## **Aikyam UK** Trustees' Annual Report 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 Registered Charity Number: 1190179 _Trustees: Kirit Mistry | Anand Joshi | Shivani Patel_ ## **Aikyam UK — Trustees’ Annual Report** **Registered Charity Number:** 1190179 **Reporting period:** 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 **Trustees:** Kirit Mistry, Anand Joshi, Shivani Patel ## **1. Introduction** This Trustees’ Annual Report covers the year **1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025** , a year of significant progress for **Aikyam UK** . Across the period, we strengthened delivery, expanded partnerships, and supported young people through a blend of structured projects, community engagement, and responsive one-to-one support. The Trustees are proud of the charity’s continued growth and the positive outcomes achieved. Our work this year reflected Aikyam UK’s commitment to improving opportunities and wellbeing for young people, especially those facing barriers to support, confidence, and access. ## **2. Our Charitable Purpose and What We Do** Aikyam UK exists to support young people to thrive through practical guidance, trusted relationships, and projects that build knowledge, confidence, and positive life pathways. Our approach is rooted in inclusion, safeguarding, cultural understanding, and youth voice. We deliver impact through: - Youth engagement projects and workshops - Community and public health awareness activities - Partnerships with schools, universities, and health organisations - Creative and media-based opportunities that amplify youth voice - Individual support through referrals and targeted interventions ## **3. Public Benefit** The Trustees confirm that Aikyam UK’s activities during the year were carried out in furtherance of our charitable purposes and for the public benefit. We supported young people to improve wellbeing, build skills, access opportunities, and engage with public health information in ways that are approachable and relevant. _Trustees: Kirit Mistry | Anand Joshi | Shivani Patel_ ## **4. Year in Review — Key Achievements and Highlights** During 2024–2025, Aikyam UK worked with approximately **200+ young people** through a mixture of programmes, workshops, volunteering, events, and one-to-one support. This year we also deepened our collaborations with major partners across health, higher education, media, and community development. ## **Highlights included:** - Supporting public health projects and awareness events with **South Asian Health Action** and the **NHS** - Delivering two university-linked projects: one focused on **HPV vaccinations** , and another exploring the **influence of AI on nutrition and body image** - Running youth workshops and delivering a **weekly youth radio slot** with **Eava FM** and **2Funky Radio** - Providing studio time to support talented young people to build confidence and creative skills - Supporting **BNCHA’s annual community event** , including setup and live DJ contributions by youth volunteers - Supporting individual young people with issues including **mental health** , **job applications** , **careers advice** , confidence and goal-setting - Raising funds through a charity event held by the **Hitesh Pujara Foundation** , helping strengthen our ability to deliver youth-led activities and plan future programmes ## **5. Activities and Outcomes** ## **5.1 Health and Public Health Awareness (NHS & South Asian Health Action)** Aikyam UK supported health projects and public health awareness events in partnership with the **NHS** and **South Asian Health Action** . These activities helped young people and communities to access and engage with important health information in ways that feel trusted and relevant. We focused on increasing understanding, improving confidence to seek support, and encouraging informed decision-making. **Outcome focus:** improved awareness, increased engagement, and stronger connections between young people/community and health partners. ## **5.2 Research and Education Projects (University of Leicester & Loughborough University)** Working with the **University of Leicester** and **Loughborough University** , we contributed to projects on: _Trustees: Kirit Mistry | Anand Joshi | Shivani Patel_ - **HPV vaccinations** — supporting learning and engagement around vaccination awareness and decision-making - **AI’s influence on nutrition and body image** — exploring how emerging technology affects young people’s perceptions, wellbeing, and choices These partnerships helped connect young people to higher education environments and researchinformed discussions, while ensuring youth voice and lived experience remained central. **Outcome focus:** increased understanding, critical thinking, and youth-informed insight into key issues affecting young people. ## **5.3 Youth Voice, Media and Creative Development (Eava FM & 2Funky Radio)** In partnership with **Eava FM** and **2Funky Radio** , Aikyam UK delivered youth workshops and hosted a **weekly youth radio slot** . This created a consistent platform for young people to share ideas, build confidence, and develop communication skills in a real-world setting. We also provided **studio time** to talented young people, helping them explore creative pathways and strengthen skills linked to aspiration and employability. **Outcome focus:** confidence, communication, teamwork, creative skills, and increased youth visibility in community spaces. ## **5.4 Community Engagement and Youth Volunteering (BNCHA)** Aikyam UK supported **BNCHA’s annual community event** , helping with event setup and supporting delivery on the day. A key strength of this work was youth volunteering—particularly through **young DJs** who contributed their skills and energy to the event. **Outcome focus:** stronger community connection, youth leadership, volunteering experience, and positive visibility for young people. ## **5.5 Individual Support and Referrals** Alongside project delivery, Aikyam UK supported individual young people through referrals and direct support. This included help with: - Mental health and emotional wellbeing (listening support, practical guidance, signposting) - Job applications, CV support, and interview preparation - Careers advice, education routes, confidence and goal-setting This work remains central to our mission. For many young people, timely, trusted support can make a long-term difference—helping them move forward with stability and hope. **Outcome focus:** increased confidence, improved access to support, practical progression in work/education, reduced isolation. _Trustees: Kirit Mistry | Anand Joshi | Shivani Patel_ ## **5.6 Fundraising** During the year, Aikyam UK was grateful to receive fundraising support through a charity event held by the **Hitesh Pujara Foundation** . This contribution supported our ongoing delivery and helped build momentum for our next stage of development. The Trustees extend sincere thanks to everyone involved in organising, supporting, and attending the event. ## **6. Partnerships** Our progress this year was made possible through collaborative working with a wide range of partners, including: **NHS** , **South Asian Health Action** , **Eava FM** , **2Funky Radio** , **BNCHA** , **University of Leicester** , **Loughborough University** , and **local schools** , as well as partners supporting individual referrals. These partnerships strengthened reach, ensured relevance, and enabled Aikyam UK to deliver a combination of preventive, developmental, and responsive support for young people. ## **7. Governance and Trustee Oversight** Aikyam UK is governed by its Trustees: **Kirit Mistry, Anand Joshi, and Shivani Patel** . Trustees provided oversight throughout the year, ensuring the charity remained focused on its objectives and delivered work aligned to its public benefit responsibilities. The Trustees are pleased with the progress made during the year and remain committed to strengthening capacity, accountability, and sustainability as Aikyam UK grows. ## **8. Looking Ahead (2025–2026)** Aikyam UK enters the next year with clear priorities shaped by what we have learned from delivery, partnerships, and direct support to young people. Our focus will be on prevention, early intervention, skills-building, and creating safe spaces for young people to learn and thrive. Key priorities include: - **Delivering workshops in schools** , including: - **Conflict resolution** and practical tools for managing disagreements, peer pressure, and communication challenges - **How AI will affect the future** , supporting young people to understand opportunities and risks, think critically, and prepare for education and work in a changing world _Trustees: Kirit Mistry | Anand Joshi | Shivani Patel_ - **Securing funding for Project Rakshaa (Domestic Abuse Project):** We will be actively seeking funding to deliver **Project Rakshaa** , a new programme designed to address domestic abuse through both **prevention and cure** . The project aims to build awareness, strengthen protective factors, encourage safe help-seeking, and support recovery pathways for those affected. - **Sustaining and deepening partnerships** across health, education, community and media - **Strengthening evaluation and learning** , so we can better evidence outcomes and continuously improve programme quality The Trustees are committed to ensuring that growth is safe, sustainable, and aligned with the charity’s mission and capacity. ## **9. Closing Statement** This year demonstrated what is possible when young people are supported with care, consistency, and opportunity. The Trustees would like to thank all partners, volunteers, youth contributors, and supporters who helped Aikyam UK deliver such impactful work. We also thank the **Hitesh Pujara Foundation** and everyone who contributed to fundraising efforts this year, helping us build towards an ambitious programme of school workshops and the development of **Project Rakshaa** . Most importantly, we thank the young people who engaged with our programmes, trusted our support, and helped shape our direction. Aikyam UK finishes the year proud of what has been achieved and energised for the next stage of growth. **Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees:** Kirit Mistry — Trustee Anand Joshi — Trustee Shivani Patel — Trustee **Date:** 01/01/2026 _Trustees: Kirit Mistry | Anand Joshi | Shivani Patel_ ## **Aikyam UK** ## **Registered Charity Number: 1190179** ## **Statement Of Financial Activities** Year ended 31st March 2025 |Total gross income
Total expenditure
Net|2025
2024
£3,536.81
£113.21
£2,752.87
£158.25
£783.94
-£45.04| |---|---| |Total Funds Carried Forwa
£600.90
-£183.04||