annual report 2008-09 - North Herts

ANNUAL REPORT 2008-09
Chair’s Statement
Director’s Statement
Maria Esson
Mohammed Alam
The year has been very successful for the
NHMEF. The Forum has been able to provide an extensive programme of services
to directly serve the needs and demands
of Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
During 2008-09, The Forum has expanded its services
across the county of Hertfordshire. Our Aiming High
mentoring project is now covering North Hertfordshire,
Stevenage and St. Albans. We have supported over 96
children and young people in 29 schools. We have
launched a Booster Class to support pupils in Year 10
preparing for their GCSE’s. The project provided English
and Maths tuition in small groups for selected BME pupils perceived to be GCSE borderline D/C grades and
disengaged in school. Pupils that attended the booster
class had raised their achievement in their studies and
their predicted grades increased by at least 1 grade at
the end of the programme. We have provided extra
curricular activities to BME children and young people.
These activities have enabled children to attend various educational trips and participate in a variety of
workshops, contributing to their confidence and self
esteem. We have launched our new ‘Yummy Mummy
Group’ to support mothers with small children where
various partner organisations including the heath service are working together. We have also launched
British Sign Language Class and Spanish language class
in the past year for the first time. Together with these
new projects, we also had our regular programmes
and activities.
This report highlights our successful programme of activities over the past 12 months. I would like to thank all
the staff and volunteers who worked very hard to run
these activities as none of this would have been successful without their dedication and support. I also like
to thank all trustees for their dedication, support and
time commitment in facilitating all our programmes.
The past year has been challenging for us to
deliver some exciting new projects and I am
proud to say that we met these challenges.
NHMEF has supported over 1,580 people during the last 12 months. We have been successful in securing our 3rd successive funding from the Big Lottery Fund. This fund will help us to continue serving the
black and minority ethnic communities across Hertfordshire
for the next four years. We have also secured funding from
Hertfordshire County Council to continue our Mothers &
Toddlers activities and support elderly BME people to provide Luncheon Clubs and recreational activities.
Our youth group Fix Up Look Sharp, a branch of Aiming
High, has had a busy and productive year securing funding
from Big Spend for a programme of holiday activities including day trips to Thorpe Park and Paintballing. Our new
Learning 4 Life Youth Group has also secured funding for a
programme of skills development courses over the next
year to help young BME people plan for their futures.
As a result of our engagement with BME youths across the
county, their voices have been heard and we are helping
them to participate in planning and delivering positive activities that meet their needs.
Our services now go across the board, and we support
everyone aged 0 – 90. Our challenge for the next year is to
maintain the level of services we are currently providing to
the BME communities and also launch new projects identified through various consultations.
I wish to thank all our partner organisations for their support
in providing various services for our clients. I would also like
to thank the management committee members for their
support and commitment to the Forum. Their strategic direction has helped our team set up new projects, acquire
resources from various funding organisations and extend
our partnership work with new agencies. Finally I would like
to thank all my colleagues for their hard work and support.
Ethnic Breakdown of Users Oct 08 - Sept 09
N o. of Users
400
300
200
100
0
Oct
Nov
Dec
Indian
Bangladeshi
Pakistani
British
Mixed
Page 2
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Italians
Chinese
Sri Lankan
Irish/Celtic
Others
Mon ht
May
Jun
Jul
African/Caribbean
Polish
Mauritian
Greek/Cypriot
Aug
Sept
Learning & Skills Activities
Renu
Renu came to the UK two
years ago from India and
had no English language
skills, thus she suffered severe communication difficulties. She joined our Basic ESOL
class and our IT class. After attending
these classes on a regular basis,
Renu’s English skills have improved.
This has helped her to regain her confidence. Through attending these
classes she has also secured a network of friends and is able to participate in the social life of the local BME
community.
In September 2009,
Renu participated in a Charity Walk
and raised £300.00 for the Garden
House Hospice in Letchworth.
Abdus
Abdus, 26, is of Bangladeshi origin.
He arrived in the UK in 2007 to live
with his British wife. Though Abdus
had studied in Bangladesh, his English
wasn’t very good. This was a barrier
for him in finding employment. He
came to the UK with a 2-year visa on
his passport which was due to be renewed with ILR (Indefinite Leave to
Remain) as a next step for people
who wish to settle here. In order to
achieve this, Abdus either needed
ESOL, Level-3 qualification or to pass
the Life in the UK Test. In April 2008,
Abdus enrolled in our basic ESOL
class which although wasn’t sufficient
for his ILR, it contributed to improving
his English skills. Six months later Abdus
joined our Life in the UK course. This
helped him to pass the Life in the UK
Test and thus helped him achieve his
ILR from the Home Office recently. He
was also successful in finding employment within a laundry service company in Stevenage. This is an example of how our learning and skills development programmes helped one
young man to turn his life around.
Annual Report 08-09
Projects & Activities
Basic IT Skills
Advanced IT Skills
Dress Making Skills
ESOL (English for
Speakers of Other
Languages) Basic
ESOL Advanced
Italian Language Class
Spanish Language
Class
British Sign Language
Class
Basic Business Skills
Emergency First Aid
Basic Food Hygiene
Overseas
Qualifications
Converter Workshop
Protective Behaviours
Training
Consultation Events for
Skills Courses
Life in the UK course
Supporting skills
development of BME
women
NHMEF provides various skills
development programmes and
activities to the local BME
women. In the past year we had
Women’s Personal Development
Course, Business Development
Skills, Empowering into Selfem pl oym e nt ,
S ew i n g
&
Dressmaking Skills, Bridal Makeup, ESOL and IT programmes
which have improved skills of
over 120 BME women.
Page 3
Children’s Services
Kima
Kima is of Black Caribbean heritage and
was referred to Aiming High in year 3 because she had speech and language
difficulties and lacked confidence.
Kima was assured her mentor was open
to listen to any of her concerns. The
mentor used a variety of resources;
games, books, the library and activity
sheets to gain an insight into Kima’s personality. The mentor frequently engaged
her in conversations to encourage her to
articulate her concerns.
This helped
Kima improve her speech and language.
The mentor liaised with home and school
and suggested to Mum that Kima’s confidence would improve if she engaged
her regularly in conversation and encouraged her to express herself at home.
That strategy worked well as Kima would
come to the mentoring sessions excited
and eager to tell her mentor about the
things she did with Mum.
The mentor would tell mum about Kima’s
concerns with her permission.
This
proved mutually beneficial to Kima in
particular. Her confidence grew. Kima
often said that being with her mentor
was fun and marked her 10/10 on an
evaluation form. If the mentor missed a
session she would express regret for the
time lost. The mentoring helped raise
Kima’s confidence and helped develop
her speech and language thus meeting
the needs of the referral.
Projects & Activities
Aiming High Community
Mentoring Project
Booster Class for GCSE
Level Students
Fix Up Look Sharp Big
Spend Day Trips Project
Children’s Consultations
After School Arts & Craft
Workshops
Fix Up Look Sharp Youth Forum
Aiming High Parents Support Meetings
Music & Dance Workshops
Italian Language School
Farhan also worked on sheets such as
My Friends and Self Assessment which
allowed him to reflect on his own qualities and achievements and reinforce
his positive self-image, thereby raising
his confidence.
Farhans’ teacher commented that he
‘works hard and wants to achieve –
Farhan is of Bangladeshi heritage and was
contributes more in class’ and ‘is makreferred to Aiming High in Year 4. The
ing progress, well done’ on an evaluaschool were concerned with his progress
tion form.
due to comprehension difficulties and his
reluctance to seek help. He was also Farhan became a more confident
quite emotional at times and would react child. He became more assertive as a
negatively with embarrassment if he made result of target setting and his self esa mistake in class. The school hoped that teem grew as a result of his academic
mentoring support would help him grow in achievements. He is more inclined to
confidence in class and help him become seek help when needed and has less
more assertive. Farhan’s honesty from the emotional incidents.
start made it easy to set him targets, which Even though the mentoring support
included raising his hand in class more to has ended, Farhan continues to be
increase his confidence and to not copy involved with all Aiming High extraother student’s work to assure himself of his curricular activities and is an active
own academic ability. Farhan responded member of the Fix Up Look Sharp youth
well to target setting and rewards.
group. He attends all workshops and
trips and participates readily in consultations. This is another example of how
a once shy and overlooked child has
benefited from mentoring long after
the process is completed.
Farhan
* Names changed to protect child’s identity
Page 4
Leisure & Social Activities
Projects & Activities
Yoga class
Bollywood Dance Class
Keep Fit class
Senior Asian Men’s Club
African-Caribbean
Group
Italian Elders Group
Yummy Mummy &
Bouncy Baby Group
African Caribbean Seniors & Carers Luncheon
Club
Asian Luncheon Club
Italian Evening Meal Club
Family Music Workshops
Baby Rhyme Time
Day Trips
Black History Month Celebration Event
Italian Pensioners Club FNP
Multi-cultural events
Annual Report 08-09
Veronica
Veronica is 79 and a carer for her
husband and a daughter. Veronica was keen to improve her sewing skills and enrolled in our sewing
class. She also regularly attends
the luncheon club on Friday at the
Bancroft Hall, Hitchin arranged by
the African-Caribbean Senior
Luncheon Club and the AfricanCaribbean Women’s group every
Wednesday afternoon at the Forum. Veronica has also been a student on our IT skills courses. Attending these activities has helped Veronica to have breaks from her caring responsibilities and meet other
people of her own ethnic background in a relaxing environment.
She also developed her sewing skills
and IT literacy giving her increased
confidence in her own abilities.
Xiao
Xiao moved to the North Herts
area from London when she was
pregnant in February this year. She
lives in a little village, Whitwell, on
the outskirts of Hitchin with her husband and baby Jade. She only
knew her husband and his family
when she came to the area and
had no friends here. After speaking with her Health Visitor, Xiao
was signposted to our new Yummy
Mummy group. Here she met with
other Mum’s, some also from BME
backgrounds, where she was able
to share her baby experiences
and receive advice from a Community Nursery Nurse that attends.
Jade also participated in baby
time for a rhyme and messy play.
As a result of being involved with
the Forum’s new mummy group,
Xiao is not as isolated as she was
when she first moved to the area
and is receiving expert advice on
her child’s wellbeing through our
partnership working with the Herts
Primary Care Trust.
Page 5
Information, Advice & Guidance
arrange his transport.
Tara
Tara joined the Forum in October
2006 as a member of the Senior
Asian’s Men’s Club. Tara had
worked in a local foundry since arriving in England from his native Punjab
(India) in 1963. Since retiring Tara
was financially dependent on his
son and daughter-in-law and he
and his wife lived with them although soon space became limited.
Tara began to suffer from deep depression and spent sometime in hospital. His ill health was so severe that
he was registered as disabled. Tara
also has a pace maker for his poor
heart condition. This requires regular
monitoring at Harefield hospital in
London. The Forum’s staff help Tara
to make hospital appointments and
Help!
Volunteers
Looking to make a difference in the lives of others?
Please pop into our centre at
Unity House.
We seek support with
administration
Projects & Activities
Forum staff were able to speak Punjabi and thus able to communicate
Advice on benefits, pensions,
with him and culturally empathise. He
housing & health matters
confided and informed them that he
Community Safety would become homeless and was
desperate to find suitable accommoReporting Race & Hate
dation. The Forum’s staff assisted Tara
Crimes
in an application to the housing serItalian Welfare & Social
vices. After a long process Tara evenAssistance—INAS
tually found suitable accommodation
- and the Forum’s staff and volunteers
Library Information Service
assisted him in moving to his new
home. Tara has now settled in a shelMental Health Service Drop
tered home run by North Hertfordshire
In Surgery
Homes. His independence has helped
Diabetes Awareness
him regain some of his self confidence. He is now an active volunteer
at the Forum and always available to
for over 3 months and contacted us
lend a hand in setting up and clearing
for help. We helped him apply to the
up after regular activities.
Warm Front for a heating grant and
Mr Sekhon
also to the North Hertfordshire District
Mr Sekhon is 69 and a carer for his Council to help him replace his old
disabled wife. Mr Sekhon’s heating windows with double glazing.
system broke down in December 2008. Through our continuous support Mr
It was non-repairable and he was ad- Sekhon was able to have a new
vised to have a new heating system heating system and double glazed
which he couldn’t afford. Mr & Mrs windows. Mr Sekhon said “ I just can’t
Sekhon had no heating and hot water thank you enough for the support you
have given to me.”
Trustees
The Forum is always looking for new members for our
management committee.
If you….
are from a minority ethnic background
have good community links
are committed and have time
either live or work in the North Herts area
marketing
have skills in community development
crèche
can provide vision and direction to our staff
transport provision
We also require tutors that
have creative or practical
skills they can teach others.
Anything from an hour a week
to several days a month
would be appreciated.
Please contact us directly by
phone or email.
Page 6
WE NEED YOU
Thanks
We would like to thank everybody that has
supported the North Herts Minority Ethnic
Forum in our work, including all our
partners, funders, all past and present
Committee members, staff and volunteers.
Accounts
Statement of Financial Activities
Unrestricted
Funds
Incoming Resources
Incoming resources from generated funds
Income from charitable objectives
Other incoming resources
Total Incoming resources
Resources expended
Charitable expenditure
Charitable activities
Other resources expended
Total resources expended
Net incoming resources before transfers
Gross transfers between funds
Net incoming resources after transfers
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Restricted
Funds
Total
2009
Total
2008
4,224
14,908
12,331
31,462
-194,855
2,619
197,473
4,224
209,763
14,949
228,936
4,858
214,945
32,275
252,078
15,073
9,371
24,444
7,018
28,768
35,786
152,055
187,841
156,667
1,931
158,598
38,875
- 28,768
10,108
55,676
65,784
171,740
11,302
183,042
45,894
….
45,894
207,731
253,625
189,725
14,052
203,777
48,301
…….
48,301
159,430
207,731
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2009
Total
2008
-
-
-
Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2009
Fixed assets
Tangible
Total Fixed Assets
Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Total current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
Net assets
Income funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
Total funds
248,592
248,592
365
248,227
________
248,227
________
248,227
248,227
248,227
Trustees Report
Charity Name: North Hertfordshire Minority Ethnic Forum
Charity Registration No: 1077201
Financial year begins: 1st April
Financial year Ends: 31st March
Charity principal address: Unity House, Ground Floor, Whinbush Road, Hitchin Hertfordshire SG5 1PH
Charity Trusts: Governing Document
The Forum became a registered charity on the 27th August 1999. It is governed by a
Charity Commission approved Constitution. It is run by a Board of Trustees.
Objectives of the Charity
To improve the quality of life for local Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities by
helping them to have an informed voice in the local decision making process. Within this
overall objective there are three specific strands
1.Tackling social isolation and needs of older BME people.
2. Helping vulnerable young BME people to gain confidence and help self esteem thereby
reducing future disadvantages.
3. Supporting BME people to improve their skills and thereby improving their employability
and economic well being.
Committee/ Trustees Members
The Trustees at the date of this report are as follows:
Committee Members
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Member
Member
Member
Member
Miss Maria Esson
Mrs Antonietta Bortone Tinney
Miss Francesca D’Anna
Mrs Penny Miah
Mrs Tazim Ahmed
Mrs Karen Chau
Mr Helalur Rahman
Mrs Maria Mechelewska
Annual Report 08-09
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
5,398
5,398
-____
5,398
________
5,398
________
5,398
5,398
5,398
-___
-___
253,990
253,990
365
253,625
________
253,625
________
253,625
211,213
211,213
3,482
207,731
_______
207,731
______
207,731
5,398
248,227
253,625
56,611
151,120
207,731
Mr Nutchikkat Ramesh
Mr Winston Thorpe
Mr Dwight Smiley
Mrs Dorell Haynes
Miss Ashley Johnson
Committee/Trustees Members Selection
The North Herts Minority Ethnic Forum holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and at the AGM,
Committee members/Trustees elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer and other committee members.
New Trustees: Each Trustee is invited to be appointed by the Current Board of Trustees, and as
such can be dismissed as a Trustee, or asked to resign their position. However this decision can
only be ratified by the full consent of the Board of Trustees.
Policies
Reserve Policy
Most of the income of the charity is received by the way of a grant, and as such if the grant is
stopped then that particular activity will also have to cease, therefore not allowing any funds to
become a deficit.
The charity does not have any specific restrictions on the amount of reserves needs, however it is
generally recognised that no such scheme should be in deficit for any significant amount of time,
or without the prospect of future grants being received.
The Trustees review the reserves of the charity on a monthly basis. This review encompasses the
nature of the income and expenditure streams, the need to match variable income and fixed
commitments and the nature of the reserves. This monthly review allows the charity to be managed efficiently and to provide a buffer for uninterrupted services.
Grant Making Policy
The North Herts Minority Ethnic Forum aims to serve the needs of BME groups. To facilitate this,
the Forum monitors the needs through various consultations with these groups and designs projects to alleviate their needs. Funding is then sought from various agencies and bodies to enable
us to implement the projects/ activities.
Risk
All major risk areas relating to the charity have been reviewed and there are none which are
considered to breach the future going concern of the charity.
Page 7
Celebration of our successes
Since established in 1998 we have….
Supported 645 BME Women in developing their skills
Supported 217 BME children in school through our mentoring project Aiming High
Held over 28 day trips for carers and cared for people
Held 35 positive workshops and activities for children outside of school
Given advice to over 5000 BME people on various issues
Had over 62,759 people walk through our doors
Have welcomed people from all ethnicities including refugees and asylum seekers
Provided over 185 training courses
Have had successful partnerships with most local statutory
and voluntary organisations
Core Staff:
North Herts Minority
Director Mohammed Alam
Ethnic Forum
Community Development Officer Henna
Khan
North Herts Minority Ethnic
Administrative Officer Angela Ciaravella
Forum
Children’s Services Co-ordinator Tashmina
Unity House
Hoque
Whinbush Road
Learning Mentors Glenys Cooper, Joan FranHitchin SG5 1PH
cis, Sabbie Dhillon & Henna Khan
Support Staff:
Tel: 01462 440224
Fax: 01462 440242
Ravinder Virdee
nhethnic@btconnect.com
Decem Speakman
Carol Spencer
Www.nhmef.org.uk
Staff from left to right: Tashmina, Henna, Harmesh Bhandal
Angela, Agnes, Mohammed, Sabbie & Agnes Gittens
Mehdi Kabir
Glenys
Designed by Tashmina Hoque