News

12th December 2023

 African Caribbean Leadership Company Ltd (ACLC) celebrates after receiving £10k of National Lottery funding to help Senior Citizens in their Community.

Local community organisation, ACLC is celebrating after being awarded £10,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work with senior citizens. The group, based in Haringey, will use the money to provide a range of activities and resources to support the health, well-being, and social connectivity of senior citizens in the community.

The ‘Sharing is Caring’ Senior Citizens Project will include chair-based exercises, monthly quizzes, and opportunities for seniors to share their ancestral stories and cultural activities.  Events will include:

Tea and Light Refreshments:
Senior citizens will be offered tea and light refreshments during the sessions to promote socialization and networking opportunities.

Electronic Device Training:
Training sessions will be offered to help seniors learn how to use electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers to stay connected with family and friends, and to access online resources.

Basic DIY:
DIY sessions will be offered to help seniors learn basic home maintenance and repair skills.

Recommended Foods for People of Colour:
Educational sessions will be offered to promote awareness and understanding of recommended foods for people of colour, and the benefits of incorporating them into the diet.

Catering for Online and In-Person Attendees:
Sessions will be offered both in-person and online, to cater to seniors who are unable to attend in person.

Needlework:
Sessions will be offered for seniors to learn and practice needlework skills, such as knitting and crocheting.

Chair-Based Exercises:
Exercise sessions will be offered to support health and well-being. Other exercises can be offered for the more able bodied.

Carmen Lomotey, ACLC Company Secretary says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognized our work in this way.  This project will focus on providing a safe and inclusive environment where seniors can come together to learn, share, and connect with each other. Unfortunately, they have not been able to do this since the Covid-19 lockdown”.


“Now, thanks to National Lottery players, our organisation will be able to host 30 Sessions (2 hourly) to be held on Wednesdays starting in the new year. Sessions will be offered both in-person and online, and our outreach team will visit homes of elderly participants to enable online attendance”.


Senior citizens in the community interested in attending these events should contact ACLC by email at [email protected].

 

About The National Lottery Community Fund

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK.

The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its new strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030.

As part of this, the funder has four key missions, which are to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

Ends

 

Notes to Editors:

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest non-statutory community funder in the UK – community is at the heart of our purpose, vision and name.

We support activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable and that will strengthen society and improve lives across the UK.

We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.

As well as responding to what communities tell us is important to them, our funding is focused on four key missions, supporting communities to:

  1. Come together
  2. Be environmentally sustainable
  3. Help children and young people thrive
  4. Enable people to live healthier lives.

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we distribute around £500 million a year through 10,000+ grants and plan to invest over £4 billion of funding into communities by 2030. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £47 billion has been raised and more than 670,000 individual grants have been made across the UK – the equivalent of around 240 National Lottery grants in every UK postcode district.

Portraits of a Generation

Front Row: Middle – King Charles III, Queen Camilla sits among ten selected Windrush pioneers. Back Row: Artists of the portraits stands behind their sitters.

On Wednesday,14th June 2023, Jessie Stephens, a Trustee and longstanding member of the ACLC, had the privilege of attending a reception held at Buckingham Palace. The event was organized to commemorate the release of ten portraits showcasing pioneers from the Windrush Generation.

Known as “Portraits of a Generation”, these ten artworks were commissioned by His Majesty the King in 2022, to mark the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the HMT Empire Windrush’s arrival in Britain. They will be included in the prestigious Royal Collection, serving as a lasting tribute to the men, women, and children who made the journey from the Caribbean to rebuild the nation after World War II.

 

WINDRUSH PIONEERS

The ten selected Windrush pioneers, and their respective artists is as follows:

– Delisser Bernard, painted by Honor Titus
– Alford Gardner, painted by Chloe Cox
– Linda Haye, painted by Shannon Bono
– Edna Henry, painted by Amy Sherald
– Carmen Munroe, painted by Sonia Boyce
– Jessie Stephens, painted by Sahara Longe
– Gilda Oliver, painted by Clifton Powell
– Sir Geoff Palmer, painted by Derek Fordjour
– Laceta Reid, painted by Serge Attukwei Clottey
– ‘Big’ John Richards, painted by Deanio X

EXHIBITION

The “Portraits of a Generation” will be on public display at:

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh: June 22nd, 2023, to mid September, 2023.
The National Portrait Gallery, London: October –  March, 2024.

 
EDUCATION

To acknowledge the contributions of the Windrush Generation, the Royal Collection Trust, Royal Drawing School, and The Open University are collaborating on an educational programme. Further details about this initiative will be announced.

 

JESSIE STEPHENS MBE

Jessie left St Lucia aged 28 and arrived in London in 1955, where she became a strong and dedicated member of her community in Haringey, playing important roles in creating a cultural hub and campaigning for better relationships with the police.  In 1982, she was made an MBE for her services to the St. Lucian community, UK.

Jessie who is 95 years old, has been a dedicated volunteer for the ACLC (African Caribbean Leadership Company Limited) and the St Lucia Association for more than 40 years and played a part with ACLC’s founding members who attended meetings, and led campaigns to acquire the building known as West Indian Cultural Centre, in Hornsey.  In her former years, Jessie was also a Police Liaison Officer, and played an active role supporting local black youths targeted by the police, attending regular liaison meetings, some being held at the iconic cultural centre.

  

ACLC and The Cultural Centre
The cultural centre, currently in a state of disrepair, holds immense significance for the community. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Windrush Generation. Recognizing its importance, the ACLC members are fundraising to restore and preserve this cultural landmark.  

Unfortunately, in recent weeks (June) the building was targeted and vandalized.  ACLC is in need of support now more than ever.

If you would like to contribute to the restoration of the building, we invite you to donate through our JustGiving page here.

                                                   Jessie Stephens MBE, painted by Sahara Longe. 

Left: Portrait of Jessie. Above: Jessie with her son Leee John, and well wishers on the steps at Buckingham Palace.

ACLC Information and Guidance Events

31st May 2022

Windrush Compensation Scheme

ACLC will be hosting Information and Guidance sessions on;  Saturday11th June, 2nd July, 10th September, and 5th November, 2022 at 3.30 -7.30 p.m. at the Community Hub, 8  Caxton Road, Wood Green, London N22 6TB.

All are encouraged to come along to learn about the scheme and to check their eligibility to claim.  It is widely believed that there are many more people who are eligible to claim Windrush Scheme compensation. Information and Guidance Advisers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, and provide you with an Application Form.

For Application Forms and Guidance click here

 

Haringey Windrush Compensation Scheme

31st March 2022

A new project Haringey Windrush Compensation Scheme set up by the ACLC, will be hosting a  number of events over the year, some in partnership with local groups to create awareness about the Windrush Compensation Scheme that is still open and available.  Local members of the community are encouraged to come along to learn about the scheme, consider whether they are eligible to claim, ask questions and listen to others who have successfully been through the process. The project aims to provide help and information, and signpost members to professional advisers who can provide support and guidance and assess their eligibility to make a claim.

Event dates are currently being finalized and will be posted on our website when confirmed.  In the meantime, if you would like us to let you know when details are available please email; [email protected].

YOU CAN READ THE RULES AND DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM HERE:
                        Windrush Compensation Application Form: Windrush Scheme application form (UK) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Windrush Compensation Scheme Rules:  Windrush Compensation Scheme Rules (publishing.service.gov.uk)            
  

Over £33,000 awarded to organisations in North and East London as part of the Windrush Community Fund

27th January 2022

The African Caribbean Leadership Company (ACLC) is one of 13 organisations to receive funding through the Windrush Community Fund. The £500,000 Windrush Community Fund allows community and grassroots organisations to bid up to £25,000 to deliver projects to help raise awareness of the Windrush Scheme (documentation) and Windrush Compensation Scheme.

The African Caribbean Leadership Company (ACLC) in North London will receive£13,000 and use community events to raise awareness of the Windrush Compensation Scheme; encourage enquiries about the Scheme; provide support with documentation and applications; provide access to an initial point of contact for advice and clarification of entitlement; and signpost applicants to the commissioned Claimant Assistance.

Chair of the African Caribbean Leadership Company, Carmen Lomotey said:

“We are delighted to have secured funding from the Windrush Community Fund.

“We are keen to play our part to help those in our community here in the Noel Park ward of Haringey Borough, and neighbouring wards get the help they need.

“It’s so important that everyone eligible for compensation is able to get it, as it could make a big difference to their lives.”

ACLC’s Haringey Windrush Compensation Scheme will start from April. Look out for information over the next month.

For enquiries please email: [email protected].