Restored Ministries - community handled with care
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Restored Ministries
Annual Report for the year ended 31st March 2023
Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 100071
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Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Structure, Governance and Management | 3 |
| Reference and Administrative details | 4 |
| Objectives and Activities | 5 |
| Achievements and Performance | 5 |
| Financial Review | 6 |
| Future Plans | 6 |
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Introduction
The Trustees present their Report for the year ended 31 March 2023
The Report follows the format recommended by the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2005), and contains the following sections:
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Structure, Governance and Management
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Reference and Administrative details
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Objectives and Activities
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Achievements and Performance
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Financial Review
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Future Plans
1. Structure, Governance and Management
Summary Information
Restored Ministries ('Restored') is an Unincorporated Association which was founded in September 2005 as part of the mission outreach of the parish of St Patrick's and St Andrew's, Coleraine. Its Constitution was formally adopted on 15th June 2009. In January 2010 it became an independent charity in its own right and is now subject to regulation by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. The Constitution was subsequently revised at the AGM in July 2012 in order to clarify the relationship between the charity and St Patrick’s & St Andrews.
Principal Activity
Restored collects, stores and then redistributes unwanted household items, mostly furniture, to those in need in the local community.
Membership
Membership of Restored Ministries is open to anyone over 18 in the area of benefit (Coleraine and its environs) who wishes to support the objects of the Association. Once their application for membership has been accepted by the Management Committee, such people are deemed to be individual members. Well-wishers, or people who in the opinion of the Committee have special knowledge or experience to offer, may join as associate members. Organisations may be offered affiliated membership. All members apart from associate members enjoy full voting rights.
Decision Making Structure
Decisions regarding administration, finance and strategy are taken at meetings of the Management Committee. During 2022-23 there were 4 such meetings (2 in 2021/22) Emergency business is dealt with by the Officers between meetings and reported to the next meeting of the Committee.
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Appointment of Trustees
The election of members to serve on the Committee normally takes place at the Annual General Meeting. Members elected to the Management Committee also become trustees of the charity.
Administration
Changes were made to the Constitution at the Annual General Meeting July 2012 to clarify the relationship between Restored and St Patrick’s & St Andrew’s. The original requirement that the Select Vestry of St Patrick’s & St Andrew’s approve 5 of the 7 members of the Management Committee had proved impractical and it was therefore replaced by a right to nominate 2 individual members to the Committee with the Rector of St Patrick’s becoming an Associate (i.e. non-voting) member of the Committee.
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
Charity Trustees are collectively responsible for all the activities of their charity. As such, they must observe the requirements of the Charities Act, trustee and other relevant legislation and they have a shared duty of care for the charity. If they do not act in this way a breach of trust or breach of duty of care may occur. In serious cases this may mean that they become personally liable for any debts or losses sustained by the charity as a result of their actions It is important that all the Trustees act with integrity, avoid any misuse of charity funds or assets and avoid potential conflicts of interest, and handle any that may arise in such a way as to promote accountability and transparency.
There is now a legal requirement in Northern Ireland for charities to prepare an Annual Report and to submit Annual Audited Accounts. Charity trustees are now responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the Audited Accounts in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
Connected Charities
Restored Ministries retains close links with the parish of St Patrick's and St Andrew's.
Risk Management
Restored Ministries has now carried out a full risk assessment and this is reviewed annually.
Audit
For charity accounting purposes Restored Ministries falls into the category of a "smaller charity" and therefore falls into the category “Receipts and Payments” which consists of a summary of all monies received and paid via the bank and in cash by the charity during its financial year. These accounts are submitted annually for independent examination by a qualified auditor.
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2. Reference a nd Administrative details
Trustees
The Trustees (for the purpose of charity law) during the year were:
Mrs Janet Peden Chair Mr Alan Bennett Hon. Treasurer Mr Adrian Kennedy Mr. James McDowell Mrs Patricia Taylor Hon Secretary Mr Stephen Peden Mr Alistair Taylor
The Rector of St Patrick’s & St Andrew’s has the right of attendance as an Associate Member at
Management Committee meetings. None of the Trustees receive any remuneration for their services.
Staff
Restored Ministries has no paid staff of its own. It receives, however, the benefit of administrative support provided by the staff at the Parish Office.
Administration
Registered Office: The Parish Office, Hazeldene Dr, Coleraine, BT52 2HJ Bankers: Danske Bank (previously Northern Bank), 22 The Diamond, Coleraine BT52 1PY Independent Examiner Mr Graham McDonald, ℅The Parish Office, Hazeldene Dr, Coleraine.
Insurers Ecclesiastical Insurance Group plc, Beaufort House, Brunswick Road, Gloucester GL1 1JZ
3. Objectives and Activities
Public Benefit Statement
The Trustees are aware of the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit in 'The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit' and have regard to it in their administration of
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the charity. They believe that, by promoting the work of Restored Ministries in the Coleraine area and its immediate environs, Restored Ministries provides a benefit to the public by:-
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promoting Christian values and services by members of the Church in and to their communities, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole
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providing resources for those most in need.
Aims
Restored Ministries' overall aim is to improve the quality of life for the most needy in the local community. It seeks to do this by:
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providing those in need with essential items of furniture
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raising the self-esteem and self-sufficiency of such individuals or families
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helping those who are isolated reintegrate into society
A subsidiary aim is to help reduce, through recycling, the amount of furniture going into landfill.
4. Achievements and Performance
Over the last twelve months Restored Ministries has carried out the following activities:-
Viewings
Individuals and families in need are referred to Restored by social or aid workers. They come to Restored’s warehouse in Coleraine by appointment to view the items that are available and choose those they require. These items are then delivered by a team of volunteers.
In 2022/23 there were 83 such viewings (55 in 2021/22).
Collections & Deliveries
The teams of volunteers have the use of a Volkswagen Crafter Luton Delivery Van and operate two weekday evenings usually and occasionally other times. In 2022/23 they made 111 collection visits and 80 deliveries (59 and 46 respectively in 2021/22).
These figures indicate that there is still a considerable demand for the service that Restored Ministries provides.
Administrative
Requests for viewings and offers of donations are sent by email to the secretary. The Parish administrator occasionally receives phone calls about potential donations and these are redirected to the secretary. A schedule for the week’s deliveries and pickups is then compiled.
There was also a link established with Riverridge Recycling which enables the disposal of items of furniture that can not be re used free of charge.
The Management Committee is grateful to the volunteers who give unstintingly of their time to
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make the activities that Restored Ministries undertakes viable.
It is now a requirement of the Charity Commission that Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult Policies be in place. This has now been implemented. A Risk Assessment is also now in place reviewed annually.
5. Financial Review
Results
Restored Ministries makes no charge for any of its services and is totally dependent on grants and donations to sustain its operation.
During 2022/23 its income amounted to £5837.40 (£5125.35 in 2021/22).
The main sources of this income were a generous donation from Triangle Housing, proceeds from the coffee/craft morning, mandated standing orders and other generous donations. Over the same period it has incurred expenditure of £6195.23 (£5104.74 in 2021/22), the main items of which were the warehouse rent, insurances and expenditure relating to the operation of the van.
Overall Restored recorded a deficit of £357.83 in the year (£21.21 credit in 2021/22). There was no activity concerning Restricted Funds and this remains at £6059.18cr.
The Trustees wish to express their gratitude not only to its major funders but to all those individuals who have supported its work during the course of the year. Their practical assistance is very much appreciated.
Reserves Policy
Restored Ministries maintains a business investment account to keep monies raised in association with the van appeal separate.
Donations
Restored made no political grants or donations in the year.
Governance Costs
The latest reporting regulations place more emphasis on measuring the costs of Governance to Charities. Restored is fortunate that the cost of its meetings and the production of its Annual Report is covered by the support provided by the parish.
6. Future Plans
There will always be people in need in the community but, particularly in the current economic climate the demand for Restored’s services is expected to increase.
There was a concerted effort from volunteers to “clean up” the warehouse and every effort should be made to ensure that unsuitable or unusable items are not allowed to accumulate. Restored could not operate without the assistance of our volunteers. Previously the van was able to operate on two evenings a week but due to limited resources it is now only possible to
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operate on one.
Fundraising continues to be a key factor in the overall plan going forward. Whilst the capital position remains healthy and overheads remain at a manageable level, the mandated standing orders do not cover monthly expenditure. Donations are therefore the “life blood’ of the charity and the management committee would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to those organisations and individual donors whose generosity makes it possible for Restored Ministries to continue to help those in need in the community.
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Approved by the Management Committee and signed on its behalf
by:
Patricia Taylor
…............................................................................................................ Hon. Secretary
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