ECA held its annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 8 July at Green Towers, Edmonton. At the meeting, ECA members and non-members got the opportunity to learn about the ECA’s operations and finances.

ECA chair, Oveta McInnis outlined the key achievements and activities of ECA over the previous year, including the appointment of new staff to support the charity, the increasing attendance of elders at the weekly Luncheon Club, the Black Film Club, the various cultural events organised to celebrate Windrush Day and Black History Month. In addition, she acknowledged the success of ECA’s 40^th anniversary celebration held at the Dugdale Arts Centre in April.

McInnis re-emphasised ECA’s four strategic priorities:

Education and Health

Community, Cultural Esteem and Economic Empowerment

Supporting the Community

Social Justice

The annual auditors report was presented, and an account was given of the financial activities from the last financial year.

Enfield Black Community Health Forum

There were several guest speakers at the AGM including, Stephanie Toryimou Chair of Enfield Black Community Health Forum (EBCHF) and the Health and Wellness Development Coordinator for the Caribbean and African Health Network (CAHN). Ms Toryimou shared CAHN and the Health Forum’s efforts to address health inequalities within the Caribbean and African communities in the UK. The EBCHF, has been running for four years, aims to improve health equity by promoting prevention services, highlighting best practices, and increasing community engagement.

She cited key issues in the community including higher rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, poor maternal health outcomes, and prostate cancer. The forum has become a trusted platform, connecting residents with NHS services and influencing decision-makers. They emphasised the need for culturally appropriate services and community involvement to improve health outcomes.

Edmonton Community Partnership

Trevor Blackman, CEO of Edmonton Community Partnership also spoke at the AGM.

Blackman outlined the partnership’s mission to provide enrichment and extra-curricular activities for young people in Edmonton. Established in 2015, the partnership expanded in 2020 to include four pillars: enrichment, extra-curricular activities, wrap-around services, and inclusion.

They raise funds to support schools with stretched budgets, offering opportunities in music, STEM, and cultural experiences. They also focus on inclusion, particularly for SEN students, and family support, leveraging additional funds from foundations and the Integrated Care Board. Blackman emphasised the importance of working in partnerships with other organisations, community engagement, and the importance of investing in education and social mobility.

Cllr Alessandro Georgiou, leader of Enfield Council

The newly elected leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Alessandro Georgiou was the final guest speaker at the event.

Cllr Georgiou expressed gratitude for being invited and acknowledges the long-standing success of Enfield Caribbean Association, highlighting its various initiatives such as the luncheon club and the Black Film Club. He praised the association’s website and financial transparency, promising to adopt similar practices for Enfield Council. The speaker emphasised a commitment to action over words, pledging support for ECA’s endeavours. Cllr Georgiou acknowledged the previous administration’s support and promised to continue collaboration and support from the new council leadership. “Although, we’ve had a change in leadership in the council. It does not mean that the approach changes. We will continue to be a good partner, a good friend to ECA.”

Each speaker answered a wide range of questions from the full-house AGM audiences. According to McInnis, “It was an excellent opportunity to fully understand the breadth of activities that ECA organises across the borough and beyond. A chance to network with similarly minded individuals and organisations trying to achieve positive initiatives for local people.

ECA is always looking for people to contribute ideas and their time to supporting and evolving our wide range of programmes. Feel free to reach out to us at info@theeca.org.uk.”