WOUNDED POLICE AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION Annual Report & Statement of Accounts For the year ending 31st March 2024 The period of this report is from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024
The name of the cha ritable association as it appears on the register of charities, and that by which it is commonly known is The Wounded Police and Families Association (WPFA). The Northern Ireland Charity INIC) number of the charitable association is 102468 and it wa5 first registered on 28 April 2016. The principal address of the charitable association is: The Wounded Police and Families Association C/0 Newforge Country Club 18B Newforge Lane Belfast 8T9 5NW The purpose5 of the charitable association are as follows: To prevent and/or provide relief from poverty for former police officers who have been seriously wounded, mainly in their early years of service. By signposting them to private and public sources of a5515tance, and in the provision of respite to them and their carers through the arrangement of financially assisted social engagements and trips. To advance the human rights and equality of former police officers who have been seriously wounded and thereby the human rights of the disabled in general, through the gathering of evidence of financial hardship caused by either the provision or withdrawal of support services, and reporting/lobbying on their behalf to appropriate bodies. To provide relief to wounded former police officers, their spouses, carers and families who are in need of such relief by reason of their disability, their age, their ill health, financial hardship or the physical and mental strain caused by caring for such wounded officers. This is carried out through the provision of a mutual-support network for members to share experiences and creating fora and opportunities to capture and share lessons in dealing with these circumstances. To advance the health of wounded former police officers their spouses, and/or carers and families through membership of a charitable association which, amongst other things, provides empathetic listening and creates and offers outlets to give them voice and to support them through their difficult and often unique experiences. To encourage peace and reconciliation and the respecting of all communities irrespective of religious, cultural, or political beliefs and other differences which may historically have separated such communities or been points of tension. To educate and promote such actions and discussions which lead to facilitating a climate of respect and understanding wherein the membership of the charitable association and future generations of police officers and their families no longer experience physical and emotional hurt and suffering through no other reason than their role in policing and the service of justice.
The association and trustees continued another year of adaption and change. As we emerged from the pandemic, it was evident it had left a lasting impact on the membership. The trustees continued to try to meet their obligation to the membership, but the majority still had reservations about participation in public events. The board remained working from home, with their meetings held monthly on zoom. At the beginning of the year two planned events, a summer barbeque and a trip to the World of Owls were cancelled due to limited interest. However, events did happen, initially with smaller numbers but as the year progressed participation increased to pre pandemic levels. The activities to note for this financial year are: VSS fund: A respite event was held, which included a gala dinner, to mark the centenary of RUCGC. Members put a lot of work into the planning and execution of the event. This included portraying the life of RUCGC in verse, a sponsored celebration cake, sponsored refreshments for each table, providing floral table arrangements, a computerised presentation was produced, and a member performed the Master of Ceremony duties. A highland bagpiper brought the night to a successful conclusion. A Christmas lunch was organised at a hotel in Ballymena with a good attendance from the membership. A wreath making event was enjoyed by all those who participated. An event was organised to celebrate Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeht Il's jubilee. Another short respite was held later in the year at a hotel on the north coast. This was the first event to have a full list of pa rticipants, which is encouraging for the f uture. WPFA: Members welfare continues to be supported from funds, We continued to support members in theirjourney with Injured Victims Pension with the help of the SEFF group. This year AGM was again successfully held over zoom. Donations continue to be received from our membership which are very much appreciated and vital to Supporting our work. The trustees have regard to the Commission's Public benefit requirement statutory guidance. Meroer MGMoYYis Mercer Mcmorris Chairperson on behalf of the Management Committee
The charitable association's financial position at the end of the year is shown below.. Opening Balance on I, April 2023 £8,428.17 RECEIPTS Donations Grants Transfer from VSS Event and fundraising £5,645.00 £9,995.00 £2,532.00 £2,500.00 £20,672.00 EXPENDITURE Events and trips Membership Welfare Matters Travel and mileage Insurance Stationery, postage and office expenditure Hospitality Donations Grant underspend Professional services £18,440.10 £72.00 £926.56 £884,15 £69.05 £51,90 £ioo.00 £140.00 £91.92 £20,775.68 Closing Balance as at 31. March 2024 £8,324.49 This statement of accounts has been prepared by K Crawford {Treasurerl and the summary of transactions have been checked against bank statements and all other relevant documentation by Clara Magill-Lavery Ilndependent Accountant). The statement of accounts has been presented to the committee and they consider them to be satisfactory. This is acknowledged by Mercer Mcmorris (Chairperson). The charitable association is administered by the committee who are also the trustees of the charitable association. The committee is constituted through the appointment of office bearers (trustees) at the Annual General Meeting of the charitable association through open election by existing members. Names of those members seeking appointment, along with the names of those seconding those members is presented to the general assembly of voters present. There is an opportunity for nominations to be made in advance or at the point of election. Such nomination5 can be made in absentia in writing, or orally by being present at the time. Following acceptance of nominations, the acting chair temporarily steps down and proceedings are conducted by an independent party, agreed by the committee. The committee (that is, existing trustees), may unanimously appoint a number of other members of the charitable association to join the committee and thereby become trustees also, where it is agreed by the existing committee that this will contribute to the greater effectiveness and eff iciency of management of the Association. It is possible for persons who do not qualify for membership of the charitable association to be appointed to the committee, either by being put forward for election at the Annual General Meeting of the charitable association or through subsequent appointment by the committee, whereupon for the duration of
such appointment they will be deemed to hold honorary membership of the charitable association and thereby be eligible for all privileges of membership. The names of all charitable association's trustees on the date on which the report was approved and including those of all individuals who served as charity trustees during the year of the report are as follows.. M Mcmorris N Mcmorris A Livingstone K Elliott M Irvine M Gordon O Gordon L McKimm K Crawford
WOUNDED POLICE AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION MAIN ACCOUNT- RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 Ulster Bank Account No . 10377223 Opening Balance on 1st April 2023 £8,428.17 RECEIPTS Donatlons Grants Events/Fund Raising/Other Transfers from VSS £5,645.00 £9,995.00 £2,500.00 £2,532.00 £20,672.00 PAYMENTS Events Welfare matters for members Mileage/Travel Insurance Stationery & Postage/Office expenditure Professional services inc Dropbox Hospitality Members IT Programme Donations Grant underspent returned £18,440.10 £72.00 £926.56 £884.15 £69,05 £91.92 £51.90 £ioo.00 £140.00 £20,775.68 Closlng Balance as at 31st March 2024 £8,324.49 I certify that this statement of financial transaction5 has been prepared from all financial documents in my possession Karl Crawford Treasurer Dated I have checked the above summary of financial transa¢tlon5 agaSnst bank statements and all other relevant documenlatlon presented to me and can Confirm that all1$ satisfactory Clara Magill-Lavery Indèpendent Verlflcatlon Olficer Dhted 21st lune 2024 This statement of financial acitivities has been presented to the Management Committee and they consider them to be sat15factory Mercer Mcmorrls Chairperson on behalf of the Management Commlttee Dated
WOUNDED POLICE AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION VSS ACCOUNT- RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024 Ulster Bank Account No . 11351714 Openlng Balance on 1st Aprll 2023 £5,242.50 RECEIPTS Grants Other Income £12,348,37 £396.00 £12,744.37 PAYMENTS Events Stationery/ Postage/Office Expendlture Travel & Mileage Donation to RNLI £3,477.40 £11.15 £228.27 £50.00 £3,766.82 Closlng Balance as at 31st March 2024 £14,220.05 l Certify that this statement of financial transactions has been prepared from all financlal documents in my possession Karl Crawford Treasurer Dated I have checked the above summary of flnantlal transactions against bank statements and all other relevant documentation presented lo me and can conf. clory Clara Magill-Laveiy Independent Verlfication Offlcer Isl June 2024 Thi5 Statement of financlal acitivlties has been presented to the Management Committee and they consider them to be satisfactory Mercer Mc Morrls Dated Chairperson on behalf of the Management Committee