## **CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT 2023** Members, friends, ladies and gentlemen – a truly warm welcome to you all as we come together to celebrate another year of work, pleasure and family togetherness at this Annual General Meeting of the Society in 2023. As we celebrate a full year with the tragedy of Covid behind us, it is indeed good to be here. We continue to cope with the ongoing loss of so many beloved members. ## **CARE GROUP REPORT APRIL 2023** The Jamaica Society Care Group is made up of a group of members within the society, who have volunteered their services, to befriend and visit our Elderly members in their homes, along with other members and friends within the wider community who are ill, or housebound. Visits are also made to Care Homes, Hospitals and hospices, to help reduce isolation and loneliness. In addition, we also support members and friends who are bereaved. Since Covid there has been a very slow return in getting back to full normality, as many of our members are elderly and frightened to leave their homes or accept visits. Therefore, our Care Group members keep in touch by phone, or send a “Thinking of you Card” and occasionally ring and let them know that there is a bunch of flowers or fruits outside their door. ## Feedback received: “They look forward to the telephone calls to get any updated information on the Society, along with sharing the banters and colloquial phrases which create so much laughter, as it reminds them of home, helps them feel better, and gives them a buzz. They do appreciate the flowers/fruit received from the Society, and always end with “May the Good Lord continue to bless the Jamaica Society and its Members”. When any members/friends are reported ill, in hospital, deceased, or members who we have not seen for a long time, appropriate cards are sent to wish individuals a speedy recovery along with a bouquet of flowers/plant. Condolence cards are sent to families expressing our sympathy for the loss of their loved ones. Unfortunately, we have lost a few of our Members and Friends during the year. May their soul Rest in Peace and rise in glory. They are: Mr Lincoln Cole, Mr Neville Atkins, Mr Keith Armstrong, Mr Watson, Mrs Murrant, Mr Terry Hutchinson, Mr Ben Jarrett. We have also formed very strong links with The Irish Health and Homes organization over the years, where both Groups have supported/attended each other’s functions and really enjoy and appreciate each other company and Social Events. Theresa Condor Care Group Co-Ordinator ## **SECRETARY’S REPORT 2023** Greetings to all our members and friends of the Jamaica Society. I take this opportunity to say “Thank You” for your continuous support over these past difficult years. As you are aware that 2020-2022 were challenging times for everyone due to Covid’19 pandemic which had affected both our activities and resources. We have seen a decline in our membership due to ill-health, or bereavement, and some members are unable to venture outdoors. The Jamaica Society holds their Monthly Meeting every third Sunday of each Month and the Executive Meeting every 2nd Thursday of each month. Post covid ‘19 I can honestly say that we have bounced back and have started holding events. I can report what we have achieved in the past year and present. Members are kept in the loop about things that are important to them. this can be through a telephone contact, letter or an email. We are resilient and the Society is moving forward from strength to strength. In May 2022 We launched the Out of Many Festival which lasted throughout the year, and Celebrated 60 Years of Jamaican Independence. On May 24th Curator Susan Pitter held a reception at the Leeds Central Library that was well attended with all the funding sponsors and many dignitaries present. On the 3rd June 2022, to mark the late Queen’s 70th Platinum Jubilee, we held a outdoor social event at Jamaica House, this was well supported and we had lovely weather. Next was our Annual Charity Ball in the summer, this was held at the Hilton Hotel. Those who supported it had a wonderful event. It was an auspicious occasion. On August 1[st] 2022 the Society hosted Mawnin Emancipation Day, a breakfast event. Well, if you missed it, you missed out on something that was really good. It was an early start and we had good attendance with members of the community. On August 7th 2022 - We held our 60th Independence Service at St. Aidan's Church, the theme was - One People - Blessed by God. Our speaker was the Rev Carl Ramsay. On September 18th we were invited to the St. Kitts & Nevis Independence Service our General Meeting was postponed enabling members to attend. Members from their organization have always supported our Independence Service. The Rebellion to Romance exhibition at the Leeds Central Library was a natural progression from the 2019 Eulogy Project on first-generation Jamaicans of Leeds. It started with a series of events, showcasing at the Leeds Playhouse. Members were kept informed and updated of the events, as featured in the booklet. On October 11th 2022 The Rugby League World Cup 2022 commenced. The Jamaican Reggae Warriors held a Reception at the Leeds Civic Hall. The Chairperson and three members of the executive were invited. In October the Society started Yoga classes for the able and less able to promote one's physical and social well-being. In a calm, relaxing and meditative atmosphere, this is currently ongoing on Saturdays, 2-3pm, with our class Tutor Bianca, On November 8th 2022 a very special event was held at Leeds Central Library which was attended by King Charles. Several members and friends of the Society and community leaders were invited to the reception. The event was featured on our Regional News and in the local newspapers. In November the Society held our first Digital Inclusion Training for all members, to learn IT skills, to gain knowledge for beginners and the more advanced. On December 10th 2022 - Our senior citizen Christmas Dinner took place and it was very successful. Unfortunately, the Childrens’ Christmas party was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, April 1st 2023 was a very great moment in history as it commemorated the contribution of over 4000 Caribbean WW2 Servicemen, the majority of whom were from Jamaica. A Plaque was unveiled at a private residence in Filey, as a result of the generosity of the house’ owners. It was organised by Farr family and assisted by the Out of Many Festival Curator Susan Pitter. There were seven surviving servicemen present. Several Society members attended along with members from other associations. On April 8th 2023 we held our Easter Supper fundraising event at Jamaica House. It was very successful. The Society is currently looking at ways to develop and improve our Jamaica House. We continue to stay positive and to provide the best service we can offer to provide more social events and to fundraise. Finally, my sincere thanks to everyone who is involved with the Society, “Our Yard”, for their time and energy. Many thanks to those who have gone over and above to make it what it is. As we continue to put the best out for our Society, I wish the Society a very successful year ahead. ## Thank you. June Wood, Secretary to the Jamaica Society (Leeds). The Jamaka Sodety (Leeds) 277, Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 3HA Flnanclal Statements For The Year Ended 30 Aprll 2023 Independent Examlnees fte1￿ lo The Jamaka Soclety (Leed4) I rwrt totheTrnstees on mytsaminatTh of the3cc￿nts oftheJamai¢a Socw ILeedsl lorthÈ ye*endÈd 30April 2023. Regw&lbllltlosand basb ol Aopcrt A5 the Trustee5 you are r￿pOnsIble for prepatation ol thÈ accounts in xcord¥ Twrth the reouKemÈntsof the Charities kt 2011 l*hÈ Arfl. I rwrt in reSre￿ of my examinatjon oFth¢S￿l*￿$ accounts (Art uThJÈr section 145 ol 2011 Act and in Car￿n£ my examination I have folltrlrtd all thè apphtable d*￿t￿r& liven Chadty CommisswM settion 14gSXbl of thÈAcL IndepEM*nt EXa￿DE¢S St*rnert I hwe completed my ￿Minati￿. I confirrn that ThJ material matters con* to my attentx)n in cl￿ne(l￿ with t1￿ eMaTr¥Wti￿ gr41￿ caw to believe that material reSPECi_' l. Kcounting record5 were r￿ kept in re5PPrt of thE Sw as required by secti(¥L 130 of tl* ACL or 2. thE Kcounts do not aC(￿d with tlw)se record5: LY 3. thE KCOUrts do rMJt C+Jmpty with the awicable requirernent5 cofKerning torm and rontert of accounts set out in the O¥rit￿5 (A￿￿nts and Report5} Regulations 2CXJ8 othw than any requirvnent thot tl* accounts grye a'true lav wew, whKh Ys a ￿tter Cl￿511effed a5 Part uf an indepEndort rAaminatiin. I hwe ￿ ioncern5 and havE ccffjea(TD55nO ott*T mattff5 in (￿necti￿ ¥rfrth thE examin*Kin to wh.ch attention should be dfawn ￿ th's report in (wder to en*e a pmper understandw¢ol the accthmisio bp rèached. Name.. Zah•J Ali Date.. 12 June 2023 Address: 20 OakIar￿& A¥efi￿. Le& L516 8Mt The Jamalca Socloty (Leeds) Recelpts and Payrnnts lor the Year Ended 30 Awll 1023 Tfrt ACE F*stryil Ii•ti¢ml Lotitty Mtril* Furbd C•fflmur*ty FowMl•ts)n Rthevlal & P4lert*tship 44.￿ry I4.1￿ SOX¥K¢ 6.761 £761 117 117 26 15 613 199$ 25 L501 613 M)r CiiiEefi Mèrnbers l)tsfv*iloAS Othor Lknnat*yu. Mèmbers iKelknttyJs Oortaiior Leeds Wades Tfwl N•ti¢rtl Lollffj Comffluhity F%M l￿F& AS￿£&&1￿￿ ALti¥ltlts Leeds CunL*e Trt Lo•n Membe DtyJ•lloAs •Td7fM•ts f+)¢ 25 19 273.273 LS(rfI 341,093 11712 327.3aJ 4.64S uo 4762 2SS L20 INI Socbl FwKllCffi.¢)￿S*￿lee 5oti•l Funttityu 255 Ti4>s Tb ent ￿1 fflt Yoy I074 8.074 670 Irrtom* TOMI 2L870 327.381 349.Z51 112.436 P*J The Jamaica society ILeeds) Receipts and Payments for the Year Ended 30 April 2023 TL*al PostlPrbntlStatbor ¥￿1(0ach HIrefl￿veIll tsnB aThl HEat Gener31 ftatesfviater Rates Te￿phOne Repair5 & Maintena Accountsw Fee5 8all Ni&ht Waste ￿.5[ In5uraKe 1.041 IAMI 332 L497 L811 1.771 1.771 946 3361 3.361 946 750 5.053 1.753 2.987 s￿53 1,753 2987 L399 1761 45 L074 657 657 . Chwrt)es - &trCrtIz￿Ch*1drefts Party Flre ProtectionlTrknmeguard 2.313 2333 h Sw¥ke 24.782 24,782 12.353 Euk￿ Project Leed5 Culturnl Tiwi National Lottery Hwe Fund ACE Proprt Pknni¥ Fund Wades Trusi N*ional Lottery Community Fund ACE Fe51wal Comn¥Jnrty Leed5 Inwred Naional L£rttery Htrlt41e Fund oC￿F 11.1 8.822 5571 31.529 14.950 52,377 S,BSO 9.131 9.131 246.130 246.130 319,OSg 319,059 52,377 L150 79,855 24.782 319,059 343,041 91207 21.ÈXJ 323,111 349.251 1(b322 iodk*i 2.912 8,312 5,410 ts.iis P¥e4 The Jamaica Society (Leeds) Statement of Assets and Llabilttles at 30 Aprll 2023 ¥J23 Cth at lank and kn Depjsrt kniunt Cwreni Account Aestritted Fund•&c&* 625 625 625 .109 83,109 80.103 71.787 78. Ae5erves at l May 2022 sIIDeficrtl for the Year 78.X) 5.410 6S.265 A3,115 83.7rfAI 78.X> Othw A•••i• H•ld lorih• Unrn•bi¢t•d U•• ol Th• j￿40¢• Soc*ty IL••d•l 11.467 1.060.DX) Propprty The attxhed on pap 6 fonn wt ol these f￿￿131ST3ternts. P¥eS The Jamaica Society (Leeds) Notes to The Financial Statements at 30 April 2023 L The nnantiol 5tatem?rt5 01 Th? JaMa￿a Sot*ty ILeed51 hwe bEth pre￿red In acctrdafs Tb ent ￿1 fflt Yoy I074 8.074 670 Irrtom* TOMI 2L870 327.381 349.Z51 112.436 P*J The Jamaica society ILeeds) Receipts and Payments for the Year Ended 30 April 2023 TL*al PostlPrbntlStatbor ¥￿1(0ach HIrefl￿veIll tsnB aThl HEat Gener31 ftatesfviater Rates Te￿phOne Repair5 & Maintena Accountsw Fee5 8all Ni&ht Waste ￿.5[ In5uraKe 1.041 IAMI 332 L497 L811 1.771 1.771 946 3361 3.361 946 750 5.053 1.753 2.987 s￿53 1,753 2987 L399 1761 45 L074 657 657 . Chwrt)es - &trCrtIz￿Ch*1drefts Party Flre ProtectionlTrknmeguard 2.313 2333 h Sw¥ke 24.782 24,782 12.353 Euk￿ Project Leed5 Culturnl Tiwi National Lottery Hwe Fund ACE Proprt Pknni¥ Fund Wades Trusi N*ional Lottery Community Fund ACE Fe51wal Comn¥Jnrty Leed5 Inwred Naional L£rttery Htrlt41e Fund oC￿F 11.1 8.822 5571 31.529 14.950 52,377 S,BSO 9.131 9.131 246.130 246.130 319,OSg 319,059 52,377 L150 79,855 24.782 319,059 343,041 91207 21.ÈXJ 323,111 349.251 1(b322 iodk*i 2.912 8,312 5,410 ts.iis P¥e4 The Jamaica Society (Leeds) Statement of Assets and Llabilttles at 30 Aprll 2023 ¥J23 Cth at lank and kn Depjsrt kniunt Cwreni Account Aestritted Fund•&c&* 625 625 625 .109 83,109 80.103 71.787 78. Ae5erves at l May 2022 sIIDeficrtl for the Year 78.X) 5.410 6S.265 A3,115 83.7rfAI 78.X> Othw A•••i• H•ld lorih• Unrn•bi¢t•d U•• ol Th• j￿40¢• Soc*ty IL••d•l 11.467 1.060.DX) Propprty The attxhed on pap 6 fonn wt ol these f￿￿131ST3ternts. P¥eS The Jamaica Society (Leeds) Notes to The Financial Statements at 30 April 2023 L The nnantiol 5tatem?rt5 01 Th? JaMa￿a Sot*ty ILeed51 hwe bEth pre￿red In acctrdaf