Erne East Community Partnership Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) Year ended 28 April 2024 The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 28 April 2024. Reference and administratlve detalls Registered charlty name Erne East Community Partnership Limited Charlty reglstration number NIC100296 Company registration number N1037202 Principal office and regSstered Lite House Cross Street Lisnaskea Counly Fermanagh BT92 OJE The trustees Mrs K Breen Mr T O Reilly Mr B Cosgrove Mrs A McAdam Mr Thomas Campbell Company secretary Kathleen Breen Audltor SP Mccaffrey & Co Chartered accountants & statutory auditor 50 Campsie Road Omagh Co Tyrone BT79 OAG Bankers Bank of Ireland Townhall Streel Enniskillen Co Fermanagh BT74 7BD SollcStors Murphy & Mcmanus Solicitors 143 Main Street Lisnaskea Co Fermanagh BT92 OJE
Erne East Community Partnership Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continuedj Year ended 28 April 2024 structure, governance and management Governing document Erne East Community Partnership is a company limited by guarantee (Regislration number N1037202). The company is governed by it's Memorandum and Artices of Association. The company is recognised as a charity by the Charities Commission for Northern Ireland (Ref.. NIC100296). Governance The governance function of Erne East Communily Parlnership is fulfilled through its Board of Trustees. The trustees are charged with overall responsibilily for the Company. The Board members give their time voluntarily and receive no dividend from the Charity. Any benefits which obtained are incidenlal. The Board of truslees of Erne Easl Community Parlnership are responsible for the overall legal and financial management of the communily. The work of implementing most of Iheir policies is carried out by the Manager, to which the Board has delegated responsibility. We employ staff which are necessary to further the Company's purpose. Staff receive a private benefit in the form of payment in wages. This is justified as it is necessary and incidental in advancing the charity's purpose. Erne East Community Partnership has a responsibility to conduct its business efficienlly. The establishment of. and the stricl adherence to sound financial management policies is an integral part of the organisation. The Board of trustees and Management Commiltee of Erne East Community Partnership are committed to establishing, maintaining and applying all necessary good practice lo ensure that their duty of care to the management of finances of the organisation are fulfilled. It is essential that Erne East Community Partnership control all operational risks as far as is possible. This includes the participation of all those involved directly or indirectly wilh the banking arrangements for the organisation. Along wilh the financial systems of the organisation, this policy aims to detail responsibilities. risk managemenl and internal controls. Statement of risks The Trustees have conducted a review of Ihe major risks to which the charity is exposed. A risk register has been established and is updated at least annually. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigale the risks Ihe charily faces. Significant external risks to funding have led to the development of a strategic plan which will allow for the diversification of funding and activities - hence the reserves policy. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transaclions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers. Glients and visitors to the cenlre. The Trustees acknowledge that Erne East Communlty Partnership has acquired immense knowledge, and experience in meeting the challenges of demand, complexity, resource limitations, financial pressures, quality assurance, regulation, while promoting besl practise. It was also considered that the Company managemenl team has the ability to continue to provide Communily led projects and has in place systems of work to sel and achieve goals and targets, monitor, assess and review performance and act on findings to continually improve service quality and performance in the best interest of its beneficiaries and stakeholders. Erne East Community Partnership complies with all current employment and equalily legislation including 1974 Health & Safety at Work Act and anti-discrimination legislation as enacted in Northern Ireland and takes all reasonable steps to secure the observance of this condition by all its slaff or agents employed in the performance of hislher duties. The Company has a slrong community ethos accompanied with sound business acumen and is committed to providing best value and highest professional standards in all we do. Objectlves and activltles We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities.
Erne East Community Partnership Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (contlnuedj Year ended 28 April 2024 Objectives and activities (Gonlinued) Princlpal activity The principal activity of the company is to promote, maintain and advance the provision of social services, childcare and family services, addiction services, welfare rights, educational programmes, recreational facilities, health and well-being programmes. group capacily building supporl and practical assislance for the residents of Erne East and surrounding areas. In addition, the company will seek where possible to build strategic partnerships with compalible organisalions throughout Fermanagh and further afield in advancing health and wellbeing and social development.
Erne East Community Partnership Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (¢onllnued) Year ended 28 April 2024 Objectives and activities (contlnuedj Detalls of significant activities During the year to the 28th April 2024 a tolal of 5916 individuals benefited from health and well-being activities a decrease from the previous year indicate the tight operating circumstances regarding the allocation of funding and sliff competition for resources. Theme 1. Give every Child and Young Person the Best Start- A total of 1619 people participated in interventions or activities addressing this theme. Theme 2. Ensuring a Decent Standard of Living A total of 227 parlicipants took part in interventions or activities addressing this Iheme during the period. Theme 3. Making Healthier Choices A total of 1126 people participated in interventions or activities addressin9 physical health, good nutrition and condition management. Smoking Interventionlcessation - beneficiaries were recorded on brief intervention workshops and smoking cessation courses and the organisation took a regional role on behalf of the Healthy Living Centre Alliance in organising courses. Addictlons people benefited from inlerventions relaled to addiction this included attendance at a weekly drop-in centre for alcohol addiction and menlal heallh and centre benefit from the support of Alcoholics Anonymous who run well altended evening sessions twice per week. Anti-Poverty - people benefited from various initiatives to address poverty and marginalised community groups including referrals for various benefits and schemes, referrals to the local foodbank assistance, energy efficiency advice Bryson Energy Referrals and a conlract with other providers for Fermanagh and Omagh Dislricl Council's WRAP anti-poverty programme. Volunteering - 123 volunteers assisted staff in their work contributing an estimated 3961 hrs Older People - the cenlre continued to lead on a falls prevention programme for the Western area, volunteer social car scheme conlinued and other initiatives including the memory club for people with early onsel dementia continued. Family and Childcare.. Family based services, Rainbow Afterschools Club, Stay and Play and family contacl visits were facilitated. Chronic Disease Management: Chronic pain programme, basic footcare, audiology. farm family checks and other actions undertaken. Numbers of people using the centre increased significantly from the previous year and moved closer towards regular numbers for the centre. Access to funding was difficult and nol as available prior to Covid-19. It was difficult to secure funding that ensured full cost recovery, competition for funding was strong and many applications were unsuccessful in this environment. Short-term. non-reoccurring funding was the norm and community donations an important factor in breaking even. In these circumstances the organisalion redoubled It's efforts to action il's aim of culting long term costs by purchasing a building and therefore eventually avoiding rental cosls and generating more of our own income. The property had be affordable to the organisation yet sizable enough to incorporate our services. Considering our budget the building would inevitably require subslantial work after being bought. However, Ihe belief of the management committee was thal wilh a substantial track record of of delivery of charitable communily health related services for over 20 year thal we were in a good position to secure funding to refurbish such a property from grant awardingbodies and community fundraising.
Erne East Community Partnership Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (¢ontlnuod) Year ended 28 April 2024 Objectlves and activltles (¢ontlnuod) Detalls of signiflcant activities In December 2023 the organisation successfully completed a bid on a former supermarket property on Main Street Lisnaskea. This provided a reasonable footprint to plan for services in a prominent main street location. Though the building has some structural deficiencies. - A loan was secured from management committee members on a nol -for-profit basis on the condition that the organisation hold a significant community fundraiser within a two year period to repay the benefactors. An adjoining house when up for sale in a sirnilar timeframe providing an excellent opportunity to improve access to the rear of the building and enhance the site. The organisalion did not have funding to bid on this property. A member of management agreed to purchase the house and hold il for a period of two years. They agreed to sell the property to the organisation on a nol-for-profit basis if funding can be secured by November 2025 or thereabouts. Funding to help in the purchase of the new properly was provided by Lisnaskea Fairs and Markets and Fermanagh Trust. The majority of funding came from the organisations own reserves and loans for the organisations management. In late 2023 before purchase a surveyor was employed and parl of the old stores adjoining the building tested for asbestos. Quotes were obtained for removal and this was deducted from the price negotiated. In early 2024 an Architect was appointed to draw up plans for the building's redevelopment and to work towards building control approval. A Quantity Surveyor was employed to provide costing and a range of professionals employed to measure the building and conduct various surveys. During the financial year from early 2023 the organisation altempted to gain inclusion in Fermanagh and Omagh District Council's plans to bid for PEACEPLUS Measure 4.2. and secure capital funding for Ihe new development. F.&O.D.C. decided not to include the organisation in their capital funding bid but consideration was given to inclusion in programme delivery. Management considered it essential that a bid for capital monies to PEACEPLUS Measure 4.2. was submitled and at the end of the financial year staff and a consultanl were working towards a partnership bid with community, statutory and cross-border partners to be submitted by May 2024. Design of a new community health and well-being hub building for Erne East and neighbouring areas commenced. It is to incorporate and enhance exisling services facilities but also to have a strong social enterprise presence that will generate income for the charity and help suslain and develop our activities for future generations. With the organisation developing a new business model, commitling it's reserves to the new building and taking a loan from committee members the organisations financial position changed radically. For the first lime since it was established in 1999 a loan was agreed. However, the management's prudent approach was retained as the loan is non- interest and a major community fundraiser will be undertaken in the upcoming year with the aim of clearing this debl. When it became apparent at the start of the financial year thal we were pursuing the purchase of a building and it's redevelopment managemenl's emphasis regarding fund raising changed with a greater emphasis on seeking funding for help in purchasing and developing the new building as well as ongoing programmes costs. This pressurised staff as funding had to be pursued for on-goin9 services and also new funding sources soughl for capilal build and development costs. Several sources of funding thal seem to fit wilh our aims including Dormant Accounls and Hearl of Community Funding were unsuccessful. This did not hall development has considerable progress was made. This upheaval and financial pressures meant that there was no opportunity to increase salaries and some staff decided to continue unpaid overtime and work thorough holidays to try and secure funding for various sources.
Erne East Community Partnership Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (Contlnued) Year ended 28 April 2024 Objectlves and activities (contlnued) This year's accounts indicale a small surplus of £3,019. Income in the period fell by 9.2 % in a tighl funding environment and beneficiary numbers decreased. Considerable work was undertaken during the period in fulfilling a long standing aim of purchasing a building and working towards it's development. The number of beneficiaries attending programmes increased during the year and staff worked lowards finding new sources of funding for pro9rammes with some success. It is difficult lo replace larger sources of funding such as C.A.W.T. Interreg funding as few opportunities arose during the period. The present way of working where austerity and government culbacks and the staged withdrawal of European funding sources looks set to continue. In addition, there is likely to be considerable future reorganisation in the health services. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and the WHSCT are working to expand theirhealth and well-being remit in the locality. This is likely to create competition and further squeeze resources at the very least it it create uncertainty. With this in mind the only way to protect local community services that are working well will be to develop new ways of working and starting to independently generate income to supporl our organisation's staff and activities. Purchasing and developing our own property and earning income to financially support our work demonstrate the management and staff team are taking proactive steps to project valuable local services and in the medium term staff income and retention. Review of the business Flnancial review Reserves Pollcy The trustees of Erne East Community Partnership Limlted have set up a reserves policy which requires that reserves be mainlained, in unrestricled bank accounts at a level which ensures the Company's core activities could continue during a period of unforeseen difficulty. The trustees consider that this figure should be £195,000 and will endeavour to reach this figure in the next few years. The trustees review the Reserves Policy annually. Plans for future perlods The trustees are fully aware of the importance in the upcoming year for the organisation to aggressively pursue other suitable fundraising opporlunities and to actively review expenditure and resource allocation to ensure the charity will have a surplus. Trustees. responsibilitles statement The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the Irustees, report and Ihe financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (Uniled Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the charily trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a Irue and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, for that period.
Erne East Community Partnership Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (contlnued) Year ended 28 April 2024 In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to-. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently., observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP., make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent., prepare the financial statements on the going Concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume thal the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of Ihe charily and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Audltor Each of the persons who is a trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that.. so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Charity's auditor is unaware.. and Ihey have taken all steps Ihal Ihey ought to have taken as a trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information. The auditor is deemed to have been re-appointed In accordance with section 487 of the Companies Acl 2006. Small company provisions This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions spplicable to companies entilled to the small companies exemption. The truslees, annual reporl was approved on 20 January 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by.. rf/LA(' .It'Aldt2/ Mrs Anne McAdam Trustee