ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025 for GUIDING LIGHT LEADS
Guiding Light Leads (GLL) is a registered charity with the ‘Charity Commission for England and Wales. Registration number: 1191339.
GLL is established as a valuable hub for the youth of African and Caribbean heritage residing in Leeds and the broader Yorkshire region. Our mission is to offer guidance, support, and curated programs encompassing physical, educational, and various other activities
ADDRESS:
1 Shay Court
Leeds
LS6 2QL
West Yorkshire
TRUSTEES
Guiding Light Leads has seven trustees:
Yvonne-Lee Opebiyi – Founder, Trustee and CEO
Hawa Bah – Public Relations Officer
Cara Levine – Field Worker
Toyin Opebiyi – IT /Admin
Vanessa Maynard-Field Worker
Victoria Ogunrumbi – Secretary
Laura Linklater – Safeguarding Lead
BANK ACCOUNT
Guiding Light Leads banks with ‘Virgin Money’.
INSURANCE
Guiding Light Leads has ‘Public and Products Liability’, ‘Employers Liability’ and ‘Trustees and Directors Liability’ with Ansvar insurance at a total cost of £119.60 per annum, valid until 12/08/2026
POLICIES
Guiding Light Leads has the following policies in place: Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding Policy, Health and Safety Policy, Document Retention Policy, and Data Protection Policy.
INFORMATION COMMISIONER’S OFFICE:
Guiding Light Leads is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and is currently fully paid up, valid until 19th January 2026 when it will be renewed by direct debit.
FUNDING
GLL applied for and received a small amount of funding from Leeds City Council in the amount of £462.50 to hold a workshop on Cardiovascular Disease.
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE WORKSHOP
A workshop was held on 13th of September 2023. It was made up of interactive sessions on African and Caribbean diet and healthy eating, lecture given by a trained nutritionist, Lecture on healthy eating for diabetics, a talk/ interactive session on cardiovascular disease and how it relates to diabetes. The
session included blood pressure checks and signposting to the relevant medical centre.
PARTNERING WITH OTHER GROUPS
Guiding Light Leads was approached by a faith based group running health programmes in the Birmingham area. They had heard of Guiding Light Leads and the work we were doing in the local community and wanted to partner with us. The group had received funding from the NHS to run some health programmes in predominantly African and Caribbean communities. We did not receive funding from them. Our programmes were completely funded by the group. Together we held programmes and health expos educating the community on, nutrition, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Blood pressure and stroke mental health issues and how it involves the police. We also held workshops on Peri-natal mental health issues. These programmes covered the period of November 2024 to February 2025.
PROJECTED PROGRAMMES 2026
Guiding Light Leads plans to partner with the, ‘Black Health Initiative’ group, a group which has been running successfully for the past thirty five years in the Leeds area. We are planning to run some programmes in conjunction with the Leeds City Council.
Yvonne Opebiyi
Founder