NORTH WEST
COMMUNITY
NETWORK
ANNUAL REPORT
Dec 2023- Dec 2024
_North West Community Network Annual Report 2024_
## **Chairperson’s Message**
As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with gratitude for the resilience and commitment demonstrated by our team, our partners, and the community. This year has presented us with both challenges and opportunities that have strengthened our resolve to lobby and advocate for our members and the sector. I am excited to share our achievements with you in this report.
One of the highlights this year was our 30 Years celebration event. This was such a lovely opportunity to bring our members together to celebrate the work of the last 30 years and to engage with our members on our future priorities. Another highlight from 2024 was our Funding Fair. This was in response to our engagement with members which highlighted the ongoing challenge of sourcing funding. This year we have frequently lobbied for the sector on our local media channels for better terms and conditions and acknowledgement for the incredible work carried out within the sector. We have continued to represent the sector on a wide range of cross-sectoral forums, local and regional.
At the core of all of our work is our collaborative approach. This has been very evident over the last year particularly in strengthening our relationship with the University through our Ideas Fund work and our Community Research Collective. We have continued to fulfil our development coordinator role with the Ideas Fund in partnership with Developing Healthy Communities. Many of these projects are having life-changing impacts in the Derry & Strabane area and communities have told us they feel valued and welcome the community-led collaboration. This type of work is at the core of the ethos of NWCN, community-led approaches and by starting with what matters to them. We had two very successful events this year in March and December to showcase the projects. We are excited as we embark on a new Evidence Building phase with this work.
We continue to deliver our Human Library sessions. This work continues to challenge stigma and our unconscious bias. It helps to widen perspectives on relevant societal issues and has a significantly positive impact on both participants and our Human Books. We have delivered many of these sessions this year in partnership with others.
Another triumph during 2024 was the work on our HOPE project in partnership with Resilio. Our year long planning culminated in a week of HOPE events at the end of April. Many community groups joined our campaign and organised their own Hope events. We ended the week with a major event in the Guildhall on Saturday 27[th] April, opened by the Mayor with the young people of Leap Lessons performing stage, as well as Ardnashee Choir. This was then followed by our biggest Human Library session ever!
Thank you to the Board of Management for all your hard work over the last year. Particular thanks also to our funders - Department for Communities, National Lottery Community Fund and Halifax Foundation whose valuable support enables us to work in the way we do. And thanks to our members and partners for their invaluable collaboration. Finally and importantly, I wish to thank our staff Roisin and Neola for their hard work, energy, and commitment over the last year. Let us move forward with determination and enthusiasm for this coming year.
Liam Milligan, Chairperson NWCN
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_North West Community Network Annual Report 2024_
## _**Dec 2023 – Dec 2024 Top Achievements**_
_‘Our vision is of a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable community and voluntary sector in the North West region’_
- 437 participants benefiting from NWCN activities
- 10 x NWCN (stand-alone & partnership) events delivered
- 8 x Human Library Sessions
- 48 x E-bulletins disseminated
- 11 x Consultation bulletins disseminated
- 30 x groups received 1:1 support
- 14 x NWCN attendance/representation on public bodies & Cross/Sectoral forums
- Continuing to fulfil the role of Development Coordinator, in partnership with Developing Healthy Communities for the Ideas Fund (16 groups receiving support)
- Development of Derry/Strabane as a District of HOPE, week-long community events and crosssector collaboration
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_North West Community Network Annual Report 2024_
## **NWCN ACTIVITIES DEC 23-DEC 24**
- Rainbow Project
- REACH Across
- Red Cross
- RNIB
This period saw Network involvement in the following range of activities:
## **Engagement events:**
- AGM
- Civic Initiative People's Forum
- ComKit Workshop
- St Columb’s Park House
- The Junction
- The National Lottery Community Fund
- Ulster University
- Waterside Theatre
- Western Trust Local Planning Group
- • Youth Action NI
- Community Leadership Forum
- Day of Hope
- Factcheck NI Workshop
- Funding Fair
- Human Library Events
- MacMillian Coffee Morning
- NW Transport Plan Session
- 30[th] Birthday Celebration
## **NWCN has productively engaged**
## **with:**
- British Science Association - The Ideas Fund
- CHOICE
- Collaboration for Change
- Community Development Health Network
- • Community Development Networks Forum (CDNF)
- Community Dialogue
- Community Places
- Derry City & Strabane District Council: Strategic Growth Partnership
- Developing Healthy Communities
- NI Equality Coalition
- Forum for Ageing Better (FAB!)
- Healthy Cities Leadership Group
- Northern Ireland Office
- NI Anti-Poverty Network
- • NICVA
- Northern Ireland Public Health Research Network
- NWRC
## **Group Support:**
Below are some examples of local groups that NWCN has supported, this includes:
- African Caribbean Community Network
- Clarendon Group Committee
- • Fountain Street Community Association, Strabane
- Foyle Women’s Information Network
- • FUSE Art
- Men’s Health Improvement Project
- Strabane Health Improvement Project
- • Habitat Housing, Farland Way
## **Through the Ideas Fund:**
- ARC Fitness
- Dennett Valley She Shed
- In Your Space Circus
- Informing Choices NI
- Parenting Focus
- Sion Mills Community Forum
- The Yellow Wood Group
- • YMCA
## **Policy/Surveys Submissions &**
## **Workshops:**
- NICVA – Concordat Framework Consultation
- Urban Villages and DfC Test & Learn involvement
- Draft Programme for Government 2024-2027 input
- DfC survey on Infrastructure Funding NW T t Pl 2035
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_North West Community Network Annual Report 2024_
## **NWCN PUBLIC BENEFITS:**
**The public benefit requirement is defined in the Charities Act and states that purposes must be for the public benefit to be charitable.**
Below are some examples of how NWCN met the Public Benefit 2023/2024
## **The advancement of education**
- Consulting with members & wider sector regarding training they require
- Good Governance Training
- HOPE Project
- FactCheck NI Training
## **The advancement of citizenship or community development**
- Advice such as Governance, Setting up a charity for the first time, Constitutions etc.
- • Advice on sourcing funding
- Assistance with Interview Panels
- Human Library Events
- Staff Attendance at training/seminars & workshops so that our knowledge, understanding and skills can be developed & shared where needed, such as First Aid Training
- Monthly Consultation Bulletins
- Signposting
- Sharing of relevant information on social media
- Sharing of information such as providing Policies, Articles of Association etc. to member groups
- Member of DC&SDC Strategic Growth Partnership
- • Weekly E-bulletins
## **The advancement of health or the saving of lives**
## **The prevention or relief of poverty**
- Assisting groups with funding applications
- The Ideas Fund
- Funding Fair
- Pathways out of Poverty event attendance
- Freeze the Cuts Campaign Group
- British Science Association – The Ideas Fund
- Promoting groups that provide health support on a regular basis
- Providing Networking opportunities through our
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||_North West Community Network_
_Al R_|
|---|---|
|_nnua eport 2024_
**NWCN INCOME & EXPENDITURE**
**(as at 31 March 2024)**
**Unrestricted**
**Income**
**Restricted**
**Income**
**Total Funds**
**Total**
**Funds**
**2024**
**2024**
**2024**
**2023**
**Restricted Income**
Dept for Communities
-
52,631
52,631
60,394
Awards For All
-
1,385
1,385
7,107
Halifax
-
126
126
-
British Science Association
-
41,469
41,469
-
John Moores Foundation
-
144
144
529
DCSDC
-
4,000
4,000
3,677
-
**99,755**
**99,755**
**71,707**
**Voluntary Income**
Membership Fees
675
-
675
96
British Science Association
22,627
-
22,627
26,613
Pacific Lutheran University
-
-
-
7,100
Gasyard Wall Feile
760
-
760
-
Other Income
6,872
-
6,872
2,125
18,250
-
18,250
6,872
**Totals**
**42,312**
**-**
**42,312**
**40,681**
**42,312**
**99,755**
**142,067**
**112,388**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**Total**
**2024**
**Total**
**2023**
Wages & Salaries
-
57,652
57,652
49,626
Programme Costs: Halifax
-
126
126
-
Programme Costs: John Moore
-
144
144
529
Programme Costs: Awards for All
-
1,350
1,350
7,107
Programme Costs: PLU
-
-
-
7,100
Programme Costs: BSA
-
28,366
28,366
13,037
Rent & Utilities
-
5,520
5,520
5,520
Insurance
-
1,104
1,104
1,018
Pension Costs
-
3,068
3,068
3,068
Printing, Posting & Stationery
-
-
-
211
Programmes, Meetings &
Seminars
14,964
328
15,292
1,815
Accountancy
-
960
960
960
Computer Costs
738
232
970
324
Bank Charges
275
-
275
395
Subscriptions
60
-
60
60
Sundry
15
-
15
187
Depreciation
-
552
552
657
**16,052**
**99,402**
**115,454**
**91,614**
**Current Liabilities**
**2024**
**2023**
Debtors
761
Grants Due
6,012
5,794
**6,012**
**6,555**
Creditors
Deferred Income
30,570
387
Accruals
4,415
2,733
**34,985**
**3,120**||
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_North West Community Network Annual Report 2024_
## **NWCN BALANCE SHEET**
|**(as at 31 March 2024)**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Fixed Assets**
Tangible Assets
987
**Current Assets**
Debtors
6,012
6,555
Cash at bank and in hand
105,506
46,582
**111,518**
**53,137**
**Creditors: amounts falling**
**due within one year**
(34,985)
(3,120)
**Net current assets**
76,533
**Total assets less**
77,520
**current liabilities**
**Net assets**
**77,520**
**Funds**
Restricted
11,076
Unrestricted
66,444
**77,520**|**2023**
**£**
890
50,017
50,907
**50,907**
10,723
40,184
**50,907**|
|---|---|
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_North West Community Network Annual Report 2024_
## **NWCN Membership 2023 - 2024**
|ALLY Foyle|Lettershandoney & District
Dev Group|
|---|---|
|ARC Fitness|International School for Peace
Studies Ltd|
|AWARE Defeat Depression|Lifestart Foundation Ltd|
|Bogside & Brandywell Health Forum|Mary O’Dwyer|
|Bridge Accessible Transport|Maydown Community Assoc|
|Cathedral Youth Club|North West Disability Forum|
|CAUSE NI Ltd|North West Forum for Older
People|
|Clarendon Community Committee|North West Methodist Mission|
|Derry Youth & Community
Workshop|North West Volunteer Centre|
|Eden Place Arts Centre|Oban on the Foyle|
|Eliza Browning|Parenting Focus|
|Far and Wild|Shelter NI|
|Focus on Family|St Columb’s Park House|
|Foyle Friends of Ukraine|The Churches Trust|
|Foyle Hospice|The Playhouse|
|Guildhall Press|Waterside Women’s Centre|
|Hillcrest Trust|Women’s Centre Derry|
|HURT|YMCA|
|Institute Football Club|Youth Action NI|
|Kinship Care|Zero Waste North West|
_Thanks to all our signed-up members, we appreciate your support! Interested in becoming a Network Member? Email info@nwcn.org_
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_North West Community Network Annual Report 2024_
## **Acknowledgements**
Many thanks to our Management Committee for their continued support of the organisation:
- Liam Milligan – North West Methodist Mission (Chair)
- Patricia Bray – NW Disability Forum (Treasurer)
- Donna McAnneny – John Moore’s Foundation
- Martin McCartney – Maydown Community Association
- Mary Scally – NW Forum For Older People
- Eliza Browning – Committee on the Administration of Justice
- Nuala Crilly – Waterside Women’s Centre
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Executive Committee members for their hard work for another year, we really appreciate all the help and support they provide guiding us in our work.
We were delighted to welcome a new member of staff to the NWCN team last year, Ian Lennox. Ian was a student placement who was working with us on our Infrastructure work with Ulster University. We would also like to thank our recent intern – Jacob Martinez, who was placed with us through the HECUA programme. We valued their work and help immensely.
We would also like to thank all of our funders who make the work we do possible!
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_North West Community Network Annual Report 2024_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
During this period NWCN received core & project funding from:
Community Investment Fund
North-West Community Network
10-14 Bishop Street
Derry~Londonderry
BT48 6PW
Tel: (028) 7127 9090
Email: info@nwcn.org
Web: www.nwcn.org
Co-ordinator Administrator
Roisin McLaughlin Neola Nelis McCrossan
roisin@nwcn.org info@nwcn.org
Accountants: Banking:
McGroarty McCafferty & AIB (NI)
Company Limited Strand Road
2 Carlisle Terrace Derry
Derry BT48 6JX
A registered Charity with The Charity Commission NI: 100015
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