WOUNDED POLICE AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION
Annual Report & Statement of Accounts
For the year ending 31st March 2025
The period of this report is from 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025
The name of the charitable 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 (NIC) number of the charitable association is 102468 and it was first registered on 28[th] April 2016.
The principal address of the charitable association is:
The Wounded Police and Families Association C/o Newforge Country Club 18B Newforge Lane Belfast BT9 5NW
The purposes 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 assistance, 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 board continue to hold their meetings, monthly on zoom.
The activities to note for this financial year are: -
Police fund: -
-
A trip to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens in May, followed by a meal, was a thoroughly enjoyed day out which was well attended by the membership.
-
In September, an outing to the tattoo at the SSE Arena in Belfast, where the members saw a range of highland pipes, drums, dancing and other musical talents from the province and further afield was enjoyed.
-
Apple picking at Adress in October proved another popular outing for the membership.
-
The annual Christmas lunch at the Tullglass Hotel in December, is a well-attended event for the members to meet and reflect before the busy season.
-
A trip to the Grand Opera house in January to the Pantomime of Peter Pan, was an enjoyable day out for the membership and their families.
-
Each year, a respite break, this year to the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen, is a welcome time for our members to have some time out to connect, relax and share experiences.
WPFA: -
-
Members welfare continues to be supported from funds.
-
Donations continue to be received from our membership which are very much appreciated and vital to supporting our work.
The charitable association’s financial position at the end of the year is shown below: -
| Opening Balance on 1stApril 2024 | £8,324.49 | |
|---|---|---|
| RECEIPTS | ||
| Donations | £2.550.00 | |
| Grants | £10,000.00 | |
| Transfer from VSS | £6,273.07 | £18,823.07 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Events and trips | £10,202.70 | |
| Insurance | £707.23 | |
| Stationery, postage and office expenditure | £13.93 | |
| Sundry | £25.00 | |
| Grant underspend | £146.75 | |
| Professional services | £90.00 | £11,185.61 |
| Closing Balance as at 31st March 2025 | £15,961.95 |
This statement of accounts and the summary of transactions have been checked against bank statements and all other relevant documentation by Anna Livingstone (Independent 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 nominations 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 efficiency 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 K Elliott M Irvine M Gordon O Gordon L McKimm K Crawford
Signed
Mercer McMorris Karl Crawford Mercer McMorris Karl Crawrford Chairperson Treasurer
Dated 21 January 2026