Umoja Arts Network charity number: 1185676
Trust Annual Report and Accounts
for the period 1st April 2021 to 31[st] March 2022
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. See below our main activities for the period.
Africa Comes to Bournemouth- Showcase 2021
The weekend-long festival culminated in a two day event in the Triangle area of Bournemouth. There were African drumming workshops and performance, Spoken word, a Masquerade performance from The Gambia, Urban street dance, Street food stalls from Nigeria, Jamaica and a tropical juice bar inspired from The Gambia.
There were also crafts making workshops for children and young people, stalls selling artefacts, artwork as well as offering hair braiding. We also had musical performances from the Caribbean community, African fashion display as well as local DJs playing music of black origin.
Audiences were to experience multiculturalism both as a passers-by and participant due to the various planned workshops and performances. Our interactive activities were able enhance the feelings of community togetherness. People were able to integrate and have new cultural experiences. Local African Caribbean communities were able to enjoy their own heritage as well as share it with their networks.
The project has also helped to create a platform for supporting our local African Caribbean creatives to showcase their work. Furthermore the weekend has worked to foster better relationships between our communities and the wider populations especially amongst other ethnically diverse communities as well as help us reach new audiences due to the capture audiences of our locations.
Covid Relief Food Distribution part two 2021
Umoja received repeated funding from the Dorset community Foundation (DCF), to fund a food distribution projected to margialised ethnic diverse communities within the Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole area. Food packages to the value of £30 were distributed to over 150 people as well around a hundred ready cooked meals.
The project has on a basic level continued to make 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 an emotional wellbeing level, the project did also help 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.
Future
Umoja is in the process of an overall review of its purpose as it has been getting hrder to attract trustees as well as core staff to keep the organisation going. Notwithstanding these challenges, we still plan to collaborate more with existing like-minded organisations to continue to promote African and Caribbean culture in the area.
Section A: Receipts and Payments for the period[1st] April 2021 to 31[st] Mar 2022
| Receipts(Income) | Restricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Total foryear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants and Awards | 17430.75 | - | 17430.75 |
| Membershipfees | - | - | - |
| Donations | 815.00 | - | 815.00 |
| Fundraising | - | - | - |
| Sales | 589.00 | - | 589.00 |
| Miscellany | - | - | - |
| Subtotal receipts | - | ||
| Add balance from previousyear |
450.22 | - | 450.22 |
| Total | 21,205.75 | - | 21,205.75 |
| Payments | |||
| Artist fees | 10,200 | - | 10,200 |
| Venue Hire (halls open spaces |
300 | - | 300 |
| Publicity and Marketing (posters, flyers, banners) |
1,450 | - | 1,450 |
| Hire of Stage, Gazebo, PA |
3000 | - | 3000 |
| Transport and Storage costs |
320 | - | 320 |
| Project Overheads: 10% of total costs, project related - insurance, telephone, internet, stationary |
1,097 | - | 1,097 |
| Project coordination | 2,100 | - | 2,100 |
| Volunteer costs | 420 | - | 420 |
| Insurance | 99 | - | 99 |
| Subtotalpayments | 18,986 | - | 18,986 |
| Total income minus expenditure |
2,219.75 | - | |
| Balance carried forward to the next |
2,219.75 | - |
year
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 | 2,219.75 | - |
2,219.75 |
| Other monetary assets |
- | - |
- |
- |
| Investment assets | - | - |
- |
- |
| Assets retained charity’s own use |
- | - |
- |
- |
| Liabilities | - | - |
- |
- |
| - | - |
- |
- |