Coffee Afrik CIC: Community Bank Account

Expenses Policy

Updated March 2024

Introduction

Coffee Afrik CIC is in the process of developing and piloting ‘a Community Bank Account’ to transfer financial decision making and ownership from the organsation to the community.

The Bank Account will be the foundation for investment into community infrastructure, community-led business ventures, and into the community itself (through financial hardship funds).

We are using the Open Collective (via Social Change Nest) as an transparent platform to raise, host, and spend funds.

How to submit an expense

The Community Bank Account allows any Coffee Afrik Lead and/or community member to be

Re-imbursed for a pre-agreed expense (ie. buying equipment; food; transport);
Submit an invoice for a service/time (as agreed);
Request a grant for community-led projects or initiatives;
Request a financial hardship grant.

You can submit an expense by clicking this link. You will be sent to a page where you will be able to input your bank account details for the payout.

Please note you will also have to create an Open Collective profile to be paid.

Approval process

The Community Bank Account admin team (Abdirahim Hassan, Francesca Godfrey, Simeera Hassan) will be regularly monitoring requested expenses, and will endeavour to approve any requests as soon as possible.

Social Change Nest (who operate the platform) process payments on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Documentation required:

Expenses: receipts, however this not compulsory (particularly for smaller amounts);
Invoices: please submit an invoice to the relevant team member by email, before requesting funds on the platform;
Grants should be pre-discussed with the Coffee Afrik team prior to making a request. For larger amounts a proposal may be required.

Plans for the Community Bank Account

In the coming months, a community-led governance approach for the Bank Account will be co-produced with the community.

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact Francesca

f.godfrey@coffeeafrique.co.uk who will be able to help you.

Contribution to Coffee Afrik CIC

Wild Times Learning Interview contribution

Collective balance