Hope House Ireland Charity Reference and Administrative Details Year Ended 31 December 2023 Charity registration number NIC100516 Trustees Dawn Mcconnell Roy Mcconnell Jacqueline Mcconnell Sam Mccullough Joan Crothers Principal address Hope House 1 Browns Bay Drive Islandmagee Lame Co. Antrim BT40 3RU Independent examiner Guardian Chartered Accountants 2 William Street Newtownards Co. Down BT23 4AH Bankers Danske Bank Donegall Square West Belfast BT16JS
Ho e House Nl Chari Commission re istration number NIC 100516 Trustees Re ort for the ear ended 31 December 2023 The trustees present their report for the above year. Trustees Trustees who served during the year were: Dawn Mcconnell Roy Mcconnell Jacqueline Mccullough Samuel Mccullough Joan Crothers appointed 26 February 2024 Objectives The objectives of Hope House are to provide rest, recuperation, and support to members of the Northem Ireland public with a canr diagnosis and their families and carers. We provide • FREE Self-catering accommodation in two beachfront properties in Browns Bay. The properties and their location enhanS physical and emotional wellbeing - reducing stress, enabling our service users to feel supported, cared for, and valued at a very vulnerable time. We bring HOPE!! Respite for family and carers, knowing that their loved-one is in a safe, comfortable, and relaxing location. Hope House is by the sea - a place of sanctuary in the storm that living wtth a cancer diagnosis can bring into the lives of families navigating a cancerjoumey.
Achievements and public benefit activities During the year, the following were achieved • One of the highlights of the year was our founder and Chair Mrs Dawn Mcconnell was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) from His Majesty King Charles111. Dawn received the Honour in recognrtion of the work she did in establishing Hope House and to bring the charity to where it is today. . The Charity was also honoured to re1ve another award - Dawn and founder member Mr Roy Mcconnell were presented with the 'Points of Lights Award, by the foer Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. This award is given by the UK Prime Minister to recognise outstanding individual volunteers - people who are making a real change in their communities. We are very proud of all these achievements and building on the honour of Hope House receiving our late Queens Award in 2022. Hope House was delighted to be chosen by two organisations as their 'Charity of the Year,, they were: Lady Captains Charity for Lame Golf Club President's Captains Charity for Caimdhu Golf Club There was a significant increase in fvnds raised during the year due to Hope House being supported by many of our local businesses, such as Spar, Tesco, Supervalu, Eurospar, and also by local Schools & Sports Clubs. We applaud all our fundraisers, sponsors and businesses, and because of these collective endeavours - such as cycle rides, mountain climbs. marathons, swimathons and sponsored walks, this has helped to make this a very successful year. . One of the developments this year has been to eannark new space that will give us two new purpose-built rooms. This will hopefully enable us to extend our ServIS greatly and provide some much-needed Offi space. After the year end, we were delighted to obtain planning approval and hope to have this work completed by late 2024. . The number of people accessing our service has grown significantly. We were able to provide 342 guests with recuperation breaks due to the addition of the Alan Baillie Lodge and the many contacts we have built with social workers, Canr Centres, specialist nurses and Communty nurses, e.g. Marie Currie, Nl Hospice. and Macmillan. Because of the improved facilities we now provide, we have been able to offer more recuperation breaks to people who have reiVed a terminal diagnosis. For the family, carers and friends of patients - Hope House offers respite and peace, knowing that their loved-one is in a safe environment. The facilities provide a comfortable and restful break in a beautiful setting, therefore creating a sense of calmness, hope and wellbeing. Hope House is managed by local volunteers. all of whom have been affected by cancer. These volunteers offer their ServIS FREE - meeting and greeting, providing transport, awareness raising, and fundraising etc.
Hope House helps very vulnerable individuals cope with their cancer joumey. The growing demand for its ServIS demonstrates the value plad on the services we provide. Hope House has had a significant impact in improving the lives of adults affected by canr in Northern Ireland. We regularly re1ve lovely letters and cards from families thanking us for the use of the Hope House facilities. These notes from a very grateful service users really demonstrates all that we stand for and strive to achieve at Hope House:_ From Jane °Myself & my husband have just had the most amazing, relaxed & soulful time at this outstanding house - HOPE is just what I needed following my diagnosis of breast cancer in June - surgery followed with chemotherapy & Gurrently l am undergoing radiotherapy tatfflent. This home provides a secure loving environment to aid healing & give adults the exclusive time they need at such a heartbreaknng time in their lrfe. I cannot thank the team at Hope House enough for all they have done for me & my husband providing a wam?, beautrful environment for us both to relax in & just take time to process all we have gone through as a family- Dawn is an inspiration to anyone who is lucky enough to meet her. Her passion & sheer determination to help others knows no bounds & during our stay at this beautrful home we feft the love from it & I personally fett it was hugging me & inspiring me on with positivty to enable me the strength to continue on my path. A personal huge thank you to all who made this vision a realty & enabled us to avail of the time as a couple. We have 5 children & to just be able to reflect on my diagnosis & path so far togeth8rjust us away was the heart-wanning I needed to spur me on through my battle - thank you all so much.. Jane x
From Karen °Sadly, my beloved husband passed away this year after a long battle wrfh cancer. We We extremely blessed to have found Hope House. This amazing resource helped Dessie and me Gope with the daily stnjggle and challenges facing us on ourjoumey of managing our daily lrfe with a cancer diagnosis. Hope house provided a sanctuary for us, we found peace and tranquillity in this very special place in Browns bay. From the minute we anived in Hope House until retuming home, lrfe was StSS free and allowed us time together to make more very important memories. We .11 never be able to thank everyone enough at hope house forproviding this very unique facility. Everyone .11 have a very individual story when they visit this special place, it was always our sanctuary and gave us so much strength" Thank you for the precious memories.. Karen This year we said goodbye to two of our members, Trustee Mr Jonathan Ogilby and Secretary Mrs Debbie Lennon who served the chartty so well over the last five years. We are so grateful and thankful to them both and MIS Insuran Group for their business advice, guidance, and funding support that has helped us grow the charity. We were delighted to welcome two new Trustees to our board, Mr Sam Mccullough and Joan Crothers into the roles of Treasurer and Secretary respectively, as we seek to implement the new strategies needed for the development and growth of Hope House. Our heartfelt thanks to Mr Colin Stewart of Guardian Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors for their ongoing support during 2023.
Financial Review In 2023 income was £104,715 (2022 £105,688>. Funds were raised through community fundraising, events, and donations from groups and individuals. We are actively seeking additional funding streams to maintain and build on the services we provide. At the year end, the chanty had funds of £226.911 (2022 - £172,896) and no debt. Dawn Mcconnell BEM Founder Trustee- Hope House I,-l Registered Charity No 100516