Birchfield CommunityAssociation CharityNumber: 1193147 Trustees'Annual Reportand Financialstatementforthe periodfrom 1"April 2024to 31" March 2025
Administration details Charity name: Birchfield Community Association Principal address: clo United Reformed Church 13 Wilton Road Handsworth Birmingham B20 3RX Bank: Metro Bank One Southampton Row, London WC1 B SHA Objectives and Activities The objetts of the charity are: 1. To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantsged community of Birchfield Ward, Birmingham. in such a way that they arÈ better able to identify, and help meet, their need5 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 cl 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 consultsncy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people in cases of financial or other charttable need through help: (i) in setting up their own business, or fil) 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 charttable 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- Page12
(g) the maintenance. improvement or provision of public amenities; (h) the preservation of buildings or sites of historic or architectural importance; (il 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, povety or social and economic circumstsnces. have need for such facilities; (i) the protection or conservation of the environment,. (k) the provision of public health facilities and childcare,. {1) the promotion of public safety and prevention of crime,. and Cm) such other means as may from time to time be determined subject to the prior consent of the charity cotnmissioners for England and Wales. Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit This year was significant as it marked the completion of the Big Local programme in Birchfield. Birchfield was one of 50 areas that completed the programme in July 2024, while the remaining 100 areas are scheduled to finish by March 2026. The charity plays a vital role in the legacy of the Big Local programme. It is dedicated to continuing community development led by residents and focused on the specifi needs of the area. The charity aims to strengthen the capacity and Skills of local people, enabling them to identify their needs and priorities and work towards addressing them. Until July 2024, the charity received support from Shared Assets and Stir to Action to develop a business plan and funding strategy, and this helped secure the necessary funds to continue its activities beyond the end of the Big Local programme. Efforts have been focused on developing WIOn Road United Reformed Church as a community hub that delivers activities of benefit to residents. Arnong these activities is the Women's Group, which meets weekly, along with the Seniors, Club, a weekly session designed for individuals over 50. This club aims to reduce social isolation whilè providing advice and support to older residents. In partnership with Birmingham Adult Education Service, regular adult education classes in English and Creative Arts have also been provided. The hub is registered as a Warm Welcome Space with the aim of providing a free, safe, and welcoming environment for individuals to access support, activities, and seNices throughout the year. The hub also continues to host creative arts sessions for young people with learning disabilities led by Athac CIC. The Ladywood and Perry Barr SENDIDisability neOrk group holds bi-monthly meetings at the hub. Additionally, the Birchfield Environment Strategy Group meets monthly, bringing Page13
together local community organisations along with representatives from the City Council and Midland Hearc a major social housing provider. As a member of B.'CAN- Birmingham Community Action Networl the charity has been able to continue providing energy advice and advocacy to vulnerable households by employing a part-time staff member. ststutory 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 dutie& Achievements and Performance st This report covers the financial year from 1 April 2024 to 31, March 2025. The Lottery-funded Birchfield Big Local programme came to an end on 31 SL July 2024, and with it the support received from Birmingham Voluntary SeNices Council as the Local Trusted Organisation. Birchfield was one of 50 Big Local areas to reach completion in the summer of 2024, and the Big Local programme as a whole will finish in March 2026. The charity plays a vital role in the legacy of the Big Local programtne. It 15 dedicated to continuing community development led by residents and focused on the specific needs of the area. In the months leading up to the end of Birchfield Big Local the charity continued to receive support from Mark Walton at Shared Assets to help develop a busine55 plan and support from Dan Woolley and Megan Romania at Stir to Action for a funding strategy. With Dan and Megan's help applications were prepared to the Laing Family Trust, 29 May 1961 Charitable Trust and National Lottery Awards for All. Of these three funding applications the National Lottery Awards for Atl was successful and a grant of £19,900 was received in November 2024. The focus for fundraising has continued to be the delivery of activities at the Birchfield Community Hub based at Wilton Road United Reformed Church. A timetable of activities has been established including a Women's group and Seniors club both of which meet weekly and adult education classes delivered in partnership with Birmingham Adult Education Service. The hub is used on a Monday by Athac CIC for creative sessions with Athac Creative Artists, a group of young adults with learning disabilities. Some of the young adults also volunteer with BCA at the Seniors Club. Page14
B:CAN Energy Programme BCA has continued to provide advice and support on home energy savings as a member of B'.CAN {Birmingham Community Action Network). The charity employed a part-time energy adviser for five months, from late February to August 2024, to deliver advocacy and assistance to vulnerable households. Funding for the project, sourced from the Energy Redress Scheme, ended in January 2025, followed by the funding from Brum Energy in March 2025. However, the B..CAN Energy partnership. led by Witton Lodge Community Association. successfully secured additional funding from the Energy Redress Scheme, Set to begin in April 2025. The partnership has expanded from five to ten community-based organisations. allowing them to cover most of the city. Birchfield Community Association will be active in Birchfield Ward as well as Handsworth, Lozells, Handsworth Wood, and Perry Barr. This new funding will enable the charity to employ a full-time energy adviser. Warm Welcome Space . Birchfield Community Hub is one of over200WarmWelcome spaces located throughout Birmingham. These spaces are free, safe, comfortable, and welcoming places where people can engage in activities, access services, receive practical advice and support, and connectwith theircommunity. Wartn Welcome spaces are available year-round, notjust duringthewinter months. Seniors. aub The Seniors group meets every week at the Birchfield Community Hub. Dominoes is a popular activity among the men, and we have expanded our offerings to include arts and crafts, which has successfully attracted more women to join. As a result, our attendance is now balanced with an equal number of men and women. Light refreshments are provided, along with a half-hour session of chair-based physical activities. Adult Education Classes The charity continues to offer classes in partnership with the Birmingham Adult Education SeNice at Wilton Road URC. These classes include 'lntroduction to English {ESOL)' and 'Creative Arts,, both of which are particularly popular among local women. In the past a course on digital skills was also offered, and the plan 15 to resume this offer once a tutor is found. Crick Lane Playing Fields and Birchfield Children s Centre The Birchfield Community Association is among several groups working to bring the Crick Playing Fields into community use. These fields feature two sports pitches and changing facilities and are part of a Section 106 agreement with the housing developer, Persimmon Homes. The Crick Playing Fields group, which also includes the Handsworth Association of Schools and various local sports organisations, is Page15
collaborating with Birmingham City Council to ensure that Persimmon Homes complies with the requirements of the Section 106 agreemenL The ultimate goal is to have the community manage the site for use by local schools and the wider community. Birchfield Children's Centre is an asset owned by the City Council that may be available for Sale or lease in the near future. The Birchfield Community Association has registered the building as an Asset of Community Value and has expressed interest in exploring the possibility of a Community Asset Transfer or lease. The Association is advocating for the building to be operated as a centre managed by the local community. Financial Review Before July 2024. the funds for BCA were held by Birmingham Voluntary SeNices Council (BVSC) on behalf of the charity. BVSC also seNed as a Local Trusted Organisation for Birchfield Big Local. On Juty 31¢ the funds held by BVSC were transferred to BCA'S Metro Bank account. A total of £18,519 was transferred, which included £14,767 from the Energy Redress and Brum Energy projects and £3,752 from previous grants to the charity. We note that the starting balance for the current financial year h35 changed from the prior accounts due to a reconciliation difference after the transition of funds held by BVSC to the charity's own bank accounL During the year ending 31st March 2025. the charity received £32,864 in grants. 25/0912024 0211012024 08/1112024 4.964.00 4,000.00 19,900.00 Barr NNS Birmin ham Ci National Lottery Communit Fund Birmin ham Ci Birmin NNS rant for the Seniors. Club Warrn S aces Grant Awards for All Grant Council 1211212024 05/0312025 2,000.00 2,000.00 Council Council Warm S aces Grant Warm S aces Grant In addition, there was income from the Energy Redress Scheme and Brum Energy Project through the partnership with B:CAN Energy. This relies on the B:CAN Energy partnership meeting quarterly performance indicators. The charity received valuable support from Stir to Action in developing a funding strategy and in preparing some initial funding applications. A primary focus for fundraising is to secure core costs needed to operate the community hub. This includes expenses such as staff salaries, volunteer reimbursements, rent, and utilities. Page16
Structure, Governance and Management Governing document Foundation model constitution Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered 19 January 2021 Trustees Name Jimoh Folarin Sabirul Islam Baljeet Singh Ghatsora Mohammed Zahoor Nyah Cole Mehnaz Afzal Role Chair Trustee Trustee Treasurer Secretary Observer Date appointed 19 January 2021 19 January 2021 27 March 2024 ' 8 May 2024 8 May 2024 Many thanks to the Trustees for their continued time and commitment. The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustee's report as above. Signed on behalf of the Trustees Signature: Full n3me- Jimoh Folarin Position: Chair Date: 30 January 2026 Page17
BirchfieLd CommuntyAssociation FinanciaLStstement 1"April 2024to 31° March 2025 Income Amount (£) 4,964 8,000 19,900 14,362.5 17,595.97 150.00 64.972.47 Perry Barr Neighbourhood Network Scheme Warm Welcome Grant Fund National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All B.'CAN Energy Project (Energy Redress Fund) Brum Energy Project Other Total income Expenditure Amount (£} 10500 4,492.07 540 41.06 2148 194.5 6,050 1,840 332.08 1,416.63 439.98 216.06 437.84 139.81 1,262.05 339 235 30,624.08 Project Manager Energy Adviser salary Sessional staff Staff expenses Volunteer expenses Professional fees Rent Utilities Insurance Telephone & broadband Website Printinglphotocopier Office & cleaning supplies Art & Craft materials Catering and refreshments (Seniors, Club) Travel (Seniors, Club) Bank charge5 Total expenditure Income minus expenditure 64,972.47 30 624.08 34.348.39 15.187 Balance brought forward Balance as of 31 March 2025 49 535.39 Page18
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examineVs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Reportto the trustees Birchfield Communtty Assouation On accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 Charity no (If any) 1193147 I report to the trustees on my examination ofthe accounts of the above charity (Yhe Trusf) for the year ended 31103r2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charivs trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan wtth the requirements of the Chartties Act 2011 Ilhe Acr). I reFrt in resp8Ct of rny examination of the Trusvs accounts carried out under section 145 ofthe 2011 Acl and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicab Directions given by ihe Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act Independent examlnerfs statement I have cometed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination {other than that disclosed below.) vthith gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accOance with section 130 of the chareS Act,. or the accounts dKI not accord with the aCunting records" or the accounls dKI not comply with the applicable requirements COnrning the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 olher than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fail view which is not a matter considered as part of an ilependent examination. I have no concems and have come aLYoss no other matters in connection with the examination to vthich allention should be drawn in this reF(Jrt in order to enab a proper understaTrding of the accounts to be reached. Date: 312126 Signed: Name: Andy Hopkins IER Oct 2018
Address: BVSC Latham House 33-34 Paradise Street Birmingham B 2AJ Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts.. direclions and guidance for examinerB). Give here brief delails of any Items that the examlner wishes to di$¢lose. IER Oct 2018