MERVILLE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 ort of the Trllstees for ear endcd 31 December 2023 The Management Committee present their Report together with unaudited accounts for year ended 31 December 2023. Reference and Administrative Details Merville House Merville Garden Villages Whitehouse Newtownabbey BT37 9TH Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 101797) Chari Trustces/DireL'tors The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were Anna Douglas (Treasurer) Gavan Rafferty (Secretary) Lorraine Duncan (Chairperson) Robert Browne Clifford Duncan Margaret Geaty Laura Mallon Angus Mccuaig Louise Mitchell Katherine McKinney Ruth Robinson Emma Goodall Status The Charity is registered with the NI Charities Commission under reference NIC 101797. The Charity has also been accepted as a charity by the Inland Revenue under referellce XN48639 and as such no provision for taxation has been made Page 2
MERVILLE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION YEAR E,NDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Structure & Mana ement Merville Residents Association is a charity which is governed by its Constitlltion. The organisation is primarily mallaged by a Management Committee made up of Office bearers and other committee members. There is currently one employee. Descri tion & Pur ose The principal activity of the Charity is to promote the benefit and equality of opportunity to the residents of Merville Garden Village without distinction between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group. age, marital status or sexual orientation; between men and women geneially: between persons with a disability and persons without. and between persons with dependants and persons without. and to assist local autilorities, voluntary organisations and residents in a common effort to advance respect, mutual understanding and education. and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving tlie conditions of life for the said residents. and to assist in the maintenance and management, and to facilitate and/or co-operate with any statiilory or non-statutory authority for the betterment of the physical environments of Merville House, Merville Garden Village, and neighborino communities, for activities promoted by the Association and its constituent bodies in the furtherance of the above object. Activities & Ob'eetives The objective of Merville Residents Association is to maintain the character of Merville Gardcn Village and to continue to build a community which is attractive, vibrant, and inclusive in which everyoiie has the opportunity to participate in all of the Associations activities. We aim to achieve this through engaging with the Iocal community to identify needs and gaps in the provision and creating events, activities, programmes and services to meet these needs. All our activities encourage the community to engage with each other. We address social inclusion and continue to encourage particularly our local senior citizens to engage with others addressing loneliness of the elderly. Our community live in a connected, safe, clean and vibrant Villa(Te, our welcon)ino and familiar to residents. Our citizens achieve their full potential at many of ollr activilies and celebrations, they are safe in a familiar environment our members are oll hand to assist and encourage all our visitors. We promote all our beneficial activities to all residents of Merville Garden Village without distinction between persons different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age inarital status or sexual orientation, between persons with a disability and persons without and between persons with dependents and person without. Page 3
MERVILLE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIOh' YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Achievements & Performance Merville House is situated within the Valley I social output area. The majority of people living in this area are aged 16-39 and 40-64. This population patter is reflective of the activities and achicvements deIivered within Merville House. Our achievements have reached out to an inter-generational age groups. Merville Residents Association main achievement has been to bring together a community through the positive impact of all our activities. We have continued to promote the activities of the Charity and encouraged the local and wider community to use and continue to use Merville House. We have promoted a feel good factor for everyone, our activities instill confidence in those who attend and encourage networking and engagement. We have addressed social inclusion through perfonnance of all our activlties. We have encouraged our local senior citizens and those from the wider community to engage with each other. We will continue to acm'eve good working lations with all members of OUT community. Public Benefit Ststement Merville Residents, Association believe that oiir pu0$eS satisfy both elements of the public benefit requirement. The direct benefits which flow from this putPO8e iiiclude an appreciation of civic values, social inclusion for all and the provision of recreatioii, a beneficial use of leisure time and the improvement of conditions of life for local residents. All of our activities are open and accessible to everyone. We take into considerations when planning our public activities, that they are planned irrespective of the beliefs or views of all those who may attend. We welcome all regdlesS of religious or political beIiefs, regardless of race or age, marital status, sexual orientation, dependents, gender or disability. The ttvstees coiifinn that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2008 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by The Charity Conunission for Northem Ireland. Financial Review The Financial Statements show a deficit for the period of £5,004 (2022: surplus £4,802). Page 4
MERVILLE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 R&serves Polic The Trustees of the charity have established a policy whereby the unrestricted flluds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets ('the free reserves,) held by the charity should amount to between 2 and 6 months worth of the resources expended which equates to between £6,435 and £19,305 In general funds. At this level, the ,Trust¢es feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding. however, it would obviously be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced 01 activities changed. At present the free reserves (which exclude designated funds), amount to £38,385 and is above the Trustees, target range. The Trustees continue to work towards maintaining their free reserves target. Plans for the future The charity plans to continue the activities outlined above in the forthcoming yeats subject to satisfactory funding arrangements. There are no similar activities held within the surrounding area that address social isolation in particular for our senior reqidents of the community. We will continue to welcome all residents of Merville Garden Village and the wider community to Merville House with Merville Residents Association guiding, advising and welcoming. We strive to continue to support and encourage our residents through the activities and workshops we provide. Page S
MERVILLE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION YEAR EIYDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Statement of Trustees R nsibilities The Trustees are responsible for the prcparation of Financial Statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the surplus or deficit arisin(y in the period and of the assets and liabilities of th¢ Charity as at the end of the financial period. The Financial Statements are to be prepared on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the Charity will continue in operation for at least 12 months following the period end date. The Trustees are respon,8ible for the maintenance of proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuiacy the financial position of the Charity at any given time. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and for taking all necessary steps for the prevention OT detection of fraud and other irregularitips. ned on behalf of the Trustees: Dated.. Oorraine Dunc airperson) Dated: (Anna uglas: Treasurer) 2+[1ts1• Page 6