Charity number:101077
Wah Hep Chinese Community Association Trustees' Annual report
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Wah Hep Chinese Community Association
Charity number 101077
Business address
21 Market Street
Portadown
Armagh
BT62 3LD
Independent examiner
Mrs Judy Ferris
BA ACIS MBIM
Flat23
Donard Fold
6 Lawn field
Newcastle
CountyDown BT33 0SE
Wah Hep Chinese Community Association
Report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out with Wah Hep Charity Account
Structure, governance and management
Wah Hep Chinese Community Association was set up in 1999 as an unincorporated organisation governed by it's Constitution.
Objectives and activities
Objectives
The aim of Wah Hep is to unite the Chinese Community in the Southern Area by: celebrating and promoting an understanding of Chinese culture; building the capacity of the Chinese Community to achieve its potential; helping members of the Chinese Community to access the services and support required to meet their needs and aspirations;
helping the Chinese Community to feel included as active citizens of Northern Ireland; and working within the framework of social equality in partnership with statutory and voluntary bodies, to promote community development and work for the benefit of all sectors of the community.
Values and Principles
Wah Hep's work is guided by the following values and principles.
Values :”Self-help” - this is the central value of Wah Hep and relates to helping the Chinese community to become active members of the wider community through helping each other;
Culture - the promotion and celebration of Chinese cultures and traditions;
Rights & Equality - for the Chinese community to be active citizens and to be able to make their own choices and decisions; and all are treated as equals
Unity between different Chinese communities; and Integration with the wider community.
Achievements and performance
There are an estimated 2000 people of Chinese and Vietnamese origin living in County Armagh. The majority live in the Greater Craigavon area: making it the largest settled Chinese ethnic minority grouping outside of Belfast. The Chinese community are from Hong Kong, Vietnam and Mainland China. The majority of the Chinese population are born in UK. In past years there has been an increase in the number of immigrants from the People's Republic of China. However, the needs of the community share a common base given that its members are ethnic Chinese, originating from the provinces of southern China and share therefore a common culture and heritage.
As in the rest of Northern Ireland most of the Chinese communities in County Armagh are engaged in the catering industry, working in family run restaurants and take-aways, this involves long, unsociable working hours and few opportunities for integrating into the wider community.
The needs audit and social profile survey which was carried out has highlighted:
49% of the Chinese community are 18 and under.
91.1% of the Chinese community have difficulty with access to Information and Services. 13.7% (mainly adults) could speak no English at all and 37.5% could only speak a little English.
Wah Hep Chinese Community Association
Report of the trustees
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Wah Hep provides the following services:
Wah Hep centre which provides vital information to the Chinese and wider community Antiracial and cultural awareness training
Health advocacy and Interpretation
A meeting place for the statutory agencies, the wider community, Ethnic communities Adult English classes
Chinese 50+ Club
Chinese library facility
Host of traditional cultural festivals
Chinese schools, after school clubs and youth club
Home visits for most needy and vulnerable elderly members of the Chinese community Workshops and clinics concerning statutory services.
Chinese Language School and After School Club
Since the year 2000, the After School club runs 2 afternoons per week along with the Chinese Language School which runs every Saturday. The After School club offers homework support for the children and promotes active citizenship activities. Annually 68 sessions. We have specially designed classes to support English language at GCSE level. These classes are twice weekly were young people can learn to develop literacy skills to enable them to experience success at GCSE. The Chinese language school teaches young children how to read and write the Chinese language whilst maintaining their heritage and culture. It enhances the focus on Chinese culture and traditions. Annually 35 sessions.
Adult English Language Class
There was 12 registered participants for this program. The program ran for 6 weeks. The classes consists of conversations, reading, writing, interactive learning. The classes was enjoyable and informative.
100% of the students have reported improvement in their written and spoken English Language skill.
50+ Club exercise classes and walking club
7 x sessions walking group events x 12-15 participants
8 x Gym sessions x 8 participants
Introduction of Strength and Balance workshop 10 Participants
100% members report they feel healthier and increase their uptake of physical exercise. Improvement in their physical wellbeing.
Information drop in centre and Advocacy Service
The Information Drop in Centre acts as a point of contact for the public in obtaining information on Chinese culture and tradition, dealing with over 1000 users. Thus it can be seen that the Drop in Centre is multi-functional and services not only as a meeting place but also a place for disseminating information and help to the wider community. The Information centre provides a summer scheme and training workshop, community and statutory meeting and Chinese Library Service. The Drop In Centre offers various type of services along with Wah Hep different projects such as Advocacy work, Capacity Building, and After School Club and Chinese Language Classes in centre. Currently the centre is also being used by wider community groups within the Craigavon area.
The Wah Hep Advocacy work & interpreting service has been very successful since it came into service in February 2003. We provide practical help and support to the Chinese Community for example we arrange appointments for clients in various statutory agencies and also provide an interpreting and translation service. Our advocacy work concerning: social security, health, education and housing. Also, quite often we are the first point of contact for the client therefore we often have to help register them with a suitable GP and assist with the collection and explanation of prescriptions. This often involves providing practical assistance: telephoning on client's behalf and assisting them to set up bank accounts.
We also run be-friending service for older / vulnerable community member. Proving handholding process: Home Hospital visits, accompany them to essential services, introduce them to the local leisure centre and get involved in a healthy life style
Total Advocacy & befriending are 436 Cases
Host of traditional cultural festivals :
Mid-Autumn Festival in September - over 78 participants
Chinese New Year Celebration in January - over 146 participants
All Participants felt that their culture are being maintained, appreciated and respected
Anti-racism & Cultural Awareness Training Cross-community initiatives.
Attended multi-cultural musical and dance celebration of CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III .12 participants
2 x Cultural Awareness Training & Team building workshops 38 adult participants
90% of participants report they have a better understanding and better equipped in dealing with racial and sectarian discrimination.
2 x Anti-racism Training & Team building workshops
50 young participants from BAME & Wider Community
90% of people report they have a better understanding and better equipped in dealing with racial and sectarian discrimination.
Summer Scheme
The summer scheme offers opportunities for families and their children enjoy, and to learn about local culture and heritage together. The summer scheme not only enables families to meet up in local communities and to exchange news and experiences but also provides opportunities for old and young people to socialise, and the children to learn to be independent, and widen their skills e.g.: communication, ability to talk to others, and to gain knowledge in different areas.
Total number of participants facilitated at summer recreational scheme:
Parent & children total = 132
Craigavon Family BBQ Rostrever Forest Park Dublin City Hydro Bike Belfast Hillsborough Castle
Residential
Residential= 25 youth 14-16 August 2023 Tollymore National Outdoor Centre
All participants report better awareness of the different cultures and traditions in N.Ireland and an increased mutual understanding & sense of belonging.