BLACK A51AN MINORITY ETHNIC VOICE (BAME VOICE) (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) (Company reg. number: CE011258) (Charity registration 1173740) TRUSTEES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 31 JULY 2024 BLACK ASIAN MINORITY ETHNIC VOICt (t5AME VOICE) TRUSTEES REPORT AND ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 CHARITY INFORMATION Name Black Asian Minority Ethnic Voice (BAME Voice) Charity registration number 1173740 Trustees Revd Hannah Lerina Sabina Taiwo Neale Dr Ponnampalam Arumugaraasah Mr Abayeh Savage Principal address I he Vestry Hall 336 London Road Mitcham CR4 3UD Bankers Lloyds Bank PIC P O Box 1000 Andover LIX1 1 LT Independent examiner Kojo Amoah-Arko Kojo & Co Ltd Chartered Certified AGcountants 118-120 London Road. Mitchaiii Surrey CR4 3LB BLACK ASIAN MIP40RITY ETHNIC VOICE {BAME VOICE) TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 The trustees present their report together with the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024 BASIS OF ACCOUNTS PREPARATION The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with "Accounting and reporting by Charities. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland The Charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), that is govp.rnpd by a constitution. It is an independent body that provides capacity building to ethnic minority organisations. Membership is open to individuals and any organisation that identifies with its ethos and pays the required fee of £10. At 31 July 2024. there were 30 members OBJECTS The charity's objects are to build the capacity and skills of minority ethnic organisations in order that they can deliver better services to the particularly but not exclusively socially disadvdiildged communities in the borough of Merton and its environs, {hereinafter called the 'arca of benefit,) in such a way that they are b¥ller able to identify and help meet their needs and to participate fully in society TRUSTEES The trustae8 who served during the year and at the date of this rèpurL tare Revd. (Mrs) Haniiah Lerina Sabina Taiwo Neale BEM Mr Abayeh Savage Dr Ponnambalam Arumug2r22qAh STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Thc charity is managed by a board of truste¥b wlio Ineet regularly in a year. The day to day running is left in the hands of volunteers. No remuneration was paid to trustees in the year BLACK ASIAN MINORITY ETHNIC VOICE (BAME VOICE) TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (CONTD) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Over the period under review. most of our projects and activities were centred around supporting BAME groups during the cost-of-living crisis and the long COVID effect on IoGal communities. In our continued efforts to improve the capacity of our member organisation, we applied for and were given a three - year grant 2023-2026 under London Borough of Merton's Civic Pride Funding. The programme is running well with organisations able to offer advanced training to its staff, mainly part-time or sessional workers and to their volunteers.some were able to use thp.ir fLinding to upgrade their communications systems, develop their website, offer adventure and character development programmes to children and youths from disadvantaged baGkgrounds. Through our participation in heritage events and holding Black History events in differeiit Voll Ib uf ttie borough, we have helped promote greater cultural 2nd religious understanding, hclping to bridge the existing gap betwevJi dirrerent sections of the borough. Membership ol our charity has grown. with new groups becoming members. BAME VOICE continues to be the first point of call for information on issues aflecliiig Iiiinoiity ethnic communities in Merton and the surrounding 2reas. FINANCIAL REVIEW During the year, the charity raised £86,751 (2023. £147,540) for capacity building and training. The determination of the trustees is to increase the membership base and to raise more funds. BLACK ASIAN MINORITY ETHNIC VOICE {BAME VOICE) TRU5TEE5 REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (CONTD) RISKS The trustees make every effort to ensure that the potential for financial and operational risks are reduced to the minimum by maintaining strict oversight through regular financial management reports. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that the charity has to develop new ways of empowering our members. RESERVES POLICY Thp TriJstpes review the policy on reserves and set targets at least once per annum with guidance and terminology published by the Charity Commission. The policy is also reviewed when warranted by changes in risk management or business plans. This includes unrestricted, designated funds and tangible fixed assets. Transfers to and from funds are authorised by the Trustees as a whole. A general reserve equal to at least 6 months of operating expendrture is appropriate to bridge short term effects andlor negotiate alternative OLirces. General Reserve is that part of unrestricted funds that are freely available to spend i.e. excluding designated funds and tangible fixed assets. The Charity intends to continue its present activities whilst working more closely with other organisations. We plan lu extend our membership base. FUTURE PLANS AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS We will encourage and support our member organisation5 in their pragr2mmes and projects which seek to creato greater understanding and trust which bring together the diverse commijnities living in Merton. We will continue to seek alternative sources of funding outside the Statutory and Trust sectors BLACK A51AN MINoRifY ETHNIC VOICE {15AME VOICE) TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (CONTD) Statement of Trustees, responsibilities The Charities Act 2011 requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In pieparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently,. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2005. make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and pruclent state wtiether applicable accounting standards have been followed. subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to do su. The Trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any timc, the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for 8afpgLiarding the assets of the Charity and henGe for Idkirig reasonable steps for the prevention and deteetian of fraud and other irregularities. Revd. {Mr8) Hannah Lerina Sabina Taiwu Neale BEM Trustee Dated 3010512025 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT IU I HE TRUSTEES OF BLACK ASIAN MINORITY ETHNIC VOICE IBAME VOICE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 July 2024 which are set out on pages 7 to 11 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 14412) of the Charities Act 2011 {Ihe 2011 Act) and that an independent examinabon is needed. It is my responsibility lo.. examine the accounts under Section 145 of the 2011 Act, to follow thp. prnr.p_diirps laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Cofflmission under section 14515llb) of ihe 2011 Acl-, and to State whether parbcular mallers have come to my attenb.on Basis of independent examinerfs report My examination was carried OLJI in accordance wth the generdl Diiections given by the Charity Commission. An examination include5 a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a compari50n of the accounts represented with those recoid5. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you a4J Iru4)t¢c3 concerning any SUGh matter3. The procedures uiidei Ldkeri not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion 1% givp_n as lo whether the accounts present a true and fair view and the report is limited to those matters sel oul in the slaternent below. Iridependent examlner's statement Iii buiiri¥Llion with my examinatlon, no matter has come to my attention- 111 which gives me reasonable cause to believv ilicil iri dny Tnalerial respect the requirements." lo keep accounting records in accordance wlh section 13n nf thp 2011 Act, and lo prepare accounts which accord with the accounting record5 and comply with tho roquirements of thc 2011 Act have not been mot", or 121 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order tr) enable a proper uncjerstandlng of the accounts to be reacned. >odL JJ Kojo Amoah-Atko FCCA Kojo & Co. Limited Association of Chartered Certified Accouiil