Unity in Diversity (2015) CIO Annual General Meeting
5[th] July 2022
Chair’s Report on behalf of the Trustees
This report highlights the work of the charity over the last 12 months, using the monthly report to the Trustees as a guide. Like many charities we have had to work with the continuing challenge of Covid regulations; in addition, we have also changed our meeting location and in November we were delighted to receive once more a Swansea City of Sanctuary Award.
Drop-in/ Community Meeting Times: In early Autumn, the activities run at the Drop-In meetings included volunteer led craft sessions, a Taekwondo class and the rehearsals of the Swansea City of Sanctuary Choir. Some of the UiD members joined the rehearsals. In late Autumn, the trustees made the decision to temporarily leave the Unitarian Church for the winter months due to the bad state of repair of the building, with the plan to return in the Spring if the necessary building improvements had been made to the church building. In November, appropriate alternative accommodation was found at another city centre venue - York Place Baptist Church and a very warm welcome was given to UiD by the minster and members of this church some of whom have joined the UiD Intermediate English Class. The drop-in sessions continued, always run following Covid regulations and as these regulations have eased, we have been able to welcome more people attending the sessions and introduce more activities. At times we have welcomed volunteers from the Star Society/Discovery Club at the Universities which has been an asset to our volunteer team. The trustees are very grateful to volunteer Gemma who organises and cooks the weekly meal for approximately 45 people at the meeting and the new volunteers that have joined UiD to meet and great those that attend. Here is an extract from a report of the activities which have been organised by volunteer Hazle:
CRAFT ACTIVITIES: Paper craft Jewellery, developed by volunteer Viv. Making hanging decorations with air dry clay. Rubber stamp design on the Christmas gift parcels. PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT: This began as a Craft/decoration project with a dual purpose for me to get to know the regular Asylum Seekers better, and they each other. Volunteers were also included. A portrait photograph was taken of each person willing, their first name and home country. A map of their country was put on reverse of photo, and they were asked to locate their home with a dot on the map. This has project been hugely beneficial giving the opportunities for chats with newcomers to UiD.
GRADED READERS: I began with putting out on display free books donated by Oxfam volunteers but realized that while the children were well catered for by this Adult English Language learners were not. Through research and chatting with Neil, the English Intermediate teacher, I found there were specific fictional books carefully adapted for this purpose and what’s more, the Central Library had some and were willing to lend them to UID for lending on. The goal of these readers is to support the learning of English by introducing enjoyable reads to learners at a level they can cope with right now. The level most of our visitors are at in terms of the international grading system of these readers is A1+, A2, A2+ and B1. (Early Beginners to the beginning of Intermediate) The Library has agreed they can find us some more of this range as some people have read most of what we have at the level
they can cope with. I made a Record system, so I know where all the books are going. At present we have 21 signed up Readers and 54 books have been lent out.
Trustee David co-ordinates the weekly meetings. Joint development work is taking place between the church, UiD and Christians Against Poverty to set up a clothing bank at the church to allow people attending the Drop-In meeting to choose what clothing and housewares they require.
Outreach: the outreach work of the charity has continued through the distribution of food and the delivery of clothing and housewares from the existing clothing bank which is based at another church in Swansea. This continued outreach enables UiD to support additional people to those that attend the drop-in meetings and to reach out to new arrivals. Food distribution : In November 50 to 60 addresses were receiving food on a fortnightly basis and we successful in receiving a grant from Swansea Food Poverty Grant, to continue the food distribution until the end of March. In addition, UiD volunteers have taken food parcels to 10 families from Sketty Foodbank, every four or five weeks. In May this food distribution was scaled down to about 20 families receiving food support once a month and 15 families supported by the foodbank once every 5 weeks. Donations of food are taken to the morning English Class and the afternoon drop-in meeting. Clothing Bank : Throughout this last 12 months 8 volunteers at the clothing bank at Uniting Church Sketty have continued to receive and put away donations and to put up and deliver on average 6 deliveries every week. The referrals come from people known to UiD, new arrivals met by A Better Welcome to Swansea and people known to Swansea Asylum Seeker Support. Electrical donations are tested before they are sent out and volunteers will pro-actively seek donations from other charities such as Hay, Brecon and Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees when UiD can’t fulfil the request. A new feature as Covid regulations have eased has been to hold open afternoons at UCS working jointly with people from that church, to enable people to visit the church to choose their own clothing and homewares. At the last open afternoon 82 adults and children attended and when needed the chosen items were delivered.
English Classes: Teacher Heidi finished her Tuesday morning teaching at the end of September and teacher Shawn took over. The class numbers have continued to grow to between 12 and 15 core learners, mainly female. In February the beginners’ class changed to a Thursday morning. In April there was a marked upturn in levels of participation as people gained more confidence in entering group situations. The average attendance is now about 20 still mainly women. The intermediate class held after the evening meal on a Thursday afternoon has continued all through the year attracting approximately 15 to 20 male and female learners each week. The trustees extend grateful thanks to teacher Neil for his dedicated teaching throughout the year.
Women's Group: In February a Coffee Morning was held to find out in which sort of activities the women present would like to participate. Volunteering/doing charity work/helping in the community; group visits to gardens, museums, cinemas, historic houses scored highly. In March, thanks to friends known to York Place Baptist Church, UiD was able to invite women and children to a Craft Morning. In April a ‘Braid Salon’ was organised
thanks to the passion of new arrival Naza. Women’s Group leader & Trustee Saba led a picnic at the beach in June and is planning further regular activities for the women known to UiD.
Additional Activities/Events
- Christmas: Over 350 presents and Christmas cards were delivered to over 120 addresses. This was made possible by the generosity of people at Uniting Church Sketty, Gellionnen Chapel, the Hay, Brecon Group, the Unitarian Church in West Wales and many individuals doating gifts and a big team of volunteer drivers delivering them.
2. Employability Workshops March 2[nd ] & 3[rd] and 23[rd] & 24[th] . Extract from the report written by Trustee Jill who planned and organised the workshops: The Employment Workshops were largely a success. In the first workshop, 19 registrants attended, with a creche and lunch supplied. Some colleagues from the Refugee Council attended. Unfortunately, the second workshop was not so well attended with only 7 attendees. From the feedback received, 100% reported enjoying the workshops, specifically, they liked: The speaker, The content, The social aspect and the respect they felt they were given.
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Football & Netball: Volunteer Beth has encouraged people to attend football or netball sessions when possible.
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Mark Jones and colleague from Higher Plain Research and Education, attended a Drop-In meeting in April 7[th] . They are advising the Welsh Government on the experiences of displaced people in the criminal justice system. They had a useful session with a group of our members. They plan to return to share their recommendations to the government. They were impressed with the community feel to the group.
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Walk and Talk Event April 22[nd] . Extract from the Evaluation Report by volunteer Viv and Publicity Officer Simona. Approximately 25 people attended, and everyone enjoyed the event very much. Although numbers were lower than at the last walk arranged, it was felt that this was not necessarily a negative point, since it allowed more group conversations. It achieved its aim in familiarising new arrivals with the city centre and its attractions. An unplanned visit to the Mission Gallery also resulted in them offering workshops to the group in future. Arising from the walk was also the suggestion that the Waterfront Museum might be an interesting venue for a group visit.
Adella Pritchard
05.05.22
Unlty In Dlverslty (Swansea 2015) Accounts tst June 2021 to 3tst May 2022 Openlng Balance 15959.65 Incorne 5164.05 Expenditure 13189.16 Closing Balance. 7934.54 TSB Account 7988.84 Cash -$4.30 Closlng Balance 7934.54 Independent examlner's statement In connection with my examlnatlon, no matter has come to my attentlon: l. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material repert the requlrements.. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and to prepre acwunts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the the accountln8 rpgulrement5 of the 2011 Art have not been met or 2. to whlch in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandin8 ol the accounts to be reached. Signature Date z6
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