Engage with Age
Company Limitsd by Guarantse
Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (conllnuedj
Year ended 31 March 2024
Structure, governance and management
Backgmund to Engage wlth Age..
Engage with Age (EWA) was established as a charity and a company limited by guarantee in
November 2000. EWA is a community developrnent organisation working to empower and support
older people.
Engage with Age seeks to enable sustainable benefits for older people and the ¢ommunity. It operates
multi-agency partnerships to ensure Joined-up and collaboratlve working. Partnerships are active from
a governance level down to operatlonal and daity activities.
Governance and M4n4gemenL"
Engage wtth Age is governed by a Board of Trustees that meets quarterly. Truslees come from a
range of older people's and community organisations. older people's forums, as well individuals from
Ihe business, public sector and individual older people. The Board is supported by a Finance and
Operations SutFGroup that meets six times per year, and a Governance Committee that supports the
role and responsitrm'lities of Trustees and Director.
The management of Engage with Age formally reports to the Board and the Finance and Operalions
Committee, and has delegated responsibility for delNeting the company's programme of work at an
operational level. The staff team 1$ composed of a Director, Operations Manager, and Oe¥etopment
Officers that qleliver the company's programmes. Engage wlth Age has suboL)ntracted 8n external
accountancy company to undertake Its finance administration and engages a number of other servtce
providers.

Engage with Age
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) {contlnuedJ
Year ended 31 March 2024
Objectlves and actlvltios
As described in the Articles and Memorandum of Association, Engage with Age's objects ('Objects')
are to promote the health, wellbeing, interests and alleviate loneliness, isolation and exclusion of older
people living in Northern Ireland (the area of benefit) without distinction of sex. sexual orientation,
marital status, disability, caring responsibilities, race, or political. religious, or other opinions by
associating together the said inhabitants, local authorities, public agencies and voluntary and other
organisations in a common effort to relieve povety, preserve and protect health. advance education
with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said beneficiaiies.
Strategic Planning 2023-26
In early 2023 Engag8 with Age held v￿lkShopS wtth stake holders and older people to review ts work.
discuss its perforrnan￿, and plan for the future. These workshops affirmed the value and importance
of Engage with Age's existing actNities. The charity also considered the unique character of some of
its programmes and the gaps in provision that exisl across the rest of Belfast. Throughout the 2023-26
period Engage with Age will review opportunities to reach out to more older people, and during the
period will seek to expand its activities in a sustainable way and in partnership with other stakeholders
and agencies.
Company Mlsslon
Through the strategic planning process, Engage with Age refined its purpose confiming that the
company's mission is 'to empower older people to live happy, healthy, independent and connected
lives..
Values
Our values guide us in our work and our relationships. They guide our behaviour, our attitudes. the
decisions we make and what we expect from one another. Engage with Age values are based on
community development principles. We PLrt older people at the centre of all that we do, believing in
self-determination and the right to make their own choices.
Our values, which were revised and renewed during the Strategic Planning process, are.. Being older
people-led; Empowering older people", Treating everyone with respect; Working closety with other
organisations- Ensuring everyone has the right to take part in stimulating activities and have fun.
Engage with Age is committed to working in partnership, believing in the strength of the contributton of
many agencies, of people and of volunteers working collaboratively to make a real difference.

Engage with Age
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report) (conllnuedj
Year ended 31 March 2024
Achievements and performance
For the 2023-26 period, Engage with Age has revised its strategic aims, seeking to support the lives of
older people and make communities stronger. Engage with Age's work builds from working wtth
individuals through to affecting wider society.
The four main strategic aims for 2023-26 are:
1. To empower older people to reduce the impact of loneliness and isolation on peer individuals within
their communities and neighbourhoods.
2. To empower older people to improve their own health and wellbeing.
3. To strengthen communities and neighbourhoods by supporting and empowering older people's
groups and forums.
4. To empower older people so they can shape matters that affect their lives.
These strateglc alms work towards a vision of society in which all older people are respected, valued
and listened to in society. and actively involved in shaping the world.
Addressing the impact of Isolatlon and Loneliness on olderpeople
Engage with Age seeks to empower older people to address the impact of loneliness and isolation on
peer individuals within their communities and neighbourhoods. EWA has decades of experience
addressing loneliness. The current progrdmme supporting this aim is The PAL Project. The
programme mixes activity groups and telephone befriending to support lonely older people. Older
people take a leading role in volunteering, running groups, and providing telephone based befriending.
The programme had been delivered on a part-time basis and in March 2023 EWA successfully raised
funds from the Lottery Communty Fund for a three-year programme providing full-time staff for activity
groups and befriending. A full-time activity groups Development Offi￿r was appointed in October
2023. and part-time job share Development OffiGers for telephone befriending were appointed in
November 2023.
This programme reffned its connections for recruiting older people who have experienced loneliness
within the Health and Age sectors. The operation and methods were also reviewed and refined. The
PAL Programme continues to be delivered in partnership with a wide range of organisations. Every
week activity groups meet and up to 60 telephone befriending calls are made by volunteers.
significant volunteering campaign took place in January 2024. By the end of the reporting period
increased numbers of of Befriendees were being supported by new Befrienders, and new activity
gioups were started. Existing activity groups were also strengthened and revitalised, and participant
numbers increased significanuy.
EWA also took a leading role in representing the needs of older people at sector level as a member of
the Action Committee for the Nl Assembly All Party Group on Loneliness and Isolation, and the Belfast
City Council City-wide Group on Loneliness and Isolation.
In thls reporting period there were nearly 6,000 engagements at activity groups and over 1,500
telephone befriending phone calls made.
Promoting goodphyslcal and mental health

Engage with Age
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (¢(JnfinuedJ
Year ended 31 MarGh 2024
Engage with Age seeks to empower older people to improve their own Health and Wellbeing.
EWA health promotion programmes in South and East Belfast all exceeded the targets set by the
Public Health Agency and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. A significant range of physical health
and mental health programmes operated throughout east and south Belfast. Particular emphasis was
placed on encouraging older people to r&engage with their communities and EWA supported efforts
to grow membership for local groups. EWA worked in partnership with local health agencies to
identify gaps in provision. meaning that EWA resources were deployed in neighbourhoods
experiencing health inequalities with poor aC￿sS to seNices for older people. Partnerships with
community ￿ntre5 and supported housing suppliers developed, offering a range of social
engagement, creative activities. and increasing skills and knowledge of local health opportunities.
EWA delivered a Cost of Living Crisis programme composed of information sharing and engagement
with advice agencies. Over 80 keep waim packs were distributed by EWA to vulnerable older people
across South and East Belfast. Opportunities for older people and health messages were promoted
directly through our East and South Belfast Programmes with over 50 health initiatives publicised
throughout the year.
In 2023-24, 4,500 people benefitted from health improvement initiatives, participating in over 300
activits'es.
Supportlng Older People s Gmups and Forums
Engage with Age aims to strengthen communities and neighbourhoods by supporting and empowering
older people's groups and forums.
The Covid-19 Pandemic caused serious damage to the health of older people's groups. In 2021 EWA
suNeyed 90 groups in South 2nd East Belfast and found that a third of the groups were experiencing
difficulties and a further third were in crisis. All of this was directly related to the impact of not going
out due to Covid-19 and tts associated health risks. Two years later, in this reporting period, we
undertook surveys again and found that groups have experienced significant improvements, with
fewer groups reporting difficulties and very few in crisis.
Improvements to the health of groups was the result of a mentoring Style of capacity building support
provided by EWA. This approach emphasised encouraging pariicipation and making groups more
interesting and attractive to members. EWA took over 70 sessions that offered new progratnme ideas.
developed leaders. and empowered groups to manage their affairs effectively. Several "Group Mor
sessions took place in East and South Belfast. and there was regular inteT-group activity to build
confidence and inter-community links. Engagement levels were double the tsrget number required by
our funder Belfast City Council.
EWA'S support of Older People's Forurns continued wilh member numbers at the East and South
Belfast Forums increasing. All forums undertook training to improve their operation. and throughout
the year over 30 different public agencies learned of the needs of older people.
Supportsng the volca of olderpeople to Inlluenee matters that affect them
Engage with Age seeks to empower older people so they can shape matters that affect their lives.
This aim was delivered in a range of ways throughout the year.
EWA supported the Greater Betfast Seniors Forum (G6) to represent the views of the forums and
older people it supports across Belfast. The G6 delivered an annual Action Plan campaigning on Fuel

Engage with Age
Company Llmlted by Guarantee
Trustses. Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report) (C¢￿tinuedj
Year ended 31 March 2024
Poverty, A￿esS to Transport, and Access to Health Services. In 2023-24, G6 actively p￿rnOted
services and represented the views of older people to 37 organisations including the PSNI,
Department of Health, and Belfast Trust. EWA lead G6 members in very active opposition to plans to
change the 60+ SmartPas5, contributing over 200 consultation responses. issuing media statements
and taking part in interviews, p8rticipating in protests and engaging directly with transport officials.
EWA continued to promote the needs and views of older people through ongoing consultations and
responses to decisions affecting older people. EWA was active as a member of the Older People's All
Paty Reference Group at Stormont, and by contributing to action neiworks such as the Healthy
Ageing Strategic Partnership. The Dementia Friendty Artist in Residence programme continued
engaging over 100 people affected by dementia with art exhibitions to audiences of over 20,000
people. Every month the PAL Gazette newspaper highlighted the views and creativity of older people
to over 3.500 readers, and EWA produced the monthly Dementia Friendly East Belfast lthat's On
Gulde, promoting over 50 events and information articles every mnth.
Developlng the Govomance and Oporation OlEnga￿ with Ag•
The ongoing business of govemance and management of Engage with Age continued successfully
throughout the reporting period. Every contract and funding agreement was fulfilled. Flnances were
managed effectively with Income secured from a range of sources. some of which were new. In this
period the charty secured £0.5 million of three-year funding from the Community Lottery Fund and
Bdfasl City Council, providing s￿nIf￿ant stabilty for its work Communications promoting our services
increased significantly. The work of the Board of Tnjstees goveming the corporate development of
Engage with Age was furthered through the Govemance and the Finance and Operations
SUt￿COMMittees. This activty included the inibation of a company-wide Govemance Health Check,
regular board meetings, and ongoing contact with staff. Wrthin this period three new trustees were
recruited to Engage with Age.
Summary
In this year Ihere were 15,000+ attendan¢esl engagements wlth older people at Engage wilh Age
aclivities. plus a further estimated 20.000 attendances at exhibÉtions and 10,000 online. This is a
significant increase on previous years and a firm basls from whlch the charty can contlnue to grow.

Engage with Age
Company Limited by Guarantee
Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) f¢onllnued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
Flnan¢ial revlew
Engage with Age maintained support from key funders and raised income from new funders in
2023-2024. Belfast Health and Social Care Trus( the Public Health Agency, and Belfast Cty Council
maintained their support of Engage with age. Correspondingly, Engage with Age maintained strong
control over expenditure. At the end of the financial year 31 March 2024 Engage wilh Age had
reserves of £118,347 which is composed of an unrestricted reserve of £66,438 and a restricted
reserve of £51,909.
Reserves pollcy and going concern
Reserves are needed to bridge the timing gap bets¥een spending and receiving of income and to cover
unplanned temporary shcrtfalls in income should they arise. Holding adequate reserves safeguards
the provision of our services in the event of unexpected significant financial pressures. Historically,
Engage with Age had also built up its own unrestricted frjnds. The trustees have decided to allocate a
fund of £11.737 to cover the sustsinability gap betsveen income and expenditure for the 2024-2025
financial year budget (Designated Sustainability Fund), and hold unrestricted reserves for winding up
and running costs to th6 value of £54.701 (General Resenie Fund),
The tnjstees consider that the ideal level of reserves would be the wnding up costs of the charity plus
be￿een three and six months expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2024 whlch would be
be￿een £76,262 and £152,524. Unrestricted reserves are freely available to spend, therefore
excluding fixed assets and restricted reserves amounted to £63,506.
Trustees. re8ponslbllltle8 Statement
The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing
the trustees. report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United
Kingdom Accounting Standards {United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a
true 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.
In preparing these financial statements. the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistenlly.,
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 concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume
that the charlty will continue in business.
The trustees are r&sponsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and
explain the charity's Iransactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy al any time the financial
position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements compty with the
Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hen
for taking reasonable steps for the prévention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Engage wlth Age
Company Llmlted by Guarantee
Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report) {¢onfynuod)
Year ended 31 March 2024
Auditor
Each of the persons who 15 8 trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that:
so far as they are aware. there Is no relevant audlt Informatlon of whidi the charity's auditor is
unaware; and
they have taken all steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee to make themselves aware of
any relevanl audlt Infonnation and to estsbllsh that th8 Charlty's auditor Is aware of that
Infomiatlon.
Small company provlslons
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applit￿ble to companles enthled to
the sm811 companies exemption.
The trustees, annual report was 8pproved on 28 November 21Y24 and slgned on behalf of lh9 board of
tru5tee5 by:
elcher
Trustee