Registration number N1067915
The Big House (Ireland)
Company limited by guarantee
Directors report and financial statements
for the year ended 31 January 2024

The Big House (Ireland)
Contents
Page
Direciors report
tndependenl Examiner's Report
Staiernenl of Financial Activilies
Balance sheet
Notes lo the financial statements
10-14

The Big House (Ireland)
Directors Report
for the year ended 31 January 2024
The Dii'ectors prescnt their repoi't aiid Ilie financial slalemenls for the year ended 31 January 2024.
The accounts have bccn prepared in accordance with the accounting policies lo the accounts and comply with
Ihc Ch￿ily's governing d()cument, (he Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and "Accounting aiid Repoiting
by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable lo charities preparing their accounts in
accordance with the Financial Reporiiiig sta11d￿d applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in
October 2019.
Structure) governance and management
The Big House (Ireland) is a conipaiiy limited by guarantee, registered in Northern Irelaiid 011 30th January
2008 and a charity rcgi%lered with Ihc Charity Commi%%ion for Noriheni Ireland on 19th January 2015. Its
governing documenls are it,8 Memorandum and Articles of Associaii()n.
The Directors of the Company are al,%0 the Charity Tru.%tee.% and consist of thc per¥on,% who arc from
time-to-time rnembers of the Compaiiy. A Director must be someone who has confimied their acceptance of
the objccls and etho% of the Company and their personal acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ a5 Saviour and
IA)rd and belief in the Doctrines sel out in article 3 of the Memorandum of Association.
The operation of the charity under the govemance of the Board of Dir￿tOrS is the responsibilily of the CEO
(parl-time, 1.5 hour.s per wcek). There is I fuLI-limc mcmber uf slitff. Programme Worker (35 hours per week).
3 part-lime members of staff rcsp()iisible t() Ihc CEO.. a Hou,8c Chaplalli (.30 hi)urs pci. wcck), H()usc Maiidger
(22.5 hour,% per weck), Couiisellor (15 hour5 per weck), and Iwo sessional workers. A sessioiial Counsellor (20
hour5 per week), and Grants Manager (8 hours per week).
The House Manager carries out adminislralive tasks associated with Ihe running of (he charily. Coun.selling
service and co-ordiiiates programme aiid house bo()kings. The House Maiiager also eiisure5 that the premise5
are fit for purpose. The House Chaplain has oversight of the prayer life and spiritual aspccts of the charily and
ils, programmc; suppoitiiig Staff, v(?luiileer5, ministry leader5 aiid young people. The House Chaplain also
develops and delivers pastoral training lo i)Iher organisali()Iis, leaders and v()lunlecrs aiid has ovcrsighi of the
charity'5 Child Protection. The Programine Worker primarily vi5ils youth groups & event5, schools across
Ireland and devclops non-residcnlial y()uih programmcs al The Big H()usc. Thc Counscllor provides
couiiselling lo young people through our Listening Space Service and provides therapeutic input into Ir8ining
rnal¢rial%. The .4e%%ional Coun.%cll()r providc% wcckly couii.sclling se5%ions for young pcoplc. The Grant
Manager i&> rebponsible for the regular submission of grant applications to fund the charity's work.
The Big House benefils from additional volunteer help. This help has reduced posl-covid, bul there is a
cuttent team of 18 volunteer5 who support and deliver programmes or maintenance in the House and grounds.
Directors
The directors who served during the year were as follows
Sieph¢n Cave
David Dunlop (Chair)
David Ferguson
Kathryn Harte
Prof Dame Judith Hill
Noel Lavery
Ashley Parks
Dr David Rock (from October 2024)
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The Big House (Ireland)
Directors Report
for the year ended 31 January 2024
Objectives and activities
The objects for which the company is established are..
Th¢ purpo.¥es of The Big House Ireland are..
a) the advancement of the Christiiin Faith by Evangclism Dis¥iplcship and othcr mcans.
b) th¢ adva]Icem¢nt of education of young people and adults such as may improve the health and wellbeing
of young people.
c) the relief of distress or mental illnesb and the enhancement of the wellbeing of young people by the
provision of pastoral support and couns¢lling'
d} Ihe protn(Ition of social inclusioi) of young people in groups and orgwiisations particularly, but not
exclusively, Ihose with a Christian ethos, through the provision of training. advice, 5UPPOrt, and other
resources.
e} the helping of young people, especially bul not exclusively through Leisure time activities, so as lo develop
their capabilities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society;
the provision of facilitics in the inlere51s of Social welfare for recreation and other leisure lime occupations
with th¢ object of improving the condilioiis of life of, particularly bul not exclusively. young people living on
the island of Ireland (Ihc 'arca of bencfil").
g) the promolioii of Such other exclu.4ively charilable purposes according to the law of Northern Ircland as
may from time 10 tlme be determined by the Director5.
The current strategy of The Big House lo deliver these purposes is through their value-led programmes,
value-led place and value-led people. We want each young person who atleiid5 our programme, or place, lo
know that they are MADE I KNOWN ILOVED I OF VALUE I WORTHY OF RESPECT - n() matter who
they are or what they are faciiig iii life. We fiiid tliese values lo have significant positive impact on a young
pers()n's adolcsLciil j()urney and dcvel()pmciit of rcsilicnLe and wcllbcing iii IAfe.
There are five main areas of charitable focus..
Youth Sessions
Al present we are unable lo Nn residential programmes, so we run most of our value-led programmes during
llon-rcsidenlial evciits at lh¢ H()usc, wlicn youth gi'oups visit Thc Big Hvube. We also take oui. pi'ogrdmmc5 to
local youth group5 venue5, schools and youth conferencesl events.
Training
The training dclivcrcd by Th¢ Big Housc 15 based on professional expcrti5e, personal expericnce. and Biblical
reflection. We aim lo equip leaders, youth workers and parent5 to respond in caring, practical, and helpful
ways wheii they encounter youiig pe()ple who are dealing with difficuli issues or circumstances, a150 10
understand the limitations of their rol¢ and know whcrc lo find further help. Wc seek to cquip Ih¢m with an
undei'slanding of the L55ue5, provided directly and indirectly by experts in the field, with an insight into the
young people's experience through personal stories, an understanding of how our Christian faith can shape our
response, practical suggestions frorn those with experience of helping young peopl¢ with the issue, and
sources of further Iielp and support. We delivei. this Irainiiig through our own events (in person and onliiie)
and at the invitation of churches, Conference￿￿. and other organisalions lo participalc in ihcir leader training
programmes.
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The Big House (Ireland)
Directors Report
for the year ended 31 January 2024
Youth Counselling and Listening Support
Through our engagement with young people, and much current research, we continue to be very awarc that
mai)y young people would benefit significaiitly from couiiselling bul arc often un4ible to acces5 such a scrvice.
Sctvice pri)vision is signifiLanily under rcsourLe5 in health and educational settings, and Ihe charitable sector
is then turned lo. We are also aware that some young people connected with churches and Christiaii youth
organisalions struggle lo know how their faith fit5 With their current experience and value the opportunity to
include their faith in couiisclling convcrsations. Our couiiselling service, The Listening Space, regularly
receives referrals from young people, parents, youth workers and G.Ps. Our coun5ellors are qualified aiid
experienced in working with young people, and all young people can avail of the service regardless of their
faith or background. We also provide a 'Talking Space, which is a one-off opportunity for young people 10 talk
to a coun5ellor al a camp or conference.
Youth Resources
We cutTently have two resources that are available lo pastorally support young people, aloiig with Iraiiiing and
session guides for their leaders. Shaken is a resource thal take.% young peoplc through 20 posilivc coping
mechani%mb with the hope that some of these will provide positive ways 10 deal with issue5 as they arise,
Steady is a resource that lak¢.% young peopl¢ d¢cp¢r into thc journey of faith and how body, mind aiid spiril are
connected as Ihey develop in life and faith. It also has training and a leader's guide available. The final part of
the .%eric% Sirong will bc complctcd during 2024. A further rc%ource, Rcfre.sh, is in carly planning %lage.s and
will be wriiien during 2024. This resource will be aimed ai adolescenl females. The hope is that these
resources individually and i(Ig¢iher will support Ilic work of youih leaders and churches in helping young
people 10 develop strong resilient lives that are fu¢ll¢d by their faith in God.
Retreats
As part of our commitment to the pastoral support of those working wilh young people, and a prayerful
approach iii youth ministry, we have begun hosting regular retreats for organi5ational staff tean15, ministry
leaders, and individua15. Retreais are also available to youth groups.
The trustees have paid due regard 10 guidance issued by the Charity Commission in decidiiig what activities
the charity bhould undertake
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The Big House (Ireland)
Directors Report
for the year ended 31 January 2024
Achievements and performance
This year has been a year of growth and change for The Big House.
Programme
In summary, we have provided..
Approx 350 free counselliiig sessions for young people in The Listening Space
Retreats at The Big House for 143 ministry leadcr.slclergy.
Pastoral traiiiing and Support for over l 000 youth and ministry leaders acros5 Irelaiid.
140 youth ,4essions across Northern Irelaiid (youth groups / schoolsl s(Kial work groups I CEF. YFC & SU
groups).
We have also provided Pastoral Support lo SUNI'S summer camps and missions programme. the Meihodisl
Church in Irelaiid's Youih Weekend, Auiumn Soul, and seminar% at the Church of Ireland's Youth Festival,
Summer Madncss.
This has been achieved through the dedicated and skilled work of our staff team.
Our House Chaplain has developed a programme of retreats for church and youih leaders. which has steadily
grown Ihr(Trughoul the year. He has al,%0 b¢¢n parl of shaping a .%ignificaiil bespoke organisational pastoral
support package for another charity during their summer youih programmci, SUNI. This has been a
significant parti)er%hip 10 fnrge and will lay Ihc groundwork for futurc collaboration.
Our House Manager has continued t() pnjvidc significant administrative support to the organisati()n aiid is
working lo bring the Housc up lo staiidard lo become registered with (he Tourism Nl for overnight slays. Thi5
work will bc completed later iii 2024 iind will a5biSt with our fiiianccs.
Our programme worker has continued lo deliver our Shaken programme to P7 pupils in schoo15 and youth
groups Ireland. He has also de￿Vered youth sessions at denominational youih confcrences and cvenls. We
have not bccn in a p()%ition to re-start our resideiitial programme as our facility has not been able lo
accomtnodale enough people.
Our CEO has completed the writing of our third resource, Strong and this will move lo design and publishing
latcr in 2024. Additi()nal versions of Shaken have a150 beeii explored, aiid coiiversalions with Biblica as lo
overseas development have commeiiced.
Throughout 2023 The Listeniiig Space has been full aiid often wilh a waiting list. Our siudeiil couiiscllor
became a 5e5%ional workcr in Scptcmber 2024 and joins our employed counsellor in providing weekly
couiiselling in Holywood. During 2023 we rnoved the location of our counsclliiig pi'actice from HolywiKTrd
Baptist who had generously hosted us for scvcral ycars, li) Holyw(K)d Family Trust to accommodate both
counsellors to practice at the same time. This has been a very positive partnership to enter. Our employed
counsellor also provides counselling al the House in Limavady.
The Staff team have been involved in our own, and larger denominational training events, providing bespoke
training for those involved in the pastoral care of young people. They have also supported the charitable
programme work of Home for Good and Starfish Soul Care ai regional events.
During 2023, we saw a shift in our staff team, with our Finance and Facilities Manager leaving the
organisation. This necessitated a change in the current staff team aiid the previous adminislralor and
Hon]emakei role becoming lh¢ House Manager. This look effecl in September 2023.
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The Big House (Irelandl
Dlrectors Report
for the year ended 31 January 2024
House & Grounds
Work has conlinucd in the House grounds, and the sile is now a very attraclive space which is ideally suited to
largc groups and leisure activities, as well as peaceful reflection.
We were plcabed lo receive planning pennissioii tor our iieeded accommodation block, multi-pu￿0,￿c room
and change of usage. Wc have not hccn %uccessful in gaining grants towards this building project in 2023, so
have Liot been able lo commcnce building work.
We have installed a new 'working' kitchen which is where all the food preparaiion for our programmes lake5
place. Thi5 has all been installed to appropriate standardt> and relevaiil %taff trained to use. It has helped u5 to
achieve our purposes duriiig 2023.
Finances
Fiiiancially, we have had a challenging year. Our regular support for which we are most grateful, coiiiinues lo
support the work and to mostly covers the cost of the loan repaymenls we have for Ihe house. With a rise of
intere51 rates oli our mortgage and the cosl-of-living cri%15, we have found il a challcnge lo meel rising fuel aiid
morigagc cost.%. Wc have also f(Truiid it increa5iiigly difficult lo receive funding for core cost.% a% financial ,4lrain
15 felt across the voluiitary and charitable beclor. We have been in rcccipl of 50mc granlb, fund-malching and
one-off donation,% which has helped su.stain our curreiil opcralions.
This report wa￿J approved by the Board on 27 May 2024 and signed on its behalf by
Director
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