Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre (BHCAC)

 The Charity that improves the lives of disadvantaged and marginalised people while cherishing Bosnian culture and preserving the British Bosnian heritage for generations to come

Background

Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre (BHCAC) was set up in 1997 in Willesden Green, London Borough of Brent by Bosnian war survivors and former refugees with the aim to provide continued support for vulnerable members of Bosnian community once the programme of support from the Government through Refugee Council ended. 

St Andrews Church in Willesden Green generously provided space to accommodate volunteers’ work, while Trust for London funded a first initiative project enabling the Charity to roll out its first services to Bosnian refugee community in London.

Since then, further and more significant financial support came from different sources such as City Bridge Trust, Lloyds Bank Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund and Brent Council.

This financial support enabled the Charity to engage bilingual professionals including advisors, lawyers, a clinical psychologist and counsellor, and to roll out comprehensive programmes of support and address survivors multiple and complex needs.

The Charity, with support of its funders, has played a crucial role in rebuilding the lives of Bosnian war survivors in new surroundings and to date, has been providing a lifeline of support for those who struggle the most.

 

Arrival of Bosnian Refugees to the UK

The first group of Bosnian refugees to the UK arrived in autumn 1992 under the protection of UNHCR-a and Red Cross. The UK Government accepted 1000 men, survivors of concentration camps and their families (a total of 4,000 people).

A second group of 500 people were offered temporary refuge to the UK plus 20 medical evacuees who were injured or paralysed during the war and came to receive medical treatment.

Finally, there was a larger number of approximately 14,000 Bosnians who applied independently for asylum in the UK.

The newly arrived Bosnian refugees were received warmly by British people who had been alerted to the horrors of the conflict through the television and other media.

The UK Government asked the Refugee Council and three partner agencies, the British Red Cross, Refugee Action and the Scottish Refugee Council, to organise a reception programme for Bosnian evacuees. The evacuees were placed into available accommodation in clusters around the UK.

 

Reception centers were established in various parts of the UK to provide initial accommodation and support for the Bosnian evacuees prior to moving into more independent living arrangements.

Some were placed at three reception centres in London; Thorncliffe Hotel (LB of Hounslow), Hostel at Goldhawk Road (LB of Hammersmith and Fulham), and Langtry Walk Hostel at St John’s Wood (LB of Camden).

Commissioned by the Home Office, Refugee Council run Bosnian Project (1992-1995) and provided newly arrived Bosnian evacuees at London reception centers with support. Prior to the closure of Bosnian Project, around 60 vulnerable families were referred to the Wellcare Refugee Project in Willesden Green, LB of Brent for further support.

Recognising that they cannot live on sympathy, Bosnian evacuees in London engaged in self-help to provide continuous support to the most vulnerable in their community and to maintain Bosnian culture.

 

Beneficiaries Timeline & Profile

• 1997-2007: Majority of BHCAC’s beneficiaries were Londoners originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina. They have arrived to the UK as refugees in the early 1990s following Bosnian war (1992-1995), some are concentration camp survivors who arrived under UK Government Programme "1000" and the protection of UNHCR and Red Cross. Others were their family members and emergency medical evacuees. Many have seen their homes destroyed, family and friends killed, suffered torture, rape and other traumas.

 

• In January 2008, due to lack of advice services in Serbo-Croat languages in London, BHCAC expanded its services to communities from 5 western Balkan countries (Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). First expansion of services to additional 5 London communities.

 

• Year ending 31 March 2016, over 85% of all BHCAC’s beneficiaries from West Balkans were identified as disabled, 75% of beneficiaries were over the age of 65 and 93% did not speak English.

 

• Due to Universal Credit roll out in LB of Brent and lack of Welfare Benefit Rights advice services provision, BHCAC stepped out to support wider Brent community by rolling out its outreach benefits advice service at Harlesden library from February 2018. Second expansion of services to people from all community groups in LB of Brent.

 

• Year ending 31 March 2024, 1660 people benefited from BHCAC’s services. Out of this number, 6% were Londoners from West Balkans and 94% were beneficieries from the wider Brent community; Middle East (26%), Africa (17%), Europe (16%), Asia (15%), Caribbean (12%), British (4%) and other (4%). 83% were unemployed and 23% non-English speakers. 60% identified themselves as disabled, 79% were of working age, 14% age between 65-74 and 7% were over 75. 

 

Legal Status & Current Position

BHCAC is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, medium-sized, user lead and membership organisation and has 34 members and over 1600 users per year.

The Charity at its local level works with individuals from all community groups and does not exclude anyone from membership based on race, religion or any other protected characteristic. The Trustees set the annual subscription for all members. To join BHCAC's membership, please email info@bhcac.org.uk

The organisation employs 2 full-time equivalent staff. The Trustees made up of 5 elected members (who are also beneficiaries) manage the organisation.

Around 20 volunteers (6 regular and 14 occasional) (also beneficiaries) are involved in supporting the organisation’s activities. Staff and volunteers take responsibility for day-to-day activities.

Trusted and preferred by communities it serves, the Charity provides wide and warried range of services and activities, all developed in consultations with and around the needs of its users.

 

BHCAC's Annual Report 2022 (Bosnian-Serbo-Croat)

BHCAC's Annual Report 2021 

 

Quality Framework and Assurances

BHCAC holds the following accreditations and memberships:

• Advice Quality Standard (AQS) from 2015
• Investors in People since 2005
• Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations (PQASSO) at level 2 from 2004
• Member of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) from 2022
• Member of Brent Community Advice Network (BCAN) from 2016
• Member of CVS Brent since 2011
• Member of Advice UK from 2006
• BHCAC is a registered data protection controller and uses AdvicePro for its advice case management, ensuring secure transmission and storage of client data off-site
• Independently Examined Financial Accounts
• Independently Evaluated Reports for larger Projects; Outreach Project (2013-2016), Resilience Project (2016-2019)
• The organisation has Employer's and Public and Professional Indemnity Insurance in place as well as Health and Safety certificates
• Trustees, staff and volunteers hold DBS disclosure certificates
• Core principles underpinning BHCAC's advice work are free, confidential, independent, impartial and effective service

 

   

^{Bosnia and Herzegovina Community Advice Centre} 

^{Charity Registration Number: 1085815}

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