History

Launching of Fourah Bay College Alumni Association UK, and Charity Registration

The FBC AA UK was launched at House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0AA in 2017.

 

Dignitaries included the Hon. James Cleverly, Event Sponsor, former Vice-Chancellor and former Director Alumni Relations, former Acting High Commissioner to the Court of St James, the High Commissioner to the Court of St James, the former Head of the Church Mission Society, the former head of JEFCAS, University of Bradford.  

 

It achieved registered UK charitable status in 2020.

Some highlights from our journey:

2017

• Mandate received from former Vice-Chancellor Professor Ekundayo Thompson, former Director, Alumni Relations,   Mrs Bernadette Cole and the entire Fourah Bay College Executive Administration to establish a UK alumni association in 2017 coinciding with the 190th anniversary of this venerable institution.

• Interim Executive formed after first meeting at residence of former Acting Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the Court of St James, Mr James Alie.

• Created Official WhatsApp Group to enable effective communication.

•  Launch of association at House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 0AA. Dignitaries included the Hon. James Cleverly, Event Sponsor, former Vice-Chancellor and former Director Alumni Relations, former Acting High Commissioner to the Court of St James, the High Commissioner to the Court of St James, the former Head of the Church Mission Society, the former head of JEFCAS, University of Bradford.

• Received donation of library books from a Sierra Leonean, Daniel Rogers of the Library Operations and Engagement Team at the House of Commons Library.

• A link with Durham University was established.

2018

• Raised £1600 in conjunction with UK registered charity, Engineers for Change Sierra Leone in a sponsored walk across London’s Thames Bridges during that summer.

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2019

• Established relationship with University Librarian and Campus Librarian, IPAM, Professor Miriam Conteh-Morgan. An executive member visited Sierra Leone and paid her a courtesy call.

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2020 

• Established relationship with Acting Head Librarian, Rev. Oliver Louis Harding.

• Trustees appointed.

• Achieved registered UK charitable status.

• Opened Bank Account with The Co-op Bank.

• Membership Subscription introduced.

• New and enlarged executive established including the appointment of a Christian and an Islamic Chaplain.

• Enlarged executive and establishment of five committees for the delivery of strategic aims and objectives:

 

       - Governance

       - Finance and Bid-Writing

       - Communications and Public Relations

       - External Relations including a UK scope and Global Alumni

       - External Relations Committee in Sierra Leone will include a focus of building relationships with the following FBC

        stakeholders: The Executive Administration; Lecturers and Tutors, The Student Body and Sierra Leone based alumni.   

• Liaised with a London based shipper/freight forwarder to collect, store and ship library books to Freetown

• Have engaged the services of an international bid writing consultant who worked closely with Engineers for Change Sierra Leone and assisted them in securing a successful bid.

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2021

• External Lead SL, Mr Kweku Djang, PR & Comms Lead Mr Alfred Syl-Turay and Governance & Constitutional Lead, Mrs Henrietta O. Harding met with Professor Lawrence Kamara, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dr Tonya Musa, Director of Alumni Affairs International Directorate and stakeholder representatives on campus in May. They were given a very warm welcome by all, followed by a conducted tour of campus by Dr Musa and an official handing over ceremony of nearly 700 relevant library books a few days afterwards.

• A Concept Paper has been submitted by the Executive Administration to FBC AA UK which has now been incorporated into this document that articulates FBC AA UK’s vision and objectives.

• Amongst the short-term objectives is now the LIBRARY PROJECT conceived by Henrietta Harding and team after her visit in what can now be described or perceived as a ‘ low hanging fruit’. This premise has galvanised and propelled FBC AA UK executives and membership into action to create a platform to raise global awareness of the cause and substantial funds in tandem for not only this project but also future projects

 

 

2022 and beyond
Here’s what we are going to focus on next:

• Public Relations Opportunity regarding ongoing events and deployment of resources.

• Execution of project(s) delivery after the scoping mission by executive members to Sierra Leone in 2021 that can now be supported by a range of online fundraising platforms and the development of a comprehensive bid-writing strategy to acquire substantial funds from international grant making trusts, philanthropic organisations and sponsors.

• Assist librarians with the enhancement of the facilities of the new data management centre on campus.

• Financially assist by subscribing to international journals on behalf of FBC.

• Establish solid ties with UK university libraries under the professional auspices of Daniel Rogers.

• Cultivate, develop and cement ties with premier UK institutions and in the first instance to primarily reignite relationships with Durham University and Church Mission Society.

• Ensure all committees are regularly delivering their strategic and operational objectives including the Public Relations & Communications Committee creating a strong online presence including a website and a strategy for the recruitment of alumni and supporters.