Charity Comml55i0n No.. 100189 NEWLODGE HOUSING FORUM TrusteeAnnual Report and Receipts & Payment5 Accounts for the year: 31 December 2022 Star Neighbourhood Centre 79-83 Hillman Street Belfast Co Antrim BT15 2FS
NEWLODGE HOUSING FORUM TRUSTEES REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 NIC: 100189 Objertlves and Activities Improve the quality of the lrfe of the resldents and inhabitants of the Greater NewLodge and Its environs. Provide a link between community and housing providers. To establish, maintain and manage the housing office. Promote and carry out or assist in promoting and carrying out research suNeys and Investl8ations and publlsh the results Achlevemenls and PerfornnCe The past year ha5 Witnessed a substantial Increase in the numbers of re5ident5 who have sought our assistance in matters relating to housing issue5. We have dealt with over 326 requests covering broad spectrum of problems whith are primarily based around the sublett of housing. These Included. Homes that are directty Imparted by the demolitlon of 287 dwelllngs. These are to be replaced with the buildin8 of 123 quality houses which will strengthen the overall sense of community which already exists in our area. The cost of this scheme wlll total 35140 mllllon pounds whichls evidence of a malor investment by the housing exe and the stormont minlster encompassing the local area. We are ty'n8 In directly with the upper long streets committee, senior housin8 exe staff and local politiclans on a daily basis as we jointly approach Issues at an early stage i.e., sales of houses, ensuring the rl8hts of housin8 exe tenants, homeowners and landlord tenants whlch are all properly proterted. We have been to the fore in informing tenants of any progress that is made. We have witne55ed a positNe increase in the number of Tefurbtshment schemes which have been carried out by the housln8 exe and these include 42 homes have been refurblshed In the Corfisle estste area vhth new windows and effective external insulation whlth will ensu that home5 are properly heated whllst also bringlng down the cost of energy bill5. There has been major refurbishrnent schemes In the tower blocks whlch have included. Oisin. Finn and Fianna blocks. These induded new bathrooms and kitchens in each of the flats. We are stlll dealing with the issues of the maisonettes in Duncairn Parade. These dwellings are 60 year5 old and have fallen into serious disrepair with problems of dampness, crumbling oncrete and little or no insulation whith is driving the energy costs for each home Ilterally through the roof. A Second economic evaluation should be completed In the comlng month5 and the results of this will detern)ine the progress of either demolishing the complex or major investment In bringing the dwellings UP to proper livrn8 Standards. Our role in ensuring that the schemes wll be successfully completed included. meeting with the various contractor5 on a regular basis to receive updates and to discuss problems that were arising l.e. amount of time they would be in residents homes, ensuring that scaffolding was up for a minimal amount of time and to keep in regular contact with the
contractors re the positioning of skn'ps and the disposal of discarded building materials in general.. Meeting with the housing exe patch managers. maintenance officers and senior staff to jointly tackle issues which were arising including completion dates etc. To meet with the residents both singularty and in groups to discuss progress in an overall sense. We also recorded any complaints and met with the reps and contractors to ensure that the work was complÈted to a high Standard. There Continue5 to be a steady flow of residents who call to our office on a daily basls to report Issues which are dirertly impacting on their lives and these include plumbin8. elettrical, pla5terin8 and heatin8 problems. We have a good contart with both ihe OLO group and the emergency service section withln the housing Executive .This ensures that urgent repairs can be dealt with in a two to four hour perlod. We are In regular contact with the rnalntenan officers and through thls relatlonshlp we have been able to install nlne entry gates and provide a large number of replacement lock5 because of a small 8roup of youn8 people who a Involved with sustained incidents of antI-)cIal behaviour and they alm to have a free run of the entries. We have also been workin8 Wlth the housing solulions team who are based In the hou51n8 executive's maln offlce. There had been issues which had arisen over a period of tlme and these had slowed the growth of delivering an approach to homelessness which would witness meaningful pro8re55. There was a significant tumover of personnel in this departrnent and at time5 thls led to breakdown when dealingwith some complaints. The North Belfast mana8er of the h e arranged a meetln8 for us to attend and those included were senlor member5 of staff within housing solutlons. There was an Improvement right away and we now have a number of phone numbL'rs and emall contarts which ensures that there is little chance of the breakdowns which had happened previously. We have a good working relationship th the local manager of the Belfast clty council. There has been an Increase in the number of Incidents concerning the illegal dumpln8 of rubbish in the Beneral area. There have been a number of fines iswed to tIse residents who have been Involved wlth thls negatlve artivity There has been a rise in the number of anti-50cial iThcideDts in recent months. These include, drug deallng, vandalism and attacks between young people. We work closely with the PSNI the safer street5 commlttee and community restorative lustice Ireland. We also work with the local youth leaders who can offer young people alternative things to do and this literally takes them of the street. i)rfer three years ago our commlttee met and made the declsion to offer the people of the area the opportunity to avail of the servlces of our new welfare rights dinic. We had been helping people who were in financial stress which had witnessed them facing extreme hardship. This included advising thern on the growing issue of debt including rent arrear5, loans and credit cards etc. We are fortunate to have a debt advisor who work5 on a voluntary basis in the clinic one nlght per week and also takes queries et¢. through our office. We have found that a5 we dellver this project we are creating a meaningful worklng relationship with the housing benefits section of the h e. We have also offered a servlce of delrvering food parcels to h e tenants and other indivlduals who live in our area. We continue to take Teferrals from the local patch managers and this ensure5 that people will avoid the negative situation of going wtthout food. There has been a marked increase in
requests being made to our office regarding food parcels and gtven the mammoth mistakes made bv government thi5 will be our reality for some time to come. We have responded to this increase bv seeking the assistance of two further foodbanks in north Belfast and they have come to the fore in helping us. even though they are under extreme pressure regarding the nurnbers of people they already tend to. We are workin8 in partnership with Newington houslng assodation who have been awarded the scheme whlch wlll witness the removal of the old housing stock in the upper long streets. to be replaced with 123 quality new homes. This will add to their already substantial presence in the local area where they are viewed as an organisation who have the best interests of the community at heart. They regularly assSst many community groups In the area. includin8 our own. They have asslsted u5 wlth re50urces re8ardin8 our running costs. We continue to seek advice and practical help from ihe supportln8 Communities, or8anisation. Thelr representatlve ILi5al Is Instrumentsl In helplng us In many practical ways. These Include arranging meetings. provldin8 agendas and minutes and assisling us in preparin8 applications for funding. We regard the group as a positive partner in providlng resources where they are most needed. Lisa is also to the fore In preparlng our charity commission returns. They also assist us with wages beln8 pald and payment5 to tr rn r c bein8 paid on a regular basis. Flnances. Our financlal situation is stable. The workerfs salary Is funded by the HE and Is applied for on an annual basls.ln the past two years two or8anisations have a55i5ted us with runnlng tosts. They are Newington housln8 Asso¢latlon and the john MoDre foundation. Recently we have successful wlth our application to the h e re a 8rant for a mu¢h needed photo copier and a phone for the hou51ng worker. Our accounts are prepared each year by the senior finance person in the star nelghbourhood centre and we are grateful for their due dili8ence and professionallsm. Finally, I must mentlon our commlttee who are hardworking and keen to deliver a servlce to the community which will enhancè the lives of all who INe here. They are very prattlcal in offerin8 help to the housing worker who has cornmented their daily contart with hirn goe5 some way to ease the overall work load of the issue5 which 15 reported to our office on a regular ba515. We Intend not onlv to deliver our existing 5er¥ices. indeed we need to expand them in the comin8 months and years. Flnanclal Review We are pleased to report that we find the Housin8 Forum in a healthy condition financially and although we are not by any means here to make Money, we do need a modest bank account to insure the future of the forum. Our current position guarantee5 our healthy exlstence for the foreseeable future. We started the year with a bank balance of £8,957 Secured £32,244 fundln8 from the Housing Executive, £5,000 funding from Newin8ton Housing Association and donations to the value of £2,350 from Community Restorative Justice Ireland ICIUI), Slsters of Mercy & City Hibernian. We had a spend of £30,179 and ended the year with a bank balance of £18.371 Approved by the Trustees on 1 13 and signed on their behalf by (chairper5 ignaturel
NEWLODGE HOUSING FORUM YEAR ENDED: 31tt DECEMBER 2022 NIC: 100189 Independent examlnerfs report to the tharity trustees of New lod8e Houslng Forum Star Neighbourhood Centre report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2022, which are set out on pages I to 4 Respectlve responsibilities of charlty trustees and examlner As the charivs trustees you are responsible for the preparation of thé accounts In accordance with the Charities Art (Northern Ireland) 2008. It Is Star Nelghbourhood Centre5 responsibility to: examine the accounts under sertlon 65 of the Charltie5 Art follow the procedure5 laid down in the 8eneral Dlrectlons 8lven by the Commission under settlon 65{9llbl of the Charities Art State whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent examlnees report Star Nei8hbourhood centre have examined your charlty accounts as required under sertlon 65 of the Charities Act and an examlnatlon wa5 carrled out in accordance wsth the general D1CtionS 8Nen by the Charlty Commission for Northem Ireland under sectlon 6519)Ibl of the Charities Act. The examination included a review of ihe accounting records kept by the charfty and a comparlson of the accounts presented with those records. It a150 included consideration of any unusual items or disclosure5 in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as charlty trustees con¢ernlng any such matters, My role Is to state whether any materlal matters have come to my attentlon glvlng me cause to believe: l. That a¢countln8 records were not kept In accordance wlth section 63 of the Charltles Act 2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records 3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirement5 of the Charities Act 4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reathed Independent Examiners Statement star Neighbourhood Centre have CoMpled an examination and have no concerns In respect of the matters111 to {41 listed above in connertion wth followin8 the Dirertions of the Charity commission Nl have no matters that require drawing to your attention. Name: Company.. Address: Maria Valente Star Neighbourhood Centre 79.83 Hillman Street 8elfast BT15 2FS Signed: Date:
NEWLODGE HOUSING FORUM STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMEKfs- YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 NIC,.100189 Totsl Funds 2022 Totsl Funds 2021 AECEIPTS Rent Houslng Executfve Grant/Donation 32.244.(XJ 32,244.) 7.350.IXJ 24,333.34 3.81.f) 7.350.QI TOTAL 32344.00 7J50. 39.594.00 18133.34 PAYMENT5 SalarleslHMRC 25294.80 25,294.80 24&XI.00 Fees Ga5lElectrlclTelelwater Bank Fees Petty Cash Insurance ResourceslMaterla15 60.1)0 803.76 105.09 1.409.71 305.97 486.22 1.409.71 305.97 486.22 260.31 2,362.97 260.31 2,362.97 302.74 90.12 TOTAL 25 YJ,179.98 AecelptslP4yments 6.949.20 2.464A2 9,414.02 2,171.63 Sufplu5ldÈflcltlorthe y•ar 9 414.02 2.171.63 ftecondllatlon at 31rt Decimb•r 2021 Surplusldeflcit thi5 year end b3nk Balance at 315t Decernber 2021 6.949.20 4,158.44 2.464A2 9,414.02 4.798.96 8.957.40 2.171.63 6.785.77 Bank 8111n rt 31st l>oomber 2022 11.107.64 7,263.78 71.42 8.957AO NEWLODGE HOUSING FORUM STATEME1 OF ASSEfs AND UABILrrES- YEAR ENDED: JI DECEMBER 2022 NIC: IIX1189 Restricted Unrestricted Total 2021 Total 2020 Funds ReconcS1iation openin8 bank balan 4.158.44 4.798.96 8.957.40 6,785.77
SurpluslDefbCit this year end 6.949.20 2,464.82 9.414.02 2.171.63 8,957.4 Closing Bank Balance 11.107.64 7.263.78 18.371.42 Other assets Computer/Laptop Printer phototopier These accounts were approved by the TNstee5 on (Datel and slined on their behalf by: (Treasurer's Slqnaturel (Chairperson's signature) NIC: 100189 l B1515 of Preparatlon These accounts are produced on a Receipts and Payments basis. 2 Trustee remuneralion and Expenses Trustees received no remuneration for their ser¥ices. and no Trustees were employed by the charity
WIC: l(m89 l Basls of Pr•parallon These accounts are produced on a Receipts and PayThts basks 2TNst•e remunratlon and'Expmis•s .. Trustees recelved no rethunoratton for thelr seryk•s, and no T.rths werè eHW0&bYtha &ytlty. .. Cknlni b•lance I¢p plyrnnts B•l4nc• Totsl Unrestrlctrd Funds 4.798.96 7.350.CX) 4,885.18 Z,263.78 4,158.44 32,244.1x1 25,294.8Q li. IOY..64 houslng Executlve Total Restrkted Funds 4,158A4 32,244.(KI 25,294A) 11,107.64 Total Funds 8.957AO 39,594.IXI 30,179.98 18,371.42 4 Fund Purpoxs Housln8 Executlve support 5ahrle5 of tl Newlodge Worker