Section Guide: 

  • Foreword
  • Keyfindings
  • Introduction
  • Identifiedoutcomes
  • AFiUKwordcloud
  • OutcomeImportance
  • Futuremeasurementactivities 8. Summary
  • Notes

AFiUK


1. Foreword

Imagine the parent-child relationship with all the complexities that come with love, emotion, and responsibility for another human being. Add to this relationship the school and all the experiences that this brings. Parenting is a highly rewarding experience, but it is also hard, emotional work and it gets more complicated the older the child gets. 

For migrant families, this complex mix is also compounded by the need to navigate cultural differences and differing social norms. For third culture children, this is their daily experience, having to negotiate a different cultural terrain both at home and at school. 

African Families in the UK (AFiUK) exists to provide information, training and access to timely information to help newly arrived migrant families to navigate these new social and cultural situations and to make the most of their newly adopted country. 

The base of our volunteers are migrants themselves and so they have the ‘insider’ experience, backed by relevant training to support the children and families in a way that is relevant to them. 

This stakeholder survey has given us the opportunity to reflect on the social impact that we are making to the individuals, families and organisations with whom we have had contact. It has been heartening to read people’s perceptions and views regarding the effects of our work and activities. 

Thank you very much to those who took the time to answer the questions and in that way ‘speak to us’. 

Jacqui Gitau & Rachel Walton 

Directors
African Families in the UK



Rachel Walton at a reception given at Buckingham Palace by the Queen, on 14th February 2018, in recognition of the contribution of those in the Commonwealth diaspora from across the UK who had made a notable contribution, either to their own or the wider community.

2. Key findings of this report 

  • AFiUK was found to bring about a range of benefits to the individuals, families, communities and organisations that it is involved with 
  • Respondents rated the work of AFiUK highly 
  • AFiUK’s activities were linked to improvements in aspects of social integration, intracultural bonds, wellbeing and personal development, and education and training 
  • Outcomes related to wellbeing and personal development were reported to be most important for children and families 
  • Outcomes related to social integration were reported to be most important for local communities 
  • Future social impact measurement activities should move towards the development of comprehensive case studies and the quantitative assessment of both short-term and long-term changes resulting from contact with AFiUK 


Jacqui Gitau with Sarah Taylor, Oxfordshire High Sherriff, in January 2017 at the High Sherrif Community Awards Ceremony, Oxford Town Hall. 

3. Introduction

This report describes the differences that African Families in the UK (AFiUK) makes to the lives of the individuals, families, communities and organisations that it comes into contact with. 

The report was compiled after consultation with 18 stakeholders, including volunteers/employees (n= 2), attendees (n= 7) and individuals linked through another organisation (n= 5). The consultation took place in September 2018
Feedback was gathered using Survey Monkey. The survey consisted of nine questions plus an opportunity to add extra comments at the end of the survey. Respondents were able to receive assistance or to complete the survey offline and/or in a conversational style if requested. 

The central aim of the consultation activity was to gather feedback in order to outline the social impact of AFiUK. The resulting report has been compiled in order to help AFiUK to effectively report and build on the work that they are doing, to move forwards with their social impact measurement and to amplify the positive differences that they are making. 

Key themes were identified and interpreted using the aims of AFiUK as a framework. 

Quotes from consultation responses have been highlighted in text boxes throughout this report.

When asked to rate AFiUK for the work that they do to create a positive social impact within the local community, respondents gave an average of 4.81 out of 5 stars.


4. Outcomes identified through consultation

Stakeholders were asked for their comments regarding the nature of the differences that AFiUK makes to individuals, families, communities and organisations. 

The outcomes identified in these responses were found to cluster around five key themes:

Social integration
  • Promotes intercultural exchanges/interaction
  • Facilitates interaction, inclusion, connection, adaptation & integration 
  • Develops greater awareness of African culture and people 
  • Develops understanding of both old & new cultural values 
  • Helps individuals/families adapt to a new culture 
  • Encourages individuals to play an active role on the local community 
  • Celebrates diversity 
  • Represents minorities

Intracultural bonds 
  • Helps to give a collective voice to the African community 
  • Builds/maintains a sense of community 
  • Promotes a sense of pride for each culture

Wellbeing & Personal Development 
  • Provides encouragement 
  • Provides a supportive environment 
  • Develops/highlights opportunities 
  • Reduces isolation 
  • Empowers & builds confidence/self-esteem 
  • Promotes friendships & a sense of belonging 
  • Allows people to feel heard & understood 
  • Provides inspiration

Creating links/networks 
  • Assists & signposts 
  • Facilitates multi agency working 
  • Promotes wider networks 
  • Arranges social events & meetings 
  • Platform for community interaction 

Education & Training 
  • Develops knowledge & understanding 
  • Serves as a resource for information 
  • Builds skills 
  • Promotes training opportunities 
  • Supports & encourages learning 

Themes were not mutually exclusive and outcomes were sometimes found to span multiple themes.

“AFiUK reaches far and wide into the community and identifies individuals who slip through the net of social services and support networks and who are isolated and stuck.” 

5. AFiUK word cloud 

Feedback comments regarding the social impact of AFiUK generated the following word cloud:



“Its team empowers women and families, nurtures, develops them and helps them to connect to relevant networks in the community.” 

6. Outcome Importance 

Stakeholders were also asked to list what they perceived to be the top three most important outcomes resulting from AFiUK’s activities, firstly for children and families and then for local communities. 

Feedback responses were categorised according to the five previously identified themes: 

  • Social integration 
  • Intracultural bonds 
  • Wellbeing and personal development 
  • Education and training 
  • Outcomes related to all five themes featured within the lists of the outcomes that were perceived to be most important. However, there were differences in the frequency with which outcomes from each theme featured. 
  • The charts below show the percentage of outcomes that respondents identified as most important for children and families (Figure 1) and for local communities (Figure 2) according to each theme. 

Changes related to wellbeing and personal development were perceived to be the most important outcomes for children and families. These included changes in empowerment, confidence, sense of belonging, feeling heard, and personal growth. Points related to social integration were perceived to be the next most important and these included changes covering aspects of inclusion, increased interactions, and building a sense of community. 

Changes related to social integration were perceived to be the most important outcomes for local communities. Here, these changes included community cohesion, community engagement, and valuing diversity. Points related to creating links and networks were perceived to be the next most important and these included changes covering aspects of bringing people together, the provision of networking opportunities, and providing a forum for engagement. 

7. Future Measurement Activities 

It is recommended that future social impact measurement activities look towards: 

  1. The development of case studies. 
  2. Quantitative assessment of the extent to which beneficiaries self-report experiencing changes in some of the identified outcomes following taking part in AFiUK activities. This could initially be carried out using a cross-sectional design. 
  3. The assessment of both short-term and long-term changes resulting from contact with AFiUK. Outcomes could be assessed before and after a single session or after continued attendance at sessions/events. 
  4. Comparisons with appropriate control groups in order to more strongly infer causality. 

“AFiUK also has a talent for developing people from low impact and low confidence to becoming proactive leaders in their own communities and enabling each individual to thrive.” 

8. Summary 

The results of this September 2018 feedback consultation indicate that AFiUK delivers clear social impact and creates positive change for the individuals, families, communities and organisations that it works with. 

The social impact created by AFiUK was found to fall within five main themes: 

  • Intracultural bonds 
  • Social integration 
  • Wellbeing and personal development 
  • Education and training 
  • AFiUK was rated highly (4.81/5 stars) by those who completed the consultation survey. The results of the consultation and the feedback quotes highlighted within text boxes throughout this report provide clear indications of the positive impact of AFiUK and the esteem that its work is held in. 
  • It is recommended that future social impact measurement activities move towards developing case studies and the quantitative assessment of both short-term and long-term changes in key outcomes. Building towards the inclusion of suitable control groups will help to build robust and compelling evidence for the continued social impact created by AFiUK. 

“Helps people to feel supported and have a sense of community.” 

9. Notes 

African Families in the UK (AFiUK) works to equip the African families in the UK to be active and engaged members of society, to make the most of available opportunities and to maintain the strong family and community networks that Africans are known for. AFiUK aim to be the one stop place for families of African origin resident in the UK to seeking advice and information on matters relating to parenting, children’s education and family friendly activities that enrich family lives. They also offer consultation and expert knowledge to professionals and practitioners from the Local Authority and other family support agencies. Please see their website for contact detail and more information. 

This report was authored by Dr Jemma Harris. Jemma is a Chartered Psychologist providing research and communication services to social enterprises and businesses with purpose. Please see her Twitter for contact details and more information.

Photos provided by AFiUK.



“AFiUK's contribution cannot be underestimated.”