## **Trustees’ Annual Report**
**From Period start date:** 1 April 2024 **To Period end date:** 31 March 2025
**Charity name:** Black History Association (Gravesham and Kent)
**Charity registration number:** 1190181
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**Promotion of equality and diversity for the**
**benefit of the public**
• **Elimination of discrimination on the**
**grounds of race**
• **Advancing education and raising**
**awareness of equality and diversity**
**and black heritage, history and arts**
• **Promoting activities to foster**
**understanding between people of**
**diverse backgrounds**
• **Cultivating a sentiment in favour of**
**diversity and equality**|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|•
**Family Event (SummerFest)**
•
**Annual Thanksgiving Service**|
|Statement confirming
whether the Trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**The Trustees have had regard to the**
**guidance issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public benefit**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38||
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38||
1
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**The Trustees, other association members**
**and volunteers have contributed their time**
**and expertise to maintain good**
**management of the association and keep**
**activity costs to a minimum.**
**On average, the Trustees give 20 hours of**
**volunteer time each month to cover tasks**
**such as liaising with other charities,**
**attending association and multi-agency**
**meetings (e.g., Kent IPAG) to share**
**knowledge and expertise. In addition,**
**Trustees give 200 hours per annum in**
**organising and running activities and**
**raising funds.**
**The Trustees extend their gratitude to all**
**volunteers for their contributions,**
**without which some of the activities**
**would not have been possible.**|
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to the
circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a whole.|Para 1.20|**The Trustees work hard to identify gaps in**
**BME community needs, attract funding**
**(where necessary) and organise activities**
**that benefit the public. Success is measured**
**by the number of expressions of interest,**
**the diversity of attendees at the events/**
**activities and the feedback received.**
**When planning activities for the year, the**
**Trustees keep in mind the guidance from**
**the Charity Commission on public**
**benefit. The main activities were:**
• **Thanksgiving Service held at St. George’s**
**Church, Gravesend, Kent in October 2024.**
**The thanksgiving service is an annual**
**ecumenical celebration of Black History**
**Month and cultural diversity/inclusivity.**
**Members welcome people of all races and**
**religion (or none), regardless of personal**
**background or circumstances or gender.**
**After the thanksgiving service, the**
**association had its customary feast to**
**celebrate and share BME culture as part**
**of the Black History Month observance.**
• **In July 2024, the association held its**
**second family event, SummerFest, to**
**coincide with the start of the school**
**holidays.**|
2
|||**The objectives of the SummerFest event**
**are:**
**• Fundraising to raise money, through**
**ticket sales and stall hire, for the annual**
**thanksgiving celebration.**
**• Community engagement by bringing the**
**community together and encouraging**
**people to participate, connect, and**
**strengthen community bonds.**
**• Promoting awareness about topical**
**issues (e.g., fire safety, health promotion)**
**through information sharing, education**
**and partner support.**
**• Family-friendly entertainment by**
**providing music and a range of activities**
**suitable for all ages. Diverse food stalls**
**and entertainment ensure everyone had a**
**good time.**|
|---|---|---|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You maychoose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|**The association held a successful Annual**
**Thanksgiving Service in October 2024 in**
**Gravesend, Kent.**
**The association held its second summer**
**event at a community facility in Gravesend in**
**July 2024.**|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives set|Para 1.41|**Members make a minimum subscription**
**of £10 a month towards the running of**
**the association and for financing**
**planned activities. All members met their**
**subscription obligations.**
**A friend of the association continues to make**
**a monthly contribution of £5 towards planned**
**activities of the association.**|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|**N/A**|
|Other|||
3
## **Financial Review**
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end of
theperiod|Para 1.21|**See Treasury Statement**|
|---|---|---|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**N/A**|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**N/A**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**N/A**|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**N/A**|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the charity
continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**N/A**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**The work of the association is**
**funded with income from:**
•
**Monthly membership subscriptions**
•
**Grants (where available)**
•
**Fundraising activities/events**
•
**Monetary gifts from individual**
**benefactors**|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**The Trustees acknowledge that there is a**
**risk that planned activities/events may not**
**materialise due to:**
• **Loss of goodwill from individual**
**benefactors**
• **Lack of charity grant opportunities**
• **Loss of membership**|
|Other|||
4
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed,royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution adopted 7 March 2020**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Charitable Incorporated Organisation**
**(Foundation Model)**|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of any
person or body entitled to
appoint one or more
Trustees|Para 1.25|**Trustees are appointed or reappointed**
**every 3 years at the Annual General**
**Meeting held in July.**
**Last election was in July 2022.**|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|
|---|---|---|
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of Trustees|Para 1.51|**Full membership of the association is open**
**to adults of Black or any other minority**
**ethnic origin residing in Kent and Medway.**
**Honorary membership is reserved for**
**people of majority White background or**
**people of Black or other ethnic origin who**
**reside outside of Kent.**
**During this reporting year, we gained one**
**full member to the organisation.**
**The Trustees oversee the running of the**
**association. The Trustees consult other**
**members and interested parties (youth) in**
**deciding the activities to deliver.**
**All Trustees volunteer their time and**
**receive no remuneration or other benefits.**
**To guide the Trustees in the management**
**of the association, the following policy**
**statements have been put in place:**
•
**Data Protection Policy**
•
**Debit Card Policy**
•
**Financial Policy and Procedure**
•
**Safeguarding Policy**
**Copies of these policies have been**
**provided to the Trustees and are**
**available for inspection.**|
5
||The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the charity
works|Para 1.51|**The association is run by 6 Trustees.**
**There are other active ordinary and**
**honorary members. The Trustees work**
**with the following networks:**
• **Kent Police Independent Advisory**
**Group**
• **Kent Equality Cohesion**
**Council/Cohesion Plus**
• **The Gr@nd Youth Hub**
• **Local Churches**
• **Gravesham Borough Council**
• **Kent County Council**
• **Kent Community Foundation**
• **Empowering Young Minds**
• **Stronger Kent Communities**
• **UK Youth**
• **Kent Fire and Rescue Service**|
|---|---|---|---|
6
|Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51||
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charityname|**Black History Association(Gravesham and Kent)**|
|---|---|
|Other name the charityuses||
|Registered charitynumber|**1190181**|
|Charity’s principal address|**c/o 54 Villa Road**
**Higham**
**Rochester**
**Kent**
**ME3 7BX**|
|||
**Names of the charity Trustees who manage the charity**
|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or**
**body) entitled to**
**appoint trustee (if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Dr Jellina Davies|Chairperson||Association membership|
|Frederick Ade
Desmond Miller|General Secretary||Association membership|
|Mrs Rosemaund
Griffiths|Treasurer||Association membership|
|Charles Omotunde
Davies Snr|Organising Secretary||Association membership|
|Mrs Cornelia
Sogie- Thomas|Pastoral Officer||Association membership|
|Sam Sillah|Publicity Secretary||Association membership|
|||||
|||||
– Corporate Trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name N/A**
7
Name of Trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for wholeyear**||
|---|---|---|
|**N/A**|||
||||
## **Funds held as custodian Trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity|**N/A**|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects|**N/A**|
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own
assets|**N/A**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of**
**adviser**|**Name**
**Address**|**Name**
**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|Bank|Lloyds Bank|Lloyds Bank, Business Banking, BX1 1LT|
||||
||||
||||
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **N/A**
## **Other optional information**
8
## **Declarations**
**The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report**
**above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s Trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Dr Jellina Davies **Position (eg Secretary,** Chairperson **Chair, etc) Date** 5 July 2025
9
**Black History Association (Gravesham and Kent)** Registered Charity
## **Treasury Statement**
## **Treasurer’s Statement for the Year Ended 31st March 2025**
## **Introduction**
This Treasurer’s Statement provides a comprehensive overview of the financial performance of the Black History Association (Gravesham and Kent) for the financial year from 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025. It outlines income and expenditure across all major activities and events, with comparative figures from the previous financial year (2023–2024) and includes notes on the financial position and sustainability of the association going forward.
## **Income Overview**
The association recorded a total income of £4,040.64 during the year, compared to £3,683.27 in the previous year. This reflects an overall increase of £357.37, attributed primarily to stronger revenue from events and increased thanksgiving donations.
|**Income**
Membership Subscriptions
Donations – Life Patrons/Patrons
Other Income (FFD/Summerfest
vendor tables & gate)
Thanksgiving Donations
**Total Income**|**2024–25**
**(£)**
1,130.00
90.00
1,746.33
1,074.31
**4,040.64**|**2023–24**
**(£)**
**Notes**
1,210.00 Slight decrease in membership income
529.31
Significant drop in patron donations
however last year had another donation
1,233.96Increase in event participation and
vendor revenue
710.00
Increased contributions during annual
service
**3,683.27**|
|---|---|---|
## **Expenditure Summary**
Total expenditure for the financial year stood at £4,281.44, compared to £3,978.41 in the previous year, showing an increase of £303.03. The largest spending categories were associated with the Summerfest Event and costs linked to the Thanksgiving Service.
|**Expenditure Item**
BHA Thanksgiving – Van Rental
Summerfest Event – DJ
Thanksgiving – Member Refunds
Summerfest Expenses & Member
Refunds
Cheque Payments (Preacher, Musical
Director)
Printing, Food, and Sundries
Postage Costs
Web & Social Media Administration
Total Expenditure|**2024–25**
**(£)**
159.03
250.00
141.12
1,600.53
500.00
1,399.23
0.00
231.53
**4,281.44**|**2023–24 (£) Notes**
150.90
Van hired for logistics and
transport
100.00
Increased entertainment costs
45.00
Includes drinks refunds for
Summerfest
1,960.37
Slight decrease in direct costs
500.00
Religious service delivery
1,035.08
Increase reflects growth in event
scale
0.00
No postal expenses incurred
187.06
Digital communications and
outreach
**3,978.41**|
|---|---|---|
**Black History Association (Gravesham and Kent)** Registered Charity
## **Net Result**
The financial year ended with a net deficit of £240.80, compared to a deficit of £295.14 in the previous year. This reflects a slightly improved financial outcome, though the association continues to operate at a shortfall.
**Financial Position Amount (£)** Net Deficit for the Year (240.80) Opening Balance (1 Apr 2024) 2,044.94 Closing Balance (31 Mar 2025) 1,804.14
## **Financial Observations**
- While income improved overall, the association experienced a decline in donations from life patrons.
- Event-related costs, particularly for Summerfest, remain the most significant outlay. Strategic measures to reuse event materials and negotiate better vendor pricing are necessary to mitigate future costs.
- Administrative expenses (web and communication) remained proportionate and effective in supporting our online operations.
- The closing fund balance of £1,804.14 provides a modest financial position for the upcoming year, though the deficit trend shows a need for tighter cost control and more initiative-taking fundraising.
## **Recommendations**
- ➢ Increase Patron Engagement: Reconnect with life patrons and explore new sponsorship opportunities.
- ➢ Cost Control Measures: Continue efforts to repurpose/reuse items for events and assess all vendor/service contracts for better value. For e.g. – catering for thanksgiving service
- ➢ Diversify Income: Explore grant funding, partnerships, and digital fundraising (e.g., crowdfunding, donation drives).
- ➢ Event Budget Planning: Implement pre-event budget caps and clear tracking to avoid overspending.
We thank all members, patrons, volunteers, and supporters of the Black History Association for their continued support, time, and generosity. Your contributions are vital to our mission of cultural education, community engagement, and heritage celebration.
Signed………………… …………………………………… Name…Rosie Griffiths……………………………………………………………….
Date…1[st] July 2025………………………………………………………………….