West Bann Development Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) Year ended 31 March 2023 The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. Reference and admlnlstrative details Registered charity namè West Bann Development Charity registration number NIC101549 Company registration numbgr N1044974 Prlncipal off•ce and registered 8 Killowen Court Office Coleraine BT513TP The trustees Lindsay Glbson Columb Henry Barney Gilmore Margarel Dinsmore Patrick McFeely Jeremy Thompson Nuala Hollinger Harry McGill Bernie Cosgrove John Pollock Kevin Mcwilliams Brendan Magee Daniel Fisher Caiherine Ann Taylor Claire Sugden (Resigned 1 November 2022) (Appointed 11 August 2022) (Resigned 31 August 2022) Auditor Paul A Taylor & Company Chartered accountant & statutory auditor Unit4 12 Spittal Hill Bushmills Road Coleraine BT52 2BY Banke First Trust Bank 33 The Diamond Coleraine 8T52 1DP Ulster Bank Ltd
West Bann Development Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (conllnued) Year ended 31 March 2023 structure. govornance and management Governing Document The organisats'on is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 13 December 2002 and recognbsed as a Charity by the Inland Revenue on 9 January 2C()3. Registration wth the Nl Charity Commission t¢)ok place on 22 October 2015. The company was estaNished under a Memorandum of Associaiion which established the objects and powers of Ihe charitable company and Is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company bein9 wound up members are required to contribJte an amount nol exceeding £1. Board of Direclor8 The Directors of the board of management at 3111 March 2023 are listed on page 1. Organlsatlonal StrUCtur• The West 8ann Oeveloprnent 8oard of Directors meets bi-monthly and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. At present the Committee has 13 mernbers frtxn a variety of backgrounds relevant to the woik of the charity. Delegaiion A scherne of delegation is in place and day to day responsibility lor the provision of services rest wlth the Centre Manager. The Centre Manager is responsible for ensuring that Ihe charty delivers the services specified and that key performance indicators are met. The Centre Manager also has responsibility for the day to day operational management of the Centre, individual super¥ision of the staff team and also ensuring ihai the team continue to develop their skills and working practices in line with good practice. Objeclives and actlvllles Purpos•s and Alm8 Our charily's purposes as set out in the objects contained in the company's memorandum of association are.. To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Causeway Coasi and Glens Area and its environs (the "area of benefit'l without distiThcln of age, gender. sexual orientation. nationality, ethnicity, p)litical or religious opinion and in particular to'.- (l ) Advance education by delivering community education and vocational training programmes. (2) Promote health and well-being by organising healthy recreational activities and Information for residents livin9 in the area of benefil. (3) Relieve those in need by reason of e, ilkhealth. disability or olher disadvantage by providing a telephone care, alert and support seNice. Relieve unemployment and povety by the creation of training and employment opportunities through
the provision of incubation business units for use on favourable terms Promote community development for Ihe publlc benefit by providing: Facilities and amenities for. and promoting cOperatIon and joint activities between, community and voluntary groups and organisattons. An cessible early years, service, including training, support, signposts'ng and networking, for families living in the area of benefit., Opportunities to foster good community relations and social cohesion Ensuring our work delivern our aims We review our aims. objectives and activilies each year. This review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of our work in the previous 12 months. The review look5 at the success of each key activity and the benefits they have brought to Ihose groups of people we are set up to help. The review also helps us to ensure our aim, objectives and aciivities iemained focused on our stated purposes. We have referred to the guldance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when viewing our aim and obJ"ectives and in planning our future activities. In particular, the Directors consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objeciives they have seL How our 8ctlvltles dellver publlc benellt Who we try to help and our main tIvitIeS are described below. All our charitable actlvltles focus on resldents of the Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council Area particularty the Churchlands Area In Coleraine and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit. The trustees have paid regard to the public benefit guanCe published by Ihe Charity Commission. Who used and benefited from our 8ervlces7 Residents from the Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council Area and Sidents of the Churchlands NRA in Coleraine are our primary organisational focus. The Churchlands area is better known locally as the Heights and 'll0Wen areas. According to the rnost recent census (NINIS 2015) there are 3129 people who live in the Chur¢hiands NRA, Slrateglc report The focus of our work Our maln objectives for the year continued to be the provision of services. aclivlties and facilities lor local residents. To ensvre the work of the organisation Is still meets'ng the needs of the local population an audit of community need was carried out in the autumn of 2015. The findings of this audit have informed the direction of travel for the organisation over the period since the audit. The strategies used to meet these objectives are listed in the principal tIvItieS and review of activitj'es and developments below. The eOVKI-19 pandemtc has meant that the way some of the organisation's activities have been delivered have been revised and adapted to tske account of the changing situation. As the pandemk waned w8 reviewed our delivery of programme5. Prlnclpal Activitie$ The statement of financial activities for the year is set out on page 14 Wesl Bann Development was fonned in 199810 address Ihe social and economic disadvantages on the wesl of Coleraine town. in the Chvrchlands Ward. To meet these needs we have devised and delivered variety of projects with the l¢)cal communty including an Early Years Programme, Community Education Programme and various social events. However our key aim has been to address economic disadvantages in the area and to this end, the Company has accessed the resources to establish a community owned Enterpnse Cenlre wilh community space. in an aiea identifEd as suffering dereliction and in need of physical regeneration.
Review of actlvities and developments
The Regenefallon Project, this project encompasses and allows the development & management of
all the activities delivered and promoted by the organisation. The project aims to develop and co
ordinate a range of social and economic aclions in the Churchlands Neighbourhood Renewal and wider
CC&GBC Area to meet health, educalion and Iraining needs of local community. The project
lurther airns to facilitate the delivery of a range of support services for the benefit of the NRA residents
through collaboration and partnerships with other communty, voluntary and statutory agencies.
Communlty Education Programme the provision of this prcrfJramme for initial learning and further
improvemeni of compulei and employability skills VRS provided with Ihe primary aim of empowering
those living in the area with the attributes and self
Good Morning Causeway telephone support servke. the project supports older and vulnerable people across Causeway Coast and Glens arKI aims to alleviate loneliness and isolation, by being a friend on the phone. Calls are made five days a week by a group of dedicated volunteers supported by the Good Morning coordinator. Clients are encouraged to engage with local serrfices ihereby helping to improve seryice userfs mobility and rengage wilh society. Clients have the opwtunity to complete a personal Wellbeing plan with a Wellbeing plan officer. the plan focuses on their physical, emotional and mental health, with personal goals including interests. hobbieslvolunteering. The service will support the clienl to reach their goals visiting twice over a three mnth period. The programme is funded by the Community Fund through or Partnership with C.O.A.S.T. The organi5ation for Older People, Good Morning Causeway (West Bann Development) and Good Morning Ballycastle (Ballycastle Churches action). The Wednesday Morning Club is a weekly activity prograrnme for local senior citizens which West Bann Developrnenl provides each Wednesday morning (11arn10 12.30pffl). The club comptises a range of activities designed to irnprove and maintstn the health and well-being of residents whilst at the same time improving local COMffnitY relations. West Bann acknowledges that there is a snifnt older population in the area. The major benefits of this actlvity stem from the soaal interaction enjoyed by this cross community group and include: Avoids depression Fosters and l)uilds frlendships Provides a reassuring support network Permits access to West Bann partner organisation serrfices Promotes ccxnmunity integration & independence instead of isolation Complemenlary TherapieslPhysical Activlty, Physical and Mental Well 8eing is prosrnted through exercise classes and complementary treatments which are offered by West Bann Developmeni and complement the Wednesday Morning Club in tackling the health-related issues ol NRA residents. The exercise classes and treatments will attract 8 cross section of young people. the elderly. rnen and women with a view to.. increasing Ihe level of residents physical activity,. improving mobility; independence and quality of life., reducing the number of people with levels of stress related illnesses., prornoting personal ard social development; providing diversion via a complementary healing process and enhancing selfsteem and bring about a reduction in marginalization, The Leam2Earn Project aims: To cornbal poverty and enhance social indusion to benefit people who are unemployed, underernployed, long term unemployed andlor economically inactive. To deliver direct employability skills and NVQ Level 1 training qualifications across the Causeway Borough to emKM)Yrfer and benefit those unemployed andlor economically inactive To provide personal development soft skills tutoring and supports've mentoring to build Ihe confidence of people who have been out of work for years To offer actual live work placements in the thematic area puUed by the client to build their CV and gain valuable work experience To reduce economic inactivty. increase skills base and offer a workn'ng future for participants. Causeway Leam2Earn is responding io needs in the Causeway area where unemployment levels arKI economic inacts'vity are above the national averages.. the project targeted the Unemployed and Economically Inactive. The project was delivered by Ihree organisations working in partnership across Ihe Causeway Coast and Glens 8orough Area: 1. West Bann Developmen¢ 2.BCW Trainin9 Ltd and 3. Roe Valley Community Education Forum Lld., the Causeway Leam2Eam (ESF Funded) employability projramme and a youth developmenl programme.
Youlh Work At West 8ann we work wlth young people to 9lve the opportunity of learnin9 and recreational activities and to give them a voice as they often feel they are underrepresenled and ignored by wider society. To accomplish this we seek the financial resources to allow this to happen and we collaborate and work with other groups for the delivery of programmes. Provision of Fa¢iliti¢s at the Centre, Ihe Centre is open for use by the Local community and voluntary groups promots'ng good relations and improving social inclusion. The Centre is also a venue which provides for the delivery of training and additlonal services by Statutory, community and voluntary agencies. The West Bann Centre is a welcomin9 venue in the heart of the community and accessible to the whole community. Strateglc fePOrt The following sections for achievements and performance and financial review fom the strategic report of the charity. Achievements and performancè West Bann have found a pronounced change in the mind-set of a sectlon of the population post the pandemic. From the targets and activities established to meet the needs of the people in the area and monitored by a variety of statutory and other agencies, some have been met or partly met. There has been a reduction in the engagement with regard to some activilies in some instances. Thls has resulted in some of the projected targets having to be revised down. We are working hard to encourage residents to engage and participale in planned initiatives. In an effort to achieve this West Bann have redoubled their eflorts to promote activities. keeping residents informed of what is available at the centre through social Media postings, email campaigns and word of mouth as a means of encouraging residents to get Involved. Securing Tutors from the FE Colleges has been more difficult than previously was the case. This can present a challenge at rneS when we have interest in the community for courses but can't secure a tulor. We continued to work in partnership with C.O,A.S,T. (Causeway Older Active Strategic Tearn) to deliver the Connected Age Project and operated the Good Morning Causeway Call support SeICe. Throughout lockdown and since most of the volunteers making the calls have worked from home. The coordlnator working from Ihe Centre continues to recruit volunteers some of whom are now working from ihe office in the Centre. We saw the demand for the service skyrocket with a host of new referrals 2nd increased demand from exisling beneficlarles. Home visits to the elderfy and vulnerable as part of the Connected Age project aim to encourage clients to take part In 8Ctivitie5 in their local area and assess and address any needs identified. Flnanclal rovlew Dfc Securin9 sufficient funding for the delivery of projects and programmes is still foremost on the minds ol the board ai West 8ann. Without adequate funding the delivery of seNices to the community would not be possible. Insecurities over long tem funding Still remains and causes difficulties in terms of plannlng or developing a long-term strategy. Continued core funding from the Department for Communlties, Early Years. Sure Start. Big Lottery coupled with self-generated funds allows the cornpany to show a net surplus in funds for the year of (£10,878). Dfc funding for the following three projecls delivered by West Bann Development was secured for the period April 2022 to March 2023, the Regeneration Project, Health and Well Being Project and Churchlands Community Supporting Families through Learning Project. West 8ann was the lead organisation and responsible for ihe funding for the Churchlands Community Supporting Families through Learning Project (CCSFTL) which enabled the two primary schools and nursery schools in the West Bann Neighbourhood Renewal Area to provide additional support for the children with the mosi need. However, continued funding in its present fom from Dfc is uncertain, with a review of Neighbourhood Renewal underway. NR was designed to be a 10 year prograrnme and it has now been running for a considerably longer period. Consequently, the directors feel that it is of utmost importance that allernative andlor additional funding options are explored and secured. This will ensure that current operational levels can be maintained if funding streams are lost or diminished.
Sure Start FundiThJ frorn the Departrnent of Education had also been secured through Sure Start for the 202212023 financial year, whrch safeguarded a large portion of the Eaily Years activities (i.e. Stsre Start Developmental ProgramrrE for 2 - 3 Year Olds). This is a pre pre-school prograrnme designed to provide earfy leaming. inter¥ention and support where most needed. This programme prepaS children for the iransition to nursery school. The evidence is that children who attend this prcrfJramme have less difficulty making the transition and settle better. Pathway Fund Early Years the Organisation for Young Children provided funding for the programme secured from the Departrnenl for Education. These funds are a contril)ution towards the costs associated with the delivery of the Early Years programme deliVed by West Bann. A substsntial part of the st of this programme for the 2022r2023 financial year is covered by West Bann from their own selffjenerated funds. This prograrnme supports parents and their families through the provision of crèches. parent and toddler groups and olher support services d81ivered by Wesl Bann's professionally trained staff. Communlty Fund West Bann as a partner in the C.O.A.S.T. (Causeway Older Active Straiegic Team) partnership secured funding Irom The Big Lottery (Community Fund). The 4 year (2022-2026) Connected Age project supports older people across Causeway Coast and Glens to engage with local seNices i.e. (Good Morning Call service) etc. helping improve clients mental health and decrease social isolation. Each person is offered a Personal Wellbeing Plan designed to assess their needs and encourage and facllitaie more social inclusion. ESF The Causeway Learn2Earn project was funded through the European Social Fund. This fvnding was for 4 years 2018-2022, due to the pandemic the project was extended to the end of March 2023. This prqect was delivered in partnership with Roe Valley Community Education Forum in Limavady and BCW training in Ballycastle. The project tsrgeis the unemployed, underemployed and the economically Inactive with a view to providing trainin9, mentoring and confidence building activilies. Assistance with CV wriling, mock intervieV and work placements are an integral part of the programme. CC&GBC The partnership has also secured additional {match) funding for The Causeway Learn2Eam project from Causeway Coast and GnS Borough Council. pcsp The Policing & Community Safety Partnership provided funds to allow diversionary activrties to be delivered with local youth. 11 also allowed the local community safety officers to engage with the youih helping to break down barriers that may exist behveen the youth and the PSNI. Activities for the elderly were also facilitated which gave the opportunity for messages of reassurance to be delivered to alleviate any fears aJt PSNI availability in local areas. Radius Housing Fundin9 secured from Radius Housing facilitated a range of activits'es for local children during the summer months. Without this funding local children would have been at a loose end over the summer months. The activits'es piovided by West Bann Youth team engaged the local children in activilies which contributed to better physical and mental health for all the children involved. Radius are heavity involved in supporting community groups and activities wilhin a five rnile iadius of their housing developments. This engagement is beneficial to their tenants and integrates them into the WKler MMunIty. They are to be commended for their community writ and forward thinking. Other organisations would do vlell to take a leaf out of the Radius Housing tMX)k.
BYTES This is an organisation based just outside Belfast ththich deliver youth programmes in many local towns. Bytes state. Our mission is to help young people achieve their full potential and overcome any barriers they may face. Bytes provided fundlng which allowed the West Bann Youth team to work with Bytes to deliver local youth activities utilising the West Bann youth HUB a fantastic resou¥ developed in the heart of the community. Pflncl l Fundln Sources Aside from the income generated by Ihe rental of unrts. office space and rneeling facilities. the prinapal funding sources for the charity are currently by way of granUC0ntra InCe from the following sources: The Department for Communities Earfy Years - The Organisation for Young Children (DE Funded - Paihway) Coleraine Sure Start Partnership (DE Funded) C.O.A.S.T. {Comrnunity Fund) ESF (Causeway Learn to Earn) Causeway Coast & Glens BC Radius Housing Inveslment Pollc Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year mosi of Ihe charlty's funds are io be spent in Ihe short temi so there are few funds for long term investment. Having conSered the options available, the board of directors have decided to invest in a fixed term investment account. Although the overall return on this investment is low, this is weighed against a conscious decision by the directors to hold residual funds in a medium which is easily and quickly accessible. This decision stems from the current uncertain nature of the funding landscape. ReseNes Pollc The 8oard ol Directors has examined the charity's requirernents for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted lurKls not committed or invested in tangible assets held by the charity should equate to 12 monlhs of expenditure. The resen4es are needed to meet the working capital requirements of the charity and the Board of Directors are confKlent that at Ihis level they would be able to continue the current activities of the charbty in the event of a significant drop in funding. The reSee target includes a designation of £18,000 which has been set aside for the purchaselreplacement of Cornputer Hardware and software, for the Community Education Programrne alongside a sum of £12,250 for replacernent of the floor in the main community space. The presenl level of ServeS available to the charty however falls $TrIfiCant1Y short ol the target level. Although the strategy is lo conts'nue to build reserves through planned operational surpluses. the Board ol Directors is well aware that it is unlikely that the target range can be reached for at least five years. In the short term the Board of Directors has also considered the extent to which existing activrties and expenditure could be curtailed. should such circumstances arise. Implications of Covld 19 Ouring the global pandemlc Wesi 8ann activilies were adapted and the delivery of those programmes which could continue did so in a safe manner. As we emerge frn the pandemic and commence normal operations all organisational activities were fully risk assessed and adapted to ensure safety of clients and staff. An appropriate protocol was operaied in the centre with social distancing adhered to, this has been adjusted over time. Our funders vrfere kept fully up to date in relaiion to possible aclivib'es and the servrEs vthich could be acClModated. Plans for Future Perlod The Charity plans continuing Ihe activities outlined above in the forthcoming years subject to satisfactory fundin9 arrangements.
Trustees. responsibilities statement The truslees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the twstees. report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and Unlted Kingdom Accounting Standards (Uniled Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Pralce). Company law requires ihe Charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a Irue 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 peiiod. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required lo: select 8Uitable accounting policies and then apply them conslstently., observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP.. make judgments arrtl accounling estirnates that are feasonable and prudenl; state vthether applicable UK Accounting Stsndards have been followed, subj'ect to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the 90ing ejmcern basis unless il Is inappropriate to Presume that the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responslble for keeping adequate accountiThJ records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any ts'me the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence lor taking reasonable steps for the preventlon and dete¢tlon of fraud and other irregularities. Audltof Each ol the persons Is a trustee at the date of approval of thls report confims that.. so far as they are aware. there bs no relevant audit information of whtch Ihe charity's auditor is unaware; and they have 18ken all steps that Ihey oughl to have taken as a trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of thal information. The trustee8' annual report and the strategic report were approved on 13 December 2023 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Harry McGill Director Bemie Cosgrove Director