Soho First Community Development Trust Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Statement for the Period 1st April 2023 - to 31st March 2024
Charity name: Soho First Community Development Trust
Other names charity is known by: Soho First, Soho First CDT
Charity Number: 1173499
Principle address:
Handsworth Baptist Church Centre 38A Victoria Road Handsworth Birmingham B21 0SA
Trustees
Andrew Simons (Chair) Rhona Rouse (Treasurer) Robert John Higginson (Minutes secretary) Rev John Mall Carol Henry
We thank the Trustees for their continued commitment and contribution to the work of Soho First.
Structure, governance, and management
Governing document
Association model constitution Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered 20 June 2017
Trustee selection
The Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
The objects of the charity are:
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To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community of Soho Ward, Birmingham, in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.
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The promotion for the public benefit of urban regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation (and Birmingham’s Soho Ward) by all or any of the following means:
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a) the relief of poverty in such ways as may be thought fit;
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b) the relief of unemployment in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment;
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c) the advancement of education, training, or retraining, particularly among unemployed people, and providing unemployed people with work experience;
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d) the provision of financial assistance, technical assistance, or business advice or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people in cases of financial or other charitable need through help: (i) in setting up their own business, or (ii) to existing businesses;
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(e) the creation of training and employment opportunities by the provision of workspace, buildings and/or land for use on favourable terms;
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(f) the provision of housing for those who are in conditions of need and the improvement of housing in the public sector or in charitable ownership provided that such power shall not extend to relieving any local authorities or other bodies of a statutory duty to provide or improve housing;
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(g) the maintenance, improvement, or provision of public amenities;
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(h) the preservation of buildings or sites of historic or architectural importance;
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(i) the provision or assistance in the provision of recreational facilities for the public at large and/ or those who, by reasons of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty, or social and economic circumstances, have need for such facilities;
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(j) the protection or conservation of the environment;
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(k) the provision of public health facilities and childcare;
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(l) the promotion of public safety and prevention of crime; and
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(m)such other means as may from time to time be determined subject to the prior consent of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
The Trust’s mission statement is:
"We aim to connect the gifts, aspirations, capacities, and skills of the people in Birmingham’s Soho and Jewellery Quarter Ward to identify local needs and priorities better and to act to address them. Soho First strives to collaborate with residents and partners to address local social, economic, and environmental priorities and create a better place for everyone to live and work in."
Summary of main activities undertaken
This report covers the financial year from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. Soho First presently relies entirely on volunteers to achieve its objectives. Since its establishment in 2017, the organization has greatly benefited from the commitment and contributions of many dedicated individuals, especially its Trustees. However, we have also experienced the loss of some key members who have moved away from the area and can no longer participate actively. This has impacted our ability to achieve certain goals. As a result, recruiting new members, including Trustees, will be a priority in the coming year.
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Thriving Soho
Work has begun on a revised Community Economic Development Plan for the Soho and Jewellery Quarter Ward. This plan will incorporate the findings from research conducted by two groups of community researchers as part of the USE-IT! programme (Unlocking Social and Economic Innovation Together)
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Procurement in the Soho Ward of Birmingham : Alison Thompson and Debbie Kerslake, USE-IT! Community Researchers (2019)
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Exploration of a Maker Space in the Soho Ward : Jeanette Derbyshire, Gazala Aslam, Katarzyna Gut, Karen Thomas, Shazia Baig, and Jennifer Thomas, USEIT! Community Researchers (2019)
The research conducted by the USE-IT! researchers has helped to inform a report on Progressive Procurement in Birmingham . This report examines the challenges that social enterprises face when accessing public sector procurement processes and discusses possible solutions to these challenges.
Environment
Chris Milton has continued to organise litter picks and clean-up days in the area, bringing together numerous partners and residents. For example, Chris organised events as part of The Great Big Green Week, 10 – 18 June 2023.
Thanks to Chris Milton for his continued commitment to improving the environment in the area.
Social media
Lee Thorpe at Steamroom Media continues to maintain and host the Soho First website, including a Facebook page link. Thanks to Thomas Cantwell for his contributions to the Facebook page.
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Soho First Community Development Trust Financial Statement 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
| Income | |
|---|---|
| 0.00 | |
| Expenditure | |
| Website domain name and hosting | 115.99 |
| Service charges | 72.00 |
| _ | |
| Total expenditure | 187.99 |
| Balance from previous year | 6,671.67 |
| Total income | 0.00 |
| _ | |
| 6,671.67 | |
| Total expenditure | 187.99 |
| Balance as of 31st March 2024 | 6,483.68 |
Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees Signature
Full name: Andrew Simons Position: Chair Date: 12[th] February 2025
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