Catholic Guides of Ireland Northern Region
Trustees’ Annual Report 2023
The Trustees have the pleasure of presenting their report and financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.
Mission Statement
The Catholic Guides of Ireland Northern Region is a uniformed organisation whose mission is to provide a challenging, guiding programme within a safe environment to enable all girls and young women to develop their full potential.
Purpose
The aim of the Northern Region is to promote and foster the spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual, social and physical development of its members in accordance with Guide ideals so that they become mature persons prepared for leadership and service in the home and community. This is achieved through our policy as laid out in Article 4 of our Constitution. Our aims fully reflect the purposes that the charity was set up to further.
Ensuring our work delivers our aims
We review our aims, objectives and activities on a regular basis e.g. at National, Regional and Area levels. We also carry out a strategic review of our aims and objectives every 4 years and look at what we have achieved and the outcome of the work. This review helps us ensure our objectives and activities remain focused on our aim. We refer to the guidance contained in the NI Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and for future activities.
Main objectives for 2023
Our main objectives for year ended 31March 2023 were:
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To deliver effective, inclusive programmes to all our young members and Guiders across the Northern Region to ensure they are encouraged to participate and to promote personal and physical development
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To improve the self-esteem of our young members and Guiders and help them to be responsible citizens through our programme and activities
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To ensure our Guiders are trained to deliver high quality programmes, develop skills and confidence and develop those young members in their Companies to help achieve our aim
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To ensure all new Guiders are vetted and take part in Safeguarding and Guider Step 1 training
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To support and provide resources to our Guiders through availing of funding opportunities and external and internal training
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To ensure all our members have their say through Members Council, attendance at National Council, AGM, Area, Unit and Company meetings
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To run an event for Volunteers to thank them and get input for structure of Region
How our activities deliver public benefit
The direct benefit that flows from our purpose is the advancement of citizenship and community development through our programmes which are age-specific, progressive and challenging, allowing the children and young people to build friendship, work as part of a team, make decisions and take on leadership roles at many levels both within the guiding and also within the wider community. Young women have fun, develop their potential, and gain an understanding of their role both at home and in the wider community and also the responsibilities that these roles bring. The wider benefit to the community is enhanced social education and responsible citizenship. We have a strong emphasis on cross community work, equality and diversity which is aligned with our Christian values and beliefs.
Our programmes and delivery methods are reviewed on a regular basis and are supported, recognised and monitored at local, national and international levels within the guiding community. There is no harm flowing from our purpose. There is no private benefit flowing from the purpose of the Charity.
Who use and benefit from our service
Catholic Guides of Ireland Northern Region offer a programme of activities to girls and these are designed to educate, challenge and promote self-confidence and self- esteem in the girls. The programme also progresses and promotes leadership and encourages the girls to take on leadership roles. The Northern Region is split into Units and many have all or some of the following Companies:-
Cygnets – 5-6 yrs. old Brigins – 6/7-11 years old Guides – 10/11-17 years old Rangers – 14-19 years old
We have approximately 1,000 members in the Northern Region all following our guiding programmes.
Highlights and achievements for the year ended 31 March 2023
The last 12 months have been very productive with all Units getting back to face-to-face guiding. Our main highlights are:-
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✓ Programme Planning Night for Volunteers
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✓ Outdoor Challenge Awards
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✓ Units running their own online games/activities and challenges
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✓ Safeguarding Training
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✓ Indoor/Outdoor Warrant training
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✓ First Air Training
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✓ Guider Step 1Training
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✓ National Unit Leader Training
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✓ Annual National Council
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✓ Annual General Meeting
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✓ Trustee meetings
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✓ Executive meetings
Structure
Catholic Guides of Ireland Northern Regions is part of an all-Ireland association. We have a Chief Commissioner, Assistant Chief Commission, Treasurer and Secretary. This structure is mirrored in the Northern Region. In the Northern Region we also have Area Commissioners, Administrators and Treasurers who report directly to the Northern Region Commissioner. We also have roles for Commissioners for Outdoors, Training, Communication, and Development. The Northern Region employs 5 staff members to support our organisation.
The Northern Region Officers (Regional Commissioner, Regional Deputy Commissioner, Regional Treasurer and Regional Secretary) are elected for a 4 year term and must have a break of one year before then can be re-elected. They meet once a month. .Executive Board meets once a quarter. Area Committees meet at least once a quarter (or as required).
The Northern Region is governed by a Northern Region Constitution which mirrors our National Constitution.
Trustee Induction and Training
All Trustees are familiar with the work of our organisation through involvement in local Units or previous National, Regional or Area roles they may have held. They are kept up to date with policies and procedures through training, Regional and National Newsletters and our quarterly publication, Guiders Link.
Risk Management
Where appropriate systems and procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the organisation may face. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers and young people and there are effective safeguarding policies and procedures in place which are regularly reviewed by the Northern Region Executive Committee and our National Executive Board.