THE GAMBIA WELFARE SOCIETY LEEDS
OAK HOUSE BALM WALK HOLBECK LEEDS LS11 9PG CHARITY NO: 1182433
ANNUAL TRUSTEE REPORT
The Gambia Welfare Society hereby present its annual report for February 2022 to year ended January 2023, which conforms to the stipulations of the Charities Act 2011, the trust deed and the Charities SORP (FRS 102)
OUR VISION
The Gambia Welfare Society aspires to the achievement of a vibrant and sustainable community, through a shared- vision perspective, modelled around effective community engagement, involvement, and collaboration. The organization strives to operate in an equal opportunity environment, welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds, treats everyone equally irrespective of religion, race, ethnicity, sex, disability, creed, or colour, in accordance with the Equality Act (2010). The protection of the environment in which we operate and live, is of paramount importance to us. we adhere to sound sustainable practices aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and promote credible environmental awareness within our areas of operation.
The organization is committed to the safeguarding of children, the vulnerable, and operates an environment that is safe, and free from harm, whilst ensuring maximum compliance to legislative guidelines.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The organization is a Charitable Incorporated Organization with voting members other than the charity trustees and govern by a written constitution. The general affairs are overseen by the trustees, who meet as and when required. Implementation and execution of organizational policy is conducted by the executive Committee, composed of both sexes, appointment by the chairman, upon recommendation from members.
OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
The executive committee is solely responsible for the day-to-day operation of the organization, under the leadership of the Chairman, in conjunction with the Treasury, the Secretariat, Centre Management, Educational and Religious Affairs, and Social and Communities department.
CHARITY TRUSTEES
The charity trustees of The Gambia Welfare Society are dully elected through voting, by members of the society at annual general meetings. Trustees are expected to possess character, expertise, and commitment in the execution operational affairs. Trustees are orientated on the modalities of the trust deed, policies and procedures, and familiarized on the charity commission guidelines upon appointment. Both trustees and executive committee membership is on a voluntary basis, services offered free of charge.
The current charity trustees of the Society are: Bampha Jaiteh Yankuba Balajo Foday Sanneh Amadou Touray Seedy Sanneh
OUR CORE OBJECTIVES
• Promote social inclusion for the benefit of migrants who are socially excluded on grounds of ethnic origin, religion, belief, creed or their social and economic position,helping them with their basic needs, and assistance in integrating into society.
- Help young people through educational, recreational and sporting activities, to develop their capabilities, enabling them to contribute productively and positively towards societal development.
• Promote religion by raising awareness and understanding of the Muslim faith through community engagement, and collaboration with partner agencies. We will also provide our center as a praying ground for the benefit of the local community where communal prayers will be held during the Muslim feast of Eid and Friday congregational prayers.
- The Society will provide support to the community in areas of funeral arrangements, especially those less fortunate members of the community of Leeds.
ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
The period under consideration has turned out to be another year of trials and tribulations, as communities transitioned into the commencement of the post Covid-19 recovery era, an unprecedented energy crisis crept into the fold.
The origins of the energy crisis can be traced to the insatiable demand for energy during the post Covid-19 reopening of economies, which unfortunately coincided with the Russian-Ukraine war and its drastic effects on gas supplies to the European and world markets.
Within our community and across the UK, more people are getting into hardship and debt, living in cold homes due to fuel poverty, predicated by rising energy bills, that has subsequently created a consumer goods inflation. This situation has ushered in a cost-of-living crisis with the cost of food items spiraling at an alarming rate.
As a community-based charity, this has stretched our resources in a variety of ways, but nevertheless, we have strived to remain resilient and creative, which has enabled the organization to continue to deliver on its core objective of supporting the vulnerable within the community. The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds, despite the prevailing challenges, managed to deliver in the following areas:
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING:
● FOOD PARCELS
The organization through its multi-agency partnership collaboration with the Hamara Centre Leeds, was able to source regular food supplies for the vulnerable within the community, which is currently being distributed from our main base in Holbeck.
● WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION
The women’s day celebrations offered women within the community the opportunity to ponder on the state of their individual lives and families, as well as celebrate their dedication, hard work and contribution to societal affairs. It served as a recognition of their invaluable work in ensuring the smooth running of community continuity and resilience.
● GALA AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL
This marked the re-introduction of this popular event, after a lull precipitated by the Covid-19 restrictions. The weekend was full of pomp and merriment and was a spectacular success, that attracted huge numbers of people within and outside Leeds. It was a showcase of culture, entertainment and community cooperation and cohesion.
● FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
The Gambia Welfare Society took part in the Leeds Africa Cup of Nations, which was a celebration of African brotherhood based on the concept of UBUNTU, which means “HUMANITY TO OTHERS”. The tournament helped in fostering inter-community engagement, involvement, and participation.
● COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMMES
The organization has carried on with reaching out to the community with visits and monetary aid to the sick, bereavement support in the form of burial logistics and costs, as well as moral and well-being support. The organization also actively participates in naming ceremonies, marriages, and dispute resolutions.
● INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
The organization also conducted the Gambia’s 58[TH ] Independence celebrations, which attracted a huge youth population, that showcased the diverse cultural makeup of the Leeds Gambian community. It was a fantastic and colorful display of individual tribal costumes, music, and dance routines.
EDUCATION AND RELIGION:
Face-to-face lessons has resumed as restrictions lifted, but students numbers is still below prepandemic levels. However, the teaching team endeavors to deliver quality learning, and ensure achievement of expected outcome.
The organization was also able to conduct its first post Covid-19 restrictions in person EID congregational prayers, aimed to also promote tolerance and understanding of diversity in religions, and inter-faith engagement and collaboration.
FINANCE
The finance team continues to offer free advice at point of need, especially in these trying times. Advice is available in areas of personal finance, tax, investments, pensions, and access to financial help.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING:
● PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS
This awareness program was hosted in collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK, to sensitize the community about issues around the disease. As current data indicates, 1 in 4 black men will get Prostate Cancer as compared to other men, hence the necessity of this vital program which aimed to shed light on the subject matter.
● DIABETES AWARENESS
A diabetic awareness session was held in conjunction with Leeds Community Healthcare, to help educate the community. Worldwide research on ethnic minorities and incidents of diabetes, has established that, ethnicity potentially increases the risk of contracting diabetes. Type two diabetes is three times more prevalent in African and Caribbean communities.
The key to combatting the disease is early intervention mechanisms like education and awareness, hence why the organization partnered with LCH, to deliver the program.
FUTURE STRATEGIC DIRECTION :
As the organization perseveres to navigated through the labyrinth of issues, it will strive to work on the following areas depending on situational circumstances:
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Work on the creation of a rapid reaction task force, to ensure immediate and swift response to people in need of emergency and immediate support.
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Continue with the property search, though this is proving to be challenging due the lack of sufficient funds to afford private commercial mortgage. Despite this major obstacle, this will continue to be our long term and goal.
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Work with LAC (Leeds African Community) for the possibility of opening a food bank facility at our base, as part of our multi-agency partnership strategy
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Expand our fundraising activities to cover events all throughout the year, i.e., Easter, and the Festive period.
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Work towards increasing student numbers for education lessons, through community engagements
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Succession planning: work towards engaging the younger generation to prepare them for leadership positions within the organization.
End of report
The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 January 2023
The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds
Contents of the Financial Statements
| Business Information | 2 |
|---|---|
| Accountants' Report | 3 |
| Income Statement | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 5 |
| Detailed Profit and Loss Account | 6 |
1
The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds
Business Information
for the year from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023
Proprietor The Gambia Welfare Society Address Balm Walk Leeds LS11 9PG
2
The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds
Accountants' Report
Report to the sole proprietor on the preparation of the unaudited accounts of The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds.
In accordance with the engagement letter, we have prepared for your approval the financial information of The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds for the year ended 31 January 2023, which comprises of the Income Statement, the Statement of Financial Position and the related notes, from the entity’s accounting records and from information and explanations you have given us.
You have approved the financial information for the year ended 31 January 2023 and have acknowledged your responsibility for it, for the appropriateness of the financial reporting framework adopted and for providing all information and explanations necessary for its compilation.
We have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the financial information.
Beckett Accountants Leeds Ltd Suite 204 33 Great George Street Leeds LS1 3AJ
Date: 9 February 2023
3
The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds
Income Statement
for the year from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023
| Turnover Cost of raw materials and consumables Other Charges Profit for the year |
2023 £ 31,076 (4,800) (17,316) |
2022 £ 20,916 (5,000) (14,446) |
|---|---|---|
| 8,960 | 1,470 |
4
The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds
Statement of Financial Position
31 January 2023
| Current Assets Net current assets (liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Net assets (liabilities) Capital and reserves |
2023 £ 49,706 |
2022 £ 40,745 |
|---|---|---|
| 49,706 | 40,745 | |
| 49,706 | 40,745 | |
| 49,706 | 40,745 | |
| 49,706 | 40,745 |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
They were approved on 9 February 2023 by:
The Gambia Welfare Society Proprietor
5
The Gambia Welfare Society Leeds
Detailed Profit and Loss Account
for the year from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023
| Turnover / Revenue Dara Fees Fundraising Profits Gift Aid Donations Grants Other Donations Other Income Subscriptions Raw materials and consumables used Dara Expenses Other charges Burial & Repatriation Community Welfare Support Gambia House Rent General Expenses Hall Hire Insurance LACON - Leeds African Cup of Nations Telephone & Internet Water, Electricity & Gas and Boiler Insurance Profit/(loss) for the year Net Profit |
2023 £ 1,110 4,669 3,601 500 200 609 20,387 |
2022 £ 1,600 - 4,000 - 341 98 14,877 |
|---|---|---|
| 31,076 4,800 |
20,916 5,000 |
|
| 4,800 3,400 2,325 7,500 150 350 269 422 1,223 1,677 |
5,000 - 1,800 6,875 65 300 - - 504 4,902 |
|
| 17,316 8,960 |
14,446 1,470 |
|
| 8,960 | 1,470 |
6
THE GAMBIA WELFARE SOCIETY LEEDS OAK HOUSE BALM WALK HOLBECK LEEDS LS11 9PG CHARITY NO: 1182433
The Trustees have not engaged the services of an independent examiner during the year under review. However, it has been resolved that this service will be acquired with immediate effect.