Clonard Monastery Youth Centre
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees’ Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
Year ended 31 March 2025
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name Clonard Monastery Youth Centre Charity registration number NiC100228 Company registration number NI062692 Principal office and registered Clonard Monastery office 1A Clonard Gardens Belfast BT13 2RL The trustees
Mrs Geraldine Stinton Mr Patrick Murphy Mr Brendan Dineen Mr Paul Shevlin Mrs Rita Burke Mr Piarais McCaffery Mr Barry Fegan Mr John Leo McGurk Rev Brendan Kelly Independent examiner Mr Kieran McCaughey FCCA 22 Great Victoria Street Belfast BT2 7BA
Structure, governance and management
The Charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 17th January 2007. It is governed by a memorandum and articles of association.
Due to the nature of the charity trustees are appointed on the basis of their expertise. We specifically look for trustees who have proven expertise in youth issues and current legislation related to young people.
The Board is reviewed annually to ensure that the appropriate mix of skills is maintained and to identify if any further skills are required to ensure the company focuses on its core work.
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Clonard Monastery Youth Centre
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees’ Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continuea)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Structure, governance and management (continued)
Training
Trustees are already familiar with the practical work of the charity and are invited to attend charitable membership awareness events and governance training and seminars.
New trustees are required to participate in governance training organised annually.
Objectives and activities
Principal activity and business review
The principal activity of the Charity is to support young people to realise their full potential and become active citizens in society, through their participation in, and association with, goals and principles that are educative, participative, enabling and promote equality of opportunity and social inclusion.
The directors are satisfied with the project to date and the results are in line with expectations.
Mission statement
Clonard Monastery Youth Centre supports young people to realise their full potential and become active citizens in society, through their participation in, and association with goals and principles that are educative, participative, enabling and promote equality of opportunity and social inclusion.
Clonard Monastery Youth Centre
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Objectives and activities (continued)
Objectives and activities
Our programmes are based on The Model for Effective Practice (Youth Work Curriculum for Northern Ireland) and include:
Plan and facilitate a programme and employ staff to meet the criteria set by OFM/DFM, to ‘increase access to mainstream youth services in disadvantaged areas, to support specific targeting of those who may be at greater risk of social exclusion, materialisation or isolation because they experience a combination of barriers to learning’
Drop-In facilities for members each weekday evening from 19:00 to 22:00, including snooker, pool, football, arts and crafts & other activities.
Youth Projects subject to successful funding applications, which are age and ability specific;
Training for young people aged 15 plus;
Community Relations Projects with a range of partners, including Ledley Hall Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Ballysillan Blue Houses Youth for Christ and Clonard Residents
Summer programme
Make facilities available for Irish Dance, and football training to local community groups
Out-door residential experiences;
International Experiences;
In association with Clan Mor Sure Start we offer training facilities for young parents and provide créche for them for the year they are with us, and:
We offer issue-based programmes in association with a range of partnerships and external groups.
Public benefit
Clonard Monastery Youth Centre has strived to promote the benefit of children and young people in the Clonard area, through a range of developmental and educational programmes throughout the year. Over the course of the year we provided young people with opportunities to develop emotionally, physically and spiritually as well as providing young people with the opportunity to take part in international trips and view the world in a wider context. All programmes and services offered in the youth centre have promoted capacity building and encouraged growth and greater self-esteem and leadership skills in young people.
Strategic report
The following sections for achievements and performance and financial review form the strategic report of the charity.
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Clonard Monastery Youth Centre
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees’ Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continuea)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Achievements and performance
Our attendances and membership numbers continue to grow.
We are beginning to plan and organise two international learning experiences for young people which will take place in the coming year.
We also developed a junior and senior youth forum within the youth centre who spearheaded some fantastic work within the youth centre and allowed us to grow from strength to strength.
The delivery of a fantastic junior and senior and summer programme with young people taking part in a range of outdoor, exciting activities and residential experiences.
Financial review
Funding is sourced from the following:
Contributions from members
Grant from Education Authority
Other grants received following application by staff for funding.
Reserves policy
The trustees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be one year's expenditure. The charity has budgeted expenditure in 2025/26 of £150,000 inclusive of the staff and premises costs that are met from restricted funding and the trustees will target to have reserves of £150,000.
The reserves are needed to meet the working capital requirements of the charity and the trustees are confident that at this level of funding they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding. The present level of unrestricted reserves of £79,613 is significantly short of the target level. Although the strategy is to continue to build reserves, the trustees are well aware that it is unlikely that the target can be reached for at least five years. In the short term the trustees have also considered the extent to which existing activities and expenditure could be curtailed, should such circumstances arise.
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Clonard Monastery Youth Centre
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees’ Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continue)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Financlal review (continued)
Plans for future years
The charity plans continuing the activities outlined above in future years.
Smail company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
The trustees’ annual report and the strategic report were approved on 17 December 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
Geathne Seb Mrs Geraldine Stinton Trustee
aos, Mr Brendan Dineen Trustee
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