## **Annual Report** ## **2021 - 2022** ## **Reference and Administration** Charity Name : Suvai Deaf East Community Charity Number : 1180055 Charity’s Address : 124 Horns Road Ig2 6BL Periods : 01/04/2021 - 31/03/2022 ## **Structure** SDEC was set up and registered as a charity in September 2018. Prior to this, it was operating as a community cafe based in Ilford but it was struggling as a business. We did struggle to access funding when we first started as a charity but eventually we have come to believe that by setting up as a charity, it enabled us to apply for more funding. The funding we have received has enabled us to set up more community focused activities such as clubs and workshops, as well to manage a number of volunteers. ## **Charity’s Aims** SDEC strives to improve education and social inclusion for deaf people. We aim to reduce the isolation which is felt by members of the deaf community. We work to encourage and instil their confidence and improve their overall mental health and wellbeing. SDEC is run by four trustees and a number of paid staff who are working closely with BSL interpreters. ## **Vision** SDEC’s vision is to support and empower the deaf community by hosting various educational and social events throughout the year. We endeavour to encourage positive attitudes and aspire to a positive and inclusive future. We aim to eliminate isolation and exclusion and contribute to a better quality of life. ## **Vision/Beliefs** Our services are aimed at the deaf community with the overarching aim to improve the quality of life of members of this community. With all our staff and trustees being deaf, we have lived experience of the barriers and issues facing our beneficiaries and share a common connection with them. Our work is aimed at the deaf community, but we also work with hearing communities to forge links and break down barriers. We aim to provide access to opportunities, encourage, motivate and inspire deaf people. We encourage independence and empowerment in the deaf community, instil a sense of community, pride and working together, to reduce isolation, stress and mental health struggles. ## **What we do** We registered the charity with the main goal to offer education and training for deaf women and men as well as social clubs and fitness activities. Our main focus is on reducing isolation and setting up social events, outings and clubs for all ages. Our services are available to all deaf people, from children to old people and all genders, with a particular emphasis on BME and grassroots deaf people. We do not yet have our own Advice and Advocacy service but we have links with other local organisations where we can signpost beneficiaries if we are unable to cover their support needs. ## **Managing through Covid** SDEC faced significant challenges throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic . Our Deaf staff who would normally work alongside Communication Support Workers and Interpreters were forced to work remotely via video calls. Additionally, other Deaf beneficiaries who were used to coming into the office for advice and support, had to start accessing our services remotely. The first six months of the year were very challenging for our staff and our beneficiaries but we are proud of how we have adapted and learned to work in new and innovative ways. By receiving the emergency Coronavirus funding, we were able to set up new projects, enabling us to help the most vulnerable and isolated individuals of the deaf community. We set up regular workshops on a variety of topics; both informative and entertaining. ## **Success at SDEC 2021/22** From the year of 2021/22, SDEC continued to successfully deliver various exciting and engaging events, from inclusive theatre plays to art activities and crafts workshops. We held our weekly Deaf Club meetings at the Suvai Cafe in Ilford. We run the Sunday Lunch Club and Wednesday Deaf Club, where we provided free wholesome, homecooked meals and the chance to socialise with a good number of regular attendees on a weekly basis. The biggest outdoor activity was held at Lido in London. Tooting Bec Lido was able to offer a weekly outdoor group swim every week free of charge throughout the scorching summer months. The facilities and staff at Lido were brilliant and our Deaf beneficiaries thoroughly enjoyed the activities thus we had a good number of people attending each week. Our Walking Club enjoyed weekly walking trails to some remarkable London green spaces, such as the New River Walk and Parkland Walk in Finsbury Park to name a few. We partnered with many London museums, some of which had never delivered BSL tours in the past; however, they were happy to build on access and inclusion and accommodate our Deaf group's needs. Some of London's most iconic Exhibitions became more accessible as the approached Museum Staff hired a number of well-established BSL Interpreters and were able to offer BSL Tours. In particular, our Deaf attendees thoroughly enjoyed their visit at the iconic Painted Hall, located in Greenwich. We were also able to offer a fantastic range of activities targeted to families, such as BSL interpreted and Deaf friendly Rock climbing lessons and a Creative Pottery Workshop which was beyond popular. Held at the Suvai Cafe, we offered many exciting activities for November Half Term, such as a Pumpkin Carving Workshop and our Weekly Sewing Workshop, amongst others. ## **Future Plans for 2022/2023** In 2022/2023 SDEC will endeavour to apply for additional funding, to enable us to maintain and expand on the services we provide. We are hopeful that our application will be successful, and we will be able to secure funding from Trust for London. This funding would be crucial in enabling us to continue offering community activities for the three coming years. If successful, this project will focus on setting up and running clubs for the deaf community, such as older people lunch club, over 40s club, kids’ club, family club, women only club, fitness club, walking club and afternoon tea club. We strongly believe that if we succeed in being the recipients of this funding, it will consequently open the doors for further funding opportunities from other funding bodies. One of the barriers in applying for funding is the criteria in submitting an application in written English. We in SDEC and our group of deaf Trustees identify as having BSL as a first language thus writing funding bids continues to be a significant struggle for us. To date, the majority of our grants and funding awards have been granted for small amounts, nevertheless we have managed to work efficiently with limited funds. We have -a lot of value for money - such as the hot meal service, food hampers and walking club. We have maintained a connection with the local deaf community, and they have felt reassured and supported by SDEC activities and presence. We have prioritised engagement with the deaf BAME community and grassroots deaf people, for whom lack of access has disproportionately affected them in comparison with the general deaf population. CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Suvai D•af East Communlty 1180006 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th• p•ri4xI 01JN21 31103122 Section A Recei ts and payments Unr•stridgd Endowm•nt Total fund5 Last ygar t•lh• n••r•Bti A1 R•o•l FuTrd raisin Grants HMRC 7C 71K) rams 8,676 Sub total(Gross income forAR) A2 A8s•t and Inv••tm•nt •41•x, 79N7 79N7 qQ.360 Sub tota Total Ivc* 7•,647 60,380 A3Pa m•nts BAnk ch$ro•s 74 74 12 enl g¢1 •x rov•I 817 129 Mlac 2&rviu¥ menl 460 Sub to ,377 A4 Ass•t and Inw•stm•nt urohas•s 5•• tabl• Sub tota Totalpayments 377 84A77 Net Ofrncelp￿(Payrnents) A6 Tr*Mtsrs b•t*wn fun A6 C*$h fvnds last y￿r •nd Cash funds this ywen 2417 25,17 27,26 27,431 62,806 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unr•striot•d funds Cat•gorl•s R•¥triot•d Endovmwit 81 Cash funds S2.808 Total cash funds 61601 Unr•stri¢t•d R•striot•d funds EndovoTh•nt nds CCXX R1 8¢>x)unts l&S D•tails D•tails Curr•thtval b•k) C•rt{•pll•n•D B3 Inv•stment 4u•ts D¢talls C*t l•pll•n•l Cun•rt v•lu• B4 A•••t• r•t•ln•d lor th• oh•rlty'• ¢>wn u•• F￿￿*•￿*bvh •n•l BS Ll#bllltl• S￿n￿d by one cr￿0trU1I•kn on beha of al the Iru8lee8 Simiro Prirt Namè D8te ofapproval 8ra$ Sutharsan Shamim Akhter CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 15109122 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to th• trusteesl members of Suvai Deaf East Community On accounts for the year •nded 31 March 2022 Charity no {rfany) 1180055 S•t out on pag•8 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above chaiity ('the Trust.) lor the year ended 3110312021. Résponsibiliti•s and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrth tha requirements of the Charities Act 2011 Ilhe Act.). I report In respect of my examination of the Trusfs accounts carried out under section 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the A￿. Ind•ynd•nt •xamln•rfs stat•m•nt I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection Wtth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a propar understandin9 of the a￿oUnts to be reached. Slgned: Dat•: 3010112023 Nam•: Osama Ayub Relevant prol¢3slonal qualifi¢ation(s) or body (If any): FCCA, CTA Address.. 76 Aveling Close Purley CR8 4DW Section 8 Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to hi9hlight material matters of concern (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). IER Oct 2018 Give here briel details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018