2022-03-31-accounts

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ANNUAL REPORT 2021-2022

Charity No.1157721

Chair’s Report 3 Reference and Administrative Information 4 Executive Members 5 The Aims and Objectives of ACA – Barnet 6 Our Services 7 Work experience for students / unemployed 8 Activities and Projects: 9 ACA and Advice Barnet Project 10

Chair’s Report 2021 to 2022

Our commitment is to work to:

Advise and assist individual refugees and non-refugees in the areas of Welfare Benefits, Housing, Immigration, Bereavement, Health, and Education.
To advance education and training for employment by the provision of nursery facilities for single parents.
To advance education in African Culture, History, and Language.

2021-2022 has been a challenging year for us – we had some disruption to our delivery, but we managed, adapted, and stayed open throughout the pandemic. We were able to give advice, information, and training on Covid 19 to the communities including members, learners, and service users through social media, WhatsApp, telephone, google meet, and zoom as well as face to face.

Overall, despite the challenging external environment we have been on track and did achieve most of our objectives. We were able to make a difference in the lives of our target group.

Demand for our service continues to increase, and the challenge ahead now is the tough fundraising environment.

To achieve our aim, we need to continue to make efficient use of our resources and our delivery effective by changing some of our procedures.

On diversity, I am proud to say that we have committed to being a charity that believes in the community regardless of their circumstances, gender, race, disability, or behaviour.

I am committed to helping to make a difference in changing the lives of our target group, giving them hope, and helping them to realize their potential.

Imelda Toby

CHAIR

The Management Committee presents its report for the year ended 31 March 2021

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name: African Cultural Association

Charity registration number: 1157721

UKPRN registration number 10047863

Registered Office and operational Address: 28 Church End, Hendon, London, NW4 4JX

Website: www.africanculturalassociation.net Email: info@africanculturalassociation.net Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/African-Cultural-Association-Barnet

AFRICAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION AGM 23[RD] DECEMBER, 2021

Trustees: 2021 to 2022

Mrs. Imelda Toby Chair

Ms. Justina Gore Vice Chair

Mr. Ambrose Goldersmint Treasurer

Mrs. Hannah Boateng Secretary

Mr. George Khoury

Mr. Samuel Botchey

Ms. Thelma Porter

Ms. Lesley Daniels

Ms. Charlotte Boaitey

Our Aims and objective :

To advise and assist individual refugees and non-refugees in the areas of Welfare Benefits, Housing, Immigration, Bereavement, Health, and Education.
To advance education and training for employment by the provision of nursery facilities for single parents.
To advance education in African Culture, History, and Language

OUR SERVICES:

Ensuring our work delivers our aims.

We review our aims, objectives, and activities each year. This review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of us in the previous 12 months. The review looks at the success of each activity and the benefits they have brought to those groups of people we are set to help. The review also helps us to ensure our aim, objectives, and activities remain focused on our stated purposes.

How our activities provide public benefit.

We provide general advice and information and training to assist unemployed, lowincome, disadvantaged, and vulnerable people. In particular, African/Caribbean/Ethnic Minority refugees and non-refugees who are in a condition of need, hardship, or distress, living in the London borough of Barnet as well as other areas within the UK. Most of our service users live in Barnet - Graham Park Estates, Colindale, Burnt Oak, and surrounding areas of West Hendon wards. These are areas with the highest level of poverty and deprivation in the Borough of Barnet.

Who used and benefited from our service?

Disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people who are at risk of offending as well as at risk of anti-social behaviour aged 7yrs to 18yrs.
People from Black and Ethnic Minority backgrounds
Refugees and non-refugees aged 7 years to 70+ years
Disabled and mental health clients, some who have recovered from long-term illness and are lonely and isolated and going through difficulties in finding services available to them
Those seeking to gain skills or qualification
The NEET groups
The unemployed low-income and disadvantaged living in areas with the highest level of poverty and deprivation in the Borough of Barnet and surrounding areas of London.

We organize adults/ female recreational and training activities, youth group projects, cultural activities, festivals, and events – including the celebration of Black History Month. We offer African language translation and advice to hospitals, and social services- children and family section. One of our core objectives is also to advance education in African culture, history, and language.

Skill Training

We are a registered UK learning provider; apart from giving general advice, signposting, and information to the community from Mondays to Saturdays – 10.30 am to 3.30 pm, we organize skills training 4 days a week.

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. In the following areas:

Fashion-design
Dressmaking
Pattern Cutting
Accessories-Alteration/Mending techniques
Old clothes recycling.
African Hair-Braiding/Weaving
• Bag-Making
Crafts i.e., Cushions, Patchwork, Embroidery, Curtain making

The above classes enable unemployed and unskilled participants the opportunity to learn a variety of career skills to professional standards.

Youth After School Classes/Projects

Work experience for students/unemployed

We offer work placements for young students in colleges/universities in positions to assist them in gaining experience as well as positions for experienced volunteers in positions such as Management, admin, marketing, finance, and teaching assistance.

The mainstay of our service remains our volunteers who provide much-needed assistance e.g., distributing information leaflets. In the year under review over 1,500 volunteer hours were donated.

We provide work experience/ mentoring services to many students from Barnet College and Middlesex University as well as to local School Leavers and Unemployed people from Job Centres and Employment Agencies. During the 2021/2022 academic year even though with the pandemic, a total of 5 students were able to achieve their work experience with the association.

Breakdown of work Load 2021-2022

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Lagal/Advice/Immigration
Welfare/Social Ser/Benefits
Education/Employment/Misc
General Advice
Health
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By Age group
7-8yrs 19-25yrs 26-59yrs 60-75yrs
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By Disability
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Physical Disability Mental Disability Severe Behavioural problem
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- Fund from Harrow Giving HARROW COVID AWARENESS FUND: March 21 to October 21, 2021

Our project has been very effective and has made a significant impact on the residents we have engaged. Some of the impacts are small steps but overall, very important in our drive to raise Covid19 awareness in the BAME community. We have used surveys, Q&A interactive sessions during the presentation, comments on social media, and face-to-face (covid secure way) to reach out to residents.

At least 10 of our learners who were hesitant to take the vaccine have completed their 2 vaccinations.

We have been successful in signposting 9 low-income residents who were concerned about the loss of income to apply for the furlough scheme. At least 7 residents have contacted us for further information on welfare benefits.

An elderly lady who has always said there is an agenda behind the vaccine rollout as most people from her native African country have not suffered as much as black

people in the UK is seriously considering taking the vaccine after the doctor’s presentation.

There is a gradual shift from believing in Social Media messages about the myths of the Covid 19 vaccines to listening more to health professionals according to respondents from our survey.

We were able to get undocumented residents to take their first Covid Vaccine at Belmont Health Centre.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT 18-40

It was easier for the youth to engage their peers. Our youth volunteers who created their covid 19 video clips on social media, we’re able to encourage lots of youths to go and have their vaccines. Our youth volunteers showed them proof of their vaccinations which encouraged other youths to get their jabs.

The young people related more to the young volunteers on the street distribution which increased the number of youths we engaged.

One youth we encountered near B&Q in Queensbury, said “I will get my jab to save my parents” He explained his neighbour’s son caught Covid and unfortunately infected his parents who became seriously sick. He collected some flyers which he promised to give to his neighbours in their estate.

COVID AWARENESS FUND ACTIVITIES:

COVID AWARENESS FUND ACTIVITIES

helping more people to receive the advice they need at an earlier stage during the pandemic by making more efficient use of current resources and making them easier to find.
identifying and then preventing commonly encountered problems.

FUNDING FROM THE LOTTERY COMMUNITY FUND FROM 19[th] October 2021

The project was well advertised: Individual and community issues that matter were tackled.

Issues such as access to social support, referrals on health matters including depression and stress; education land training including access to informal adult learning; personal and family sense of social exclusion exacerbated by the relative geographical isolation and lack of disposable income experienced by a large proportion of residents; lack of informal social support networks and opportunities for forming friendships; the impact of an aging population.

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Fashion Dressmaking and Pattern Cutting Classes

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: OCTOBER, 2021

We celebrated Black History Month at the Colindale Library in October 2021.

BARNET COMMUNITY FUND PROJECT FROM 27[th] January 2022 to July 2022.

The Project has proved positive outcomes for participants.

The project is giving opportunities for recreation and skill development and increases participants' sense of self-worth.

Participants, especially Mrs. RB 69 years old has openly mentioned that the project has Improved her health outcomes. Now she has made a lot of friends. She has been lonely since the pandemic.
Project has proved: A stepping-stone to qualification and skills for people affected by depression and vulnerable people who have been locked down for a long time due to Covid 19 -

-Reduction of mental health inequalities / improved access to mental health support for hard-to-reach groups and people.

Improved opportunities for families impacted by the pandemic
There would be evidence to demonstrate that groups are contributing to networks and developing products and practices which can be shared within Barnet.
-It would help cut down on hospital admissions.
Sustainable approach to inequalities would be established.
Improved mental health crisis support leads to less intervention.
Improved health outcomes for residents in areas with lower health results.
Improve health and wellbeing outcomes of our local population.
Improved health outcomes are achieved particularly for communities disproportionately impacted by poor health outcomes.

How will you evaluate the project and monitor progress?

• Our project will offer a blend of classroom-based knowledge learning, practical training, one-to-one coaching, and visits to appropriate venues, including factories and stores.

• All learning sessions are planned, with robust, quality assured schemes of work and lesson plans in use.

• A clear, objective initial assessment of learning needs, barriers, and preferred learning styles leads to the creation of an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). The ILP sets out the ultimate learning goals and breaks these down into smaller milestones to measure and record achievements on the road to course completion. • SMART goals would be used, with a strong emphasis on measurability. As the course is designed to help learners to develop skills as well as their Craft making ability. • For instance, learners who want to become more self-confident will be asked to score their current confidence levels out of ten during the initial assessment. During the review, advisers will ask them to consider their current level and will ask them to list specific reasons why their score has risen. • At the end of the project, the ILP (Individual Learning Plan) will be fully updated and all learners will receive informal certification that clearly shows what competencies and knowledge they have demonstrated. How you see the project developing after the delivery*

• During the project learners will have access to an adviser (African Cultural Association has been advising learners (IAG) on selective choices of career interests after achieving a good vocational skill, separate from their trainer, to provide pastoral support services, feedback on their progress and advice on any new support areas that have emerged.

• Planning will begin for onward progression and the adviser will support learners in preparing to take the next step, through furthering their skills or setting up a business or volunteering to teach or joining other learners to set up business enterprises.

The outcomes we have achieved as a result of the funding are as follows:

Improved Mental Health
Reduced Isolation
Acquisition of new skills

• After the delivery, learners will benefit from an exit review and signposting to relevant progression opportunities.

• ACA adviser in IAG will be able to assist learners on progressions and if learners find employment, will provide in-work support regularly. • ACA adviser in IAG is intended to help learners to overcome early nerves and to act as a mediator between learner and employer should any issues arise.

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INDEPENDEKf EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE. TRUSTEES ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF AFRICAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022 I rep)rt on the financial Statent of Charity for year ended 31 Marth 2022. vtiwth are sel CAA on page 1. The cfArity's lfttstees are resKhrynsttrAe fcx prepardtM)n of fiftani? statÈmÈnts. Thè thantys Iwsiees corsider an audft is not requir&Y this year undw section 43(2) the chariti Ac 1933 (the 1933 Ad) and that an iThJepeThJenl examinalion E needed. It is my resronsibilty to". examine the ffinan1) statement ur¥Jer seckn 43 of the 1993 Act to follow the priThlures la.d do in the neral Diredions gNen by the Cfrwity Commilon vler seciKsn 4317)Ibl of 1993 Act and to slate %thether ¢tular matters have I))r to my attenbon. Basis of indepmmlerrt emineS rep(xt My examinatscn vas ¢xri&J out in accrydan the Thera1 Direcl¥)ns gNen ty the Chanty Commission. An eXamInab indudes a review ofthe acuMJnb"ng records kept by chanty and a comparison of the finanaal statement presented records. It also indJe5 consideration of any unusual items or disdeureS in finarKial slatemenc ano seekn'ng &Xplanats'S fmm you as trustees concemiTrJ any such mattefS. procedure5 undertaken do rt provmje all Ihe emden that W(MJld be required in an audit and (a)nsequertly opinion is given as lo bthether Ihe finanal statement present a Irue aT¥J fair and repcKt is limiied to tPM)se mattw5 set out in the ststement belcM. Indepen(lent exarns staterw 11) whth gives me ronable cause to tdieve tTrvt in any matV01 reSFect the requiretTents: to keep acc(NJnting TrdS in a)xKda¢K* wth sethon 41 of the 13 P£t: and to prepare ac£ounts which a(ord with accnting recofds arxl comtAy wilh the 8(Xn"ng ruireOnts of the 1993 A(1 have rnt been T( or {2) to in ry OFinKJn. attentton shJJkl be dra in order to enable a proper UnderstarKIw of ihe accounts lo be Tchl. Mrs Angeta Maselino 191 Brcthl Way. chigell, Esse 30th June 2022

AfrIiIC."AN CIFLIiTIiiL kS%JCIATto I TO 31 MARCH 2022 lF4C.,nTr. 36.852.40 Q.MBFXSlItp V()I.[ARy COTrURtBirnONS & IX)NATIONS 6.857.26 .&iThi) TOTAL 43.570.02 IN]RANCE EVFth rs ANI) PRnJF.rr cosrs MAIN11:.N(Fj RFTrAIIi% RFFlJTrJlSIiMFNI" PRTh PR()FFSSI()NAI. CY)sr 651.68 16.0.93 875.25 1.303.¢ 181.74 1.W.51 2.882.30 SAIARYIVOLITW AN]) NI MtSLTrIMNF.IXJ% 4.303.44 75.87 TOTAI. l.J(Ll.'*% l)b (Y>1)vJI l.XPENDmJRE 1&rM6.16 HALANCTr. BROIJCJirr F()RWARD AT I APBJL 2021 3.741.87 BATAYIT C'ARRIED FORWARD AT31 K(RCV2fj22 1478&03

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