Activity Number of Number of Total Average per Youth Centre Members 83 Sessions 136 Attendances 1343 Session 9.8 Homework Drop-In 290 76 2823 37.1 GCSE Homework Support Scheme 44 85 927 10.9 Friday Activities 108 54 1855 34.3 Summer 'K2' Scheme 47 20 534 26.7 Summer 'K2' Volunteers - 18 140 7.7 Homework Drop-In Volunteers - 22 41 0.5 Supervision of Offenders Pre-Sentence Reports Prison Visits Number of Home Visits Cases assisted with interpretation Schools Work with pupils (Ummid) As per contract Himmat Management Committee Robin Prescott (Chair) David Scott Richard Smith (Secretary) Chris Sonne Bryan Brooks Pauline Nash Mohammed Aslam Dipika Kaushal Bill Davenport (Observer) Maggie Culkin (Observer) Stuart MacPherson (Observer) Fiona Graham (Observer) Himmat Trustees David Scott Chris Sonne Robin Prescott Rob Clegg Richard Smith Pauline Nash Keith MacDonald 1 Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004
Report from The Chair Another year has flown by and during the course of the last twelve months Himmat and its partner organisation Ummid have experienced a number of interesting changes. Income has increased and for the first time has exceeded ½ million - a viable and hopefully sustainable combination of hard won contract work and of funding from various charitable trusts and other organisations. It is a tribute to Asi and his staff and the reputation that they have won for themselves that the reliance on charitable funding has proportionately decreased while the contract work has continued to grow year on year. Himmat can be relied on to deliver and to offer different, exciting but also practical solutions to some of the problems facing young people in our modern society. Perhaps a prime example of that burgeoning reputation is the fact that Atisham Ali has now left the organisation to move to bigger things. When I first became involved with Himmat nearly 10 years ago, Atch had recently joined, having previously worked for the Halifax. I have watched him over the years; his close involvement and empathy with the children; the respect and admiration he won from all who came into contact with him; the hard work he put into his job and also into qualifying as a teacher. He has been the essence of Himmat and an admirable No. 2 to Asi. Now he has been "poached" to go to serve as Islamic religious advisor to the Prison Directorate - a job that would have been unthinkable perhaps had he not won his spurs working for Himmat. I wish him every success in his new role. He will be a hard act to follow, but such is the team that has been built up at Himmat that his loss will not be felt as greatly as it might have been some years ago. Himmat's success is entirely down to teamwork and the determined drive and vision generated by Asi. Each year I have tried to put something different in my piece for the annual report and each year it becomes increasingly hard to think of new superlatives. The proof of Himmat's success can be seen in the young people that it works with. Go and see!! Robin Prescott Chair of Himmat All photographs in the Annual Report have been taken this year at various residentials and centre-based activities, Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004 2
Introduction It is with great pleasure that I am writing this brief synopsis on Himmat's progress over the last twelve months. The Project at the moment bears no resemblance to what it was twelve months ago. We have consolidated a number of programmes and are currently looking at extending our provision. We currently employ the equivalent of twenty full-time staff, with a budget exceeding half a million pounds. Below I will give a brief resume of the programmes that have been delivered in the last twelve months. Mohammed Aslam Project Director Matching Chances This Youth Justice Board funded programme aims to divert ethnic minority youth from entering the Criminal Justice System through advocating and actively supporting a mentoring scheme called Matching Chances in partnership with the Bradford Youth Offending Team (YOT). This programme worked with targeted young people referred by the Bradford YOT. During the year the project worked with thirty-six young people from Asian background and between the ages of twelve to seventeen, from which thirty were selected. At the same time forty-nine volunteers mentors were recruited.to date thirty-eight volunteer are actively engaged with the programme. All these mentors attended a number of training events which included (to name but a few) Child Protection, Violence and Aggression, Basic Skills assessment and basic knowledge of the Criminal Justice system.. The Mentoring programme has been delivered in three stages. All the young people are required to participate in the five-module Cognitive behaviour programme called Preparation for Change. This is followed by a residential where the young people are introduced to mentors. The matching of mentors/mentee took place usually a week after the residential. The young people engaged with the project for a minimum of six months in order for the project to have maximum impact. The key to the success of this project has been the close working relationship with parents and other agencies. The measurable positive outcome for the year has been that of the initial cohort of thirty young people only four have re offended. This represents an eighty six percent success rate. A number of volunteer mentor, have secured employment within the YOT. The funding for this programme is in place till March 2005. 3 Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004
Ummid Second Chances Project -UMMID The project is based at the YMCA building in Bradford and works with those pupils who have either been exclude from mainstream education or are on the verges of exclusion. This programme provides an alternative out of school education provision. Since the project started in September 2002 we have built a very good relationship with other agencies. Our main avenue for referrals is from Education Bradford Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), Bradford YOT and the secondary schools. The Second Chances is the only project in Bradford that works along side the national curriculum. The referrals are only accepted by Second Chances once the young person and their parents have visited the project and agreed to the ethos of Ummid. Our ethos is to try and work with our students in such a way that we can prepare them for a return to their respective schools or try and find a new school for them if they are permanently excluded or move them on to college / training. During the year second Chances worked with twenty-four pupils. Thirteen young people attended the programme on full-time basis and another nine on part time basis (respite). These young people are very challenging and sometimes very difficult to engage but so far the young people like the programme and attend on more regularly than they had ever done any before with other provisions. The PRU, the Schools and the referring agencies pay for the pupils who are referred to the project All the young people attending Second Chances are working towards Youth Train modules in Numeracy, literacy and citizenship. Their attendance and commitment at the project has even surprised the seasoned PRU and Schools staff. Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004 4
5 Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004
Re-Integration of Offenders (RIO) RIO is facilitated in a partnership with Bradford Vision, Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Probation, Police, and a number of other key Community Safety Agencies The Bulk of the work is carried out by Ummid and funded by Bradford Vision. This innovative initiative works with those people involved in the Bradford Riots of July 2001. In particular those offenders who were sentenced to custody for four years or more of which there are 70. We strongly believe that effective resettlement of these offenders is central to the economic and social regeneration of the communities, the protections of victims and improving community Cohesion. The thrust of the project is to pilot a new frame for the successful rehabilitation of offender into the community. The model that we are piloting is in three phases. The first phase included extensive intervention with the offender while they are in prison, addressing their Offending behaviour, looking at the skills needs and ensuring that these offenders use their time in custody most productively and learn skills that will help them secure employment on release. This has meant that each prisoner is visited at least once every six weeks. This has proved to be a hideous task as these people are held in prison as far apart as Havrigg in Cumbria and Portland in Devon. Concurrently as working with Offenders we support their families, ensuring that the relation between them and the offender is strengthened and thus there is a supportive home to return to. Initially the families were very apprehensive and cynical towards the project. This was because the families of the offenders genuinely believed in the conspiracy theory and that the institutions and the agencies were out to get the communities. However, once these families got to know the Project staff the relationship changed for the positive. The project staff ensured that the prisoners' families were in receipt of all the benefits which they were entitled to and then sign posted them to agencies who could further support them. The third phase is working with employers who are willing to take these people on once they are released from custody. This phase is lead by Bradford Probation and the Employment Services with our staff in supporting roles. The first offenders serving four years would be released in June 2004. And we are hoping to get majority of these people into employment of or training when released. During the year the project staff carried out 396 prison visits, 420 homes visits and had more than a thousand telephone contacts. Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004 6
New Initiative Last years Street Crime Initiative made us aware of the need to continue engaging the targeted 11/12-year-old boys. These young boys like others of their age love their football. The project decided to form an under 13's football team and enter them in the local league. The success of the team from September 2003 to April was not anticipated. Initially there was no bonding or commitment from the young people, but to their credit the young people recognised the importance of commitment, training, teamwork and respecting their opponents. As the team had never played outdoor football our aim at the start session was for our team to win one game and see how the rest of the session panned out. Yet the team won four game and now we are intending to start an under 11 team as well. 7 Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004
Ongoing Work At the same time as all the initiatives described in this report, all the previous project continued and are extremely popular. Himmat continues to facilitate Homework Drop-In Scheme, the targeted G.C.S.E Homework Support Scheme, the Youth Centre, the Summer K2 School, the Friday Girls Activities Evening, NOF funded residentials to the Western Isles,the Connexions NEET ( Not in Education or Training ) programme, Summer activities, as well as our statutory work in Bradford and Keighley on behalf of the West Yorkshire Probation Board. During the year Himmat has worked in partnership with Bradford Vision, Connexions West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire Probation Board, Bradford Youth Offending Team, Education Bradford, Youth Service ( Bradford and Calderdale ), Calderdale MBC, Career Service, Pupil Referral unit Bradford, Education Bradford, Halifax Opportunities Trust, Action Halifax, Halifax High School, Calderdale High School just to name a few. Himmat has continued to deliver a lot of innovative programmes, one of which may end up being the blue prints of a new framework of working with those in custody. We have built an excellent reputation in Bradford. One of our Staff members Mr. Atch Ali has moved to the Home Office as advisor. All has not been rosy as regarding a new building for Himmat, which at the moment has been put on the back burner. The Future Himmat is currently in the process of securing funding from the Home Office to pilot two new initiatives. One of these is family group conferencing and the other is a Mentoring Plus for young offenders returning from custody. Both these Project will be in Partnership with NACRO. Once again we at Himmat thank all those who have supported us over the years. Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004 8
Summary Statement of Income and Expenditure For the Year ended 31st March 2004 INCOMING RESOURCES Grants and similar incoming resources Investment income Interest received Refund of tax deducted from interest received Total incoming resources RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of generating funds Charitable expenditure Costs of activities in furtherance of the charity's objects Resources expended on managing and administering of the charity Total resources expended Net movement in funds Balances brought forward at 1 April 2003 Balances carried forward at 31 March 2004 2004 559,483 1,781 0 561,264 879 452,027 39,101 492,007 69,257 128,350 197,607 2003 382,518 2,259 3,591 388,368 1,747 333,045 44,669 379,461 8,907 119,443 128,350 9 Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004
Thank You Himmat extends a big thank you to the huge list of volunteers who have a left their mark in the community. Especially those who gave their time and effort on a regular basis. Staff Sessional Staff Volunteers Mohamed Aslam MBE, BEM Project Director Ahtsham Ali Project Co-ordinator Rahat Khan Ummid Project Co-ordinator Akeel Ayub Second Chances Co-ordinator Sadat Wahid Second Chances Worker Star Mahmood Fazal Hussain Ummid Matching Chances Co-ordinator Mohammed Arif Ummid Bradford Rioters Project Co-ordinator Basharat Hussian Ummid Basharat Mahmood Matching Chances Zawar Rizvi Ummid Second Chances Co-ordinator Joanna Watts Ummid Second Chances Robina Akbar Ummid Bradford Rioters Project Family Support Worker Farzana Qamar Ummid Second Chances Mohammed Kaleem Ummid Matching Chances Arfan Ali p/t Arshad Mahmood Second Chances p/t Shafaqat Hussain Ummid Second Chances Naseem Rizvi Ummid Second Chances p/t Affifa Sadiq Matching Chances Office Admin p/t Tahira Hamid Office Administrator p/t Taiba Hamid Neelam Aslam Steve Cann English Tutor Abdul Raouf Science Tutor Akram Ali Maths Tutor Qumran Ali Maths Tutor Imran Hussain Youth Worker Shazad Suleman Youth Worker Samina Kauser Homework Drop In Nazia Aslam Homework Drop In Nazreen Akhtar Homework Drop In Emmy Kehler Sports Leader Khurram Majid Sports Leader Zulifqar Ali Ummid Second Chances Ali Khan Ummid Second Chances Shazad Ali Ummid Second Chances Christine Elliot Ummid Second Chances Teacher Hamza Aslam Irfan Yaqub Asif Ali Mohammed Shabaz Hussnain Ali Kamran Bashir Kammar Riaz Ateeq Rafiq Nazreem Akhtar Kalsoom Hamid Aisha Hamid Melanie Tempest Claire Whitaker Rebecca Jones Sobia Ahmed Waseem Akram Humaria Khadim Saiqa Mushtaq Tasin Bukhtawar Sobia Azhar Abrar Jabbar Qaiser Mahmood Anees Asghar Ayesha Iqbal Nasar Mahmood Shamraze Hussain Umar Sajid Sonya Khan Mahmoona Begum Robert Dewhirst Sadia Ahmed Laurie Pooley Sounel Yousaf Aman Mahroof Ibrar Ali Saira Baig Waheeda Ghafoor Amjid Hussain Sofia Maskin Arif Hussain Nazir Naheeda Shah Fatima Taleb Jabbar Ali Amreen Bhatti Imran Hafeez Hanif Mughal Naveed Mushtaq Affifa Sadiq Waheeda Sha Kamran Younis Sabiha Hussain Najam Javed Asif Khan Ifthikar Khan Ferzana Khan Basharat Rafiq Mohammed Ozair Idrees Sheikh Ansar Javed Nasar Khaliq Faisal Khan Naveed Khan Zeb Bushra Khan Sameena Ali Ali Abbas Shah Imran Ishaq Abid Hussain Aqeel Hussain Yasser Mujahid Fozia Khan Mohammed Siraj Neelam Hanif Sheraz Ali Amjid Tabasam We said farewell to... Akeel Ayub Naseem Riziv Arfan Ali Affifa Sadiq Abdul Raouf and Akram Ali Project Co-ordinator Himmat Annual Report 2003/2004 10
The Himmat Project 34/36 Hanson Lane Halifax West Yorkshire HX1 5NX Telephone: 01422 348045 The Ummid Project YMCA Building Little Horton Lane Bradford BD5 0JG Telephone: 01274 728067 Supported by: