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
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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.
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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 pu￿0$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 reg￿dlesS 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).
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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.
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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•
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