Together We Can Achieve” Charity Number 1144021 Company Number 07618383
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“Together We Can Achieve” Charity Number 1144021 Company Number 07618383 Services Include: Elders Project Watford African Supplementary School Carers Support Group Caribbean Association Befriending Scheme Sickle Cell & Annual Report 2012/2013 Thalassaemia Support Group Disaster Relief Telephone: Email: Website: 01923 216957 [email protected] www.wacas.org.uk Follow us on: Twitter Facebook YouTube Flickr Google + Holywell Community Centre, Chaffinch Lane, Tolpits Lane, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 9QD Contents Page Directors/Trustees 2 Chairman’s Report 3 Administration Report 4 The African Caribbean Elders Project Report 5 Watford African Caribbean Supplementary School Report 12 Watford Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Support Group Report 14 Thanks & Acknowledgements 16 The Watford African Caribbean Association is supported by: Page | 1 Directors / Trustees in 2012/13 Clive Saunders – Chairman Leslie Billy – Vice Chairman Valerie Osborne – Secretary Amidou N’Jie - Treasurer Karen Ali (retired July 2013) Cynthia Dixon (retired July 2013) Ira Douglas (retired July 2013) Sandra Fullerton Sebastien Joseph Althea McLean OBE Arthur Mclean Pearline McFarlane Theresa Williamson Daisy Peets (appointed July 2013) Francis Nwofor (appointed July 2013) Core Staff in 2012/13 Noel Akers Maxine Morley Olabisi Onanuga Enid Saunders Recognition Lunch for the Association hosted by the Freeman of Watford, Mr N Tyrwhitt & Mrs Tyrwhitt Page | 2 Chairman’s Report 2012/13 WACA is now 37 years old. We have served the community in Watford and the surrounding areas since 1976. The founders started an organisation that could provide for the social, cultural and educational wellbeing of the community. The profile of the community has changed over the years; however the challenges that existed then may have changed to some extent but remain as important and significant today as they were back in 1976. The last year has been another challenging one for the Association. You will recall that the Association lost its local authority funding at the end of the 2011/12 financial year. We were pleased to have negotiated a transitional fund of £20,000 from Watford Borough Council. For the first six months of the last year we operated with very limited staff. Fortunately I was in a position to offer some additional support until October, when we recruited two part time members of staff; Noel Akers (Finance Administration and Development Co-ordinator) and Maxine Morley (Project Co-ordinator). Maxine and Noel joined our two permanent members of staff, Enid Saunders, (Luncheon Club Co-ordinator) and Olabisi Onanuga, (Carers Support Worker) to complete the Team. We have continued to gain the benefit of the services, on a part time basis, of Rose Sappleton as the (Assistant Cook). We continue to work on recruiting a Cook and have recently started the recruitment process. In May 2012, we had to make the difficult decision to move from our offices at Clarendon Road to the Holywell Community Centre. The move was a great upheaval as there was so much of our history associated with that address. We now occupy offices on the top floor at the Holywell and we thank Watford CVS for accommodating us. The new location comes with the advantage of also being the location for the work of TACEP, our Elders Luncheon Club. Our Befriending Project has also moved and now operates from Leavesden Road Baptist Church. We are grateful to the Church for accommodating us every Wednesday. We extend our thanks to LloydsTSB, Henry Smith Charity, Herts County Council and Watford Borough Council, who have all provided us with financial support, expertise and otherwise. I personally extend my thanks to my fellow Trustees for their commitment and support over the last year, and for remaining steadfast even when we were faced with significant challenges. I would particularly like to extend my thanks to the Grants Officers and the Legal Services Department at Watford Borough Council, who provided us with valuable support during the year. The valuable contribution from our Volunteers, has enabled us to continue delivering high quality services, given our shrinking staff base. Page | 3 Administration Report At the time of writing, I have been working part-time for and volunteering at the Association for six months. I have been impressed by the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm shown by Volunteers, Members, Staff and Trustees. Even in these challenging times, I firmly believe that the Association services continue to be needed and that by working together we can achieve our goals. During my short time, I have listened to comments from users and other stakeholders within and outside the organisation. I found that communication is equally important as service delivery, and to that end, I have created several cost-effective and efficient digital platforms to inform, educate, recruit and raise income for the Association. This includes a new website, www.wacas.org.uk, which contains features such as our services, the latest news, a short survey for users, events and ways to get involved. To stay in touch, the Association is active on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Yammer, not to mention issuing regular e-Newsletters. For our users and members that prefer communications in a hardcopy format, these continue to be available by visiting our offices at the Holywell Community Centre, contacting a Trustee or by approaching a member of Staff at the services we run across Watford. These innovative ways of communicating with members is partly driven by the increase in the cost of postage, printing and paper. We have now adopted a policy of only sending critical communications by post. Improvements are occurring on the back end side of our operations as we transition from a paper-based organisation. We have introduced Online banking together with a new accounting software, both of which will come online to assist meeting our contractual, regulatory and legal obligations with funders, the Charities Commission, Companies House and others. The software will also help Trustees plan for the future and identify potential efficiency savings which can be redirected to improve the services we offer. The Association is also embracing e- Commerce through our partnership with Herts County Council. Going forward, I believe that the sustainability of the organisation is in our hands. Although the road may be unclear at times, renewing partnerships, building relationships, innovation, adapting to change and working together will be important as WACA approaches its 40th anniversary. Noel Akers - Finance, Administration & Development Co-ordinator Page | 4 The African Caribbean Elders Project Report As our client base grows older, it is noticeable the many changes in their needs is becoming more pronounced on an individual basis. One such need involves helping them to make appointments for a variety of ailments. Throughout the year, many users were hospitalised or too ill to attend sessions. Contact with them is very important and could take the form of visits or telephone calls Many of the users have made meaningful relationships that are applied within and outside the club. These relationships have proved therapeutic – “I am so happy that I attend the Luncheon Club as I have made lots of friends who I can call when I can’t attend “one of the users commented. Outings Users enjoy going to the theatre, the cinema and shopping, which they generally find therapeutic. Activities Users like to engage in playing dominoes, a very strategic game and they also take great pleasure in teaching other members the game. This encourages much banter and laughter. Many people have learnt to play the game and the teachers take much pride in teaching the game to new users. Most users own a Word Search book and derive much stimulation from them. New members Men Women 4 1 3 Seminars Throughout the year, various topics which fit in with the local National Health events calendar, are scheduled. This includes Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, National Salt Awareness Week, Prostate Cancer Month, National Smile Week, Carers Week, World Alzheimer’s Day, all topics which are relevant to the needs of our users. They find these sessions very beneficial and informative and look forward to these events. One user commented that “. by attending these sessions, I gain much knowledge and I am able to ask relevant questions”. Following the session on Obesity more users have looked at their diets and made positive changes such as consuming more fish and vegetables and reducing their salt intake. They are given much encouragement and support with these issues Presently there are five users are Dementia sufferers who regularly attend the Club and always look forward to seeing other users. Their activities include: reminiscing, listening to Page | 5 music and playing dominoes. One user enjoys helping in the kitchen with the dishes and general tidying up. Collaborative work Some discussions are on-going with two churches to partner us in looking at ways of working together. This will be mainly around craft ideas and Dementia initiatives. No. of sessions No. attending 92 2000 Together we can achieve We saw the film The Help which showed us many aspects of life We walked in the grounds and admired its beauty We ate and drank and reminisced We went to the shops to get new stock We listened to the talks watched the slides We did it all together If we continue together We can and will achieve I would like to thank the funders, users, volunteers and all who made this year achievable despite the cuts. Enid Saunders – TACEP Co-ordinator Our former office at Clarendon Road Page | 6 Carers Support Worker’s Report Over the past year, the support for Carers in our community continues to focus on support services available in the locality. Our mission is to support the issues that Carers and the people they care for present.