## **Suvai Deaf East Community Annual Report 2023-2024** ## **Structure** SDEC was officially established as a charity in September 2018, following its earlier operation as a community café in Ilford, which faced significant challenges as a business. In the beginning, we struggled to secure funding after transitioning to a charity, but over time, it became clear that registering as a charity opened up more funding opportunities, allowing us to offer more support to our community. With the financial support we've received, we’ve been able to expand our focus on the community by introducing new activities, such as clubs and workshops, and effectively managing a dedicated team of volunteers. This shift has allowed us to make a greater impact within the community. ## **Charity’s Aims** SDEC is dedicated to improving education and promoting social inclusion for deaf individuals. Our mission is to reduce the isolation often experienced within the deaf community by fostering confidence, enhancing mental health, and supporting overall well-being. The organization is guided by four trustees and supported by a team of paid staff, who work closely alongside British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters to deliver our services effectively. ## **Vision** SDEC's vision is to empower the deaf community by offering a range of educational and social events throughout the year. We are committed to fostering positive attitudes and building a future that is inclusive for all. Our goal is to eliminate isolation and exclusion, ultimately contributing to a higher quality of life for deaf individuals. ## **Vision/Beliefs** Our services are aimed at the deaf community and our overarching aim is to improve the quality of life of members. All of our staff and trustees are deaf, meaning we have lived experience of the barriers and issues facing our beneficiaries, sharing 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, improving access and awareness about deaf people and their needs in the mainstream arena. We aim to provide access to opportunities which encourage, motivate and inspire deaf people. We encourage independence and empowerment in the deaf community, instilling a sense of community, pride and working together, to reduce isolation, stress and mental health struggles. ## **What we do** ## **Charity Overview:** Our charity is dedicated to providing education, training, and social opportunities for deaf individuals of all ages, with a focus on reducing isolation and fostering community connections. The charity prioritises creating social clubs, fitness activities, and outings for deaf people, promoting inclusion, and offering spaces for social engagement. ## **Key Objectives:** Education and Training: Offering tailored educational and training opportunities to deaf individuals, equipping them with essential skills. Social Inclusion: Organising events and clubs to reduce isolation among deaf people, promoting social integration and community building. Focus on Diversity: Emphasis on supporting BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) and grassroots deaf communities, ensuring that services are inclusive and accessible. Signposting to Advice & Advocacy: While the charity does not yet offer its own Advice and Advocacy service, it collaborates with local organisations to refer beneficiaries to appropriate support resources. ## **Target Audience:** Services are open to all deaf people, from children to the elderly, and regardless of gender, with particular attention to under-represented communities such as BME and grassroots deaf populations. The year 2023-2024 has been a significant period of steady growth, impactful initiatives, and new collaborations for Suvai Deaf East Community. This report demonstrates a comprehensive overview of our activities and achievements in this year, as well as plans for the future. Our charity and the community we support, continues to serve as a vital resource for deaf people, fostering inclusivity, empowerment, and advocacy. ## **Key Highlights of the Year** Expansion of Services: We expanded our core services to new domains, including advice and planning for care services in the future by commencing the process to become CQC registered. We have been able to provide more deaf people with access to critical resources, such as sign language interpretation, advice, workshops, events and vocational training. Community Outreach: Over 860 deaf individuals and families participated in our outreach programs this year; an increase of 25% from the previous year. Educational Workshops: 60 workshops were conducted, focusing on life skills, legal rights, and technology for the deaf Deaf Empowerment Forum: We successfully hosted the annual Deaf Empowerment Forum, attracting over 50 participants from across the country. The forum focused on policy, advocacy, education, and employment opportunities for the deaf community. ## **Educational Programs** Education remains a central part of our mission. This year, we focused on providing accessible learning opportunities for deaf students of all ages: Sign Language Classes: We conducted regular sign language classes, engaging both deaf and hearing participants. Deaf Awareness classes: We conducted bi-monthly deaf awareness classes for hearing participants. Educational activities and workshops: We conducted regular activities such as mental health topics, finance and budgeting, gardening and voting rights, for deaf people. Social events: We arranged a wide variety of events and fun activities, in order to support positive mental health for deaf people, reduce isolation and provide opportunities to make and meet friends. We look at mainstream events to see what is popular for hearing people and make these accessible so that deaf people have the same opportunities as hearing people. Deaf club: We run two deaf club sessions every week and these are really popular. During these meets, members play bingo, games and enjoy socialising with other deaf people. These sessions are very relaxed and informal. These sessions also provide members with an opportunity to seek advice such as translating letters and bills they have received. For anything more complex, they can book an appointment at our new drop in advice service. Lunch club: We run a regular lunch club where deaf people can come every week and enjoy a freshly made, home cooked 3 course meal, providing a variety of different cuisines, for free. This attracts older deaf people and not only provides them with a hot and healthy meal each week, but also the opportunity to meet friends, reduce feelings of isolation and improves wellbeing and mental health. Children’s activities: Deaf children can feel very isolated as they often travel far to a school with a provision for them and therefore, tend to not have friends living nearby. We run sessions at weekends during term time, and weekdays during school holidays. Activities include art sessions and sports, giving deaf children the chance to meet other deaf children, make new friends and have access to deaf role models. ## **Vocational Training** Our vocational training programmes aim to equip deaf individuals with practical skills: Skill Development Workshops: These workshops covered areas such as IT skills, graphic design, and culinary arts. Employment Assistance: Our job placement services connected participants with employers. ## **Advocacy and Rights** Our advocacy efforts focused on promoting the rights of deaf individuals in public spaces, workplaces, and education: Policy Advocacy: We have worked closely with local authorities to advocate for more inclusive policies. We are proud of our Trustee Mangai Sutharsan for becoming a member of the BSL Advisory Board to the UK Government in relation to implementation of the BSL Act. Mangai and our chair Aiysha Begum, also completed their Relay Interpreter and BSL Translator training. Awareness Campaigns: Through various events and online campaigns, we reached over 10,00 people to raise awareness about deaf rights and accessibility issues. ## **Challenges and Opportunities** While we have made substantial progress, there are challenges that we continue to address: Access to Resources: Many deaf individuals still lack access to essential services and improving access to mainstream services remains a priority. Employment Opportunities: Although we have made strides in job placements, many deaf individuals still face discrimination in the workplace and we will continue to support and advocate for deaf people in this arena. Sustainability: As we grow, ensuring the sustainability of our programs, particularly in terms of funding, is a key challenge. 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. However, with these challenges come opportunities. The increasing awareness and support for deaf rights, coupled with technological advancements, provide a fertile ground for growth and innovation. ## **Plans for the Future** - Looking ahead, we aim to: - Expand Outreach: We plan to reach more areas of London, providing access to education and services for all deaf people. - Enhance Digital Learning: Launching online sign language courses and virtual vocational training programs to widen our accessibility. - Strengthen Advocacy: Continue our work in policy advocacy, focusing on inclusive education and employment rights for the deaf community. - Establish a Deaf Resource Centre: Aiming to create a centralised hub where individuals can access information, resources, and services tailored to the deaf community. ## **Funding** SDEC will endeavour to apply for additional funding, to enable us to maintain and expand on the services we provide. Our Trust for London grant ended this year and we have applied to their Disability Justice Fund in order to continue the project. We are confident about our chances of success and if we are awarded this funding, it will afford us a one year extension to this project and will be crucial in enabling us to continue working on campaigning on deaf issues. We have been successful with a number of smaller funding grants which have enabled us to set up sessions to support physical fitness, including swimming, walking and fitness sessions. This funding will continue into the next year and we will continue to provide these activities, improving the health and wellness of our members. 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 are able to provide a lot of value for money, such as the hot meal service and walking club. We will endeavour to pursue further funding opportunities which will enable us to continue, expand and set up new projects, and increase the variety of activities and services we offer. We are planning to apply for the following, among others: - National Lottery - Lloyds Bank Foundation - - GLA - Trust for London As always, competition for grants is very high so we are pleased that we have been awarded a number of grants which have enabled us to continue our work with the deaf community. Our future for the next few years is looking positive and stable, but long term we would like to secure a long term substantial grant from National Lottery to afford us more security. We have applied to National Lottery for a large grant up to 5 years, which will enable us to purchase a mobile hub (van), and allow people to access our services in a variety of locations across London rather than having to come to East London. If successful with this funding, this project will focus on setting up and running clubs for the deaf community from a variety of outreach locations, such as older people lunch club, over 40s club, kids’ club, family club, women only 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. 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. ## **Partnerships and Collaborations** Our success in 2023-2024 was made possible through strong partnerships and collaborations with: - Local Governments: Support for policy advocacy and community initiatives. - Corporate Partners: Employment and vocational training opportunities. - Educational Institutions: Collaborations on scholarships and teacher training programs. - - NGOs: Joint efforts on awareness campaigns and advocacy for deaf rights. These partnerships have helped us broaden our reach and amplify our impact across the community. ## **Acknowledgements** We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us over the past year: - Our donors and sponsors for their generous financial contributions. - Our partners for their unwavering collaboration and shared vision. - Our staff and volunteers, whose dedication and passion are the driving forces behind our success. - Most importantly, the deaf individuals and families who are at the heart of everything we do. The year 2023-2024 has been transformative for Suvai Deaf East Community. Through the collective effort of our team and partners, we have made significant strides in empowering the deaf community. However, our work is far from over. With new challenges on the horizon, we remain committed to advocating for the rights and wellbeing of the deaf, ensuring a more inclusive society for all. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to another impactful year ahead. ## **Message from the Trustee** Dear Friends and Supporters, I am delighted to present the annual report for Suvai Deaf East Community for the year 20232024. This year has been a year of growth, collaboration and new beginnings. Through the collective efforts of our staff, volunteers, partners, and community members, we have expanded our reach and deepened our impact. This year, we continued to focus on enhancing access to education, advocating for the rights of deaf individuals, and creating platforms for empowerment. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to our mission of fostering a supportive environment for the deaf community across London. We look forward to another year of progress, innovation and providing opportunities for our members. Sincerely, M. Sutharsan Trustee Suvai Deaf East Community Contact Information: Suvai Deaf East Community 124 Horns Road suvai@deafeast.co.uk CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the Irusteesl members of Suvai Deaf East Community On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 Charfty no (If any) 1180055 Set out on pagos I report to the tnJst8es on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 3110312024. R8sponsibilitl8s and ba$l8 of report As the charity's trustees. you aro responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance Wbth Iho requirements of the Charitl8s Act 2011 ("the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carrled out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Chanty Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have no Concems and have com8 acn)ss no other matters In connection with the examination lo which attents'on should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be r6ached. Slgned: Dato: 3110112025 Name: Osama Ayub Relevant professlonal quallflcatlon(s) or body (11 any): FCCA. CTA Address: 76 Aveling Close Purley CR8 4DW Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner neèds lo highlight malgrial matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examinats'on of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). IER Oct 2018 Give here brief details of any items that the exarniner wlshes to disclose. IER Oct 2018 CHARITY COMMissiopiuval Deaf East Community FOR ENGLANO AND WALES 1180055 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from 01101r2023 3110312024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrsstrictod funds Ro$tfi¢ted funds Endowmerrt funds Total funds L••t ￿ar toth8 nov••l £ toth• lwllr8￿E to th• n•tr••t £ to th• n•ara•t £ A1 Rocalpts Fund rai*l GrAnts HMRC grJn16 100.023 Sub total (Gmss income for AR) 90.540 100.023 A2 A8#et and Invèstment sales,11g• tabl•). Total rec•lpts 100,023 A3 Payments Salane5 ank charg88 PAYE &xpenses R8nl Project exrenses Insur8ncé Proffe8ional oxperA88 zr.195 27.195 42,899 98 19.167 19.167 22.390 16,788 13,776 soo 533 300 428 81 1,970 77.058 Misc 88nrtces Equipment Sub total A4 Asset and Investment pur¢hagos. {s•• table) Sub total CCXX Rl accounts1&81 110112025 Total payments 69,868 77.058 Net of receipts/{payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last yoar end Cash funds this year end 20,672 20.672 22,96S 71313 72.313 22,96 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted fund8 R8stricted funds to nMrost£ Endowmènt funds to nvr••t £ Catsgori05 Detalls B1 Cash funds B•r* B818rKe ¥rxl CaBh In haThJ 91988 Total cash fiinds 92.988 £tyJrrt(•ll Unrestrfctad funds R•8trlctod funds Endowm•nt fvnds to nMrn•t £ Dotalls B2 Other monotary assets Fund to t*fftl¢h •M•t b•long• Dots1 Co•t (optkn￿I Currnnt valu• loptlonall 83 Invèstment asseti Fund to Detalls Cost loptloNII Currènt V41y• loptlonlll B4 Assets retslned for the charity's own use CCXX R2 accounts Issi FwMItOf*Wch Il*lllty r•lth• Am0￿rt du• 1optkn￿) Oetalls B5 Llabllltlos lo￿0￿•1) Signed by onè or Iruste•s on behaK of all tho trustees Signature Print Name Dale of approval rkkaras Suth8rnan Shamim Akter 202 CCXX R3 account5 ISSI av0112025