Nm Charity Number: 1171108 ## **IT’S ALL ABOUT CULTURE** (A Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts For the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 1 ## _**It’s All About Culture**_ It’s All About Culture (IAAC) is a Boscombe-based local voluntary organisation. dedicated to improving community cohesion, wellbeing, and social inclusion. through multicultural arts, food, and music IAAC became a registered charity in 2017 and promotes. equality and diversity by planning, organising, and delivering. grassroots, sociable, awareness-raising public events, and activities These bring diverse cultures, nationalities, races and backgrounds together, to help promote and foster harmony, cohesion, cross-cultural celebration, community volunteering, wellbeing, and mutual respect **www.itsallaboutculture.org.uk** It’s All About Culture (IAAC), Unit 20a Sovereign Centre, 600 Christchurch Rd Boscombe, Bournemouth, BH14fX _**Charity Number 1171108**_ 2 ## **Introduction** A registered charity since 13 January 2017, It’s All About Culture (IAAC) aims to improve and promote community social cohesion, help raise awareness in equality and diversity, encourage wellbeing, cultivate and foster better relationships and engagement between different ethnic and cultural groups. IAAC is a small, local, grassroots, non-profit organisation, led, organised, and delivered by volunteers from the multicultural community, bringing varied knowledge, skills, and experience, while reflecting our diverse cultures. IAAC has strong community awareness, has built up goodwill and credibility, and is valued by other cultural community groups, as well as public and statutory bodies, local universities, neighbourhood small businesses, charities, and other organisations. From early on, a wide diversity of volunteers and trustees from varied cultural backgrounds have strongly reflected this: Originally set up in 2013, as a constituted community group, IAAC grew and developed to engage with the varied BAME communities in Boscombe and surrounding areas, including Caribbean, Latin American, African, East African, Continental European, Nepali, South Asian, Chinese, and British. ## **Structure, Governance, and Management** IAAC’s structure is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), under the terms of the Charities Act 2006, and is controlled by its governing document, IAAC’s new Constitution of 13 January 2017. The trustees check planning and operational matters, community engagement activity, and outcome impacts. They carefully look over aspects of business, risk, finance, and follow public benefit guidance, plus community charitable requirements when making decisions and running our activities. Most of IAAC’s trustees whilst in a voluntary capacity, also fulfil important organising, managerial, and operational roles. with the team. The team also conducts the routine day-to-day administrative tasks, which helps with practical aspects of events and activities. In recruiting new trustees, the charity endeavours to fill vacancies through our network of community partners and the BAME community’s cultural groups. Registered charity number: 1171108 Registered address: C/O CAN 4[th] Floor. Beech House. 28/30 Wimborne Road, Poole BH15 2BU Trustees: Charmaine Beckles Sarah Hutchinson Willbert Smith Derek Bell Steven Beckles ## **Charitable Objects** IAAC’s charitable aim is to promote equality, diversity, and cohesion within the community by (1) raising awareness and educating the local community about social inclusion. (2) promoting activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds. 3 Our last year has been a very challenging period, due to recovering from a loss of premises which caused major upheaval. IAAC has still managed to meet its objectives and achieved outcomes by helping to promote equality and diversity. We have since started sharing a building with another local charity, which has been very helpful as it helps us to continue our mission. We are now sharing a building which is less than 5 minutes away from our previous premises, allowing our service users to still attend our groups. Sharing a building with another well-known and reputable charity has helped to promote good health by raising awareness, sharing information, whilst also working with local communities and reaching out to new and more cultural groups in the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole area. IAAC continues to hold a chat group for men of all ages from differing backgrounds. which has taken on its own legs and now incorporates board games, and this group has been successful within the local community. IAAC also hold a weekly Pepper pot Social, which is a Caribbean lunch which brings people together to partake in various activities. It continues to be a multicultural centre which serves the BAME and greater community. IAAC have been collaborating with D.R.E.C, CAN, Towns Engagement Fund and numerous agencies. IAAC trustees have continued to follow their duty to have due regard to the commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant. ## **Achievements and Performance** In IAAC’s eighth year as a CIO, the organisation has continued to establish a strong community presence, and all-round good reputation. It also continues to build on the unique relationships it has formed locally and develop new networks. This October we celebrated Black History Month in our new premises, which involved Poetry, live music from a local band and food. We also had speeches from prominent members of the local ethnic community, this event was a success and well received. **We are a referrer for the local Foodbank.** Our Caribbean art class has now developed into a wider arts and craft group, which is well attended by the local community. It also incorporates, **knitting/Crochet and crafts lessons to meet new people. All are given a warm welcome.** **IAAC continues to be a presence in the local community and has partaken in numerous events outdoors, such as the World of Love Festival and Increase the Peace.** IAAC trustees and volunteers have managed to keep our mission going and our presence in the local community, despite the rising cost of living and having been in between buildings We endeavour to keep our activities going in the 24-25 year. We also provide dry food, non-perishable goods and a warm and safe space for those in the community who are suffering with mental health issues or who are urgently in need of food and help. The organisation has expanded its social media presence, to become an active, popular multicultural forum and hub for online communities. We are also upgrading our website, so that we can attract more visitors and contributors. 4 IAAC is consistently building on existing relationships within the community and will continue to develop strong and lasting partnerships within the local area. IAAC continues to work hand in hand with our trustees and volunteers, as together we work towards becoming a real asset and staple in the local community. IAAC has achieved its funding and financial. Support from various organisations. We have researched, prepared, and submitted a reasonable number of grant applications, with both existing and new funders. Many have not been successful, but we continue to apply and have made some positive allies. ## **Future** Looking forward to later years IAAC aims to: Continue to support the community, through our workshops, classes, and daily events. Due to our temporary closure, we had to cease our Tuesday Social as we don’t have the use of the new premises on that day. We have however incorporated the same sort of setting into our Wednesday Arts and craft group as it is benefitting so many in the locality. Continue to grow our volunteer base and ensure that everyone receives sufficient training. Continue to research and apply for grants, project funding, and other support, for regular community events. . _Approved by the Trustees_ ## _Mrs C. Beckles – Chair of Trustees_ _Date: 26/01/2024_ 5