of association, and is set up as a not for profit company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. The company was first registered on the 23[rd] March 2010 and applied for charity registration on 23[rd] January 2014.

Community Foundation is a grassroots voluntary organisation which seeks to improve the quality of life of marginalised and hard to reach communities living in areas of multiple deprivations. We set up initiatives and projects to develop communities to help themselves.

The charity is organised with a management committee (Board of Trustees) who oversee the overall activities and one of the committee member is nominated as a chairperson, to monitor the day to day running of the charity.

The following officers served the current year:

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chair Mrs Jessica Hope Saunders Secretary Mr Gaus Uddin Treasurer Mrs Irmana Parvin Asst. Treasurer

PRINCIPLE APPOINTED OFFICER

Mr Nozmul Hussain Company Secretary

Trustee induction and training

New trustees undergo an orientation day to brief them on: their legal obligations under charity and company law, the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and inform them of the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. During the induction day they meet key employees and other trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.

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Organisation

The board of trustees administers the charity. The board normally meets quarterly. The Chief Executive is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including expenditure as set in the budget and recruitment.

Remuneration

All trustees (directors) give of their time freely and no director received remuneration in the year.

Risk management

The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:

This work has identified that financial sustainability is the major financial risk for the charity. A key element in the management of financial risk is a regular review of available liquid funds to settle debts as they fall due and active management of trade debtors and creditors balances to ensure sufficient working capital by the charity.

Attention has also been focussed on non-financial risks arising from fire, health and safety, safeguarding and food hygiene. These risks are managed by ensuring accreditation is up to date, having robust policies and procedures in place, and regular awareness training for staff working in these operational areas.

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The charity trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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  1. Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently

  2. Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

  3. State whether the policies adopted are in accordance with the Charities SORP, the regulations made under section 44 of the charities act and applicable accounting standards, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

  4. Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue to operate.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Statement as to disclosure to our auditors

In so far as the trustees are aware at the time of approving our trustees’ annual report:

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SMALL COMPANY EXEMPTIONS

The accounts and trustees’ report have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by the board of trustees on 5[th] October 2023 and signed on its behalf by

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chairman

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS STATEMENT

We report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Respective responsibilities of the 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 trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

  1. Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act

  2. To follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the charity commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act and:

  3. To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations.

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 seeks 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

25

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than disclosed Below)

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

• to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations

Name: Mr Nawaz Ali

Redwood Accountants & Tax Consultants

Certified Public Accountants CPAA

98 Lozells Road

Lozells

Birmingham B19 2TB

Signed:

Date: 05 October 2023

26

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 March 2023

Notes
Incoming resources
Incoming resources from charitable activities 3
Total incoming resources
Costs of charitable activities
Governance costs
Total resources expended
4
Net incoming resources
before transfers between funds
Gross transfers between funds
Net incoming resources before
Other recognised gains and losses
Other recognised gains and losses
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total Funds carried forward
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
31/03/2023
31/03/2023
31/03/2023
31/03/2022
£
£
£
£
7,519
120,798
128,317
284,230
7,519
120,798
128,317
284,230
32,502
86,927
129,426
230,211
-
-
-
-24,983
33,871
-1,109
54,019
-24,983
33,871
-1,109
54,019
-
-
-
-24,983
33,871
-1,109
54,019
-24,983
33,871
-1,109
54,019
71,484
-18,951
52,533
-1,486
46,501
14,920
51,424
52,533

All activities derive from continuing operations

27

Income and Expenditure Account For the year ended 31 March 2023

31/03/2023
£
Turnover
128,317
Direct costs of turnover
129,426
Gross deficit
-1,109
Gross surplus
Governance costs
-
Operating surplus
Deficit on ordinary activities before tax
-1,109
Surplus ordinary activities before tax
deficit for the financial year
-1,109
Gift Aid Payments
-
Surplus for the financial year
Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses
for the year ended 31 March 2023
Deficit of Expenditure over income before realisation of assets
Profit per Profit and Loss account
Grants for the acquisition of fixed
assets
Net Movement in funds before
taxation
31/03/2022
£
284,230
230,2111
54,019
-
54,019
-
54,019
31/03/2023
31/03/2022
-1,109
54,019
-
-
-1,109
54,019

Movements in revenue and capital funds

28

for the year ended 31 March 2023
Revenue accumulated funds
Accumulated funds brought forward
Recognised gains and losses before
transfers
Closing revenue accumulated funds
Summary of funds
Designated
Funds
31/03/2023
Revenue accumulated funds
-
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
31/03/2022
31/03/2022
£
£
£
-
-
-
26,152
40,692
67,114
26,152
40,692
67,114
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total

Funds
Funds
Funds
31/03/2023
31/03/2023
31/03/2023

---------
46,501
14,920
43,315

29

Community Foundation

Community Foundation
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023 Notes 31/03/2023 31/03/2022
£ £
The assets and liabilities of the charity :
Fixed assets 26,421 26,421
Additions 591
Current assets
Bank 86,997 80,928
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities 114,009 110,349
Creditors:-
amounts due after more than one year:
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Net assets including pension asset / liability 114,009 110,349
The funds of the charity :
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted revenue accumulated funds 46,501 71,484
Balance from previous year 71,484 62,606
Unrestricted capital funds
Total unrestricted funds 117,985 134,090
Restricted income funds
Restricted revenue accumulated funds -18,896 -3,790
Restricted capital funds
Total restricted funds 14,920 -19,951
Total charity funds 114,009 110,349

For the financial year in question the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. No members have required the company to obtain its account for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chairman

30

NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS

1 Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

b) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

c) Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time of the volunteers is not recognised and refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

d) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the Charity’s work or for specific artistic projects being undertaken by the Charity.

e) Expenditure

31

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

2 Legal Status of the Trust

The Trust is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity.

32

3. Incoming Resources From Charitable Activities

Income received Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £
£
Room Hire 753
753
Grant: GTF Digital Inclusion 2,000
2,000
Grant: Kickstart 3,032
3,032
Grant: StreetGames 68,276
68,276
Grant: Birmingham City Council 25,090
25,090
Grant: Faith Action 2,000
2,000
Grant: BVSC 3,000
3,000
Grant: GTF Digital Grant 5,400
5,400
Donation 3,463 3,463
Misc 197 197
Grant: Community Matters 2496 2496
Service and Fees 610 610
Grant: UK Youth 12000 12000
Total 7519 120798 128317

33

4. Total Resources Expended

Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £
Programme 17,807 17,807
Salary and Training 76,121 76,121
Office Furniture 591 591
Travel & Refreshments 3,511 3,511
Accountancy 675 675
Rent, Insurance & maintenance 1,860 1,860
Refreshments 864 864
Utilities 1,564 1,564
Stationery 272 272
Misc 26,161 26,161
Total 32,502 86,924 129,426

34

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

(A Company Limited by Guarantee)

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER 7199617 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1155455

1

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 March 2023

CONTENTS

Page
Charity Information 3
Chairman’s Report 4 - 5
Charity Objectives and Activities 6 - 8
Report of the Trustees 9 -24
Independent Examiners Report 25 - 26
Statement of Financial Activities 27 - 29
Balance Sheet 30
Notes to the financial statement 31 - 34

2

CHARITY INFORMATION

REGISTERED NAME:

Community Foundation

WORKING NAMES:

Community Foundation The Community Foundation

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 7199617 DATE COMPANY REGISTERED: 23 March 2010 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1155455 DATE CHARITY REGISTERED: 23 Jan 2014 REGISTERED ADDRESS: 20 St Silas Square, Birmingham B19 1QW

COMPANY SECRETARY

Nozmul Hussain

TRUSTEES (Directors):

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chair Mrs Jessica Hope Saunders Secretary Mr Gaus Uddin Treasurer Mrs Irmana Parvin Asst. Treasurer Mr Abdullah Mohammad Ismail

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Nozmul Hussain

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Redwood Accountants & Tax Consultants Certified Public Accountants CPAA 98 Lozells Road Lozells Birmingham B19 2TB

BANK DETAILS

Lloyds Bank Smethwick Branch 116 High St, Smethwick, West Midlands B66 1AE

3

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 March 2023

The trustees are pleased to present their annual directors’ report together with the consolidated financial statements of the charity and its subsidiary for the year ending 31 March 2023 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).

Chairman’s Report

It is with great pleasure and gratitude that we present our Annual Review for the previous financial year. Last year has been a year unlike any other, presenting unprecedented challenges for our charity. The past year has been marked by unprecedented challenges that have tested the strength and adaptability of our organisation. In the face of these challenges, our commitment to empowering individuals and uplifting communities remained unwavering. We are proud to share the impactful strides we've made in our mission to empower and uplift the communities we serve.

Staff and volunteers have continued to deliver excellent services with the limited funds available during a time of greater service demand. Full details of the projects and services are detailed in the report. We will highlight some of the key areas of work that have taken place this year.

One of our core initiatives in 2022 focused on addressing the growing need for education in the face of a changing digital landscape. Our focus on education and skill development, particularly in English language proficiency and digital literacy, became increasingly critical as remote communication and online learning became the new norm. In response, we doubled down on our efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, had the tools and knowledge to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Through our targeted programmes, we have successfully helped individuals in our community acquire essential English language and digital skills. By doing so, we aim to narrow the educational gap and empower individuals to participate fully in today's interconnected world.

Recognising the challenges faced by young people in securing meaningful employment opportunities, the Hatch Programme funded by Youth UK, was as a beacon of hope for young people seeking employment opportunities. We facilitated skill-building workshops, networking events, and real life work opportunity in collaboration with KFC. This initiative not only addressed the immediate needs for job opportunities but also equipped young individuals with the skills and guidance necessary to navigate the competitive job market successfully. The success stories of participants who found meaningful employment through the Hatch Programme are a testament to the transformative impact of this initiative.

Celebrating community spirit and positive contributions has always been at the heart of our work. The Community Inspiration Awards, an initiative of the Community Foundation, provides a platform to recognise and honour individuals and groups whose exceptional efforts have made a lasting impact. These awards celebrate the unsung heroes whose dedication and compassion have made a lasting

4

difference in the lives of those around them. The awards not only shine a light on those who have gone above and beyond but also inspire others to contribute to the collective well-being of our community. This year we had more VIP dignitaries join us in handing out the awards, lead by our Chief award presenter Andy Street, the Mayor of West Midlands Combined Authority.

As a response to the economic challenges faced by many families, our Holiday Scheme went beyond providing free breakfast and lunch. We aimed to create an environment where children and families could thrive, offering not only nourishment but also sports activities to keep children and youth physically active and day trips to places which they may not be able to afford to visit. The smiles and laughter of the participants echoed the success of this initiative, reinforcing our belief in the transformative power of community support.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of challenges, we remain committed to our mission of fostering a sense of belonging, empowerment, and positive change. None of our achievements would have been possible without the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers, and partners. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering support, enabling us to continue our vital work. Your commitment fuels our determination to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

The challenges of 2022-23 brought forth by cost of living have been particularly taxing for us and the community we serve. Uncertainty, financial strain, and increased demand for essential services have created an environment where resilience and adaptability are paramount. However, it is during these trying times that the true spirit of community shines brightest.

The challenges may persist, but with your continued support, we are confident in our ability to overcome them and continue making a positive impact on the lives of those we serve. Thank you for being a part of the Community Foundation family. Thank you for joining us on this journey of impact and empowerment. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient community for all.

Bashir Ahmed MBE Chairman Community Foundation

5

CHARITY OBJECTIVES

  1. To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community in inner city areas of England in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.

  2. To advance in life and help young people through:

(a) The provision of recreational and leisure time activities provided in the interest of social welfare, designed to improve their conditions of life;

(b) Providing support and activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.

The vision that shapes our annual activities is embedded in the Chinese proverb that we have adopted and adapted: “Give a person a fish and they will eat for a day. Teach them how to fish and they will eat for a lifetime.” Ancient it may be, but it is as true today as ever and this proverb continues to guide all our projects and services.

The strategies employed to achieve the charity’s aims and objectives are defined through our three core work streams:

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of marginalised and hard to reach communities living in areas of multiple deprivation by setting up initiatives and supporting projects to develop communities to help themselves.

The concept of helping others to help themselves is far from new. It was exemplified in ancient times in the Chinese proverb: “Give a person a fish and they will eat for a day. Teach them how to fish and they will eat for a lifetime.” Ancient it may be, but it is as true today as ever.

Paramount to our approach is to address the barriers to good quality of life- worklessness, social exclusion, ill health, and educational underachievement.

6

OUR WORK STREAMS

OUR VALUES

Community Foundation management, staff and volunteers are united by a common set of values.

7

OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

Community Foundation has a unique staffing arrangement. Most of our admin and project staff consists of people who have been out of work for a long time or have not been able to secure a job due to limited experience of work. As part of our Education, Training and Employment programme we have been able to offer a number of apprenticeships, work placements for undergraduates and post graduates, traineeship as well as work experience for children from local secondary schools.

We support all our staff with monthly development training to enhance their confidence, skills and knowledge to better undertake their job roles. Our staff come from diverse backgrounds and there is a real mixture of ethnicity, age, ability and gender. People on work placement go through an intensive on the job training to quickly learn essential work skills to successful carry out their tasks. Quality time is given by the Chief Executive on a 1-1 basis regularly to all staff to support and motivate them to lead and deliver their projects successfully.

We seek to instil a sense of ownership and ‘can do’ attitude in our staff and giving them the platform and encouragement for them to reach their full potential. This approach has received a lot of positive feedback from all the past and present staff who go on to do new and varied work, which without the opportunity at Community Foundation they would not have realised.

Community Foundation’s volunteers are major contributors to our projects and services, without whom we would struggle to carry out the range of services we provide. This year, great strides were made to optimise the recruitment processes and volunteer development programme to better match their interest with our projects. As part of this process, a new volunteer agreement has been introduced that outlines the expectations we have of our volunteers and what they can expect from us in return.

The charity is very involved in the community and relies heavily on voluntary help. Besides our staff, over 20 regular volunteers assist with running our projects and services, enabling us to offer so many services and projects with minimal staffing costs than would otherwise be the case.

8

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

The following is a summary of our key achievements in each of our three work strands.

S1: EDUCATION TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME

Community Foundation offers formal and non-formal education, training and work opportunity for youth and adults to enhance their employability and provide essential office work skills such as handling telephone calls, sorting mail, drafting document, filing, preparing invoices, researching, etc.

We provide the following opportunities:

Since 2011 we have been running our own work programme for local people. Every year we undertake a special recruitment drive to offer various work opportunities. Protocol Group and Aspiration Training is our registered training provider who we have been in partnership with for several years. Through our programme, young people successfully attained essential practical skills in their chosen career as they completed each module. They managed to develop their self-confidence and key presentation skills through their day-to-day work. The work environment allowed them to experience working as an actual member of staff and by having set tasks and deadlines, they learnt to meet the expectations employers would have of an employee and prepare them for the real world of work.

The following people were supported through our employability Programme this year:

Apprenticeship

Charlotte Dutton Level 3 Nursery Nurse Apprenticeship 10/05/2021-08/04/2022

University Student Placement

Yeseul Kim Masters Social Policy University of Birmingham 12/12/2022-23/05/2023 Daechul Kwon Masters Social Policy University of Birmingham 12/12/2022-03/05/2023 Idris Malik English University of Birmingham 15/06/2022-03/08/2022 Minji Beak Masters Social Policy University of Birmingham 29/11/2021-06/04/2022

9

College Student Placement

Labir Ali Level 3 Business UCB 11/11/2022- 09/06/2023 Aboubacar Camara Level 3 Business UCB 08/11/2022-09/06/2023 Gaudminas Pilaskis Level 3 Business UCB 06/05/2022-08/07/2022 Raheem Deen Level 3 Business UCB 11/04/2022- 07/06/2022

Traineeship

Humairaa Ashraf Reihan Hussain Luther Mboungo

Protocol Training Group 17/04/2023-05/07/2023 Protocol Training Group 13/03/2023-06/04/2023 Protocol Training Group 20/12/2022-11/01/2023

Voluntary Work

Hayate Ahmed Gill Plumridge

Fundraising and Marketing 03/10/2022-29/11/2022 ESOL teacher 25/10/2022-20/12/2022

CREATIVE ENGLISH & ESOL

Community Foundation delivered English classes in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Faith Action with an aim to make it easier for those with limited spoken English to access the NHS and health services in the UK. We delivered English lessons surrounding health through drama, roleplay, and discussion to those with limited spoken English. Our classes brought together learners from different countries, including Ukraine, Turkey, Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria & more.

Following the completion of this programme, we decided to continue delivering ESOL classes to those with limited spoken English, supported by volunteers. We are now continuing to deliver classes surrounding different topics, for example, visiting the airport, shopping & hobbies. We create dynamic lessons that are both engaging and interactive. We believe in the power of active learning, so our classes emphasize participation, discussion, and hands-on activities. Through a combination of speaking, listening, reading, and writing exercises, we foster a well-rounded approach to language acquisition.

DIGITAL SKILLS

Community Foundation delivered the Digital Skills Programme in partnership with Good Things Foundation to those with limited digital awareness and knowledge. This comprehensive course empowered learners to enhance their digital literacy, enabling them to access online services, search for employment opportunities, explore hobbies, and much more.

In an effort to address digital and data poverty, we extended support to eligible participants by providing tablet devices and data sims through Good Things Foundation's Data Bank. This vital assistance granted beneficiaries the means to access the internet, opening up new opportunities that were previously out of reach for them.

10

RASPBERRY PI

Community Foundation in partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation developed an initiative to support children from low-income households. Recognizing the significance of digital access and its impact on education, recreation, and personal enrichment, this partnership has provided computer devices to children who were previously unable to afford them. Child were provided with devices to utilise for educational purposes, recreation and to enrich their minds. Children who received the devices came from lowincome households and were in receipt of free school meals. This initiative has allowed them to excel in their schoolwork, and utilise the device for their hobbies, where they previously would have been inaccessible due to not being in possession of an appropriate device.

HATCH UK YOUTH

In partnership with UK Youth and KFC, Community Foundation provided young people who were not in education, training or employment (NEET) with the opportunity to get on the career ladder, develop their employability skills and earn a wage. young people took part in a series of pre-employment workshops before entering the workplace for a 4-weeks paid work placement, in the hospitality sector.

On 14th March 2023, we conducted the first Hatch induction, introducing the Hatch Youth Employment scheme to young people. From a pool of 70 applicants, we carefully selected our first batch of young participants. During the induction, they were provided with a comprehensive presentation that outlined the program's benefits, the valuable skills they would acquire, the engaging employment workshops they would attend, and the opportunity to address any queries they had. Due to high demands, we held our second induction session, accommodating even more enthusiastic young people.

Group 1 commenced their employment modules in May 2023, delivered at our City Centre location. This group consisted of 15 motivated young people who would attend employment workshops before their 4-week work placement either at KFC or an alternate location. The employability modules served as an invaluable preparation phase, equipping the young people with essential knowledge on CV building, workplace etiquette, completing applications, fostering effective teamwork, enhancing communication skills, and more, all aimed at ensuring a successful experience in the workplace. At their work placements, young people were able to gain on the job experience, interact with customers, gain transferable skills and they were also provided with a guaranteed interview with KFC. The programme will be followed by a further three groups going through the same process.

11

S2: YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT & DEVELOPMENT

Community Foundation provides a number of support services to charities and voluntary organisations. Community Foundation has supported five organisations in the past year in organisational development. Our advisors have supported organisations in creating governing documents, charity & company registrations, helping to open bank accounts, and providing staff and trustee training.

YOUTH CONNECTION

Youth Connections is a platform for young people to work together with other young people from across Europe and surrounding countries to discuss issues of common interest, share experiences and learn from each other and come up with thoughts and ideas to better respond to them.

Community Foundation in Partnership with Business Mentality from Greece delivered a 10days Erasmus plus non-formal training on Digital Transformation from 31 March - 9 April 2022. The programme was attended by 45 participants from the United Kingdom, Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Turkey, Norway and Bulgaria. The programme encouraged young people to use digital tools and resources more effectively, through non formal education activities. By adopting this approach, the program sought to equip participants with both hard and soft skills essential for thriving in the rapidly evolving digital era.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITY CLUB

During the Summer and Winter school holidays, Community Foundation organised a Holiday Activity Club, supporting children in receipt of free school meals. They were provided with fun and engaging activities, day trips and healthy, nutritious meals throughout the day.

In the Summer, the scheme was held from 1[st] August– 25 August 2022 for children 5 – 16 years of age. Following the success of this, the winter scheme took place from 19 Dec – 22 Dec 2022. Children took park in sport activities, workshops and watched educational films. We had facility to accommodate up to 200 children in Small Heath.

As part of the scheme children were provided with healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch meals, as well as snacks throughout the day. For breakfast, a variety of cereals and toast were offered to the children. During lunchtime, the children enjoyed a diverse array of meals, including pasta, chicken wraps, spaghetti, tuna & egg mayo sandwiches, along with a piece of fruit.

12

To keep the children engaged and active, a range of exciting sports activities were organized. They enthusiastically participated in dodgeball, football, basketball, rounders, and cricket, fostering teamwork, physical fitness, and fun throughout the program. In addition to this, to keep the children active and energized, a personal trainer volunteered her services and conducted daily keep Fit classes, ensuring they achieved their recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

With the team from Bring it on Brum, children took part in a simple cooking class where they learnt how to make a fruit sundae. The scheme also provided children with various workshops on healthy eating, arts and crafts, gardening and cooking. Further to this, children and families attended exciting day trips to West Midlands Safari Park, Drayton Manor Theme Park and Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

COMMUNITY INSPIRATION AWARDS 2022

The 10th Community Inspiration Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday 29th March 2022 at the prestigious Al Miraj Banqueting Suite in Birmingham. The awards ceremony was hosted by Nozmul Hussain founder and Chief Executive of Community Foundation, with our chief guest Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The Community Inspiration Award is a unique initiative of the Community Foundation, to recognise outstanding contributions made by hard working staff from public sector organisations, businesses, community organisations, and ordinary members of the community who have made extraordinary contributions.

Our judges shortlisted 75 nominees from the hundreds of high calibre nominations received this year from the Midlands and surrounding areas. The public voted on the shortlisted finalists to decide the results, with awards presented to 47 runners-up and winners by a host of senior officers from various organisations across the private and public sectors. Community Foundation would like to congratulate all finalists and winners and thank all our sponsors, without whose support this event will not have been possible. A special thank you to our Diamond Sponsor Longhurst Group, for their incredible support of the Community Inspiration Awards.

List of Awards and Results Community Category:

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Andy Street | Mayor | West Midlands Combined Authority

Finalists: Madeleine Holland Wenford George Blair Patricia Earle – Women’s Federation for World Peace Noran Flynn – SHINE@NechellsPOD Professor Abdul Rashid Gatrad OBE

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Results: 2nd runner-up: Madeleine Holland 1st runner-up: Wenford George Blair Winner: Professor Abdul Rashid Gatrad OBE

DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA PROPERTIES MANAGEMENT

Simon Foster | West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner

Finalists:

Abiline and Leyla Grace McShane – Walsall Friends of GRT Cllr Obaida Ahmed – Wolverhampton City Council Cllr Zafar Iqbal – Birmingham City Council Cllr Will Gill – Sandwell Council Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE – Wolverhampton City Council

Results:

2nd runner-up: Cllr Sandra Samuels OBE – Wolverhampton City Council 1st runner-up: Cllr Zafar Iqbal – Birmingham City Council Winner: Cllr Obaida Ahmed – Wolverhampton City Council

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AWARD - SPONSORED BY LOONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Richard Kirby | Chief Executive | Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Finalists:

Dana Klamprárová – Czech & Slovak Club UK CIC Jill Appleton – The Feast Mashkura Begum – Saathi House Mohammad Fahim – Afghan Community and Welfare Centre

Results:

2nd runner-up: Mohammad Fahim – Afghan Community and Welfare Centre 1st runner-up: The Wellbeing Community Choir Winner: Dana Klamprárová – Czech & Slovak Club UK CIC

ENVIRONMENT CHAMPION AWARD – SPONSORED BY MIAPI

Award Presenter: Kevin O’Keefe | Chief Executive | Dudley City Council

Finalists: Green Rivers Community Association Alishia Zafar Hannah Picken – Wild Earth Movement Toqueer Ahmed Quyyam Paul Greenaway

14

Results: 2nd runner-up: Green Rivers Community Association 1st runner-up: Toqueer Ahmed Quyyam Winner: Paul Greenaway

SPORTS AWARD - SPONSORED BY AL MIRAJ BANQUETING SUITE

Award Presenter: Cllr Suzanne Hartwell | Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health | Sandwell City Council

Finalists:

Daryl Chambers – InPower Academy CIC Julie Davis - #DoingOurBit Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team – Dudley Council Sara Clarke – Transplant Games, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Vasant Parikh – B.A.P.S Swaminarayan Mandir

Results:

2nd runner-up: Road Safety and Travel Awareness Team – Dudley Council 1st runner-up: Sara Clarke – Transplant Games, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Winner: Daryl Chambers – InPower Academy CIC

VOLUNTEER AWARD - SPONSORED BY AUDIO VISUALS 2 RENT

Award Presenter: Richard North | Force Response Chief Superintendent | West Midlands Police

Finalists: Janet Davies – Brownhills Community Association Mary German Tara Fitzgerald – West Midlands Fire Service Zaynab Sohawon – Think4Brum Louis Johnson BCyA

Results:

2nd runner-up: Louis Johnson BCyA 1st runner-up: Zaynab Sohawon – Think4Brum Winner: Janet Davies – Brownhills Community Association

EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Dr Angela Jeffery | Director of Regional Projects | Aston University

Finalists: Alishia Zafar Beth Dennis Mohammad Umar Muhammad Huzaifah Momina Kauser

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GOOD NEIGHBOUR AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Julie Doyle | Chief Executive | Longhurst Group

Finalists: Carol Dealey – Quinton and Oldbury Food Bank Chris Jones – Just Straight Talk Sameera Hussain – Migrant Help Stacey Rollinson – Just Straight Talk Mary German

Results:

2nd runner-up: Stacey Rollinson – Just Straight Talk 1st runner-up: Sameera Hussain – Migrant Help Winner: Carol Dealey – Quinton and Oldbury Food Bank

Public Services Category:

COMMUNITY REASSURANCE AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA PROPERTIES

MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Simon Foster | West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner

Finalists:

Dr Anes Ceric – Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network Georgina Johnstone – West Midlands Police Service Maureen Connolly – Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid John Street – Free@Last SHINE@NechellsPOD

Results:

2nd runner-up: John Street – Free@Last 1st runner-up: Maureen Connolly – Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid Winner: SHINE@NechellsPOD

PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD

Award Presenter: Kevin O’Keefe | Chief Executive | Dudley City Council

Finalists:

Andreea Rimniceanu – Birmingham City Council Covid Response Team – Dudley Council Delia Mills – Delia Mills Dr Justin Varney – Birmingham City Council Najma Begum – EPIC

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Results: 2nd runner-up: Najma Begum – EPIC 1st runner-up: Covid Response Team – Dudley Council Winner: Delia Mills – Delia Mills

FIRE FIGHTER AWARD - SPONSORED BY AL MIRAJ BANQUETING SUITE

Award Presenter: Gary Taylor | Assistant Chief Fire Officer | West Midlands Fire Service

Finalists:

Drew Ricketts – West Midlands Fire Service Northfield Fire Station Blue Watch – West Midlands Fire Service Russell Jones – West Midlands Fire Service Steve Bednell – West Midlands Fire Service Tara Fitzgerald – West Midlands Fire Service

Results:

2nd runner-up: Steve Bednell – West Midlands Fire Service 1st runner-up: Northfield Fire Station Blue Watch – West Midlands Fire Service Winner: Tara Fitzgerald – West Midlands Fire Service

HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARD - SPONSORED BY VICTORIA CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

Award Presenter: Danielle Oum | Chair | NHS Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust

Finalists:

Beverley Cunningham – ASH Foundation Dawn Carr – Heat CIC and Legacy West Midlands Dr Justin Varney – Birmingham City Council Lisa Stalley Green – University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Shahzia Matloob – Walsall Healthcare Trust

Results:

2nd runner-up: Dawn Carr – Heat CIC and Legacy West Midlands 1st runner-up: Dr Justin Varney – Birmingham City Council Winner: Beverley Cunningham – ASH Foundation

EDUCATION SERVICES AWARD

Award Presenter: Pat Carvalho | Principal and Chief Executive | Birmingham Metropolitan College

Finalists: Abed Ahmed Belinda Bissell – Just Straight Talk Emma Johnson – Oasis Academy (Foundry and Woodview Schools) First Class Foundation Shabnum Bi – Anglesey Playgroup

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Results: 2nd runner-up: Abed Ahmed 1st runner-up: Shabnum Bi – Anglesey Playgroup Winner: First Class Foundation

BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE AWARD - SPONSORED BY MIAPI

Award Presenter: Cllr Ian Courts | Leader | Solihull City Council and Board Member | Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership

Finalists: Salt and Pepper Rainbow Day Nursery Al Miraj Banqueting Suite Poncho Khana Marlene Fortes – CreHeart CIC

Results:

1st runner-up: Poncho Khana 2nd runner-up: Marlene Fortes – CreHeart CIC Winner: Rainbow Day Nursery

COMMUNITY ORGANISATION AWARD - SPONSORED BY LONGHURST GROUP

Award Presenter: Julie Doyle | Chief Executive | Longhurst Group

Finalists: Creative Therapy Services – Murray Hall Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre KSIMC of Birmingham (Al-Abbas Islamic Centre) Lizzie Hayes – Dudley Counselling Centre (Lighthouse Counselling) The Living Well Team

Results:

2nd runner-up: Creative Therapy Services – Murray Hall 1st runner-up: Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre Winner: KSIMC of Birmingham (Al-Abbas Islamic Centre)

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S3: COMMUNITY REASSURANCE AND WELLBEING

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME

Community Foundation has set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme covering most of the Lozells Area. All residents of the area are able to become a member of the scheme and help in making sure that the area is strong, clean, and a safe place to live.

The purpose of the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is to:

DBS ELIGIBILITY CHECKS

Community Foundation registered to be able to processes applications to check eligibility for DBS check, to help those that were required by law to verify they were able to work or volunteer with children and/or vulnerable adults.

EASYFUNDRAISING

Community Foundation registered for easyfundraising to get a donation every time somebody registered on the scheme did online shopping. Our supporters and well-wishers who joined the scheme helped us to raise almost £200 this year without them having to pay a penny.

LONG COVID ENGAGEMENT

In partnership with BVSC & the NHS, Community Foundation delivered a Long Covid Community Engagement activity in order for BVSC to evaluate the impact as a part of NHS Post Covid Syndrome Service. This work was undertaken to engage with local communities to help tackle increasing health inequalities in relation to Long Covid. We delivered Long Covid workshops, informing people of the symptoms of Long Covid, what to do if you think you have Long Covid and we discussed the support available. We delivered the workshops in 4 locations, including: Jami Mosque and Islamic Centre in Small heath; Masjid-E-Noor in Aston; Birmingham Masjid & Dawah Centre in Lozells; and Quayside Tower in the City Centre allowing us to reach individuals from a range of demographics.

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Following the delivery of the workshops, all participants completed a survey about Long Covid and informed us on whether they were better informed about Long Covid following the delivery of the workshops.

DATA BANK

Data poverty refers to the inability of individuals or households to access and afford data services required to participate fully in the digital world. It can severely limit their access to educational resources, job opportunities, government services, healthcare information, and social connections. As more aspects of our lives move online, those without access are at a significant disadvantage.

Supported by Good Things Foundation, Community Foundation has distributed over 70 sim cards to individuals experiencing data poverty. The digital divide remains a critical issue in our society, with many individuals and communities lacking access to essential online resources and opportunities due to limited or no internet connectivity. This initiative aims to bridge this gap and empower those affected by data poverty.

The distribution of these sim cards has been extremely beneficial as it has enabled service users to access the internet from their devices; allowing them to learn new skills, connect with loved ones, find job opportunities, and stay informed about local and global events.

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RESERVES POLICY

Reserves are needed to bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover costs associated with winding down the organisation if ever it is required. The trustees consider that the ideal level of reserves to provide cover for six months would be £150,000. We are planning to increase our reserve year on year to achieve our target.

GOVERNING DOCUMENT

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a memorandum and association and article of association, and is set up as a not for profit company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. The company was first registered on the 23[rd] March 2010 and applied for charity registration on 23[rd] January 2014.

Community Foundation is a grassroots voluntary organisation which seeks to improve the quality of life of marginalised and hard to reach communities living in areas of multiple deprivations. We set up initiatives and projects to develop communities to help themselves.

The charity is organised with a management committee (Board of Trustees) who oversee the overall activities and one of the committee member is nominated as a chairperson, to monitor the day to day running of the charity.

The following officers served the current year:

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chair Mrs Jessica Hope Saunders Secretary Mr Gaus Uddin Treasurer Mrs Irmana Parvin Asst. Treasurer

PRINCIPLE APPOINTED OFFICER

Mr Nozmul Hussain Company Secretary

Trustee induction and training

New trustees undergo an orientation day to brief them on: their legal obligations under charity and company law, the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit, and inform them of the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. During the induction day they meet key employees and other trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.

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Organisation

The board of trustees administers the charity. The board normally meets quarterly. The Chief Executive is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including expenditure as set in the budget and recruitment.

Remuneration

All trustees (directors) give of their time freely and no director received remuneration in the year.

Risk management

The trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:

This work has identified that financial sustainability is the major financial risk for the charity. A key element in the management of financial risk is a regular review of available liquid funds to settle debts as they fall due and active management of trade debtors and creditors balances to ensure sufficient working capital by the charity.

Attention has also been focussed on non-financial risks arising from fire, health and safety, safeguarding and food hygiene. These risks are managed by ensuring accreditation is up to date, having robust policies and procedures in place, and regular awareness training for staff working in these operational areas.

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The charity trustees (who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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  1. Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently

  2. Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent

  3. State whether the policies adopted are in accordance with the Charities SORP, the regulations made under section 44 of the charities act and applicable accounting standards, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

  4. Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue to operate.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Statement as to disclosure to our auditors

In so far as the trustees are aware at the time of approving our trustees’ annual report:

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SMALL COMPANY EXEMPTIONS

The accounts and trustees’ report have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by the board of trustees on 5[th] October 2023 and signed on its behalf by

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chairman

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS STATEMENT

We report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Respective responsibilities of the 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 trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

  1. Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act

  2. To follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the charity commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act and:

  3. To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations.

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 seeks 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

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Independent Examiner’s Statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention (other than disclosed Below)

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

• to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations

Name: Mr Nawaz Ali

Redwood Accountants & Tax Consultants

Certified Public Accountants CPAA

98 Lozells Road

Lozells

Birmingham B19 2TB

Signed:

Date: 05 October 2023

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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 March 2023

Notes
Incoming resources
Incoming resources from charitable activities 3
Total incoming resources
Costs of charitable activities
Governance costs
Total resources expended
4
Net incoming resources
before transfers between funds
Gross transfers between funds
Net incoming resources before
Other recognised gains and losses
Other recognised gains and losses
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total Funds carried forward
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
31/03/2023
31/03/2023
31/03/2023
31/03/2022
£
£
£
£
7,519
120,798
128,317
284,230
7,519
120,798
128,317
284,230
32,502
86,927
129,426
230,211
-
-
-
-24,983
33,871
-1,109
54,019
-24,983
33,871
-1,109
54,019
-
-
-
-24,983
33,871
-1,109
54,019
-24,983
33,871
-1,109
54,019
71,484
-18,951
52,533
-1,486
46,501
14,920
51,424
52,533

All activities derive from continuing operations

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Income and Expenditure Account For the year ended 31 March 2023

31/03/2023
£
Turnover
128,317
Direct costs of turnover
129,426
Gross deficit
-1,109
Gross surplus
Governance costs
-
Operating surplus
Deficit on ordinary activities before tax
-1,109
Surplus ordinary activities before tax
deficit for the financial year
-1,109
Gift Aid Payments
-
Surplus for the financial year
Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses
for the year ended 31 March 2023
Deficit of Expenditure over income before realisation of assets
Profit per Profit and Loss account
Grants for the acquisition of fixed
assets
Net Movement in funds before
taxation
31/03/2022
£
284,230
230,2111
54,019
-
54,019
-
54,019
31/03/2023
31/03/2022
-1,109
54,019
-
-
-1,109
54,019

Movements in revenue and capital funds

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for the year ended 31 March 2023
Revenue accumulated funds
Accumulated funds brought forward
Recognised gains and losses before
transfers
Closing revenue accumulated funds
Summary of funds
Designated
Funds
31/03/2023
Revenue accumulated funds
-
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
31/03/2022
31/03/2022
£
£
£
-
-
-
26,152
40,692
67,114
26,152
40,692
67,114
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total

Funds
Funds
Funds
31/03/2023
31/03/2023
31/03/2023

---------
46,501
14,920
43,315

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Community Foundation

Community Foundation
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2023 Notes 31/03/2023 31/03/2022
£ £
The assets and liabilities of the charity :
Fixed assets 26,421 26,421
Additions 591
Current assets
Bank 86,997 80,928
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities 114,009 110,349
Creditors:-
amounts due after more than one year:
Provisions for liabilities and charges
Net assets including pension asset / liability 114,009 110,349
The funds of the charity :
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted revenue accumulated funds 46,501 71,484
Balance from previous year 71,484 62,606
Unrestricted capital funds
Total unrestricted funds 117,985 134,090
Restricted income funds
Restricted revenue accumulated funds -18,896 -3,790
Restricted capital funds
Total restricted funds 14,920 -19,951
Total charity funds 114,009 110,349

For the financial year in question the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. No members have required the company to obtain its account for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

Mr Bashir Ahmed MBE Chairman

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NOTES ON THE ACCOUNTS

1 Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

b) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

c) Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the general volunteer time of the volunteers is not recognised and refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

d) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the Charity’s work or for specific artistic projects being undertaken by the Charity.

e) Expenditure

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Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

2 Legal Status of the Trust

The Trust is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity.

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3. Incoming Resources From Charitable Activities

Income received Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £
£
Room Hire 753
753
Grant: GTF Digital Inclusion 2,000
2,000
Grant: Kickstart 3,032
3,032
Grant: StreetGames 68,276
68,276
Grant: Birmingham City Council 25,090
25,090
Grant: Faith Action 2,000
2,000
Grant: BVSC 3,000
3,000
Grant: GTF Digital Grant 5,400
5,400
Donation 3,463 3,463
Misc 197 197
Grant: Community Matters 2496 2496
Service and Fees 610 610
Grant: UK Youth 12000 12000
Total 7519 120798 128317

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4. Total Resources Expended

Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £
Programme 17,807 17,807
Salary and Training 76,121 76,121
Office Furniture 591 591
Travel & Refreshments 3,511 3,511
Accountancy 675 675
Rent, Insurance & maintenance 1,860 1,860
Refreshments 864 864
Utilities 1,564 1,564
Stationery 272 272
Misc 26,161 26,161
Total 32,502 86,924 129,426

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