THE WOMENS TEC (TRAINING, ENTERPRISE & CHILDCARE CENTRE) (A company limited by guarant88) REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITABLE COMPANY. ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Trusteas (directors for Sylvia Gordon, Chairperson the purposes of company Andrea Morrow, Treasurer (from 31 May 2023) law) Norah Baillie, Treasurer (resigned 31 May 2023) Michael Potter Nuala Griffiths Nicola Mccrudden (resigned 4 January 2023) Maria Bradley Siobhan Brown Nicola Mccleery (appointed 16 January 2023) Company raglst•r•d numb•r N1034272 (Northem Ireland> CCNI Charlty r•glstorod numb•r NIC100185 HMRC reglstered charity numbor N101295 Prlnclpal operatlng and roglst•red Offl¢0 29 Chichester Avenue B61fast BT15 5EH Company secretary Lisa Mccann Chl•f Exooutlv¢ Lynn Carvill Independent audltor CG Taggart Accounlancy Services 17 Cypress Crescent Donaghadee Co Down BT21 OQG Bankers First Trust 8ank 35 University Road Belfast BT71ND Soll¢ltor3 E￿ardS & Co 28 Hill Street Belfast BT12LA Page 1 THE WOMENS TEC (TRAINING, ENTERPRISE & CHILDCARE CENTRE) (A company limit&d by guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The trust88s present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of The Womens TEC (Training, Enterprise & Childcare Centre} Ltd (WOMEN'STEC) for the year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. The Annual report serves the purposes of bolh a Trustees, report and a Direclors, report under charitable company law. The trustees confimi that the annual report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable companls governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019). Since the charitable company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic report required of medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors, Report) Regulations 2013 has been omitied. ObJ•otlves and actlvltl•s Pollolas and objectlves Vlslon: 'WOMEN'STEC will b8 the leading authority in Nl for connecting females wlth industries in skillad areas where they are under-represented." MIs8lon: INa support women to tske greater advantage of opportunities in sectors and careers where women are typically under represented. WOMEN'STEC is registered with the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland with the following aims.. To prevent andlor relieve Foverty and adv£n￿ education and training in Northern Ir618nd', and To provide facilities in the interest of adv8ncing women's involvement in sectors of training and employment that hav8 low levels of female participation, specifically women who are socially and economically disadvantaged. The purpose of WOMEN'STEC is the advancement of education and the prevention and relief of poverty and unemployment, in particular of women and girls aged 12 or over living in Northern Ireland. The dir&ct benefits accruing from our purposes as noted with the Charities Commission for Northem Ir8land include.. Students gain qualifications and practic81 skills., Students experience heightened seff-esleem and confidence enabling them to move forward into further training and education or employment; Students enhance their amployability, increasing their opportunities to move into further training and eduGation or employment., and Students are better equipped to mov8 into paid employment, thereby increasing their economic security. Page 2 THE WOMENS TEC (TRAINING, ENTERPRISE & CHILDCARE CENTRE) (A company limited by guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Objectlves and actlvltles (contlnued) b. Strat•gl•s for achlovlng obJ•ctlv•s The strategic priorities were revised for the period 2021-2024. The strategic objectives which direct our annual operational priorities include.. Continu8d development of organisational resilience and sustainability,. Raise WOMEN'STEC profile and influence; Increase social 8nd cultural impact of WOMEN'STEC programmes., Increase reach of WOMEN'STEC programmes,. and Assure corporate governance mechanisms. ¢. Actlvltlg5 for aohlgvlng obJeotlv?s Since 1998, WOMEN'STEC has supported countless women and girls to develop their confidenc8, self-esteem, skills and improve their opportunilies for reaching their full potential. WOMEN'STEC has grown from a small, community-based org8nisation to, what is now considered by SORP, a large charity. This last year represents 8 significant milestone in ourjourney to becoming a large charity delivering significant impact to the communities we serve. During 2022-2023, we delivered our programmes and services through eight core projects supporting three core target groups - young mothers, wom8n r8tum8rs and girls of school age. Connect 4 Women Year three of the Connect 4 Women project began in April 2022. This partnership project between WOMEN'STEC, Glow Nl and Shankill Women's Centre brings together the unique strengths of three women's organisations to provide a programme aimed at improving the life opportunities of women across north and west Belfast. Participants are offered skills training (accredited and non-accredited in trades and IT), adult le8ming (essential skills, GCSE Maths and English) and personal development. The programme provides a personalised pathway of training and development in a way that is surted to their needs and personal situations, supporting them further with wraparound services such as childcare, health and wellbeing, advice and support to access. This year, WOMEN'STEC, as the delivery agent for skills training underthis programme, delivered OCN courses in Skills in Horticulture, IT for Work, DIY Skills, Developing Woodworking Joint Skills, Car Maintenance and Word Processing. Additional to courses delivered, we held a Community servI￿s Information and Women's Wellbeing Day that aimed to increase aw8reness of the support services available in the wider community, and to take part in wellbeing sessions around ralaxation, breast health and other health checks, Participants of Conned 4 Women also contributed to a wider piece of research which explored the impacts of the Cost-of-Living Crisis on local women, with an elemenl of learning how to manage their personal finance. Furthermore, some participants attended The Bad Bridget's exhibition on a trip to the Ulster American Folk Park, that brought to lrfe the stories of thousands of women who left Ireland for America in the late 1800'slearly 1900s. A group of participants also engaged with an external evaluator who undertook an interim evaluation of the Connect 4 Women programme. Page 3 THE WOMENS TEC (TRAINING, ENTERPRISE & CHILDCARE CENTREI (A company limited by guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 o. A¢tlvltles for aohievlng objectlves (oontlnued) Her Space The Her spa￿ programme came to 8 close in December 2023. Overthe period ofthe programme, women were equipped with valuable trade skills for independent living. The purpose of the project was to fit out an empty shipping container and repurpose it to a one-bedroom, self-contained emergency accommodalion unit. At its beginning, this was signrficantly impacted by Covid and therefore how the programme was delivered was changed to accommodate social distancing. Since delivery has retumed to normal, the participants were able to enter the shipping container, however due to the time constraints, rather than starting from scratch, participants used their skills to refurbish the container which came With th8 basic accommodation elements. There have been a number of technical difficulties around logistics, connections to utility services and other challenges that mean that discussion is ongoing about the final destination of the container, however the Her spa￿ programme was very successful in supporting 36 participants to gain practical skills in various trades and lrfe skills in areas such as health and wellbeing, managing fInan￿S and nurturing healthy relationships. Furthermore, participants enjoyed industry site visits to Templemore Baths anij Finnebrogue Woods where they experienced first hand what it is like to work on building sites and to learn of the various career roles and opportunities in the construction sector. Urban Vlllage8 Our Urb8n Villages programme re-commenced in April 2022 with new participants. This progr8mme, funded through The Executive Office's TBUC programme under Urban Villages funding, is designed to bring together women from Ardoyne and BallysiSlan to explore different cultures, learn new skills and experience activities that are not normally accessible to the participants. This year, participants completed courses in Carpentry, Eleclrics, Gardening, Personal Development, Car Maintenance, Plumbing, DIY and Wood Carving, as well as trips to the Somme Museum, Belfast City Cemetery, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and attended our Community Services Inform8tion Day. This project ultimstely uses construction based skills learning to bring tog8th8r wom8n from different communities to build relations and develop understanding and toleran￿. Sustalnlng Tenancles This year, a new 2-year programme was introdu￿d, funded through the Housing Executive. The Sustaining Tenancies programme is aimed at supporting women living in Housing Executive homes to thrive in their home environment and increase their opportunities for lffe and work that will all contribute to in¢xeasing their likelihood of sustaining their tenancies and reaching their full potential. The programme 6ncompasses a diverse range of sessions that equip participants with valuable DIY skills, personal development and essential life skills. From mastering power tools to the art of hanging sh81ving, and from plumbing insights to understanding domestic electrics, the programme empowers partlClP8nts to take control of their living spaces, feel proud of their home and feel a sense of empowerment and achievement. Additionally, we facilitate open dialogues between Participants and the Housing Executive where they can discuss issues around home repairs, support from the Housing Executive and connect with Patch Managers. This year, 18 participants engaged on the progr8mme and new participants will b8 recruited in 2023-2024. PASSIPathwa The PASS project was a short-term, additional proj8Ct deliv8red for TINN. It was a dedicat8d initiative aimed at providing inv81u8bSe support to women aged 16 to 24 yrs, while the Pathways programme was tailor8d for those over 24. The programme, delivered over 12 weeks, supported 10 new participants to encompass a diverse array of training that supported their development and progression to further training, volunteering or employment. From mastering DIY skills to honing creativity, participants also engaged in personal development, employability skills, IT skills and online training. The programme was delivered as part of a wid6r project under TWN'S European Social Fund project and ended in March 2023. Page 4 THE WOMENS TEC (TRAINING, ENTERPRISE & CHILDCARE CENTRE) (A company limited by guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 c. AGtlvltles for achlevlng objectlves (contlnued) Buildlng Independence Programme The Building Independence Programme welcomed 25 new participants in its final year ofdelivery. Made possible through the Smallwood Trust, the prograrnme was participant-driven, designed to cater specifically to the unique needs of the target group, young mothers aged 16 10 30 y8ars ald. The programmé cultivated confidéncè and soft skills imperative forfuture employment prospects. The provision of childcarè, frea to participants, was cruci81 to ensuring participation, reducing the barrierfor these young mothers to attend the programme. The programme included practical DIY and construction-based skills training, whilst also fostering a sense of community and mutual support within the group- an important element of ensuring young mothers who are often isolated, feel supported by others in similar situations to them. Personal development and one-to-one support lailored to each participant's individual needs ensured they maximised the opportunities of the programme and prepared them for taking meaningful steps forward in their own journeys as their children approached School age. Promotlng Opportunltles Programme: #NotJustForBoys Our flagship youth programme, POP, which challenges misconc8Ptions and ancourag8s, empow8rs and supports young girls to consider career opportunities in sectors where women are under-represented, had very successful year. This year, we continued our work with local primary and post-primary schools, engaging with Trinity College Balfast, Mercy College, Girls, Model, Hazelwood Integrated College, Bangor Academy, Our Lady's Girls, Primary School, and Mercy Primary School. Our work with schools incorporated Homework clubs, group projects, site visits and industry talks. Nolably, we cleveloped two new proj8Cts including 'Trading Places, which is a 3-day course for 11-17yr olds, where the purpose is to create interest in the world of trades 8nd construction, by 'learning ihrough doing,. The 'Under the Bonnet, project is a two-day course for girls aged 15- 19yrs which teaches basic car mechanic skills and driving theory practice tests. Both projects were offered and rolled out to a number of schools, as well béing included in school holiday sch8mes. Our homework clubs met weekly from 34pm where girls learned skills in measuring, cutting, power tools and decorating. School enrichment programmes ran successful DIY courses with year 13 girls, focusing on basic woodworking, power tools and basic electrics. Students worked on building planters and a bench for their school grounds, using lools such as jigsaws and p18ners to create joints, not only developing practical skills, but also improving skills in teamwork 8nd collaboration. Between De￿mber and February, two primary schools engaged in our 'Introduction to Construction, taster sessions programme enabling hands-on experience of various trade skills, allowing them to explore various aspects of construction. This projact is aimad at igniting their curiosity and opaning doors to a world of possibilitias for working in the construction industry. In collaboration with GEDA Construction, we worked on thought-provoking sessions on gender and careers in the conslruction industry, delivered to both P7 boys and girls. This was aimed at reshaping traditional mindsets and breaking gender stereotypes. Through interactive discussion and engaging activities, we talked aboul considering the diverse career paths within construction, fostering a more inclusive perspectlV8. This initiative not only encouraged them to explore opportunit18s in sectors where women are typically under-represented, but also highlighted the importance of equality and diversity in the workforce, setting the stage for a more equitable future. We welcomed a new programme coordin8tor in September 2022 to lead on the delivery of the programme, supported by the POP project officer. At the and of th8 22-23 year, in March, the POP.. #NotJustForBoys programme started delivery in the Newry, Mourne and Down region, working with our partners. Bolster Community and maintenance contractor, CTS Projects, to bring the programme to 22 girls between the ages of 11 and 16 years old. Page 5 THE WOMENS TEC (TRAINING. ENTERPRISE & CHILDCARE CENTRE) (A company limited by guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 ¢. Actlvltles for achlovlng objeotlves Icontlnued) WOMEN'STEC Newry This year, we achieved a significant milestone for the org8nisation. In November 2022, WOMEN'STEC opened a second workshop unit in the Newry City, located in lthitegates Business Park next door to our partner, Bolster Community. This was mad8 possib18 through a contract with CTS Projects, where WOMEN'STEC and Bolster Community partnered together to deliver a social value initiative for CTS through a maintenance contract with the Housing Executive for the Newry, Mourne and Down region. Together, this collaboration aimed to address issues of rura5 isolation, sack of opportunities for women and girls and empowerwomen and girls with confidence, skills and motivation to thrive in their homes and personal lives, be opened up to new opportunities in various careers and increase employability and skills. To deliver and coordinate on the programmes targeted at rural women, we employed a Newry Co-ordinator to engage, recruit, support and deliver the programme of work. Whilst this contract enabled us to open a second base and expand our programmes and services in the region, we also used Ihis opportunity to adapt our delivery to enable us to deliver DIY courses in the rur81 towns and villages across Newry, Mourne and Down. This meant investment in new tools, equipment and benches that could be transported to local community centres, sports h811s and schools. This enabled us to bring our basic DIY courses out into rural areas and engage women who are isolated and18ss likely, or in some cases, limited through lack of travel accessibility, to come into Newry City to our workshop. This was another significant stepping stone in expanding our programmes and services across Northern Ireland. The contract enabled us to pilot and test how this would work and prepar8 us forfuture plans across other areas of Northern Ireland. Overall, 266 women and girls engaged in DIY and Construction skills training, personal development and wellbeing programmes, school engagement taster activities and careers in construction educational programmes. #NotJustForBoys Champlons Inltlatlve On 31$1 March 2022, our #NotJustForBoys Champions Initiative was formally launched. 2022-2023 saw the first year of this new strategic initiative, aimed at working collaboratively with industry companies on our rnission to support women to take greater advant8ge of opportunities in sectors where women are under-represented, including sectors sudi as construction, IT, mechanics, manufacturing. In its first year, 15 companies committed to supporting this mission, providing us with unreslricted income but more importsntly, providing us with opportunities for our students in undertaking site visits, supporting projects, donating materials and giving time from female role models. This is significant progr88s in garnering the support from the industry who are committed to improving diversity and equality and increasing the representation of women within these sectors. Other actlvttles With a successful year of growth and development, including new staff and programmes, there was a need to create a senior management team in line wrth increased activities, reporting and management. The senior management team, consisting of the Chief Executive, the Head of Operations and Development and the Head of Finance and Resources, meet monthly and line management responsibilities have changed. With 8 prèviously flat org8nisation structure, these new roles provide better organisation of responsibilities and a better staff management structure to provide better support for staff. This reflects our growth over the last year and establishes an improved structure for building on this growth to continu8 delivering our strategic priorities. We also introduced a new Communications and Partnerships Officer role to take responsibility for communications, marketing, soGial me(Jia, and our partnerships with #NotJustForBoy3 Champions. During this year, we also secured a new board member with finance experience. We continue to house and manage the work of the Northern Ireland Women's Budget group, mentor grantee organisations on the CDHN Elevate Mentoring programme, be represented on the Greater North Belfast Women's Forum, advise on the Rank Foundation's RankNet Leaders Action Group, sit on the DfE Skills Strategy 8ub