North Somerset Black and Minority Ethnic Network Annual Report 2020 to 2021
Chair Introduction to the Report
The period of our Annual Report mirrors the period covering the three COVID related lockdowns that ran from the end of March 2020 to the end of March earlier this year, a period where we all experienced an unprecedented disruption to our lives.
As a small voluntary organisation, we were equally shaken as we tried to fathom how we would continue with our work. Along with many other charities, we realised that there would be an increase in demand from our communities, the vulnerable and the isolated. To make matters worse, we also learned that COVID had a disproportionate effect on people from BME/BAME groups.
All of this was a very worrying way to start our financial year. However, as Chair of our Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), I am proud to be able to confirm that we were able to rise to the challenge.
When the lockdowns started, we found new ways to provide support to individuals and groups. We delivered food and ensured people were not left isolated.
We made the transition to online working for NS BME Network, with our well established Wellbeing Cafés moving onto Zoom and attracting new audiences. We were able to secure a grant so we could provide Chromebooks, Zoom Pro licences and online training workshops to other groups and we were also able to restart our English classes online.
Throughout the year, we continued to work with established partners such as North Somerset Council, Weston Town Council, Citizens Advice North Somerset, Voluntary Action North Somerset and many others. We also supported new initiatives such as Weston Town Council’s Anti-Racist Pledge and the Anti-Racist Working Group. Thank you to all of you - and many other organisations - for all your help and support.
As we all began to emerge from the final extended lockdown, the need for people to be able to come together again was evident. Communities needed space to meet up again, and the closure of Victoria Church and the loss of the Church Hall as a community venue in Weston was keenly felt. We began a campaign to secure the Church for the community and although this turned out to not be possible, I am very pleased to say that it nevertheless began a process that has recently secured a significant amount of funding, through North Somerset’s Community Renewal Fund Bid, to develop a network of Community Hubs for Weston and other towns in North Somerset.
We cannot end without acknowledging the incredible support during this period from Cllr Mark Canniford, as Mayor; Mary-Clare Rodwell as High Sheriff of Somerset and our Patron, Denis Burn, Deputy Lieutenant. Of course all our work relies on volunteers, and my sincere thanks go out to all those who have worked tirelessly to deliver not only the achievements I have outlined above, but also so many other daily acts of kindness and support that I am proud to say have continued to contribute, despite the pandemic, to a productive year that points the way to greater opportunities to support our communities.
Sayd Ahmed
NS BME NETWORK ANNUAL REPORT 2021
02
Activities and Impact
QUARTER 1
APRIL, MAY, JUNE
Our financial year starts with the nation in lockdown. NS BME Network Office has to close, but core work continues with support for individuals with specific needs, signposting to other agencies, and involvement with other agencies and organisations.
Sayd Ahmed, chair of BME Network and owner of Pappadoms provides essential support through the donation of free meals to NHS Staff, key workers and schools.
Online communications become even more important and online meetings begin using volunteer Zoom accounts. Development of new website continues in online meetings.
QUARTER 2
JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER
A dedicated NS BME Network Zoom account is set up and Trustees and Volunteers develop skills to lead Zoom sessions independently.
English classes restart on Zoom and a group visit to Weston Museum is enjoyed as lockdown eases. The Wellbeing Café also relaunches on Zoom. Weekly sessions run by Trustees, volunteers and invited speakers include talks about countries represented in the network, wellbeing talks, local knowledge talks, and talks focusing on specific issues such as the Beirut Disaster, Black History Month, Homelessness, and Plastic Pollution.
Following the explosion in Beirut, NS BME Network launched an appeal and raised much needed funds for organisations providing support on the ground.
A Covid Recovery Application is submitted to The National Lottery Community Fund, with specific focus on the need for digital skills development.
NS BME NETWORK ANNUAL REPORT 2021
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Activities and Impact
QUARTER 3
OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER
Our Covid Recovery Application is successful. Digital inclusion and connectivity are established as core themes for 2021. Work begins on developing the programme with groups within the NS BME Network.
Following the closure of Victoria Church, we began a campaign to secure new premises for wide community use at affordable rates. Purchasing the church proved not to be an option, but the search for alternatives continued, and preparations began on an Expression of Interest for a feasibility study as part of the planned CRF bid.
NS BME Network and Nailsea Intercultural Dance Association (NIDA) hold seasonal celebrations on Zoom.
QUARTER 4
JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH
The Digital Inclusion and Connectivity project picks up momentum, with involvement from Bangladeshi Association, the Filipino Association, the Weston Association of Malayalees, Nailsea Intercultural Dance Association, North Somerset Refugee Welcome and the Polish Association.
Following Weston Town Council’s pledge to be an Anti-Racist Council, NS BME Network support the setting up of an Anti-Racist working group.
NS BME Network agrees to support Weston’s Fairtrade Town certification ambition.
Commonwealth day is celebrated with North Somerset Council.
Over 14.000 free meals donated to NHS staff, key workers and over forty schools by Sayd Ahmed, chair of BME Network and owner of Pappadoms.
NS BME NETWORK ANNUAL REPORT 2021
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Digital Inclusion and Connectivity
COVID made us all more aware of the importance of being able to connect and communicate online. Our Digital Inclusion & Connectivity project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, was a significant programme that offered organisations in the network an opportunity to learn from digital professionals.
We were delighted to be able to offer WordPress Courses, taught by Gicella Morales. Participants included the Bangladeshi Association, the Filipino Association, Nailsea Intercultural Dance Association (NIDA), North Somerset Refugee Welcome and the Polish Association.
At the same time the NS BME Network updated their website to WordPress to make it easier for groups to share skills on an ongoing basis, and Trustees and volunteers learned how to update the new site.
We were also able to provide Chromebooks to four community groups and purchased Zoom Pro licences for six groups. It may be difficult to remember now just how hard it was to get started with online meeting tools like Zoom, but learning Zoom skills via Zoom during lockdown certainly proved to be an interesting challenge!
As more of our communications went online, we were all becoming increasingly aware of the importance of getting the message right, as well as knowing how to share it with others.
To help individuals and groups within the network we offered three additional workshops. Marissa Lewis-Peart and Joyann Boyce of The Social Detail provided Brand Strategy and Social Media Strategy workshops and Bobbi O’Gilvie from Ready to Blog taught us Mailchimp and Newsletter marketing.
With thanks to:
NS BME NETWORK ANNUAL REPORT 2021
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With grateful thanks to all our supporters
North Somerset Black and Minority Ethnic Network 12 Orchard Place Weston-super-Mare BS23 1QP 01934 414455 office@ns-bmenetwork.org www.ns-bmenetwork.org
Reg Charity No: 1162483
| CONTENTS | Page |
|---|---|
| lnfonnationoffmancial Statements | |
| Reportofthe Management Committee | 2 |
| Statementofresponsibilitiesofthe Management Committee | 3 |
| lndependent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Income and Expenditure Accounts | 5 |
| StatementofAssets and Liabilities | 6 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 7 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | ! | ! | ! | ! | |
| INCOME | |||||
| DonationandGrants NorthSomersetDC NationalLotteryCOVID-19 Fund SouthWestCommunity Grant OtherIncome |
670 10,000 1,000 13 |
10,000 | 670 10,000 10,000 1,000 13 |
670 10,000 10,000 1,000 13 |
9,300 1,630 1,003 |
| TotalIncoming Resources | 11,683 | 10,000 | 21,683 | 21,683 | 12,936 |
| LESS:EXPENDITURE | |||||
| Freelancework | 1,110 | ||||
| Travel | 100 | 1,563 | |||
| Energy&water rates Rent&roomhire |
720 3,000 |
975 4,045 |
|||
| Telephone ProjectsandEquipment Postage,printing&stationary Advertising&events |
144 7,020 153 37 |
746 50 218 |
|||
| Repairs&renewals Insurance |
885 282 |
306 | |||
| Training&development Accountancyfees Meetingexpenses&refreshments |
705 200 24 |
240 310 |
|||
| Miscellaneous | 377 | 245 | |||
| AGM | 300 | ||||
| 13,647 | 13,647 | 10,108 | |||
| Excess/shortage of Income over | Expenditure | 8,036 | 2,828 |
| STATEMENTOFASSETSANDLIABILITIES ASAT31MARCH2021 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2020 | |
| ! | ! | |
| Current Assets CashatBank&inHand |
10,124 | 1,976 |
| Debtors | ||
| Current Liabilities | ||
| Creditors | 607 | 495 |
| TOTALASSETSLESSCURRENTLIABILITIES | 9,517 | 1,481 |
| FUNDS: | ||
| Balance 8/F Incomeand Expenditure Account |
1,481 8,036 |
4,002 -2,521 |
| TotalFunds | 9,517 | 1,481 |