## **Birchfield Community Association Trustees’ Report and Financial Statement for the period from 19[th] January 2021 to 31[st] March 2022** **Charity name:** Birchfield Community Association **Charity number:** 1193147 **Principal address:** 16 Grosvenor Road Handsworth Birmingham B20 3NP ## **Objectives and Activities** The objects of the charity are: 1. To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community of Birchfield Ward, Birmingham, in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society. 2. The promotion for the public benefit of urban regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation (and in particular Birmingham’s Birchfield Ward) by all or any of the following means: a) the relief of poverty in such ways as may be thought fit; b) the relief of unemployment in such ways as may be thought fit, including assistance to find employment; c) the advancement of education, training or retraining, particularly among unemployed people, and providing unemployed people with work experience; d) the provision of financial assistance, technical assistance, or business advice or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people in cases of financial or other charitable need through help: (i) in setting up their own business, or (ii) to existing businesses; (e) the creation of training and employment opportunities by the provision of workspace, buildings and/or land for use on favourable terms; (f) the provision of housing for those who are in conditions of need and the improvement of housing in the public sector or in charitable ownership provided that such power shall not extend to relieving any local authorities or other bodies of a statutory duty to provide or improve housing; (g) the maintenance, improvement or provision of public amenities; (h) the preservation of buildings or sites of historic or architectural importance; 1 (i) the provision or assistance in the provision of recreational facilities for the public at large and/ or those who, by reasons of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances, have need for such facilities; (j) the protection or conservation of the environment; - (k) the provision of public health facilities and childcare; - (l) the promotion of public safety and prevention of crime; and (m) such other means as may from time to time be determined subject to the prior consent of the charity commissioners for England and Wales. ## **Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit** With Covid-19 continuing to have an impact on the local community priorities included providing emergency assistance in the form of vouchers to help people purchase food and other essential items. Setting up a Telephone Befriending Service with support from Perry Barr Neighbourhood Network Scheme was aimed at reducing social isolation for older and residents unable to socialise in person. The volunteers providing the service were also able to provide advice and guidance on a range of issues. The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme enabled young people in receipt of free school meals to participate in activities aimed improving physical health and enrichment activities such as creative arts and music. Thought was also given to the long-term sustainability of the charity and capacity building through negotiations to establish an inclusive space – a community hub - where people can continue to meet and engage in activities of benefit to residents. Work was also begun on a business plan for the charity. ## **Statutory declaration** The trustees declare that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Commission in exercising their powers or duties. ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Summary of the main achievements of the charity for the year** This report covers the period from 19[th] January 2021 when the charity was registered to 31st March 2022. Coronavirus continued to have an impact on activities and restrictions were finally lifted in July 2021. As a local community-based organisation we continued to respond to local need as best as possible. This included setting up a Telephone Befriending Service and providing emergency assistance in the form of vouchers for food and other essential items to older adults and vulnerable families. Being based within 2km of the Alexander Stadium the main venue for the Commonwealth Games 2022 and with a cultural programme starting in March 2022, there were opportunities to plan and secure funding for heritage and cultural activities to take place as part of the Games. 2 Work continued on developing the charity as the legacy vehicle for the Birchfield Big Local programme. This included work on developing a community hub and starting work on a business plan for the charity. ## **Emergency Assistance** With funding from the Perry Barr Neighbourhood Network Scheme Emergency Assistance Fund and the Pioneer Places initiative we were able to bulk purchase Aldi and Farm Food vouchers to distribute to older adults and vulnerable families in the Birchfield area. Residents were referred via local organisations in the Birchfield area. ## **Telephone Befriending Service** A volunteer-led Telephone Befriending Service was set up for older adults to help reduce social isolation and provide support. Volunteers were recruited and provided with a mobile phone and training including from the Befriending Networks. ## **Holiday Activities with Food Programme** A summer scheme for young people was organised with funding from the Holiday Activities and Food (Bring it on Brum!) programme. The Boat House Café in Handsworth Park was secured as a venue for a two-week programme of activities with a further three-weeks in collaboration with the Handsworth Play Centre. The programme of activities was varied and included sports such as football, rounders, cricket, and other team games together with enrichment activities such as arts, self-defence, and human rights workshops. Fifteen to twenty young people attended daily. Food was provided by Digbeth Food Catering. A second scheme funded by the HAF was organised for Christmas 2021. The venue was Grosvenor Road Studios and the programme included a combination of sports and health and wellbeing activities with a DJ workshop and values and mindset workshop and a film for the final session. ## **Community Hub and Business Plan** It has been a long-term aspiration for Birchfield residents to create a community hub – an inclusive space where people can meet and engage in activities of benefit to the local community. Originally the plan was to refurbish the former caretakers house at a local Primary School – now an Academy. However, after meeting with the Trustees of the Academy in June 2021 it became evident that this wasn’t going to be possible. Other options were then explored including the idea of working with the Wilton Road United Reformed Church who have a building that is rarely used Monday to Friday. This is now the favoured option and discussions are underway with the church members and the URC West Midlands Synod about how such an arrangement might work. Some support has been secured from Shared Assets CIC to help with the development of a business plan for the charity including the community hub. ## **Birchfield Heritage Trail** The 2022 Commonwealth Games are in Birmingham and alongside the sporting events in the summer there is to be a cultural programme starting March 2022. Successful applications have been made to the You Matters Community Fund supported by construction firm McLaughlin & Harvey as part of the Alexander Stadium redevelopment to 3 improve facilities in a local play space and community garden, and the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund to develop a heritage trail for the Birchfield area. ## **Financial Review** This is the first full financial year for the charity which was registered on 19[th] January 2021. The charity does not hold any reserves at present as there are no employees or capital assets to maintain. However, in the future the charity does intend to employ staff and may acquire assets and is therefore developing a Business Plan that will identify potential sources of funding to enable the charity to build up its reserves. The principal sources of funding to date have been small grants, mostly from Birmingham City Council, to deliver projects and services that meet the immediate needs of Birchfield residents. Alongside grant funding the charity is actively pursuing opportunities for funding through the co-production and commissioning of local services and social investment. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Governing document** Foundation model constitution Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered 19[th] January 2021 ## **Trustees** **Trustee name Office** _**(if any)**_ **Appointed** Jimoh Folarin Chair 19.01.2021 Sabirul Islam 19.01.2021 Tom Clements 19.01.2021 Barbara Petris 19.01.2021 The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature: Full name: Jimoh Folarin Position: Chair Date: 5[th] January 2023 4 ## **Birchfield Community Association Financial Statement** ## **19[th] January 2021 to 31[st] March 2022** |**Income**|| |---|---| |Neighbourhood Network Scheme (Birmingham City Council)|3,723.00| |Neighbourhood Network Scheme – Emergency Assistance Fund|1,000.00| |Holiday with Food Activities Programme (BCC)|2,744.00| |Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund (BCC)|4,000.00| |Pioneer Places initiative (Neighbourhood Development Support Unit)|1,000.00| |You Matter Community Fund (McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd)|1,000.00| ||**________**| |**Total income**|**13,467.00**| |**Expenditure**|| |Vouchers for food and other essential items|4,500.00| |Stationery|59.38| |Printing and publicity|561.00| |Professional fees (HAF Summer Scheme)|3,028.04| |Venue hire|300.00| |Professional fees (HAF Christmas Scheme)|705.50| ||**_______**| |**Total expenditure**|**9,153.92**| |**Total income from 19.01.2021 – 31.03.2022**|**13,467.00**| |**Total expenditure**|**9,153.92**| |**Balance as of 31st March 2022**|**4,313.08**| |Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees|| Signature: Full name: Jimoh Folarin Position: Chair Date: 5[th] January 2023 5