MID ULSTER DISABILITY FORUM COMMIThEE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The committee present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. Structure, governance and management The organisation is a charitable association. The association was established under a Constitution which established the aims and objectives of the charitable association. Mid Ulster Disability Forum has a cross-community focus and is managed by a voluntary Gommittee which is elected annually. The appointment of committee is in accordance with the charity's Constitution, whereby each member will be entitled to nominate one person only in writing not less than seven days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. The funds held by the Forum are designated for a number of projects which are CuentlY in the planning stage. The committee who served during the year were: U Marshall M Tennyson P Eastwood M Farquhar A Kelly M Devlin M McGuckin A Keane (Resigned 16 January 2024) (Resigned 16 January 20241 (Appointed 16 January 2024) (Appointed 16 January 2024) Objectives and activities The principal activity of the company continued to be that of the promotion of the benefit of people with disabilities in the Mid Ulster Council Area. Public benefit statement To promote the benefit of people with disabilities and their carers in the Mid Ulster District Council area. The benefits which flow from this purpose include preventionlrelief of povety, advancement of education and promotion of social inclusion by providing opportunities for marginalised groups. These benefits are demonstrated through programmes such as the Youth Included Project and others. The Youth Included project is for young people with disabilities and their non-disabled peers. The project promotes this through increased leisure and educational opportunities in a safe and controlled environment. This builds self-esteem and confidence. The project also encourages the development of individual capabilities. competencies, skills and understanding. The forum uses their charitable resources to provide specialist equipment and training opportunities to voluntaryl community groups, parents and non- disabled peers in the Mid Ulster area that may not otherwise always be available. Through fundraising activities we were able to support various organisations by the provision of a range of equipment such as iPads, tandem bicycles, video cameras etc. This promotes the service provision for children and young people with disabilities in the area. These are all for the use of those with disabilities exclusively and helps to promote the seNice provision for children and young people wilh disabilities in the area. Mid Ulster Disability Forum in partnership with others were able to access substantial funding to create a fully accessible website which will be an information tool to provide access infomiation on shops. leisure and commercial buildings in the Mid Ulster area e.g. accessible with speech software for those with eyesight impairments. This is an ongoing project and will promote social inclusion. social and community infrastructure and accessible social and community infrastructure will be a legacy. The forum is comprised of a range of volunteers from community and voluntary organisalions. It is a consultative body used by the council and other agencies to infomi strategies which impact on the lives of local disabled people who live in the locality- This advances and promotes equality and eliminates discrimination on the grounds of disability, thereby insuring the advancement of human rights. We have assessed the potential for harm and believe that there is none. The charity's beneficiaries are those people with a disability and their carers in the area. We have assessed the potential private benefits and believe that there is none.
MID ULSTER DISABILITY FORUM COMMIThEE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Statement of committee responsibilities The Constitution requires the committee to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of Mid Ulster Disability Forum and of the surplus or deficit for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the committee are required to- -select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently- -make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent: -prepare the financial statements on the going concem basis unless it is appropriate to presume that Mid Ulster Disability Forum will continue in business. The committee are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of Mid Ulster Disability Forum and to enable the committee to ensure thal the financial statements comply with Ihe Constitution. The committee are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of Mid Ulster Disability Forum and hen for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Gommillee are satisfied thal all grants have been used solely for the purposes for which Ihey were provided. On behalf of the Gommittee U Marshall 27 November 2024