They were working in isolation, and therefore many services were overlapping. Collaboration and building on strengths between groups were virtually non-existent. Having a collaborative approach, it is a common practice now for many of our members to refer their beneficiaries to other organizations in the network for services they cannot provide but others can, thus adding value to the client. The food parcels distribution for low-income families was the best example as together we have been able to support 500 families. The program also helped local Somali businesses as food parcels were purchased from them.

Member organizations currently jointly applying for funding to improve chances of success and increase the impact of their services in the area. For example, the summer project activities which were delivered through the summer break by Kulan Foundation, Somali Parents Association, Al Ansar Football Club and Minaret Community Centre, ASVO facilitated the possibility to deliver the project jointly. Kulan and Somali Parents Association also are currently working in partnership delivering tuition classes for pupils to use resources better. ASVO work is increasingly becoming more and more recognized as more organizations are contacting us to work together and improve collaborations.

ASVO is enabling small members organizations to secure funds, for example, ASVO helped Kulan Foundation to secure the Imperial Charity Fund and Locality Fund and, Somali Parents Association to secure Covid emergency funding from Comic Relief/National Emergency Trust administered through Black Training & Enterprise Group (BTEG) by assisting in project planning, activities, and support with writing the funding applications. ASVO also secured funding for a health project to be delivered by our member organization Good Effort for health and Well-Being organization which works with Women. in addition, ASVO is providing one-on-one capacity-building support including fundraising and policy development for member organizations. This has been minimal due to a lack of funding.

ASVO has been rewarding our young people from AL Ansar Football Club under 16 years who won the league. ASVO invited the winners to lunch at Nando’s restaurant in Shepherd’s Bush. It is part of our objectives to create a sense of community that is supportive and encouraging by celebrating and rewarding our young lads when they achieve something.

The collaboration between members needs to be improved and strengthened and ASVO will continue to maximize that collaboration in order for members organizations to share best practices and share knowledge and skills learned from each other. Such involvement will strengthen our course and create a sense of unity. We do understand that many organizations do not have resources and capacity as several of them work on a voluntary basis.

Strengthening our collaboration will enable us collectively to achieve our common interest to support our community and improve service provision, effective collaboration will also help utilize resources more effectively and eliminate duplication of services and improve their quality of live. There is still a long way to go with challenges ahead and we need to support each other to overcome barriers and achieve our goals.