Carrickfergus & District MENCAP Society Trustees. Annual Report Year ended 31 December 2023 The Irustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. Reference and administrative detsils Registered charity name Carrickfergus & District MENCAP Society 101253 Charity registratlon number Principal office 15 Donegall Way Co. Anlrim BT389LW United Kingdom The trustees Mr S Bell Mr I Crowe Mrs D McElroy Mr J MacQuarrie Miss J Pollock (Appointed 5 January 2024) (Appointed 5 January 2024) John Magee Aubrey Campbell & Co. 631 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 7GT Independent examiner Structure, governance and management Mencap have strong relations with a local neI￿Ork of more than 500 affiliated groups, of which the Carrickfergus and District Society is one, working in partnership with people with a learning disability. All of our services support people to live life as they choose. providing independence, advice, and a voice for changes that people with a learning disability want. The Society in Carrickfergus is a charity in its own right, working to ensure that people with a learning disability and their families have support locally. We have a Board of Trustees, with a traditional structure elected officebearers (Chairman. Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) and lay membership. Statulory cotrnpliance and administration has traditionally been under the control of the Treasurer, although all Trustees are aware of their responsibility to act collectively to ensure the proper administration of the charity. safeguard its assets and resources to ensure that they are used solely in the furtherance of the objectives of the charity, and act in the best interests of the charity, avoiding conflicts be￿een it and their personal interests. Public Benefit Statement The trustees confirm that they have had due regard for the guidance produced on public benefit by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and are pleased to report that during the period the charitable company has continued to provide public benefits through the programmes and seNices we offer. Carrickfergus & District MENCAP Society Trustees. Annual Report {Gontinue Year ended 31 December 2023 Objectives and activities Mencap works with people with a learning disability to change laws, challenge prejudice and support them to live their lives as they choose. The Carrickfergus and District Society do not typically hold fundraising events for their own benefit, but play a vital role in providing its members and local community with financial and moral support. Achievements and performance The Society donated £41.725 (2022 £5.947) to worthy causes and projects during this financial period,including £21,000 to a local primary school with a Learning Support Unit. for an outdoor play area. This unit will help support Foundation and Key Stage 1 children with moderate learning difficulties and autism. Support was given to Carrickfergus Senior Gateway Club {£12.300) and Carrickfergus Junior Gateway Club (£5,000). During the year £3,425 was spent on improving facilities at Ellis Grove, Ellis Court and Abbots Court. Financial review The Society's cash investments have been disclosed at market valuation. It is acknowledged that this will inevilably lead to fluctuations with regard to the value of total funds held by the Society going forward. but this is an unavoidable requirement of the Charity Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP). Plans for future periods The Society is planning to contribute £6.000 towards the refurbishment of a sen50ry room at Ellis Court. The Society is also open to the possibility that some of the funds currently held might be used in a facility, perhaps on a co-funded basis, with the local Health Trust. However, continued austerity measures imposed by successive governments make this unlikely in the short to medium term. Carrickfergus & District MENCAP Society Trustees. Annual Report (contlnued) Year ended 31 December 2023 The trustees. annual report was approved on 20 May 2024 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Mr S Bell Trustee Mr I Crowe Trustee Mrs D McElroy Trustee Mr J MacQuarrie Trustee Miss J Pollock Trustee