Annual General Meeting and Community Consultation

Annual General Meeting and Community Consultation

Annual General Meeting (AGM) Report

ESCA Community

Executive Summary

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ESCA Community was held on 24 January 2026 at White City Community Centre, London.

The meeting brought together 89 registered members, including men, women, and young people aged 18 and above. This represents the highest attendance in the organisation’s history, reflecting a high level of trust, community ownership, and active engagement with ESCA’s mission.

The AGM reviewed the achievements made during 2025, presented the financial report and accountability measures, and identified community priorities for the 2026–2027 period. Members reaffirmed their commitment to ESCA’s core principles of transparency, community participation, and measurable impact.

Attendance and Participation

Total attendees: 89 registered members.
Representation: Men, women, and youth (18 years and above).
Significance: Highest participation rate in ESCA’s history.
Key message: Strong community confidence and a high sense of ownership, demonstrating active engagement in the organisation’s activities.

Key Achievements in 2025 (Based on Community Feedback)

The 2025 Annual Report was presented by the Programe Coordinator, Ms. Mulhema, highlighting the positive outcomes achieved across various programes. Key achievements included:

Consistently high beneficiary satisfaction rates based on post-activity evaluation surveys, with increasing demand for programed expansion.

Main Programs Delivered:

GCSE Supplementary Education Programed.
40-Week Football Development Programed.
Women's Swimming Course.
Health and Wellbeing Workshops delivered in partnership with Nubian Life.
“Family Coffee Day” initiative promoting social cohesion.

These programs contributed significantly to improving education, health, wellbeing, and strengthening community ties among the Eastern Sudanese diaspora in London.

Financial Transparency and Accountability

The financial report was presented by Dr. Nasreen Ahmed, Treasurer, and was openly discussed with members.

Key Points:

A full breakdown of expenditures was provided, including:
- White City Community Centre rent.
- Teaching staff salaries.
- Equipment and learning materials.
- Community events and program delivery costs.
ESCA confirmed that 65% of its annual budget was allocated directly to community programs and services.

Members expressed satisfaction with the organization's level of financial transparency and its governance practices.

Community Priorities for 2026–2027

Based on discussions and contributions from 89 members, five key strategic priorities were agreed upon:

1. Education

Expand the GCSE Supplementary School Programme.
Introduce ICDL Digital Skills Training Programmes.
Strengthen youth employability and vocational development pathways.

Expected Impact:

Improved academic achievement.
Reduced youth unemployment.

2. Health and Wellbeing

Deliver the Women's Swimming Programme on a quarterly basis.
Organise Mental Health and Wellbeing Workshops.

Expected Impact:

Improved physical and psychological wellbeing for women and families.

3. Culture and Heritage

Establish a Youth Cultural Performance Group.
Organise an Annual Beja Heritage Day.

Expected Impact:

Strengthened cultural identity.
Continued transmission of heritage across generations.

4. Youth and Sports

Establish a new football team for young people aged 13–16 (proposed by Coach Ammar).

Expected Impact:

Providing a safe and structured environment for youth engagement.
Reducing the risks of social isolation and involvement in negative behaviours.

5. Family and Social Cohesion

Continue the “Family Coffee Day” initiative.
Introduce structured family counselling and support sessions.

Expected Impact:

Stronger family relationships.
Reduced social isolation.

5. AGM Resolutions

The General Assembly formally mandated the Board of Trustees to develop the:

“ESCA Strategic Programme Plan 2026–2027”

This strategy will be fully based on the priorities identified by community members and will be presented to the community for review and final approval prior to implementation.

Funding Request and Strategic Direction

ESCA does not design its programmes in isolation; rather, its priorities are directly informed by the needs and aspirations of the community. The 2026–2027 plan reflects the views and recommendations of 89 active members who participated in the meeting held at White City Community Centre.

ESCA invites donors and partners to support the implementation of these community-defined priorities, focusing on:

Education and skills development for children and young people.
Health and wellbeing for women and families.
Youth empowerment and positive engagement through sports and developmental activities.

ESCA remains committed to: