1.0 MISSION AND VISION STATEMENTS:

Our mission is to empower Black and Minority Ethnic groups and individuals to develop their confidence and capacity to engage effectively in projects and activities that will create lasting changes in their communities.

Our vision is to transform individuals to impact the black community for the future.

2.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

Our aim is to bring together a variety of people from Black and Minority Ethnic groups, develop their potential and mobilise them to engage effectively in community development and regeneration activities and give them a distinctive voice.

Our main objectives are:

• Identify the needs of Faith and Community-based organisations
• Empower and build the capacity of Black and Minority Ethnic groups, faith and Voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom
• Organise training and basic skill development of Faith and Voluntary organisations.
• Engage in Consultancy services, developing Business and Financial plan
• Advisory, Career guidance and Counselling services
• Organise Conferences, workshops, Seminars, Events, etc
• Fundraising and identification of Funding sources
• Engage in Youth Development projects
• Participate in International projects in partnership with other organisations
• Promote Poverty alleviation projects in developing countries

3.0 CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT:

Nexgen Initiatives is a relatively new organisation that has carved a niche for itself in terms of working with BME Faith and community groups in building their capacity to engage more in community development projects. We have made significant impact that our organisation is becoming a household name among these groups of people.

We need more funds and financial support to achieve our goals and also release the potentials of the groups we are working with. All over the United Kindom there is an increase in the demand of our services but we are currently limited by human and material resources to cope with the demand. It is our intention to assist any group that needs our services irrespective of the location in the UK.

Our unique services are gradually making a great impact in the operations of the groups we work with, we want to maintain the tempo and expand our services to reach out to more groups in the UK.

4.0 WHO WE ARE:

NEXGEN INITIATIVES LIMITED is a company limited by guarantee (Reg. No. 05273379), and operates as a social enterprise. It was registered in October 2004 primarily to engage in activities that alleviate poverty as well as those that enhance the quality of life of people especially black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in our communities in the United Kingdom and developing countries. Nexgen Initiatives has been working with people all over the United Kingdom and has great presence in London, Leicester, Coventry, Birmingham and Wolverhampton, through participation in various regeneration events and organising conferences in these areas. We wish to continue working with people all over the country.

We work with any group that needs our help especially those working with youths, single parents, leaders of faith and community groups, the unemployed, ex-convicts, drug addicts, low-income earners, excluded youths, victims of domestic violence, the homeless and those who want a career change and need additional training and mentoring.

We are committed to action, not just talking shop, and we believe that talking through our visions and encouraging people to act on their dreams can affect attitude and create change. Our areas of expertise include planning and developing faith-based projects, practical advice and fundraising, accessing funding, business plan writing, company formation, social enterprise start-up training, mentoring, capacity building and organising workshops and conferences.

We have developed a social enterprise training manual and are currently running a social enterprise start-up course for individuals from disadvantaged groups. As part of the course, we assist in business planning, accessing funding and give them opportunities to access small loans from organisations like Street UK, BIGInvest and Charity Bank, who encourage lending to people who have ideas and do not particularly have collateral.

5.0 OUR TARGET GROUPS:

Our target groups represent an under-utilised resource of social capital which has demonstrated its dynamism in hundreds of self-help initiatives across the country. Therefore, the tapping of the human, social and economic potential of faith and community-based organisations in the development of transformation of their local communities cannot be overemphasised.

It is increasingly becoming the case that, in African and African Caribbean communities in London, it is the Faith and Community-based groups that have developed into the leading – and almost the only – robust and sustainable institutions. In the face of decades of adversity, they have become mature and are growing in confidence. Now there is increased desire to be more relevant to the social and economic needs of the local communities they serve – of whatever ethnicity or faith.

Based on our community needs assessments of BME faith and community groups in London and UK, we observed that BME Faith and Community organisations have the capacity and potential to bring greater economic empowerment to their communities. However, there are a number of barriers, which currently prevent them from realising this enormous potential.

Most of the groups we work with have developed their business plans, received funding and are currently engaged in various community development projects (see attached list of faith and community groups and their current activities)

6.0 WHAT WE DO:

We are involved in organising seminars, workshops, conferences and training programmes on economic empowerment, capacity building, self development, skills acquisition (including legal, financial and management skills) and development for faith and community-based organisations in London.

We also:

• provide targeted leadership, organisational development and management training and mentoring programmes;
• Develop appropriate training tools and train others to deliver;
• Develop networks and partnerships with key agencies including Government, churches and faith communities, businesses, social enterprises, etc;
• Develop sustainable strategies to access funding and other support, working towards long term financial and organisational sustainability.

6.1 REVIEW OF 2004/05 ACTIVITIES:

6.1.1 Building Links with Faith, Community, Voluntary, Social Enterprise and Business Sectors.

We supported a broad range of voluntary and community organisations, groups and social entrepreneurs that were involved in delivering services that directly contributed towards community development. We made progress on the following areas:

• Access to information: On daily basis we emailed publicity materials from different funding organizations, application forms and information on various community projects to all faith and community groups on our mailing list. We also provided advice, information and support on completing various grant application forms. Through our meetings, we ensured that faith and community groups and our service users had access to relevant information.
• Consultation: We supported networks and forums and encouraged groups to attend relevant events where issues relating to them were discussed. We informed local groups and individuals working with us about policy development and decisions of key agencies. We held monthly forum meetings individually with our clients to discuss issues relating to them and the way forward.
• Community development: Nexgen provided capacity building and organisational and personal development support to numerous voluntary and community organisations, a number of these groups were supported to set up from scratch, develop their ideas and run their activities.
• Community engagement: We encouraged groups to get involved with Neighbourhood Renewal initiatives, Community Forums and Community Councils; we promoted community engagement across London, but focusing on the areas of with high concentration of BME communities (Southwark, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, Greenwich, Lewisham, Sutton, etc).
• Community Management: By supporting individuals and groups with project development ideas, we empowered them to run sustainable services for some of the most excluded and disadvantaged people in the country including refugees and asylum seekers, young parents, older people, unemployed, etc.

We supported these groups in a range of activities aimed at strengthening organisations in a sustainable way. We provided:

• Social Enterprise start-up training;
• Project planning and development;
• Fundraising assistance and identifying sources of funding;
• Training needs analysis and access to training;
• Organisational development, governance, policies and procedures;
• Technical advice; constitutions, charity registration, finance;
• Informing and involving people in decision-making structures,
• Business and strategic plans;
• Dissemination of information;
• Linking projects with relevant statutory and voluntary sector agencies;
• Linking projects into local regeneration and renewal initiatives;

Nexgen Initiatives worked with a wide variety of groups and have built the capacity of a wide range of organisations in the voluntary and community sector. Examples of our work include outreach, training sessions, telephone advice, advice through email, and most importantly, through one-to-one meetings.

We give a combination of support in terms of fundraising, networking, providing resources, monitoring/evaluation, etc. We have provided most groups with support on fundraising, policy development as well as linking them in with other networks, and advice on publicity and promotion. We have received favourable feedback from most groups on the support we have given.

6.2 Social Enterprise start-up training for BME Women in Sutton:

In January/February 2005 we delivered a 12 Module training workshop on social enterprise start-up on behalf of the Centre for African Development (CfAD). The beneficiaries were 30 BME women who were unemployed but were eager to start their own individual businesses in their communities. The training lasted for 6 weeks. We produced a training manual which were distributed to all participants. The participants received individual certificates which were presented by the Mayor of Sutton at the end of the training.

Most of the participants have since started and managing their own business in their communities.

6.3 Social Enterprise start-up training for people from BME communities in East London.

In May 2005, we conducted another set of training on Social Enterprise start-up for BME communities in Hackney and Tower Hamlet. The training was a 16 module course comprising of:

i. Overview of social enterprise
ii. Introduction to social enterprise
iii. Vision and mission building
iv. Community needs assessment
v. Business planning
vi. Assertiveness and confidence building
vii. Management and management structures
viii. Legal structures
ix. Accessing funding for your projects
x. Developing a fundraising strategy
xi. Marketing your business
xii. Financial and sustainable planning and controls
xiii. Health and safety
xiv. Monitoring and evaluation
xv. Networking and working in partnership
xvi. Project report writing

There were 20 participants comprising 11 women and 9 men from Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham boroughs. The training lasted for 12 weeks. Most participants applied to various funds, some have been interviewed and are waiting for the outcome of their applications.

6.4 Christian Gospel Exhibition, Faith and Empowerment Conference:

As part of the two-day annual Christian Gospel exhibition organised by Roy Francis Productions, Nexgen Initiatives in collaboration with Christians in Business and the Centre for African Development, organised a Faith and Empowerment Conference on 28 May 2005 at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon.

The conference provided delegates with the much needed ideas for business start-up, equipped people with the tools for starting their business, gave people information on how they can access funding for their business ideas, and also provided practical insights on how to write a business plan, fill funding application forms and put their faith into action.

A renowned Christian motivational speaker, Bishop Wayne Malcolm chaired the conference. Other speakers were Patrick Fredericks, President of the CBI, Chief Executive of Charity Bank - Malcolm Hayday and Pastor Celia Apeagyei-Collins who delivered powerful presentations and motivational speeches.

There were practical sessions on:

• Business Start-up for Christian Men
• Christian women in Business
• Social Enterprise explained
• Faith in Action
• Funding and filling funding applications
• How to write a Business plan
• Making it Happen
• Charity Bank, Loans and Products

The sessions were run by professionals, who are successful at running their own businesses. More than 100 people from all works of life and from various boroughs of London and beyond attended the conference. The feedback from participants were satisfactory and there was a unanimous agreement to organize more workshops in future to bring people together to share their experiences and gain more information in starting and managing their own social enterprises and businesses.

7.0 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS/STAFF:

The inaugural meeting was held on 16 September 2005. The members resolved to use their skills and experience to support the work of Nexgen Initiatives to deliver their projects and better the lives of BME community groups who are highly marginalized, living in deprived communities with little access to Government main service provision.

7.1 Management Committee:

Alex Haxton

Director of Operations, World Emergency Relief
20 York Buildings
London WC2N 6JU
0870 429 2129

Alex has a number of years of experience of working in the relief field, raising funds for international projects and has travelled extensively within Africa and Asia, relieving poverty and impacting the lives of disadvantaged children and families in developing and under-developed nations.

Dr. Philip Idaewor is a medical practitioner with several years experience both in the United Kingdom and in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on malaria and tropical diseases. He is on board, because we also work in partnership with a number of organisations who work in improving the health sector in developing countries. He is the Committee Chairman.

Mr Olu Tunde is a professional accountant with many years experience especially in grant-funding and writing bids to possible funding bodies. He also is the Treasurer of the organisation and one of the signatories to our bank account.

Revd. Celia Collins is a Theologian with many years experience in church administration and Ministry, especially how community work and projects relates to the church and how community engagement is an important part of our religion.

Revd. Abraham Usikaro is a community pastor in Brixton, Lambeth and the surrounding areas. He has extensive experience in working in the community and knows his local community very well.

Barrister Michael Adelasoye runs the Ark of Hope Chambers, a Charity in Hastings and also runs Ark of Hope Ministries, which used to be an affiliate of the Elim Pentecostal Church. He is a practising barrister, with many years experience.

Revd Olusegun Olaleye has many years experience of working in the Hackney area among churches and lecturing doctors on how to assess the needs of their community and how to respond to the different practises, ailments and particular dietary needs of the growing diverse community in Hackney and Stoke Newington. He is a recognised community worker and has received a number of awards for his work, as well as also sitting on the board of the Community Champions Award administered by the Scarman Trust.

Mrs. Genevieve Nkechi Otu: has many years of experience in the private and banking sectors. Currently she is involved in working with children and youths in her community. She is the Committee Secretary.

7.2 Nexgen Staff:

DR OSU INYA OTU is currently working as a Consultant and is also Project Director with Nexgen Initiatives. Previously, he was a University lecturer/agronomist in Nigeria, actively involved in community development initiatives. He also worked for the United Nations in Kosovo as a Project Officer, where he was involved in post-conflict rehabilitation programmes for three years. He is very knowledgeable in sustainable project development community needs assessment, project management, monitoring and evaluation, rural development and poverty reduction, fundraising, training and human capacity building. He has good academic and research background in agronomy and environmental management. Dr Otu holds a Ph.D in Agronomy and has worked extensively on development and implementation of sustainable projects with the United Nations; He also took part in monitoring and evaluation of projects and fundraising from International funding organisations. Dr. Otu also has about 18 years experience on lecturing, consultancy and environmental management. Currently, he is an Associate Lecturer with the Open University. He is also involved in mentoring several faith and community-based groups in the London area and has facilitated various workshops on Needs Assessment and Business Planning.

Ms SHOLA LANA is a graduate of English, with a long history of work in Public Relations, Broadcasting, and housing, homelessness and community empowerment. She is a Project Director at Nexgen Initiatives. She is a visionary, skilled in people management and an excellent communicator. Shola’s experience of working with black majority churches all over the country, on a project managed by Community Action Network and Employment Forum (UK) helping them to develop their projects and encouraging them to engage more positively with the community, has yielded immense results as she is now a household name wherever empowerment of the black community is mentioned in the United Kingdom. She assists people with accessing funding, writing funding bids, training in social enterprise start-up, mentoring and challenges people to build their confidence and do things they have never done before. Through her motivational speeches in various black majority churches all over the United Kingdom, people have discovered skills they never thought they possessed and have set up their own organisations, offering hope to the community. Many of such organisations have accessed funding from a range of grant-making bodies.

8.0 OUTCOMES AND OUTPUTS:

Some of the outcomes of our activities include:

• New employment opportunities generated, especially in and through BME groups, faith and community-based organisations
• People from BME groups helped to gain skills to start and run new businesses and social enterprises
• Support and empowerment of individuals and organisations (especially from BME groups), to build their capacity and confidence to ensure viability and sustainability of their community initiatives.
• Development of leadership and management skills
• Assistance to broaden the range of services these organisations offer
• Establish networks and partnerships with other organisations

Some of the faith and community-based organisations we have worked with have succeeded in applying for and receiving funding from funding organisations. Currently, most of them are working in deprived and marginalised communities, engaging in various community development projects, addressing the following issues: education, healthy living, work with young people, women, elderly, ex-offenders, drug and alcohol abuse, school drop-outs, lone parents, victims of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, career guidance and counseling, legal issues, housing, training, ICT and skills acquisition, unemployment, crime prevention, environmental programmes, etc.

BME faith and community-based organisations tend to be interested in expansion and development – both numerically and in terms of their “relevance” and engagement. So, new faith-based organisations, social enterprises and entrepreneurs are springing up, and need to be strengthened and supported to make the significant social and economic impact in their various communities they now wish to make.

9.0 Monitoring and Evaluation:

To assess our progress, we have put in place monitoring and evaluation procedures. All our projects are monitored from the onset using well structured monitoring format to assess our progress against the set goals and objectives. The monitoring operations are done by our in-house staff while the evaluation process will be done by external consultants and internal staff.

Our projects will be evaluated at the end of the year to assess performance with a view of fine-tuning our activities and services for maximum output. The evalution result will help us to develop new ways of working with these organisations. We are committed to helping people/organisations become less grant-dependent and more enterprising – and becoming so ourselves.