TOOLS FOR SOLIDARITY DOWNPATRICK ANNUAL REPORT 2023/24
The Workshop
Tools for Solidarity Downpatrick
Principles / Ethics
Underlying all the activities of Tools for Solidarity Downpatrick are the principles and values of self-help and empowerment, individual and global equality, environmental awareness, inclusiveness, voluntarism, and the right to challenge/oppose activities/actions that contradict these values.
Mission Statement
TFS Downpatrick supports self reliance by providing high quality refurbished tools to working people overseas, promoting international solidarity, and challenging global inequalities through critical examination of development issues, environmental sustainability, and ethical working practices.
Some of our volunteers
TFS Downpatrick aims to:
Promote volunteering opportunities particularly for those with extra support needs
Involve individuals, organisations and the public in development and environmental issues.
Utilise working methods that develop and support a sense of international solidarity and promote volunteering and ethical working practices.
Promote self-reliance by furnishing overseas projects with high quality recycled hand tools and sewing machines.
Work in progress
TFS Downpatrick will have appropriate premises, personnel and funding to meet the agreed outputs and objectives of the organisation.
Chairpersons Address
This year the workship continued to flourish with new volunteers and increased number of tools and sewing machines refurbished for artisans in Tanzania and Malawi.
We continue to work in partnership with the Global Concerns Trust by providing them with cane furniture making tools and sewing machine treadles that are provided to disabled artisans in Malawi so that they can set themselves up in business. We also provided tools and sewing machines to a pilot project in Tanzania.
In Januray 2024 TFS Downpatrick marked 20 years. For a very small organisation with very limited resources we make a real difference to people’s lives here and in Africa.
I would like to thank the many, many people who throughout the years have supported our work through volunteering, donating money or tools or kind words and to the Southwell Trust for giving us such a great home.
A special mention must be made of the work of Christopher Vaughan who coordinates the work in the workshop and is always willing to give whatever support he can to the volunteers.
Alan, John, Sam and Jim mark 40 years of our sister organisation in Belfast
Volunteer Report
Being a volunteer is an essential element of being involved in TFS Downpatrick. All of us are volunteers and this generates a sense of sharing and support we are proud of.
Most of our volunteers (more than 80%) are people who have extra support needs due to mental health issues and/or learning difficulties/disabilities. We host volunteers from a range of organisations including Mindwise, Action Mental Health/New Horizons, Autism Initiative and Mencap.
The mix of volunteers ranges from teenagers to the over 60s and they come from all backgrounds. What makes this so special is that we all offer encouragement and support one another. Sharing skills and experience about the work but also about life issues is what helps create a therapeutic environment for all.
We also host young international volunteers from our sister organisation in Belfast. These volunteers really enjoy the experience of meeting and working with local people from so many different backgrounds. For the locals they have the opportunity, often for the first time, to talk to someone from another culture and country about life there.
This year our volunteers refurbished and shipped 6 treadle bases and 2 cane furniture making kits for artisans with disabilities in Malawi. They made the crates for the kits and for starter kits for our new project in Iringa, Tanzania. They also refurbished over 200 tools for this project.
Emma Dunca, Global Concerns Trust Coordinator gives feedback from her last field trip to Malawi to our volunteers William, John, Brendan, Hugh, John and Gary
TFS Downpatrick Annual Accounts April 23 –March 24
| Expenditure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Travel | 171 | |
| Materials | 305.76 | |
| Workshop Equipment | 144.64 | |
| Volunteer Lunches | 2026.97 | |
| Telephone | 431.21 | |
| Electricity | 902.38 | |
| Water | 292.71 | |
| Rent | 1800 | |
| Misc | 29.75 | |
| TOTAL | £6104.24 | |
| Income | ||
| Donations | 963 | |
| Grants | 6600 | |
| Sale of Goods | 300 | |
| TOTAL | £7863 | |
| Balance Sheet | ||
| Income | £7863 | |
| Expenditure | £6104.24 | |
| Balance | £1758.76 | |
| Opening Bal | 1st April 2023 | £2230.14 |
| Petty Cash | 1st April 2023 | £74.82 |
| Paypal Bal | 1st April 2023 | £272.14 |
| Total | £2577.1 | |
| Closing Bal | 31st March 2024 | £3857.55 |
| Petty Cash | 31st March 2024 | £114.64 |
| Paypal Bal |
31st March 2023 | £363.67 |
| Total | £4335.86 | |
| TFS Downpatrick does not have assets or liabilities |
Financial Report
This year has been more positive than last thanks to the efforts of our fundraiser Ken Orr.
We have been able to make some reductions in expenditure and our grant donations are up over 30%.
Our reserves are now over half our annual expenditure which is reassuring.
In the coming year we will continue to seek support for our work from charitable foundations and trusts and ideally secure more stable funding streams to cover our core costs.
We are looking for funding that is not just on a one-off or annual basis – this is a challenge for us and for all small NGOs.
One disappointment was the failure to secure funding from the SE Health Trust for the services we provide for their clients, despite all our efforts. We will approach them again this year as we feel our work deserves the Trust’s support.
Many thanks to all the organisations and individuals who have supported us financially over the year.
Special thanks Global Concerns Trust Halifax Foundation for NI Mourne Grange Camphill Community Mindwise Action Mental Health Autism Initiative South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust Volunteer Now Mencap TFS Belfast Southwell Trust Black santa Allen Lane Foundation Geordie and Eleanor and all our Volunteers