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African and Caribbean Women’s Centre (Africab)

Report and Accounts 30/04/2025

Charity Number: 1195979

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 01/05/2024 to 30/04/2025

Charity name: African and Caribbean Women’s Centre (AFRICAB) Charity registration number: 1195979

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The relief of poverty and the relief of mental and physical distress among African and Caribbean women in Bury, Greater Manchester, who are living in poverty, or who have been maltreated by their husbands orby their families.
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	The main activities undertaken by the charity are as follows: 1. Culturally appropriate Food Bank 2. Welfare support for women facing hardship 3. Black History Month 4. Training on Hate Crime Reporting 5. Redistribution of winter coats to women through the Rotary Clubs Wrap up Campaign 6. Provision of clothes and basic supplies for indigent women and families
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	Our trustees followed the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. All our activities were in line with the public benefit requirement, as demonstrated above.

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Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38	We are not a grant making charity.
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38	N/A
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Our activities are delivered by a team of committed and passionate volunteers. Their contributions have saved the charity thousands of pounds in salaries that would have been required to engage paid staff.
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	Our culturally appropriate Food Bank continues to provide respite to struggling families, many of whom are being affected by the cost of living crisis. As food prices are going up, many require support to feed their families. Without the Food Bank, these families would be without their traditional food. Some of the women accessing this service are not able to work due to immigration issues. Some have serious health problems therefore unable to work. Our Food Bank goes a long way in mitigating the impact of their circumstances. We also provided welfare support to women who were facing hardship. This was by way of small and short term funds to help with their living costs. The funds were for women in very dire circumstances. For example, sometime ago a young single mother was referred to the charity. She found herself struggling alone due to the breakdown of her relationship. She was also nursing a baby and was in debt. She was not eligible for Maternity Allowance or any welfare benefit.

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The support provided by the charity helped to meet her basic needs and also improved her mental health.

In October, the charity organised a Black History Month Event. The event was to remember Black change makers and their contributions to the British society. This would serve as an inspiration to other Black people to give their best in their different fields. The occasion also had a consultative session where attendees discussed the challenges facing Black people and proffered solutions for moving forward. Lastly, there was African food, music and dance. AFRICAB has been organising Black History Month Events since October 2021.

Last spring, we organised Hate Crime Reporting training for our women. The objective of the training was to empower the participants to recognise hate crime whenever they see it and to understand how to report it. The training was facilitated by the local authourity and the Police. Participants later reported that they felt safer in their communities.

In this reporting period we continued with our tradition of providing winter coats for women and girls. Without this provision, the beneficiaries would not be able to afford coats suitable for winter; therefore they would not be adequately protected from the weather. This could lead to poor health, illness and low mood. The provision of coats was made possible by the Rotary Club, through their Wrap up Campaign. . Throughout the year, we provided clothes and basic supplies for women and girls that were at risk of poverty. The beneficiaries could not afford suitable clothing for the weather due to prioritising other more pressing needs. Our support meant that the women and their children could use their minimal resources where it was needed most.

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Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	We achieved 85% of our set objectives for the period.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	We are working on accessing more funding for the charity, so that we can do more for our beneficiaries.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41	N/A
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The balance in the charity’s bank account as at 30th April 2025 was £55,519. Our annual income for the reporting period was £20,103 which was received through grants. The funds received in this reporting period are unrestricted funds.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	We do not have money in reserve. The balance in the account is to cover the charity’s liabilities, including the annual salary of a Project Assistant. Others include a new project, workshops and community sessions. Some of the funds will also pay for rent and other running costs.
Amount of reservesheld	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

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Additional information (optional) Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatements	Additional information (optional) Youmay choose toincludefurtherstatements	whererelevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	The charity’s principal source of funding is through grants. All our grants are for charitable activities (for the public benefit) and running costs.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	The charity does not have any investment.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The principal risk facing the charity is that organisations supporting certain communities may struggle to get funding. We are increasing our drive to strengthen fundraising in order to boost our sustainability.
Other

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Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g. unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated Organisation
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	The board of trustees are responsible for appointing new trustees, as stated in the charity’s constitution. Our constitution also states that the charity must have a minimum of three trustees.

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
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The trustees are responsible for taking management decisions regarding the charity. Trustees usually consult with service users and volunteers before making important decisions.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	N/A
Other		No further statements.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	African and Caribbean Women’s Centre
Other name the charity uses	AFRICAB
Registered charitynumber	1195979
Charity’s principal address	Imperial House, Barcroft Street, Bury. BL9 5BT

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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any)
	Jumoke Ilevbabor	Chair
	Jackie Brathwaite	Secretary
	Clara Nubi
	Mildred Pam

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser N/A

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

No paid personnel details to disclose .

Other optional information

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Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) J.Ilevbabor Full name(s)[Jumoke Ilevbabor ] Position (eg Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 16/02/2025

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African and Caribbean Women’s Centre (AFRICAB)

Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ended 30th April 2025

INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Total incoming resources	2025 Unrestricted Funds £	2024 Unrestricted Funds £



	20,103	27,564

	20,103	27,564

RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable activities



Other charitable activities	12,868	12,066
Support cost	4,005	3,162
Governance costs	840	306

Total resources expended	17, 713	15,588


NET INCOMING RESOURCES	2,390	11,976

Funds brought forward from Previous period	56,951	44,975

Total funds carried forward	59,341	56,951

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

All incoming resources and resources expended arise from continuing activities.

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