Romanians And Europeans Association Community Hub CIC

During the financial year covered by this report, Romanians and Europeans Association Community Hub CIC (REACH CIC) has focused on strengthening community cohesion, cultural identity, and access to services for the Romanian community in Hull, while remaining inclusive and open to other European and local communities. Creating Safe, Inclusive Community Spaces: REACH CIC has facilitated safe, welcoming spaces where members of the Romanian community – and wider European communities – could come together to celebrate culture, heritage, and shared learning. Core activities included community cooking clubs, educational weekend school sessions for children, and the celebration of significant Romanian and European cultural dates such as International Women’s Day, Romanian Blouse Day (Ia Românească), Europe Day, and Romania’s Great Union Day. These activities played a vital role in reducing social isolation, particularly among migrant families, women, and older community members, while also fostering intergenerational connections. By creating environments where people felt seen, respected, and culturally understood, REACH CIC supported community wellbeing and a sense of belonging in Hull. Cultural Education and Intergenerational Impact: Through regular Cooking Club sessions held weekly (on Fridays or Thursdays), REACH CIC engaged over 100 members of the Romanian community across three generations. These sessions went beyond food preparation: they preserved traditional recipes and culinary knowledge at risk of being lost among UK-born children, while also promoting practical life skills such as budgeting, healthy eating, and cooking from scratch. The Cooking Club also functioned as an informal support network, offering a trusted space for conversation, mutual support, and confidence-building. For many participants, particularly women, this reduced isolation and strengthened peer relationships. In parallel, REACH CIC’s educational and weekend school activities supported second-generation migrant children to develop curiosity and pride in their roots through Sunday session at the Romanian Weekend School coordinated by REACH CIC. By engaging children in Romanian language, cultural learning, and creative heritage-based activities, the CIC helped strengthen identity, bilingual skills, and intergenerational understanding within families. Acting as a Bridge Between Communities and Institutions: A core function of REACH CIC during the year was acting as a bridge between the Romanian community in Hull and key institutions. This included Romanian central authorities in the UK (such as the General Consulate of Romanian in Manchester), as well as British local authorities and services in Hull (LA) and other 3rd sector organisations like Forum CIO, the 3 Million, etc. REACH CIC supported the delivery of annual consular clinics, ensuring community members had access to essential documentation and consular advice locally. These clinics significantly reduced barriers to access, particularly for vulnerable individuals, and helped lower risks associated with exploitation and modern slavery. Alongside consular services, free training on basic workers’ rights was provided, increasing awareness, empowerment, and safeguarding within the community. Health, Education, and Social Inclusion Partnerships: During the reporting period, REACH CIC completed several collaborative initiatives with Humber and Yorkshire universities, supporting community-based research through focus groups. These focused on understanding the specific barriers faced by Eastern European women in accessing cancer screening services, including smear tests as well as community training sessions. The insights gathered contributed to improved understanding among professionals and supported more culturally responsive approaches to health outreach. REACH CIC also worked closely with Hull City Council to respond to issues relating to cultural barriers within schools and social services, particularly for families with children. By providing cultural mediation, contextual insight, and community perspectives, the CIC supported better communication, trust, and outcomes between statutory services and families. Overall Community Benefit: Across all activities, REACH CIC has delivered clear public benefit by: • Reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing among migrant and minority communities • Preserving and passing on cultural heritage and language to younger generations • Increasing access to health information, consular services, and workers’ rights awareness • Supporting local authorities, schools, and health partners to work more effectively with Romanian and Eastern European communities • Strengthening community resilience, voice, and participation in local civic life Through its grassroots, culturally informed approach, REACH CIC continues to play a vital role in promoting inclusion, empowerment, and social cohesion in Hull.