## **Trustees’ Annual Report** **For the year ending 31 March 2024 Bigger Heart Zanzibar (BHZ) Charity Registration Number: 1179065** ## **1. Structure, Governance and Management** Bigger Heart Zanzibar (BHZ) is a community-led organisation focused on nurturing creativity, confidence, and cultural understanding among children and families, particularly from underserved backgrounds. The organisation operates under a board of trustees who are responsible for strategic oversight, compliance, and governance. Trustees meet to review progress, ensure financial accountability, and steer the charity’s development. ## **2. Objectives and Activities** Our principal objective in 2023/24 was to deliver the _Creative Bridges_ project at St Thomas Primary School in Swansea. Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All grant, the project aimed to: - Deliver fun, creative, and wellbeing-focused after-school and holiday activities; - Build cultural awareness and foster inclusion among primary-aged children; - Strengthen community ties between families of diverse backgrounds; - Provide safe, enriching experiences that supported emotional and social development. Activities included arts and crafts, jewellery making, mindfulness and yoga sessions, games, cultural celebrations (e.g. Zanzibar Day and Eid), and educational trips. ## **3. Achievements and Performance** The _Creative Bridges_ project had a meaningful impact on children and families in the St Thomas community. Weekly sessions and special events consistently drew high engagement from children aged 5 to 11, many of whom reported increased self-confidence, creativity, and joy in attending. Notable achievements include: - **Increased emotional wellbeing:** Activities such as mindfulness, yoga, and self-esteem games helped children build focus and emotional resilience. - **Skill development and expression:** Creative sessions allowed children to explore arts and crafts, develop coordination and problem-solving skills, and try new mediums. - **Cultural exchange and inclusion:** Events like Zanzibar Day and the Eid celebration enabled children to explore other cultures, try traditional food, and learn new languages (e.g. Swahili), fostering respect and understanding. - **Positive feedback:** Quotes from children like “Love everything!!” (Abi, age 8) and “I loved learning about Zanzibar. The food and games were fun!” reinforced the project’s joyful and educational impact. Parents also praised the attentiveness of staff and the quality of programming. ## **4. Financial Review** The total grant awarded by The National Lottery Community Fund was **£10,000** which was all spent. We also received donations and full financial details available in the Financial Report. ## **5. Public Benefit** In line with the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, BHZ continues to provide services that support the development and inclusion of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. _Creative Bridges_ exemplified this by using creative learning and cultural exchange to tackle social isolation, build confidence, and enhance wellbeing among beneficiaries. ## **6. Plans for the Future** Building on the success of _Creative Bridges_ , the trustees plan to: - Expand partnerships with local schools to reach more children; - Explore further funding for cultural and wellbeing programmes; - Formalise our volunteer programme to grow capacity; - Develop a theory of change and evaluation strategy to track long-term impact. ## **7. Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved this report and consider it a true and fair reflection of the charity’s activities and impact in 2023/24. ## **Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees:** Name: Nawal Simpson Position: Chair of Trustees Date: 20/05/2025 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the Wflod To Section A Receipts and payments u￿tstrICted ResiTlcled lunds Endowmenl fi*)d• A1 Reul 1Q.O 10J•O Sub tt)tal fGmss income ftjr ARJ 10.111 lsee Sub total roral recwpts 10.811 )07 Sub rotal 4174 4174 Sub total 4174 1Q7 Orr￿e1￿￿(p•Yrn¢ntsl •37 61 10, 11.001 7m3 CCXX R1 ISS) Sectlon B statemenl of assets and liabilities at the end of the period VnreslTlcted Re5tr1ctetl Endowment Detslls 81 Cash funds rot•l cash lunds I,o•J Det•lls 10 Details Delails 84 Assets relained for the tktalls B5 Liabillties