## **Trustee Annual Report**
## **From 05[th] April 2020 - 04 April 2021**
Legal charity Name: Soora Association Charity number: 1185315
Operational address: 17-19 wednesbury road, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 3RU.
Trustees:
Trustees who served during the period from formation and up to the date of this report were as follows:
Farhan Mohamed Chairperson Garad Baaw Secretary Hassan Egeh Deputy chair
## **Introduction**
Soora Association is a non-governmental non-profit making charity organisation founded on 17[th] January 2018 in Walsall, United Kingdom, and legally registered from the UK Charity Commission as a CIO Foundation on 16[th] September 2019. Soora values the local existing potential and resources from the communities and aims strengthening of the community cohesion, improving community development and self-reliance to achieve better life for all. Our vision targeted the diversity of people's different backgrounds and cultures to have similar life opportunities. The organisation as set up to relieve the needs of the community in UK who are in need by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances, in particular but not exclusively those who are from immigrant and refugee communities, by:
- The relief of financial hardship, Isolation and disadvantaged persons in the community
- The relief of unemployment for the benefit of the public in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment and self-reliance.
- The advancement of education and training of those in the community who are in need thereof so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within the wider community.
- Reduction of crimes, violence and anti-social behavior in the community.
- The preservation and protection of good physical and mental health
- The provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure-time occupation with the object of improving conditions of life.
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## **Aims and objectives review**
Soora Association Trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period from 05[th] April 2020 – 4[th] April 2021. Soora Association reports the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the Soora Association Trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remained focused on its stated purposes. The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set. the trustees adhered the health and safety guidelines particularly this pandemic time.
## **Achievements and performance**
Soora Association believes that charity already making a significant contribution to the lives of many adults and young people in Walsall and Birmingham and as well positioned to deepen our impact over the next twelve months. Soora Association continues to grow and is making a significant contribution to the lives of many disadvantaged Adults and young people across West Midlands and UK in general. This above-mentioned period Soora successfully achieved and carried out 3 charitable goals which was main for the local communities especially the pandemic period.
the three activities were
1. The relief of financial hardship, Isolation and disadvantaged persons in the community, by providing them safety counselling and delivering free food and home necessary essentials for the poor families and individuals in Walsall and Birmingham.
2. The preservation and protection of good physical and mental health by protecting public health and promoting vaccination intake. Soora was part of the community champions project which the UK government intended for to prevent the spread of covid-19 by approaching the people and neighborhood door by door. The community champions are providing vital support in the centre of their communities, from engaging with residents about the vaccination process, to providing interpretation and translation. Anyone aged over 18+ can now receive their COVID-19 vaccination.
3. The advancement of education and training of those in the community who are in need thereof so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within the wider community.
## **Activity (1) Description from 05[th] April 2020 – 04[th] April 2021**
For last 12 months Soora focused on coordinating deliveries of food, medical supplies and safety equipment. we supported the communities that has severely affected by the covid-19 crisis including low-income families, elderly people, self-isolated people and the people in the hospitals. we as ‘SOORA’ approached and provided free food for 198 poor families 117 self-isolated persons and 152 homeless elders in Walsall and Birmingham. we are supported for shopping and purchasing row food to the poor families and delivering ready meal and other necessary essentials to the poor families
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and homeless elders who are less able to cook in addition PPE. We put the priority to help the low-income families with high number of children and those experiencing hunger and food shortage during covid-19. to approach our goal, we used our local shopping stores such as ASDA, TESCO, MORRISONS, AL-HALAL, BABURAQIIS and other local shopping stores. The food components provided include rice, pasta, wheat flour, oats, cornflakes, milk, water, Heinz, grains, green peas, vegetables, fresh fruits, dates, ginger, tinned meat, jam, butter, soap, toilet tissues and many more items in addition face masks and gloves. we also supported homeless elders especially with those medical conditions and those less able to cook because of the heath circumstances, we prepared and delivered cooked and ready meals for less-able elders, disable individuals and those unable to cook because of their health conditions. secondly, we provided £20 voucher cards for 139 poor families, we purchased credit vouchers from the Shop, this voucher contained £20 credit, the voucher was given to the large poor households in order to let the parents to choose their needed items since the large low-income are more vulnerable and more needed than the same small number families. Heart of England community foundation and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner supported this project. each quarter conducted monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the project objectives were met. The project showed positive difference for the local communities in need since because they got free food to life. This project improved the lives of many low-income families and individuals who were struggling to survive because of the covid-19 impact by covered their life needs, they got what to eat by themselves wand they got what to feed their children. hence, the project improved overall life and wellbeing of the community. Secondly the project reduced the coronavirus to spread because of the delivery services we provided in their doors and the PPE we supplied to the community, finally the community thanked to Soora and any supported and we, as a SOORA appreciated and thanked to Heart of England and West Midlands Police and crime commissioner for their tireless
support.
## **activity (2) Description from 05[th] April 2020 – 04[th] April 2021**
The preservation and protection of good physical and mental health by protecting public health and promoting vaccination intake. The BAME communities are generally vulnerable to misinformation especially in times of uncertainty, due to a complex mix of cognitive, social and algorithmic biases. These include information overload and limited attention distances, majority of the community is easy to belief what have seen from the social media, many Social media activists habited to mislead the innocent and vulnerable people by broadcasting false information and articles far from the fact, they regularly publish rumours reports to increase their audience and obtain more followers and more subscribes, the reason all this is just to make money but are not thinking the consequences of their information, the journalists and the mainstream media has been linked to increased susceptibility to misinformation. Misinformation is false information that’s shared by people who don’t realise it is false and don’t mean any harm, including vaccine proponents, we feel that unverified information can cause harm by sowing confusion and drowning out accurate health information; it can change behaviour and attitude of the person. most of our clients or service users are from black ethnic minority communities which misinformation and Disinformation are widely spread, we stand for supporting and empowering the disadvantaged community groups. The COVID-19 Community Champions Programme is primarily aimed at
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supporting residents from under-represented groups who may be most at risk of covid19. The objectives of the program were to
- Help increase vaccination uptake
- Prevent the spread of COVID-19
- Tackle the spread of misinformation around COVID-19 and the vaccine
- Reduce the impact of the virus on families, neighbourhoods and wider communities
- Improve the mental and physical health and wellbeing of individuals
The Walsall Council created a diverse network of covid-19 ‘Community Champions’ who can help address misconceptions and myths and amplify truths around the virus and the vaccine, make sure that everyone in Walsall has the information they need to stay safe, help to reduce the spread of covid-19 and ultimately save lives. Soora was part of the community champions project which the government of UK intended for to approach and mobilise the people door to door. The community champions are providing vital support in the centre of their communities, from engaging with residents about the vaccination process, to providing interpretation and translation. Anyone aged over 18+ can now receive their COVID-19 vaccination. We produced covid-19 information in community languages and alternative formats, we translated the guidelines in to 3 different languages include Arabic, Somali and Swahili languages to make easy the people to understand the safety rules and lockdown requirements. The target beneficiaries intended to engage this project but not exclusively are mainly refugees and migrants originally from six different nations such as Somalis, Sudanese, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Yemenis and Syrian. we planned to reach around 600 residents in different locations in Walsall. Apart of the vaccination mobilisation the community were provided safety information and Public Health guidance such as:
- Household mixing
- Maintaining strict social ‘bubble’ rules
- Wearing of face masks in public
- Regular washing of hands with soap
- Maintaining 2m distance when in public
- Observing the latest guidance regarding numbers of people shopping together
- Informing households of facts regarding the vaccines
- Reducing the myths and conspiracies regarding the vaccine
- Encouraging and arranging for vaccines to be taken
- Advising of the dangers of young people carrying COVID-19 to more vulnerable groups/individuals
- Observing the latest guidance regarding places of worship, including worship, funerals and weddings
4
- Answering questions house-holders might ask regarding COVID-19 with the latest information
- Answering questions posed by house-holders regarding COVID vaccines with the latest information
- Identifying conspiracy theories surrounding the vaccine and COVID-19
- Supporting relevant surveys, research and discussions linked to Public Health and government initiatives
Soor’s dedicated volunteers approached 512 individuals in Walsall to persuade the vaccination intake. we provided the latest covid-19 information packs and up-todate advice and guidance to share with families, friends and their local community, alongside examples of those vaccinated to help them do so. we provided advice on how to stay safe and slow the spread of the virus, details about what extra support is available locally and facts to address misinformation and myths about vaccination. 29% of the participants had their covid-19 vaccination, 41% been invited to had their covid-19 vaccination but not had yet, 8% been invited to have the covid-19 vaccination but not planned to have it, 22% not invited before to have vaccination. This project was successfully concluded and changed many people’s negative minds about the vaccination in to positive and that improved health and safety of the community.
## **Activity (3) Description from 05[th] April 2020 – 04[th] April 2021 The Advancement of Education:**
The advancement of education and training of those in the community who are in need thereof so as to advance them in life and assist them to adapt within the wider community was one of the activities and services delivered to the local communities in Walsall and Birmingham. Soora Association and Walsall Council organised English classes for parents and adults struggling to understand English.
Through our recent work in Walsall with the communities in Butts, Palfrey, Caldmore and Pleck, we have seen a need to support adults who are newly arrived, or who struggle with English, we began to teach basic English skills in order to give them the confidence and skills to be able to better function and thrive in their communities. then Soora Association decided to support those needy people by getting hand Walsall Council Community Engagement department, therefore we started to provide online sessions as a part of our charitable objectives (Advancement of Education and Training). we trained unskilled adults or parents of our community especially the migrants and refugee, who do not have a good enough level of English to be able to look for work, secure housing, engage with schools and colleges on behalf of their children, or with healthcare services, and they cannot express their feelings and opinions. This is relieved many isolated adults who were struggling before to live happily and also reduced the communication barriers of the community and neighbourhood. The English sessions were attended 32 participants from different backgrounds, this program focused to improve the Writing, reading, and speaking, some innovation skills added as well such as self-confidence, good behaviour practices, and benefits of community cohesion. We delivered online sessions for the 32 participants which categorised in to 4 levels by serving 12 hours in total each week. all the sessions were delivered online by using digital technology such as Zoom and
5
Skype apps, we trained them speaking, reading and writing alongside computer literacy and internet access programs for them to better access for work searching and improves health and wellbeing. The main areas we covered including Employability gab by provide support to those not in Employment Education of Training: This remains one of our largest areas of focus and is primarily targeted the adults people who for a range of reasons have resulted unemployed and are struggling to find employment or go into other positive destinations, we also support Vulnerable and disadvantaged young people by providing suitable and accessible services that fitting their needs such as type competition training and nutrition courses. The qualified tutors and the commitment of the participants confirmed to achieve our charitable aims and objectives of this project. after the project successfully completed the saw 73.4% participants are able to speak and understand what are the other people are saying and now, they can communicate with the other people, employer agents and other service providers, also, they can join College to improve their skills further.
## **Public benefit**
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties. The public benefit of the Charity’s activities is the support and enablement of vulnerable and disadvantaged adults and young people and these are achieved principally by the award and monitoring of activities.
## **Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities**
Law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the period and of its financial position at the end of the period. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view. The Soora Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website. The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf by:
## **Chairperson: Farhan Mohamed**
**Date: 25/01/2022**
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## Independent examiner’s report
For the year ended 04 April 2021
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 04 April 2021, which are set out on pages 8 to 13.
_Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner_
The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act;
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act; and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## _**Basis of independent examiner’s report**_
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. _**Independent examiner’s statement**_
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention, which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met;
------------------------------------------
**Date: 25/01/2022**
Hassan Ali (Accountant) Aflah Accounting Solutions 120-126 Unit 6 Coldharbour Lane Hayes, Middlesex UB3 3HL
7
## **SOORA ASSOCIATION**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **For the year ending 4 April 2021**
|**Notes **
**_Incoming resources_**
From charitable activities
2
Investment income
2
**Total incoming resources**
**_Resources expended_**
Charitable activities
3
Governance costs
4
Other resources expended
**Total Resources Expended**
Net resources for the year
Fund balances at 5 April 2020
**Fund balances at 04 April 2021**|**Unrestricted Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
1,300
15,823
-
**1,300**
**15,823**
714
12,160
300
-
**1,014**
**12,160**
287
3,663
-
3,101
**287**
**6,764**|**2021**
**Total**
**£**
17,123
-|**2020**
**Total**
**£**
7,469
-|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**17,123**|**7,469**|
|||12,873
300|4,368
-
-|
|||**13,173**|**4,368**|
|||3,950
3,101|3,101
-|
|||**7,051**|**3,101**|
8
## **SOORA ASSOCIATION**
## **Balance Sheet**
## **For the year ending 4 April 2021**
|Notes
_Fixed assets_
Tangible
5
**_Current Assets:_**
Cash at bank and in hand
**_Creditors:_**_amounts falling_
due within one year
6
**_Net Current Assets_**
**_Total Assets less current liabilities_**
**_Funds of the charity:_**
Balance for the year
Balance brought forward|£
5,210|
|---|---|
|||
For the financial year ended 04 April 2021, the Charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (2011 Act).
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that they keep charity's accounting records in accordance with s130 of the 2011 Act and preparing accounts
which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.
The financial statements on pages 7 to 12 were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
**………………………………..** Mr Farhan Mohamed Chairperson
Date: 25 January 2022
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## **SOORA ASSOCIATION**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **For the year ending 4 April 2021**
## **1 Accounting Policies**
- _1.1 Basis of accounting_
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice, _Accounting and Reporting by Charities_ (Revised SORP 2005) and the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities.
- _1.2 Incoming Resources_
Grants and donations are recognised on accruals basis.
Incoming resources are reported gross.
- _1.3 Resources Expended_
Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT that cannot be recovered.
Expenditure that is directly attributable to specific activities has been included in these cost categories. Where costs are attributable to more than one activity, they have been apportioned across the cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of those resources.
- _1.4 Depreciation_
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation.
Provision for depreciation of tangible fixed assets held by the charity is made at an annual rate of 25% on straight line basis.
10
## **SOORA ASSOCIATION**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **For the year ending 4 April 2021**
## **2. Grants and Donations**
|**2. Investment Income**
Interest receivable
WMPCC
One Walsall
Ground Tesco
SFI
Total Incoming Resources
Donations from members & the public
Walsall Council
Heart of England Community Foundation|Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
500
500
300
-|Restricted
Funds 2021 Total
£
4243.06
4,243
9250
9,250
2330
2,330
-
500
-
500
-
300
-
-|2020
Total
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
7,469
7,469
2020
Total
£
-
7,469|
|---|---|---|---|
||1,300|15,823
17,123||
||Unrestricted
Funds
£|Restricted
Funds
2021
Total
£||
||-|-
-||
|||||
||1,300|15,823
17,123||
11
## **SOORA ASSOCIATION**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **For the year ending 4 April 2021**
## **3a. Direct Charitable Expenditure**
|Travel Expenses
**3b. Support Costs**
Total Charitable Activities
**4. Governance**
Total Resources Expended
Charitable activities
Professional Fees
Insurance
Repairs and Maintenance
General Administration
Depreciation
Audit and Accountancy
Volunteer Expenses
Telephone & Internet
Staff cost
Premises
Utilities
Food bank for Covid-19
Printing & Publication|Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
714|Restricted
Funds
2021
Total
£
1650
1,650
4,319
4,319
997
997
3,727
3,727
270
270
491
491
511
511
195
195
-|
2020
Total
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,368|
|---|---|---|---|
|||12,160
12,160|4,368|
|||Restricted
Funds
2021
Total
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
714|
2020
Total
£
-
-
-
-|
||714|-
714|-|
|||||
||714|12,160
12,873|4,368|
||Unrestricted
Funds
£
300
-
300
1,014|Restricted
Funds
2021
Total
£
-
300
-
-|
2020
Total
£
-
-|
|||-
300|-|
|||||
|||12,160
13,173|4,368|
12
## **SOORA ASSOCIATION**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **For the year ending 4 April 2021**
|5
Tangible fixed assets
At 05 April 2020
Additions
Depreciation
At 05 April 2020
Charge for period
At 04 April 2021
Net book values
At 04 April 2021
At 04 April 2020
6
_Creditors: amount falling due_
_within one year_
Accountancy fee for 2020/21
Cost|Office
Equipment
Total
£
£
-
-
2854
2854|
|---|---|
||2854
2854|
||-
-
714
714|
||714
714|
|||
||2,141
2,141|
|||
||-
-|
||2021
2020
£
£
-
-
300
-
300
-|
13