| Trustees' Annual Report | for theperiod | ||||||
| **From ** | Period start date | To | Period end date | ||||
| 01 | 01 | 2025 | 31 | 12 | 2025 |
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name Al-ASHARAF COMMUNITY WELFARE ASSOCIATION Other names charity is known by
Registered charity number (if any) 1179893
Charity's principal address VOLUNTARY ACTION ISLINGTON 200A PENTONVILLE ROAD LONDON Postcode N1 9JP
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 |
Trustee name | Role (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MANA FATIMA AL- SHARIF ABBAS AL-SHARIF (Previously Mana Abbas) |
CHAIR | |||
| SHEKHA SHARIF ALI |
VICE CHAIR | |||
| ABDARAHMAN SHARIF |
TREASURER | |||
| SAMIR MUHDAR | ADMINISTRATOR |
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Labour Life Peer | SARA HYDE | House of Lords, Parliament Square, SW1A 0PW |
| Islington Ward Lead Councillor | UNA O'HALLORAN | Islington Town Hall, Upper St, N1 2UD |
| Islington Ward Councillor | PAUL COVERY | Islington Town Hall, Upper St, N1 2UD |
| We Are Cally Community Development Officer |
HANNAH BROOK | Islington Council, 222 Upper Street, N1 1XR |
| Development Manager | TSIGEREDA TEKLETSADIK |
Voluntary Action Islington, N1 9JP |
| Local Wellbeing Manager | CLIFF JOSEPH | Voluntary Action Islington, N1 9JP |
| Chair | MULKI QANI | Somali Speakers Women’s Group, N1 9JP |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
Constitution
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
Association
- (eg. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods
Appointed
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
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policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
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the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
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relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
‘Al-Asharaf Community Welfare Association’, founded in 1998 by Dr Ahmed Sharif Abbas , strongly believes that working together is the only way to succeed. We supported the forming and establishment of ‘Somali Speakers Women’s Group’ in 2000 and have continued to cooperate with them ever since, forming a strong partnership. Likewise, in 2008, we built a solid partnership with ‘Help on Your Doorstep’.
It was our pleasure to help facilitate and initiate the partnership between Somali Speakers Women’s Group and the newly established Somali Embassy in London. We encouraged them to participate in the ‘Somali Professionals – Networking’ programme.
Over the years, we have also established solid partnerships with local businesses in Caledonian Road. From them: Khan Food Centre and Cally Pound Plus.
History:
1998 – ‘Asharaf Welfare Association’ initiated in Manor Garden - before moving to Islington’s West Library Hall. After years of community growth, we relocated to Bemerton Children’s Centre, before transferring to Copenhagen Primary School (on Saturdays) 2009 – Subsequently, we ‘rebranded’ to ‘Al-Asharaf Women & Children Association’, before finally changing to ‘Al-Asharaf Community Welfare Association in 2018.
We are currently addressed at Voluntary Action Islington, whilst holding our events at Jean Stokes Community Centre.
Section C Objectives and activities
Providing relief for those living in Islington and the surrounding Summary of the objects of the boroughs, focusing on ‘ Health & Wellbeing’ . In particular, but not charity set out in its exclusively, those of ‘Al-Asharaf’ origin, as well as those in need governing document (e.g. elderly, ill health/disabled and those in financial hardships).
Summary of the main By implementing ‘Bright Start & Bright Future’s’ principles, we run
activities undertaken for the our weekly activities: public benefit in relation to
these objects (include within ‘Stay and Play’ activities for parents and children (for this section the statutory building self-confidence) declaration that trustees have Lunch clubs had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Sewing clubs Commission on public Homework clubs benefit)
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
In accordance with our organisation’s focus on ‘ Health & Wellbeing ’ – we continue our services of supporting families afflicted with mental health. We achieve this by establishing a link between families and Camden Crisis Resolution – liaising between them.
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
Moreover, we intervene in marital disputes between young parents by attempting reconciliation – along with recommending ‘Couples Therapy’ & mediation sessions.
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policy on grantmaking;
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policy programme related investment;
investment; We also assist elderly residents that were seeking support during the ‘ Cost of Living ’ crisis, by filling out forms – as well as contribution made by accompanying them with GP/hospital visits. volunteers.
We also assist young parents in securing nursery places for their children.
Our volunteers also organise and ran regular ‘faith-based’ celebrations at Finsbury Park Mosque.
Section D Achievements and performance
Our greatest achievement this year was successfully implementing Summary of the main our ‘Bridging the Gap’ principles by networking with others key achievements of the charity during the year organisations.
Section D Achievements and erformance p
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Family events with ‘Bright Start’ & ‘Bright Futures’
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’Local Health & Wellbeing’ workshops with Voluntary Action Islington
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Educational workshops with London Metropolitan University & West Library Islington
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Housing: liaising between residents and their landlords, in Islington and other boroughs – by interpreting and assisting cases throughout until the reaching of mutual agreements.
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Supported migrants with Islington Refugee and Migrant Forum
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Networking with Jeans Stokes ‘Service Users Team’
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Cooperated with ‘We Are Cally’ for numerous events
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Cooperated with Community Safety Team
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Cooperated with other religious communities in several ‘ Inter-Faith Meal ’ events at Jean Stokes
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Cooperated with the Muslim Council of Britain
Supported Somali Speakers Women’s Group to establish a network for Somali communities in Islington.
Among the major celebrations we participated in:
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Cally Festival
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Black History Month
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Jean Stokes Iftar & Eid Party
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Outdoor Christmas Event
We would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our leading politicians who have supported us throughout the years namely: Mayor of London Mr Sadiq Khan
Section D Achievements and erformance p
Ms Emily Thornberry Ms Una O'Halloran Mr Paul Covery Ms Sara Hyde (newly appointed member of the House or Lords who invited us to her inauguration)
Section E Financial review
Brief statement of the Monthly contributions into the company’s account, by the trustees,
charity’s policy on reserves ensure sufficient reserves in place.
Details of any funds materially in deficit
N/A
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include The main funding came primarily from the trustees themselves, as well as the community members. With this communal effort, we additional information, where relevant about: managed to successfully continue our services throughout the year.
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the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
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any fundraising); We are incredibly grateful to the Islington Council who provided us with a lot of funding support over the years – facilitating for us to
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how expenditure has continue our services.
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supported the key objectives of the charity;
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Likewise, we would like to thank Barclays Business team for their
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investment policy and continuous support throughout the years ever since opening our objectives including any account. In particular, we would like to extend our gratitude to ethical investment policy Olivia Woodward and her colleagues who facilitated the completion
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adopted. our mandate forms. We would also like to thank the Barclays Islington Green branch, in particular Matthew for their assistance regarding our finances. We operate on a cashless basis; using only cheques and debit transactions.
Section F Other optional information
History:
1998 – ‘Asharaf Welfare Association’ initiated in Manor Garden - before moving to Islington’s West Library Hall. After years of community growth, we relocated to Bemerton Children’s Centre, before transferring to Copenhagen Primary School (on Saturdays)
2009 – Subsequently, we ‘rebranded’ to ‘Al-Asharaf Women & Children Association’, before finally changing to ‘Al-Asharaf Community Welfare Association in 2018.
We are currently addressed at Voluntary Action Islington, whilst holding our events at Jean Stokes Community Centre.
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) |
Mana Fatima Al-Sharif Abbas Al-Sharif |
|
|---|---|---|
| Mana Fatima Al-Sharif Abbas Al-Sharif |
||
Chair |
Date 10/1/2026