2021-03-31-accounts

Umoja Arts Network charity number: 1185676

Trust Annual Report and Accounts

for the period 8[th] October 2019 to 31[st] March 2021

Umoja Arts Network c/o The Link 3-5 Palmerston road Bournemouth BH1 4HN

Introduction

Umoja Arts network became a CIO in October 2019 but had existed since 2001. objectives are to promote African & Caribbean culture & enable community development though support initiatives. Our 2013 HLF-funded project ‘Carnival Connexions’ around the use of masquerade during carnival enabled us to organise the first procession in Bournemouth by commissioning & working with award winning carnival company Rampage & Arts University Bournemouth to design & make innovative contemporary costumes.

Delivered a school education & community outreach program & co-designed a touring arts & heritage exhibition with Development Education in Dorset (DEED). Over 9000 people saw & took part in the successful procession, static stage & outreach program In 2016, the Lottery funded ‘Celebrate’ project saw us embark on cross arts activities, such as heritage quizzes, black fashion show, film screenings, contemporary debates around ethnicity and culture and visual art exhibitions. Our trustees and volunteers have a long track record of running African Caribbean arts & community projects.

Structure Governance and Management

Umoja’s structure is a CIO under the terms of the Charity Corporations Act 2006 ad is controlled by its governing document, Umoja’s constitution. The trustees monitors aspects of business, risk, finance and operational matters and engage within the local communitywith partners, stakeholders, local community assets and other african and caribbean groups. The trustees are aware and follow public benefit guidance and requirements when making decisions and running our activity. Trustees also fulfil various organising committee day-to-day or ad-hoc roles that involve eg securing grant funding, planning organising and delivering projects and activities.

In recruiting new trustees, the charity endeavours to advertise vacancies through our network of community partners , local CVS or through informal contacts and networks.

Registered Charity number: 1185676

Registered Address: the Link 3-5 Palmerston road Boscombe BH1 4HN

Trustees:

Gregory O’mallo Natasha Player Ebi Sosseh

Charitable Objects

To provide community development support to people of african caribbean and other ethnic minority backgrounds. Provide information advice and guidance around local services that will help the community to maximise their potential for the common good .

Achievements and Performance

Umoja has always prided itself as a deliverer of first class community projects and or networking opportunities, having a community presence, partnership working, listening to our community’s needs and reacting accordingly.

The end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020 initially saw us planning to organise an outdoor event call ‘Africa Comes to Bournemouth’ to showcase the array of african and caribbean cultural offers, but our plans were torpedoed by the onset of the pandemic and subsequent lookdowns, nothwithstanding, we were still able to execute a series of community initiatives detailed below;

Covid Relief Food Distribution

funded by the Dorset community Foundation (DCF), Umoja Arts Network firstly conducted a survey to find out the food needs of the ethnically diverse communities at large and then purchased the food items that they identified before distributing to their homes. An additional part of the project also involved the preparation of ready cooked meals mainly aimed at those who were more challenged when it comes to cooking for themselves. once people identified what they wanted, whether it was mainly meat, fish or vegetarian related, our volunteers assisted in the shopping and distribution of such items. The network mainly distributed food in Bournemouth and Poole. 56% were of african and caribbean descent, 22 % of south asian origin, 12% of north african and or arab backgrounds, 6% from turkish backgrounds and tehre were 3 white british people who also received the food parcels.

The project has on a basic level made a huge difference to people who were clearly struggling due to a sudden loss of income as a result of the pandemic. The people who largely received our support had little or no family support and very definitely not linked in with local support systems.

on a emotional wellbeing level, the project did helped to reduce some levels of stress and anxiety because of "people looking out for us". Some of the recipients were able to supplement their foodstuff as well as learn about other means of support in the community such as the food banks and the BCP council coordinated programs.

Online Live Music Performances

Umoja Arts Networks enisted the local african and caribbean artists who were not workig during lockdown to perform online to our communities via social nedia. This provided employment as well as reduce the levels of social isolation being felt by our communities during lockdown. The events featured african drumming, dance workshops and a calypso and reggae performance.

‘Black Men Talking’ Networking Groups

Umoja Arts network held a series of six networking events (3 via zoom) as a way of connecting men together to share perspectives and initiate support systems with their

peers. The networking event were very useful in reducing isolation again and also for having conversations around vaccination-hesitancy.

Future

Even though our plans have been blighted by the pandemic, we plan to resume our project idea of having a showcase community event as soon as the lock-downs ease off.

Section A: Receipts and Payments for the period 8[th] October 2019 to 31[st] Mar 2021

Receipts (Income)	Restricted funds	Unrestricted funds	Total for year
Grants and Awards	6740	-	6740
Membershipfees	-	-	-
Donations	-	-	-
Fundraising	-	-	-
Sales	-	-	-
Miscellany	-	-	-
Subtotal receipts		-
Add balance from previousyear	1687.22	-	1687.22
Total	8427.22	-	8427.22
Payments
Artist fees	800	-	800
Venue Hire (halls open spaces	150	-	150
Publicity and Marketing (posters, flyers, banners)	350	-	350
Publicity and Marketing (design and Artwork)	192	-	192
Transport and Storage costs	256	-	256
Food items for covid reliefproject	4530	-	4530
Project coordination	1200	-	1200
Volunteer costs	400	-	400
Insurance	99	-	99
Subtotal payments	7977	-	7977
Total income minus expenditure	450.22	-	450.22
Balance carried forward to the next year	450.22	-	450.22

Section B: Statements of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories	Details	Restricted	unrestricted	Total foryear
Cash funds	Cash held at bank	450.22	-	450.22

	Other monetary	-	-	-	-
	assets
	Investment assets	-	-	-	-
	Assets retained	-	-	-	-
	charity’s own use
	Liabilities	-	-	-	-
		-	-	-	-