PATRICIAN YOUTH CENTRE
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
The trustees present their report with th¢ financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The
trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Stat¢inent of Recominended Practice
applicable to chai'ities prepai'ing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the
UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
Pati'ician operates under the auspices of the Diocesan Constitution, under review, wliich states that Ihe Youth Centre is
eslablished to provide, Inaintain, and proinote facilities and activities of a social, spiritual, educational. and reci'eational
nature with the object of improving the conditions of life of ihe young people in the area of benefil. It states that the
Centre shall exist for the use and benefit of all young people in the locality of Downpatrick and environs, witliout
distinction of sex, political, I'eligious, or other opinion adding that, the Centre is available to all such youi)g people and
to those of theii. invitees. from outside the area of benefit, as sliall ac¢epi the aims of the Centt'e ai)d subscribe to the
rules from time to time in force therein.
Patrician Youth Centre is fully committed to the Care, welfare and safety of the children, young people and adults in ils
cai'e. The Centre carries out this duty through th¢ pi'ovision of a caring, supportive, and safe environment iii which
individuals al'e valued for their unique talent and abilities and Iheir social and personal development are nurtured to its
full potential.
Patrician Youth Centre is a full-time voluntary youth provision, purpose built, having a registered membership li) excess
of 700 members during the year. The Centre is the main youih provision in Downpatrick catering for a large
population spread of young people who iEside in the town and in SUlTounding areas/villages. Patrician resides in
Downpatrick DEA, sti'addling the Ballymote and Cathedral Electoral Wards of NM&DDC which, according to the Inost
recent Multiple Deprivation Measures Report are within the top l 00/0 of most deprived supei. outpul areas of NortheiTJ
Ireland. The Centre has a Parish outreach provision - St Colmcille's Youth Club at the Ballymote Sports and Wellbeing
Centre, Glebelown Drive, Downpatrick, one night weekly for a te17n time programme and during July for summer
provision. This provision is also located in Downpatrick DEA and area of social need, attracting membership fi'oin the
adjacent l)ousing areas. aT)d surrounding electoral wards. The provision delivers a generic youth club provision lo the
indigenous population.
The Youth Centre offers an extensive programme of activities through addressing the DENI 'Priorities for Youth Policy,
(2014) and Youth Service 'Model for Effective Practice, document. prO￿-a[n1lle delivery includes the PerfoiThing and
Creative Arts, Provision for Sport, Meinber Training, Award and Personal Development Programines, Local Travel
Prograinmes, Information Technology, Outdoor Education, CRED Programine Linkages, Inclusion Programimes, After
SchoollExtended Schools Programmes, Coinmunity Involvement and Development Education Pi'ogrammes. The Centre
provides for the youth service age range of 4-25 years, matching targeted programme interventions to age and needs of
childi-en and young people.
The Youih Centre is managed by a Voluntary Manageinent Committee appointed by the Trustees. The Centre is staffed
by full-time professional staff along with part-time qualified, ti?inee staff and volunteers.
The Centre relies heavily on the input of voluntai'y work at 011 levels. All staff contribute voliintary hours to Ihe
operation of the organisation and delivery of the pro￿.aMMe.
All prograinmes delivered in the Youth Centre airn to be self-financing, and the Centre continues to actively seek funds
from a variety of funding sources to maintain service delivery. The Youth Centre tlirough monitoring and evaluation
processes develop new programme initiatives to respond to and target needs base of young people in aiea.

PATRICIAN YOUTH CENTRE
Report of tlle Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED31 MARCH 2024
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Publie benefit
The Youth Centr¢ is established to pi-ovide, maintain, and promote facilities and activities of a social, spiritual,
education and recreational nature with the object of iinproving the conditions of life of children and young people
without distinction of sex, political, religious, or other opinion. The direct benefits which flow from this puiyose
include an increase in social skills, improvement in einotional well-being, improved positive educational outcomes and
inci'eased spiritual developinent in the lives of local young people. Tl)is purpose will also provide impi'ovement to
overall community life. The above benefits will be evidenced through several evaluative means including observations
of staff members and records of achievements; other qualitative data froin pai'ents, teachers, aiid community
repi'esenlatives; quantitative data from programme and project evaluations; data from othei- sources including other
service providers both statutory and non-statutory. The beneficiaries of this puiyose ar¢ children and young people as
defined by Government policy in Northern Ii'eland living in Downpatrick. A private benefit could be gained by a
Trustee who has a child who makes use of the facilities and activities of the centr¢. The child of the Ti'ustee applies to
be part of the youth centt-e and is given access in the saine way as other beneficiaries. This benefit is incidental and
necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries. Volunteers may gain an increased sense of well-being
through their involvement in the ¢enlre; however, this benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure benefit is provided
to bei)eficiaries. Staff inay gain opportunities to be involved in educational or reciEational activities. The b¢nefit is
also incidental and necessary foi. the work of the organisation to take place.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
The Centre delivei'ed youth services fulfilling Ihe requirements of EA specification during the year, working in yet
another challenging financial environment dealing with further statutoiy funding cuts. Alongside which, the
cost-of-living crisis continued to bite, adversely impacting many families, visibly present in lack of resources and need
for practical interventions. We continued feeding children and young people at every session, heallliy snacks and hot
Suppers which wei'e welcomed, providing sustenance for many, supporting participalion and wellbeing. Delivering mini
chef sessions were also well I'eceived and working in partnership with our Trust Dieticians enabled us to continue a
slow cooker programme providing resoui'ces and skills for oui- young people and Iheir families. During the year our
Performing Arts members showcased two public productions, a Musical aiid Spring Showcase for oui. local schools and
community. Oui. suminei. prograinmes were very successful, delivei'ed over a six-week period, in partnership wilh two
of our primary schools, providing programines and activities for most of the holiday pei'iod. Work with schools and
othei- partners continued over the yeai. also, delivering bespoke personal developinent pi'ograinmes to address i)eeds and
SUPPOrt young people in their wellbeing. The Centre successfully engaged all age ranges in a variety of progi'ainine
interventions and despite lack of I'esources relained our outreach service at St Colmcille's.
Promoting inclusion remained key to work during ihe year witli the Centre Inainlaining contact witli agencies to ensure
suppoit and inclusion of membership. For example, our ASD programme continued for existing and iiew membership,
after school activity programmes were maintained and pi'ogrammes supporting young people to take conti'ol of their
destiny in school and other spher¢s of lives were proinoted. The Centre engaged in outreach work on streets in
response to needs highlighted by external agencies and to support recruitment of young people in youth sei'vices.
Developing member volunteei's was also a focus during the year with seve171 new training programnies and
interveiitioiis introduced lo encourage young people to be active pai'ticipants in the life and work of the Centre.
The Youth Centre worked to agi'eed specification wtlh tlie Education Auihority, part of which included quaiterly
'Moderation Visits, in the organisation. During these visits undertaken by an external EA Officer, staff delivery was
observed, members spoken with, and evidence collected relating lo ongoing work and response to agreed targets.
Moderation reports compiled coinmended the high standard of work and practice being deliveiEd and wei'e all graded
'outstanding' throughout the year.
Working with funders was a150 a key focus during the year, maintaining and developing to support programme delivery
and introduce new programmes and activities.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Principal funding source5
Our main source of funds continues to be the grant assistance received fi'om the Education Authoi'ity, enti'an¢e fees and
associated ievenue and funding generated fiom fund-raising activities, as well as applications to charitable ti'usts.

PATRICIAN YOUTH CENTRE
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
The Youth Centre's objective is to Inaintain an operating surplus on an ongoing basis, thereby accuinulating unrestricted
funding reserves. These reserves are to be retained in order to meet precautionary financial requirements.
FUTURE PLANS
Our financial objective is subject to the maintenance of a high standard of programme delivery. Our aim is to increase
the amount of unreserved fvnds to allow the Youth Centi'e to continue to pi'ovide services.
The Youth Centi'e will
continue to endeavoui. to deliver and develop, whei'e possible, quality programme delivery and youth services to
children and youi)g people in the locality throLEgh diversity of pi'ovision and promotion of inclusion for all.
STRUCTURE, COVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is conti-olled by its goveming docuinent, a deed of trust and Constitutes an unincorporated charity.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Ti'ust¢es of Ihe organisation are established through the Diocese. The Management Committee reinains in 51tu with
membership changing only when required to replace retiring Ineinbers or tliose in an advisory capacity.
All staff, Irgai'dless of position, on appointsnent al'e Access Nl Checked through Diocesan procedui'es and on clearance
undergo an induction prograinme on taking up position. New Management Committee Members on joining the
organisation are briefed on all operational aspects and day to day management.
The Diocese continues to update Safeguarding Procedures for vetting staff and the Youih Centre iinplements
accoi'dingly.
Organisational structure
The Charity has a Trustee appointed Manageinent Coininittee, pi'ofessional full-time staff along with ancillaiy siaff and
parl-time paid staff and volunÉe¢rs.
Related parties
Patrician Youth Centre is affiliated to the following: Youth Action Nl. Youth Work Alliance and the Education
Authority.
The Centre has close working relationships with various organisations associated with the delivery of youth services as
nained above as well as other organisations woi'king with children and young people. Tl)ese include SEHSCT
(Souiheastern Health and Social Care Trust), all scl)ools, primary and secondary in the area, Youth Sei'vices, Children
and Adult Disability Services, PSNIIPCSP, Surestart, Down Hub, YMCA, Newry Mourne and Down Couiicil and other
voluntary and statutory organisations associated witli youth service delivery. The Centre continues to develop exleiiial
links through programme d¢liv¢ry and referi?I processes, drawing membership from schools ar]d other educational
organisations aci'oss the Community and beyond. Patriciai) has an active rapport with the South-eastern Health and
Social Care Trust, Disability and Autism Services and Training Dieticians developing services and resource support for
young people and families. The Centre continued to develop partnership woi'king with Youth Action Nl on several
youth projects and staff programmes during ihe year, includiiig preparing for Peace Plus launch and leadership training.
The Centi'e continued to work with Children in Northern Ireland rolling out the final of the final year of pi'ogramine
addi'essing ierm time and holiday hunger, resulting in the provision of food at all sessions for membership and
development of mini chef classes and focus on 'Gets Active, physical activÉty, a much needed and successful
programme, forging links with other similar projects across Nl.

PATRICIAN YOUTH CENTRE
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
STRUCTURE, COVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Risk management
The Cenli'e is managed and monitored to minirnise risk. The Centre adheres closely to all health and safety regulalions
including both building risk and activity risk and ensures tl)at the building (a parish pi'operty) meets all European
Regulations in relation to same through having an "Entertaininent's Licence" in place. Child and Adult Safeguarding
procedures are adhered to rigidly, in relalion to the operation of the Centi'e, as well as progi'amine delivery. All staff
coinplete certified training which is updated annually. The Centse has in place a fire risk assessment cei'tificate in line
witll 201 O legislation and has a number of staff team trained as fire wardens. This assessment is reviewed annually, and
staff undergo ti'aining on an ongoing basis.
Outdoor Education and the Award Programme, which would be regarded as being of high I'isk, are only delivered by
appiopriately qualified staff at designated locations. Out of Cenlre a¢tivities and events at outside locations, as well
as travel prograinmes, al-e undertaken with all necessary procedures in place e.g. staff ratios, suitable accommodation,
transport etc. Building and Activity Risk Assessinents are reviewed annually.
The Youth Centi'e has in place all policies and procedure5 pertineni to the operation of the organisation, all of which are
reviewed on an ongoing basis.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number
102388
Principal address
Clo The Treasurer
John Sti'eet
Downpatrick
Co. Down
BT30 6HS
Trustees
Brother John Jordan
Mr Colin Bowd
Mr E McGrady
Mrs Patricta Magee
Mr John Thompson
Rev Father M Henry
Independent Examiner
Conaill McGrady BSS¢ (Acc), FCA
Chartered Accountants Ireland
M.B.McGI'ady & Co
Chartered Accountants
Rathinore House
52 St Pati'icks Avenue
Downpatrick
Co. Down
BT30 6DS

PATRICIAN YOUTH CENTRE
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
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