2024-03-31-accounts - Bradford African Community

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Bradford African Community

Charity number 1191374

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31 March 2024

Bradford African Community

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024

Contents	Page
Trustees' report	2 to 5
Examiner's report	6
Receipts and payments account	7
Statement of assets and liabilities	8
Notes to the accounts	9 to 10

Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Bradford African Community

Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2024

Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors

The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates

Catherine Kembabazi Mangala Hussein Resigned 16 April 2024 Clive Whittaker Resigned 1 October 2022 Faith Nyambane Appointed 27 July 2023 Ismail Adam Appointed 29 April 2024 Yassin Toyi Appointed 4 January 2025

Charity number 1191374

Registered in England and Wales

Registered and principal address Bankers Quaker Meeting House Lloyds TSB Bank plc Russell Street Ariel House Bradford 2138 Coventry Road BD5 OJB Birmingham B26 3JW

Independent examiner

Rhys North ACA West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) foundation formed on 21 September 2020 and is governed by a constitution.

Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees

The trustees of the charity are appointed by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.

Bradford African Community

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Objectives and activities

The charity's objects

To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people, in particular (but without limitation) African refugees and asylum seekers residing in Bradford and Yorkshire, from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society through: a. Education and training in the English language; b. Providing workshops/courses, homework support classes and general support; c. Social and recreational facilities and events involving the local community directed to promoting social inclusion. For the purpose of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or part of society, as a result of being a member of a socially and economically deprived community.

The prevention or relief of poverty in Africa by providing: grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organisation’s working to prevent or relieve poverty.

Public benefit statement

In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the promotion of social inclusion.

Achievements and performance

During the year, April 2023 to March 2024, there were 3,446 individual who visited and attended Bradford African Community’s (BAC) community centre for learning and receiving support on a range of matters affecting their lives (BAC Visitor logbook). Compared to the previous year (April 2022-March 2023), saw an increase of 31%

BAC Drop-in centre offered a comprehensive range of support services. These services included assistance with job applications, updating CVs, cover letter and offering volunteering opportunities for refugees to gain practical skills they needed to move into employment. Others were supported with Universal Credit and other related benefits such as PIP application, housing benefit, and council tax. Other support included enabling refugees to understand the benefit of setting up a direct debit to avoid them falling into debt such as utility bills, council tax and rent. Our beneficiaries were supported with Home Office applications such as BRP renewal, improving their understanding of life in the UK and the life in UK practical test, B1 speaking and listening, fee waiver, neutralisation application, Passport, EU settlement and driving licence application. Other support included school application and GP registration.

The key lessons we have learned from the BAC Engage Project is the transformative impact of combining skills development with community engagement activities. The dual approach has provided our beneficiaries with the practical tools that they need for their integration and adaptation, as well as empowering them to actively engage, participate and contribute to British society.

Bradford African Community

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Achievements and performance continued

Partnership

BAC have collaborated with Bradford Council stronger community together, the West Yorkshire Police, Bradford Everyone, HCA, CABAD, Skills House, Better Start, Bradford University and Bradford College, who have provided resources, extra support and expertise that Bradford African Community could not offer.

BAC would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our partners, our funders the National Lottery Community Fund and Bradford Council. Without their support and dedication, achieving such incredible outcomes would not have been possible. Together, we have achieved something truly remarkable, and we look forward to continuing this partnership to create even greater impact in the future. Thank you for believing in us and being a vital part of our journey.

Challenges

At the outset of Engage project we faced various challenges in fostering a sense of belonging and active participation among the refugee community that took part in the Engage project. Many refugees, due to language barriers, felt isolated and uncertain about their role in British society, lacking both confidence and skills to engage fully. Additionally others were hesitant to participate due to their past traumatic experience before reaching safety in the UK.

To address these challenges, the Engage project team implemented a holistic approach that focused on both skill development and active community engagement.

In partnership with our partners, we combined practical workshops on cultural orientation, English conversational Classes for beginners, job readiness workshops , trips around West Yorkshire and beyond Yorkshire, providing volunteering opportunities for young people to gain practical skills and experience. This has allowed refugees to apply their new skills in a real-world setting, fostering a sense of achievement and belonging.

The Engage project has facilitated the formation of a young people peer support group among the refugees, where they come to the community centre, share experiences, provide mutual support and build confidence in a safe and supportive environment. The young people are supported by Izzi Nicolson and other brilliant volunteers from young people from Bradford University as well as Melat Fisseha Melaku, BAC coordinator, under the leadership of Asumani Susho who serve as role models and mentors.

The Engage project has put emphasis on and encouraged our beneficiaries to volunteer in local projects such as Great Horton Farm, food banks, community settings such as the Bradford African Community Centre, and at cultural events. These opportunities have allowed refugees to contribute positively to their new communities, build social networks and develop a deeper understanding of British society values and practices.

The BAC Engage Project demonstrates that empowering refugees requires more than just providing basic support services. A successful integration strategy must also focus on building confidence through skills development and fostering a sense of belonging through active engagement, creating opportunities for refugees to contribute meaningfully, help overcome barriers, build self-reliance and feel more connected to Bradford and West Yorkshire and the UK. Future integration initiatives need to prioritise a holistic approach that blends practical support with opportunities for active participation and contribution to British society.

Financial review

The net payments for the year were £9,869, including net receipts of £2,835 on unrestricted funds and net payments of £12,704 on restricted funds.

Bradford African Community

Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2024

Reserves policy

The charity's free reserves, at the year end were £16,379.

The general purpose of BAC reserves policy is to help to ensure the long- term financial stability of the organisation and position it to respond to varying economic conditions and changes affecting the organisation’s financial position and the ability of the organisation to continuously carry out its mission.

To enable the organisation to sustain operations through delays in payments of committed funding and to
l accept reimbursable contracts and grants without jeopardizing ongoing operations.
To promote public and funder confidence in the long-term sustainability of the organisation by preventing
l chronic cash flow crises that can diminish its reputation and force its leaders to make expensive shortterm, crisis-based decisions; and
l To create an internal line of credit to manage cash flow and maintain financial flexibility.

The trustees have agreed the target reserves should be between three and six months expenditure. Based on 2023/2024 expenditure this represents a reserves target of between £28,000 and £56,000.

Approved by the board of trustees on 22/01/2025

Catherine Kembabazi (Trustee)

Bradford African Community

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bradford African Community

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 10.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the CIO's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Rhys North ACA

22/01/2025

West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO

Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW

Bradford African Community

Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 March 2024

Notes 2024 Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Grants and donations (2) 700 Bank interest 42 Other income 2,275 Total receipts 3,017 Payments Salaries NI and pensions - Payroll charges - Freelance costs 138 Activity costs 30 Equipment - Insurance - Rent - Transport and travel - Office, printing and stationery - Telephone and internet - Marketing - Volunteer expenses 14 Training - volunteers and staff - Independent examination - Other expenses - Total payments 182 Net receipts / (payments) 2,835 Fund balances brought forward 13,544 Fund balances carried forward (3) 16,379	2024 Restricted funds £ 98,986 - - 98,986 64,587 575 9,569 13,157 3,481 570 8,059 4,512 3,764 670 215 565 358 792 816 111,690 (12,704) 40,093 27,389	2024 Total funds £ 99,686 42 2,275 102,003 64,587 575 9,707 13,187 3,481 570 8,059 4,512 3,764 670 215 579 358 792 816 111,872 (9,869) 53,637 43,768	2023 Total funds £ 104,774 7 1,280 106,061 50,212 616 3,897 13,724 3,038 1,618 8,500 5,115 3,498 409 1,197 279 286 840 702 93,931 12,130 41,507 53,637

Bradford African Community Statement of assets and liabilities

as at 31 March 2024 2024 Unrestricted £ Cash funds Cash at bank 15,645 Bradford Community Payroll 731 Cash in hand 3 Total cash funds 16,379 Debtors and prepayments Prepayments Assets retained for the charity's own use Motor vehicle Office equipment Liabilities Accruals	2024 Restricted £ 27,389 - - 27,389	2024 Total £ 43,034 731 3 43,768 2024 £ 71 71 2024 £ 840 840	2023 Total £ 53,863 (244) 18 53,637

The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 22/01/2025

Catherine Kembabazi (Trustee)

Bradford African Community

Notes to the accounts

for the year ended 31 March 2024

1 Accounting policies

Basis of accounting

The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.

There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.

No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.

Taxation

As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.

Bradford African Community

Notes to the accounts continued

for the year ended 31 March 2024

2 Grants and donations Bradford District Metropolitan Council (BDMC) National Lottery Community Foundation (NLCF) The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Other donations 3 Restricted funds Balance b/f £ NLCF Engage Project 38,421 BDMC HAF 1,672 BDMC Health & Wellbeing - 40,093	2024 Unrestricted funds £ - - - 700 700 Incoming £ 82,000 16,236 750 98,986	2024 Restricted funds £ 16,986 82,000 - - 98,986 Outgoing £ 94,607 16,333 750 111,690	2024 Total funds £ 16,986 82,000 - 700 99,686 Transfers £ - - - -	2023 Total funds £ 19,041 82,000 1,500 2,233 104,774 Balance c/f £ 25,814 1,575 - 27,389

Purpose of restriction

Fund name Purpose of restriction NLCF Engage Project To develop a safe space for support and advice to refugees and to provide educational and support opportunities. BDMC HAF To support the provision of food and activities during school holidays. BDMC Health & Wellbeing To run refugee day activities.

4 Related party transactions

Trustee expenses

No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.

Trustee remuneration and benefits

No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.

5 Funds held as agent Bradford Sudanese	Balance b/f £ - -	Incoming £ 250 250	Outgoing £ 250 250	Balance c/f £ - -