BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Company limited by guarantee

Company Registration Number:
12556786 (England and Wales)

Unaudited statutory accounts for the year ended 30 April 2024

Period of accounts

Start date: 1 May 2023

End date: 30 April 2024

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Contents of the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 30 April 2024

Directors report
Balance sheet
Additional notes
Balance sheet notes
Community Interest Report

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Directors' report period ended 30 April 2024

The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the period ended 30 April 2024

Principal activities of the company

BLAM UK is a former community Charity setup in 2017, that are now operating as a Not- For- Profit. Our Aims 1. Champion Black British cultural capital and creativity 2. Improve the mental health and wellbeing of peoples of African Descent 3. Provide a comprehensive and decolonised education 4. Support social inclusion of the Black British community; through providing advocacy support and support groups. We host workshops and sessions aimed at ensuring education is more diverse and that Black children can see and learn about their unique and important history. We believe that every child should feel recognised, important and valued and by putting on this project we are ensuring this.



Directors

The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from
1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024

SOPER, Kuba Rebecca
THOMPSON, Ife


The director shown below has held office during the period of
1 May 2023 to 27 April 2024

DALEY, Patricia Cindy


The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006

This report was approved by the board of directors on
20 January 2025

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: THOMPSON, Ife
Status: Director

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Balance sheet

As at 30 April 2024

Notes 2024 2023


£

£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets: 3 0 100
Total fixed assets: 0 100
Current assets
Debtors: 4 0 1,550
Cash at bank and in hand: 148,403 114,571
Total current assets: 148,403 116,121
Net current assets (liabilities): 148,403 116,121
Total assets less current liabilities: 148,403 116,221
Accruals and deferred income: ( 50,925 ) ( 1,635 )
Total net assets (liabilities): 97,478 114,586
Members' funds
Profit and loss account: 97,478 114,586
Total members' funds: 97,478 114,586

The notes form part of these financial statements

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Balance sheet statements

For the year ending 30 April 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

These accounts have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The directors have chosen not to file a copy of the company's profit and loss account.

This report was approved by the board of directors on 20 January 2025
and signed on behalf of the board by:

Name: THOMPSON, Ife
Status: Director

The notes form part of these financial statements

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 30 April 2024

  • 1. Accounting policies

    Basis of measurement and preparation

    These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Financial Reporting Standard 101

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 30 April 2024

  • 2. Employees

    2024 2023
    Average number of employees during the period 0 1

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 30 April 2024

3. Tangible assets

Land & buildings Plant & machinery Fixtures & fittings Office equipment Motor vehicles Total
Cost £ £ £ £ £ £
At 1 May 2023 1,298 1,298
Additions
Disposals
Revaluations
Transfers
At 30 April 2024 1,298 1,298
Depreciation
At 1 May 2023 1,198 1,198
Charge for year 100 100
On disposals
Other adjustments
At 30 April 2024 1,298 1,298
Net book value
At 30 April 2024 0 0
At 30 April 2023 100 100

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Notes to the Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 30 April 2024

4. Debtors

2024 2023
£ £
Trade debtors 0 1,550
Total 0 1,550

COMMUNITY INTEREST ANNUAL REPORT

BLACK LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH UK CIC

Company Number: 12556786 (England and Wales)

Year Ending: 30 April 2024

Company activities and impact

Company activities and impact The company runs several different community-based projects with the aim of achieving a racial justice and equity in education and mental health access. We provide three main services: - Teacher training in school so they can better support Black students. - Running Black history session to improve Black children’s racial esteem. - Advocating for social injustice issues that affect our community like racially discriminatory school exclusions and policies. - Providing a safe space to access wellbeing support from a cultural lens to the Black British Community. Our projects for the financial year 2023 – 2024 include the following: 1. The Grounded Project The Grounded Project is our school-based initiative dedicated to weekly lessons on Global Black history at our partner schools. Our engagement spans both Primary and Secondary Schools children aged 8–16-year-olds, covering Lambeth and various other areas in London. With a reach extending to five schools and over 100 students, the primary goal of this program is to enhance the racial esteem of Black children, aiding them in unlearning and challenging internalised racist stereotypes surrounding their Black identity. Our sessions provide a secure environment not only for Black children but also serve as an educational tool for all races, emphasising the global nature of history. We've successfully expanded and enriched our curriculum, offering students a more comprehensive understanding of Black history and culture while introducing them to previously unexplored topics. Additionally, we've conducted Grounded Project workshops and assemblies, responding to schools that actively seek out BLAM UK for this valuable service. The Grounded Project remains a crucial vehicle in advancing BLAM UK's mission. Current school list: Henry Fawcett Primary School - During School Hours -Monday 2-5PM – 25 students year 3-6 rotating for full year, After School – 10 students 9-11 year old Van Gogh Primary School - After school club -Tuesday 3.15-3.45PM - 10 students, 9-10 year old St Alfege with St Peter Primary School - During School Hours - Wednesday 1.30-3PM - 30 students 10-11 year old Lilian Balis School From January 2024 -During Hours - Friday, Time varies depending on year group - 30 students -11-14 year olds Past schools list: Fairlawn Primary From 2021 - September 2023 - After school club - 10 students, 9- 10 year old. Evelyn Grace Academy - After school enrichment program - 20-25 students that rotates termly 11-16 year old. Upcoming School Bevington Primary School- -Starting in April 2025 After school club Thursday 3.15-3.45PM - 10 students, 9-10 year old Zuri Therapy is a monthly racial wellness workshop designed to provide alternative therapeutic methods for Black adults across the UK. These virtual sessions are led by trained therapists and focus on equipping participants with effective techniques to address racial trauma. In 2024, our Zuri project experienced incredible success, with workshops consistently fully booked. While Zuri Therapy has been paused since November, we are now concentrating on an exciting new initiative, the launch of our report, "Racial Trauma as a Public Health Emergency," in collaboration with The Equality Trust, scheduled for March 2025. 2. School Exclusion Work Our School Exclusion Programme continues to support families, working with pupils who face a range of complex and misunderstood needs, many of which relate to social, emotional well-being, and mental health. Alarmingly, we continue to see a significant trend in Black students being disproportionately excluded just before their GCSEs, a practice that severely impacts their academic outcomes. We have been committed to identifying where schools have failed to meet students' needs and to advocate for families navigating these challenges. This has involved attending Independent Review Panel meetings and engaging with key stakeholders in education to push for reconsideration of sanctions and more sensitive approaches to supporting vulnerable students. Through these efforts, we’ve achieved several positive outcomes: Exclusions removed from pupils’ academic records. Reinstatement of students who were initially denied the opportunity to return to school. Successful transitions for students into better-suited school environments. BLAM UK is still deeply concerned by the rising number of cases involving racist behavior and bullying from both teachers and students, which often go unsanctioned. Currently, we are supporting two families in taking their concerns to the Department for Education . In 2025, we aim to expand our School Exclusion Programme by recruiting a dedicated youth advocate and a lawyer to represent Black children facing exclusion. This will enable us to provide even more comprehensive support to families and challenge systemic injustices in education. As part of our advocacy, we are developing resources to address the long-term impact of exclusions on Black pupils, focusing on strategies to combat these challenges while introducing aftercare support for both children and their families. We remain committed to fighting for systemic change and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in an equitable and supportive educational environment. Current work Exclusions programme Currently in the process in offering mental health and SEND support to our clients Black British English Campaign to be relaunched 2024 More resources and documents are being created for the school exclusions process and the work that we do. Empowerment Network. 3. The Curriculum Research Project The Curriculum Research Project Report will launch on 20th January 2025, in partnership with the law firm Leigh Day. This report offers a comprehensive exploration of systemic racial discrimination against Black children within the UK education system, with the goal of improving educational outcomes and addressing racial disparities. This event has 86 ticket purchases. 4. BLAM Digital Rights in UK Schools Research Project We are currently undertaking a 12 month research project on the use of Body-Worn Cameras cameras in Black majority schools. Our research will highlight the need for an outright ban or comprehensive overhaul of their usage. It is worth noting that the first school trials of BWCs took place in 2022, marking a relatively recent development in the educational landscape. Our research will show that the Information Commissioner's Office guidance, which dates back to 2012, is outdated and fails to adequately address the privacy and data protection concerns arising from the use of BWCs in schools. Our research aims to highlight the urgent need for updated and robust regulations that ensure full compliance with data protection. 5. Language Justice BLAM has hosted numerous events, training sessions, and workshops across the UK focusing on Anti-Black Linguistic Racism, accent bias, and fostering safe spaces for Black British English speakers. Highlights include delivering training to the Young Minds organisation, presenting at the GOE Language Convention in Birmingham with over 1,000 teachers from across the UK, and collaborating with universities, the St Giles organisation, and ReconnectJA.

Consultation with stakeholders

The company’s stakeholders are mainly the Black British community in London, the schools and teachers in the local area, and the organisations that provide us with funding. By having different types of projects that range from working with young people, teachers and adults in the Black British and wider communities we can get a better understanding of the concerns and issues that they face in everyday life. We are then able to tailor our projects to help to make an active contribution to these problems. For example, creating Zuri Therapy as a way to provide an easy entrance point to group wellness sessions that many in the community did not have access to previously. At the end of our projects, attendees are asked to fill out a survey so that we know what has worked well and the areas that can be improved. For our Black history workshops we ask the young beforehand how much Black history they currently know, many indicate that they knew very little and would like to know more. Their parents are also very keen for them to take part in sessions and sign consent forms on their behalf. We do a feedback form at the end of the term finding out what sessions they enjoyed most and if they feel they have learnt more about their history and culture. We use the feedback forms to help us guide the sessions we do, many reported that they liked the dancing sessions and cultural games sessions. We ensured that the next term had more of these themes within them.

Directors' remuneration

The company paid remuneration of £11,398 to one of its Directors for the period ending 30 April 2024. There were no other transactions that are required to be disclosed.

Transfer of assets

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration

This report was approved by the board of directors on
20 January 2025

And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: IFE THOMPSON
Status: Director