Ashes to Gold Charity Trustees, Report The trustees present the aDnual ieport together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 D¢cember 2024. Objectlves and activlties Ob'eetives and aims Looking back on 2024, Ashes to Gold saw another year of essential service delivery undertaken with the core aims of raising aspirdtion, confidence, hope and pUOSe whilst pushing back the in]pacts and strongholds of addiction, loneliness and worthlessness. As our communities continue to navigate a journey in]mersed in more and more technology and "connectivity" often we see the outcome being the opposite where people feel more disconnected than ever and they're anWiing but a part of "community,, and all tbis coupled with an ever-increasing struggle to access the vastly underfimded statutory health and support servic¢s. On a regLdar basis our project stsff and volunteers encounter both sides of the needs spectnun, meeting service users who have slipped througb the net and find themselves in crisis alld aIso, local health trust staff seeking help to meet needs that their resources just simply cannot cover. So, we look to a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, some humble but impacthl facilities and some strategic delivery parthers and we fmd a way to help and support. Indee¢ the Ashes to Gold team will always ty to provide a way forward and fit a person to the service or the service to the person! With these factors in min(L the core aim of the Ashes to Gold charity remains to provide user led and purposefijl activÉties to individuals in th¢ Causeway Coast and Glens area who want to increase their confidence, motivation and self-belief whÈle learning new skills. AosS all our projects we focus on supporting people who have special or additional needs, have become isolated or are suffering with mental health issues, are long tern unemployed or are navigating a journey through the judicial system. We support our clients by teaching them new skills, provÈding support with mental well-being and empowering them with the confidenc¢ and abiIity to make sustainable changes to their lives and enjoy their role in community. At our Oasis projecL we provide support to people who are struggling with addictioffj loneliness, long terni unemployment and are living with, or recovering from mental health issues, providing immediate support through our drop-in and other more focussed service5 and therapies. At our Oasis centre. anyone who is feeling low, isolated or lacking in confidence can come and meet our friendly staff and volunteers for a chat aud a cuppa. We can provide one to one therapeutic support through OUT fram of qualified couns¢llors along with providing plans to help an individual achieve their personal goals and progress from dependency to safe and sustainable independency. A focussed addictions awareness and support group is held on a weekIy basis and an emergency foodbank is also available five days per week for allyone who finds themselves in food pov¢ty crisis. Ashes to Gold's Grow project focusses on delivering various levels of therapeutic nature and gardening programs to a dÈverse range of groups from our community, including adults with physical and learning disabilitie5. Veterans experiencing anxiety and PTSD, older indivxduals, commilliity groups from areas of high disadvantag¢. and local priEnary schools seeking enriching outdoor learning experience5. Grow's activities vary depending on the groups needs, encompassing gardening, horticultuT therapy, food growing and harvestin& cookery lessons and environmental awareness education. Regardless of who visits, our goal is to inspire everyone to embrace the outdoors and experience the benefits of physical activity within a natural setting. Ashes to Gold's 'Restore' workshop is set up to provide DIY training and sin]ple woodworking activities that not only inspire and teach its visitors but re-purpose botb mateTials and people! Th¢ activities and support provided can help an individual to gain the confidence and skills required to better engage in commullity and sfrp towards employmenL As with the Grow projec( this facility is serving a diverse set of groups from all sectors of the local ommunity and further afield in some cases. Page 2
Ashes to Gold Charity Trustees, Report (continued) Moorbrook - Fishing and time in the great outdoors bas been prov¢n to b¢ Use1, if not essential, in bringing improved mental well-being and equipping people with the skills to manage challenges in mental health. The airn of the Moorbrook site is to introduce the pastime of fishing along with a variety of other outdoor actÉvities to a much wider community audience including children and the elderly and those with physical and mental disabilities with a focus being put on the health and w¢ll-being benefits of the various activities on offer. Public beneflt Ashes to Gold aims to educate, empower and help thos¢ who require assistance to integrdts back into society, and to support those who fthd themselves at an economic or sociaI disadvantage by helping them to gain access to local businesses and services for financial, training or well-being assistance. The charity aIso aims to provide facilities and thtors to - assist with the educational needs of those who do not have acc¢ss to learning in numeracy or literature, - assist individuals with mental or physical disabilities to experience life enhancing opportunities, assist those experiencing long term unemployment or the elderly, who are suffering from financial har(Lship by giving advice and assistance in areas of debt management and money advice, - provide support to people with mental health issues througb mentoring and group or one to one counselling. The trustees confirn] that they have complied with the requirejnents of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to have due regard to the public benefit guidanr£ published by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. cheivements and erform ce During th¢ 2024 year, Ashes to Gold h&s seen a nwked increase in delivery across most of the charity projects and this founded on a solid development of botb staff and volunteer structure coupled with development of the necessary planning and compliance procedures associated with this increased delivery. with all being achieved under the care1 direction of the board of trustees. The Oasis project continued to deliver sttuctured health and well-being programmes to individuals from areas of high depravation and. under th¢ leadership of a new lead counsellor, saw significant development of the counselling service and the physicaI environment where delivery takes place with over 1,200 hours of 1-2-1 therapy being d¢livered by the team of volunteer ¢ounsellors. In July 2024 Ashes to Gold 0&5is once again gained major support for op¢rating and programme costs througb DFC (Department for Communities) to provide essential services to the most disadvantaged in our local communities. Also, in collaboration with the landlords of the Ashes to Gold Oasis premises, Coleraine I st Presbyterian Church, some of the Oasis Service delivery which includes the w¢ekly drop in and addiction support sessions now takes place in a much more suitabl¢ place in the neighbouring building at a sustainable cost to the charity. The need for emergency food and other "point of crisis" services Stayed steady and we were able to meet n]ost of that need through the generosity of several local churches and funders who either donated non-perishable food, personal hygiene products and pet food or the fmancial provision to cover em¢rgency needs like electricity credit or food shopping vouchers to purchase essentials such as baby food and Dapples. Page 3
Ashes to Gold Charity Trustees, Report (eontinued) Through support from the ATG Group, the Moorbrook project was aIso subject to significant development after the appointment of a general manager to oversee both the day-to-day operations and the growth necessary to achieve some level of sustainability. This resulted in a rapid development of on-site activities and services and a maTked increase in visitor footfall from a variety of sources including the local Education Authority and The Scouts. Funding through the Honourable The Irish Society enabled angling to be taught to multiple children and youth groups and fimding from the Veterans Foundation enabled over 200 veterans of the armed forces and their family members to avail of some much-needed well-being retreats that included activity packages and food. All activities and services have at their core, the desire to engage people with nature, regar(lless of age or ba¢kgroun¢ and to encounter opportunities to go forward in a more positive way. Several other smaller funds were also obtained for the delivery of community craft and fun events that proved to be an incredible success with full attendance at all events and some very positive feedback been given. The Moorbrook project was also successful in being awarded a Green Flag foT providing a safe and inclusive space for community engagenLent and enjoyment in 2024. Ashes to Gold's Grow and Restore Workshop projects continued to provide a safe and peaceful space for groups of all ages to engage witb nature and enjoy the pastimes of cooking, gardening and woodworking, with guests coming from more than ten different routes of connection and referral to avatl of the activities and therapies on offer. As is now commonplace, anxiety, isolation and other mental well-being challenges are on the increase and in]measurable economic difficulties continue to blight the lives of many in our conununity and often the testimony of Ashes to Gold being a "sanctuaryR' away from the pressure cooker of life is heard! This year saw a further two DGS (Defence Garden Scheme) ten-week horticultural therapy prograrnmes delivered to veterdns of the armed forces who were refeed as a result of being negatively impacted by their military service with many suffering the effects of ongoing complex PTSD 0st Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other emotional, mental and physical challenges. There were many key outcomes from these programn]es but two that stand out were a refeal to and connection with a specialist vefrrans addiction service and the prevention of a well plaDned suicide. The Grow and Restore projects also saw ongoing facilitation of a weekly service to adults with a learning disability through the NHSCT Day Opporttjnities prograllime, where workplace Style activities are undertaken in a workplace style environn]ent. encouTaging learning and self confidence and preparation for employment where appropriate. The early summer also saw a group frotn the local health tnjst adult day centre avail of twice weekly gardening and woodworking activities, with each participant being given th¢ assistance, care, tools and training to fully take part regardless of their personal limitations. Ashes to Gold continues to strÈve to ensure that no one feels different or left out because of their mental or physical ability by learning about the difftring needs and adapting accordingly, examples being workbenches that adapt to a mobility aid or wheelchaiT User and special frames that enable the safe use of a handsaw by someone with a dexterity i55ue, and, the adaptable benches blend in with the rest of the benches so no one is SIated separately. Once agai Ashes to Gold finds itself responding to significant increases in cotnmunity and social need, with addictio aXiety, isolation, self-harni and suicide all oll the rise. Agai key indicators evidencing the increase in denlld was the number of individuals who we would count as "Dirert Beneficiaries" of the services delivered through the various projects. Many individuals simply had no Option but to call at 0 projects and ask for help with energy Costs, food, health, n]ental health or housing as th¢y found themselves in crisis in one or more of these areas. Another key indicator the inCree in requests from local statutory health and support agencies for Structted programs of health interventions including mental health and addictions support. During the 2024 year, in exc¢ss of 1,000 people, mainly from local ConstienCles, received help and support througb the Ashes to Gold Charity and w¢ can be confident that many more "indirect beneficiaries" felt the itnpact of this support througb an emergency need that was m¢t or an improved and more stable environment at home an(Vor in the workplace. This groM¢h in service delivery was handled comfortably on the wund by the Ashes to Gold project managers with the support of the board of trustees, but all had to invest energy, time and wisdom in managing services and resources to cope with the increase in demand whilst navigating a tight fwancial environment. Page 4
Ashes to Gold Charity Trustees, Report (continued) As with previous years, Ashes to Gold's Project Manag¢rs used existing resources well and perforned brilliantly in recrniting more trusted volunteers to assist in the increased facilitation of services. Again, Ash¢s to Gold was playing its part and many liv¢s were being impacted as a result. structur governance and management Organisallonal structhre The governance and management stNcture of the charity has remained largely uncbanged through the 2024 year exc¢pt for the resignation of Mr P¢t¢r Finch who left the board in November. The board met regularly through the year and steered the organisation as it cattied out the various project activities. Page 5
Ashes to Gold Charity Trustees, Report (continued) Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees, report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities requires the trust¢¢s to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of tbe state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these fanCIal ststements, the ttwtees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consist¢ntly' observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; n]ake judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. state whether applicable accounting standards have been followe subj¢ct to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and prepare the finallcial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The tnteeS are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the fmancial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 201 I, the CbaTiti¢s (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trJstee5 are also responsibl¢ for safeguarding the assets of the chaTity aud hence for taking reasonable stsps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the nintenanCe and integrity of the corporate and flnancial inforn]ation included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of fmancial statements may differ froEn legislation in other jurisdictions. ual re was approved by the tteeS of the charity on 20 August 2025 and signed on its behalf by: r Mark McKiDney Trustee Jacqu¢line Mc Pag¢ 6