2021-03-31-accounts

Together in Action Trust REPORT November 2019/ March 2021

This report is combination of two annual reports. November 2019 – 31 March 2020 and March 2020 to March 2021

REVIEW OF 2019/20

Registration of Charity

In November 2019, after four years of work, with relief and joy TiA Trust was accepted by the Charity Commission to be a Charity, with the registration number 1186531.

Safety and Security of Places of Worship

TiA organised eight awareness-raising and training workshops across England and with the cooperation and support of Community Service Trust and Faith Forum for London, TiA lead work to deliver six workshops. In Coventry, the process of organising and managing the Coventry workshops led to the establishment of the Coventry and Safety and Security Working Group.

This initial work of the Coventry Safety and Security Working Group was recognised by many as being innovative, effective and productive. Following the delivery of the workshops, the Group imagined the idea of the Sacred Mile, and this developed into the Coventry Sacred Space Initiatives.

The Coventry Sacred Space Initiative

TiA has developed this initiative into a significant opportunity for the City of Coventry. It offers life to the City’s ‘One Coventry’ vision. The Initiative acts as an umbrella and encompasses many streams including sectors, ( e.g. Health, Education), communities, (e.g. religious, cultural), and areas of interest, (e.g. environment, youth programmes and projects. )

At the Summit in January 2020, 80 people attended from diverse communities, organisations, local/ national government and statutory sector bodies, collectively approved the Coventry Sacred Space Initiative. They adopted the development plans, (e.g. three business plan) and agreed its model of delivery beyond 2020.

TiA with the support of Coventry City Council and the Coventry Safety and Security Working Group and others have worked successfully to implement the development plans up until early March 2020 when the emergence of the Corona virus has severally hampered progress. The Board of TiA and others who support the Initiative have taken steps to ensure continued progress, e.g. subscribing to video conferencing for communications and to maintain engagement.

We have also launched a ‘Health-Check’ for faith-based organisations and a completion ‘my sacred space is’ for young people.

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Sharing Our Lives

TiA with the support of Manjit Kaur and Coventry SEVA School, have developed a learning module to honour, celebrate and to learn about the 350th birth anniversary of the revered Sikh leader – Sri Guru Gobindji. The Module was created and placed onto the website. A new module ‘what is sacred’ is also being developed.

Training and Capacity Building

• a) TiA organised four workshops for people and small groups based in the community, with fertile grassroots connections and interest. These workshops created the possibility for people to support each and work more effectively together.

• b) TiA supported efforts by the African Caribbean and Black Led Churches to establish a Network in Coventry, similarly for new people and new emerging youth groups combatting gang and gun culture.

PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS

• 1: TiA was invited to eight conferences and many other consultations meeting locally and nationally, e.g. Sports for All – Sport England, One Coventry ‘Building a Coventry that Works for All” and Meet the Funder.

• 2: Networks – TiA is member of 7 networks, and an active member of, e.g. Britain Stronger - Better Together, the Coventry Community Forum, Coventry Resilience Forum, West Midlands Stop and Search Forum and the United Religions Initiative UK. TiA is a Board Member of URI Europe.

• 3: Partnership Working – The Coventry Sacred Space Initiative has over 30 organisations that are working together locally in Coventry. The Places of Worship training with Community Services Trust is an example.

• 4: TiA is working together with Warwickshire County Council, Active Black Country, Community Service Trust (CST) and others to deliver work that is also generating income for TiA.

GOVERNANCE

The TiA Trust Board held four meetings during 2019/2020.

PROMOTION AND MARKETING

The TiA website is challenging to maintain and update. However, Mr Paresh Solanki, our volunteer with over 30 years’ experience, is managing and developing online and other communication tools and resources.

RAISING FUNDS

• a) In total, seven applications for funding were submitted. A funding application to European Cultural Foundation for a project titled Democracy was not successful. Two applications to Active Citizens were submitted, of which one was successful. Similarly, an Awards for All application to explore issues relating to Hate Crime and ways to increase reporting of hate crime was initially declined. However, after some adjustments and refocusing, the application was approved.

HUMAN RESOURCES & PARTNERSHIPS:

Mr Deepak Naik (MBE, FRSA, PDip) is the Executive Officer on a part-time and casual basis. Costs relating to administration, travel and communication are recompensed. Also, TiA pays for services from organisations such as Birmingham Voluntary Services Council, Faith in Society. Additionally, TiA secures support from a known and experienced professional, some of whom are paid to help deliver projects. Over ten people from different backgrounds abilities and professions volunteer to help with the delivery of projects and the operation of TiA.

RISK MANAGEMENT:

TiA key risks are:

• 1: The growth of TiA - means activities and income generation during 2020 – 2021 is expected to increase significantly, thereby requiring independent inspection of books ~~keeping~~ and accounts. TiA is actively seeking to identify a person with the necessary qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills to ensure a higher level of financial management and recording is achieved.

• 2: Ability to meet demand - therefore failing to meet expectations of people, communities, voluntary/ community organisations that are new locally. This issue has been raised in Board meetings; we have agreed that a meaningful process is undertaken with Board Members and invited guests to consider carefully how the work of TiA could be expanded safely. This action will result in a new 3 to 5-year development plan with a sincere commitment by all to participate actively and to establish a new working relationship.

• 3: The Coronavirus – this will impact the work of TiA and its ability to support others with training and other support. To sustain the Coventry Sacred Space Initiative is a concern. The Board plan to monitor its progress frequently and help the Executive Officer through this uncertain time.

BACKGROUND:

TiA was conceived by a group of young adults from different countries of Europe coming together in Coventry. Collectively over the course of the evening, while sharing food, the Group sensed the need for people, families and communities to be welcoming towards others in need of a home, shelter, peace and opportunity to live a life in hope.

TIA TRUST PURPOSES

Charitable Category Human rights/ Religious & racial harmony/ Equality & diversity

• (a) The elimination of discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religion;

• (b) Advancing education and raising awareness in equality and diversity, including in different religious beliefs

• (c) Promoting activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds, including promoting knowledge and mutual understanding and respect of different religious faiths and between different racial groups;

• (d) Cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT:

The Board has 4 Members and as held meetings via telephone and face to face, to make progress Board Members have actively contributed considerable time, skills and experience to help and enable TiA to deliver projects, raise fund and provide administrative support

REPORT March 2020 to 31[st] March 2021

The Coronavirus comprehensively impacted Together in Action Trust’s Annual Plan of Action for 2020/2021. On 22 January 2020 we hosted the opening conference of the Coventry Sacred Space initiative; this allowed us to design and agree a realistic roadmap for making the Sacred Space a reality by the end of 2020. This area of work was to be central to TiA Trust’s work for the year. However, the arrival of the pandemic then brought the work on the Sacred Space and other projects to an abrupt stop.

However, we adapted to the circumstances and a number of activities were delivered, as set out below. We are grateful for the support of many willing individuals, community organisations and bodies that financially supported our work. The Trust’s Annual Plan for 2021/22 is currently being drafted and will be approved by the Board in early March.

Coventry Sacred Space initatve

• Nine monthly Sacred Lunches were held, providing a regular opportunity for the city’s faith communities and other BAME organisations to exchange information and share concerns

• We supported the delivery of three online ‘Eid in the Park’ celebrations, plus activities to mark Diwali and other days of religious significance

• Five online meetings enabled the City of Culture to engage with faith groups in order to plan a special faith and belief programme in September 2021

• 1,000 Family Activity Packs were assembled and distributed to families at risk of domestic abuse during lockdown

• Coventry and Warwick University’s research project on 1960s immigration patterns got underway

• We established close links with the Jewish Synagogue and Central Methodist Church

• Swanswell Park and Pool was tided and cleaned within Coronavirus restrictions.

• Three online workshops were held to help places of worship and other BAME-led community organisations to access Safety and Security funding

BAME Hub

• A constructive relationship with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was put in place; we are contributing to discussions on how Coventry will be involved

• As the voice of BAME communities in Coventry we participated in many meetings and webinars about the impacts of Coronavirus on BAME people,

• Three Social Prescribing partnership applications (Coventry, Warwickshire and Gloucester) were submitted

Training and development

• Five online Coronavirus Workshops were held for Places of Worship, to explain government requirements and support sharing of good practice, facilities and activities between faith and BAME communities

Communicatons and networking

• Four short “Together We Can” films (Voices of Faiths, Stop Hate Speech, Sort it COV-19 and Inspired to Act) were produced and disseminated widely, and TiA Trust acquired its own channel on YouTube

• We cemented our excellent partnership with Coventry City Council, with the consistent and strong support of Cllr Abdul Khan, Deputy Leader; our activities benefitted from the Council’s high quality advice and participation

• Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority, supported our projects by participating in activities such as online seminars

• Government Departments (Home Office and Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government) frequently invited our representation or approached us for information and suggestions

• We engaged with key people in the Coventry City of Culture Trust and are helping to develop the ‘faith’ element of the City of Culture year

• We developed a relationship with the Baobab Foundation, a new national initiative that supports BAME-led organisations to develop their systems, practices and capabilities to serve their communities and areas of interest fully

• We became a member of Coventry and Warwickshire Champions, in recognition of the quality of their work across the community and their potential and commitment to serve the City

Other actvites

• As the TiA Trust was a founder member of the United Religions Initiative (UK) 20 years ago, the Board agreed to lead work to re-establish and reconstitute URI (UK)

• Stop Hate - a short information and training film was produced; so far 5,000 people have viewed this on YouTube and there have been over 50 positive comments

Finance

Consultancy fees and grant applications were the main sources of TiA’s income during the year. Statutory bodies, agencies and foundations value the experience, skills and knowledge of the TiA Trust and commissioned work, for example research and development work for Active Black Country what and Community Services Trust. This income was unrestricted and was therefore used to support otherwise unfunded work and organisational development.

To support our activities, 11 applications for funding were also submitted, of which seven were successful. The National Lottery Community Fund awarded a grant of £50,000 to support the development of the Coventry Sacred Space initiative and the BAME Hub.

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