Umoja Arts Network charity number: 1185676
Trust Annual Report and Accounts
for the period 1st April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025
Umoja Arts Network Beech House 28-30 Wimborne road Poole BH15 2BU
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 community with 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: Beech House, 28-30 Wimborne Rd, Poole BH15 2BU
Trustees:
Nigel Williams Natasha Player Ebi Sosseh Louise Boston-Mammah
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 last year has involved grant writing to ascertain needs from our communities and also to relaunch social and networking gatherings. We were successful in two bids. One from the Talbot Trust and the other from the Ethnic Diverse Communities fund administered by Community Action Dorset. Implementation of these projects started in August 2025 and November 2025 respectively and the impact will feature in our next annual report and accounts.
Not withstanding, the trustees (due to skillsets) were able to operate and contribute in an advisorial role to local ethnically diverse groups, such as the Nigerians and Gambians in Dorset, the Community Action Network (CAN) BCP in applying for funding to deliver capacity building support to groups.
Due to capacity, Umoja continued to delegate the flagship ‘Africa Comes to Bournemouth’ to other community practitioners to run and provided background advice and financial assistance and support. The event in June 2025 was very successful and attracted a footfall of nearly 5100 people to witness a showcase of African arts and culture.
Future
Umoja is in the process of incorporating two new trustees and also about to launch a business plan for 2024-2027 and have restarted the engagement with local partners to look at sustainable programmes and activities going forward including supporting the learning of local african languages and a world music festival in Bournemouth.
Section A: Receipts and Payments for the period[1st] April 2024 to 31[st] Mar 2025
| Receipts (Income) | Receipts (Income) | Restricted | funds | Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | Total for year | Total for year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants and Awards | - | - | ||||||
| Membership fees | - | - | ||||||
| Donations | - | - | ||||||
| Fundraising | - | - | ||||||
| Sales | - | - | ||||||
| Miscellany | - | - | ||||||
| Subtotal receipts | - | - | ||||||
| Add balance from | - | - | 2,219.75 | |||||
| previous year | ||||||||
| Total | 2,219.75 | |||||||
| Payments | ||||||||
| Annual PLI Insurance | - | 198 | ||||||
| Africa Comes to | 1950 | |||||||
| Bournemouth | ||||||||
| support (artist | ||||||||
| sponsorshop; | ||||||||
| equipment hire and | ||||||||
| advertising | ||||||||
| Subtotal payments | - | 2148.00 | ||||||
| Total income minus | - | |||||||
| expenditure | ||||||||
| Balance carried | 71.75 | - | ||||||
| forward to the next | ||||||||
| year | ||||||||
| Section B: Statements of assets and liabilities | at the end of the period | |||||||
| Categories | Details | Restricted | unrestricted | Total for year | ||||
| Cash funds | Cash | held at bank | - | 71.75 |
||||
| Other monetary | - | - | - | - |
||||
| assets | ||||||||
| Investment assets | - | - | - | |||||
| Assets retained | - | - | - | - |
||||
| charity’s own use |
Liabilities