THE HARMONY COMKtTNrrY TRUST REPORT OF THE COUNCIL The trnstees present their annual report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. REFERENCE AND ADMIMSTIiATIVE DETAIIS Charity name: Harniony Cornmunity Trust Charity registration number XN48510 Company registration llmmber Nt010639 Charity Commission Nl numb¢r: MC L02523 Registered office and operational address: Gleb¢ House. 23 Bi5hops¢ourt Roa& Kil¢lief, Co. Down, BT30 TNZ Auditors: BakeT Tilly Mooney Mwre, 17 Cluendon Road. Clarendon DOCL BeIfasL BT13BG Bankers: uISt Bank Limit 11-16 Donegall Square E4 Belfast BTI SUB Solicitors: Edward% & Co. 28 Hill Street Be]f&8t DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES The directors of tEe charitable company (the charity) are its tnthes for the purpose of charity law and througbout this report are collectively refeed to &% the ttijstees. The ts1CeS who served during the year were: Mr S Camplisson Ichairttwl) Mrs Judtth Thomp50n Mrs S Heaney (Tesigned 17 January 2024) Ms M E Ridgway MrDSBoyd Mr R Sterrett Dr Margaret Boyle (Tesigned 17 May 2022) Mr Paul Thompson Mr N Lougbrin (appointed 10 April 2022) Mrs EJ McDonald (aptK)illtsd 5 Septeber2022) Mr WB Osborne (appointed 5 September 2022. resigned 29 November 2023) G Morgan (appoittted 8 January 2023) Governing Documellt The organisation is a clwitable cornpany limited by guarnitee not baving a share capital. incorporated on 8th ApriL 1975 and registered as a charity. The company w&s established under a M¢morandum of Association whiGh established the objects a]]d powers of the ¢bltable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to colltribute all amount not exceeditLg £1. The Memorandum and Arti¢les of Association were updated in FebThary 2016. Apw)illtmeut of Couneil As set out in the Articles of Associatio members of the trust are itidividuats who agree to serve on the Council or otle of atly other Kcognised committees (pr¢5entty none). The CounciI ci)nsists of not more than 15 members and it can co-opt additional members to fill aJJy vacallcy up to that maximum. Co-opted tttembert llLUSt stand for election at thc next aDnual geneTal ttleeting. Councit ffjember5 are elected for varying p¢riod5 to ensure that one- tbird of Mernbe retire every year in rotatio so that no member can serve more than 3 years without re-election. The chTty'S work focuses on Good Relations programrnes with childreo young people. adults alld seniors. The Council seeks to en5UTe that the needs of this Work are appropriately reflected through the diversity of th¢ tNStee body. The more traditional business and community work skills are well TepreseDted on Council. Trustee Induction and Training New trustees undergo an orientation to brief them on their legal obligations undeT cbarity and ¢ompany law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee alld decision making processes and the business plan and recent finallcial perfomance of the charity. DuTing this induction they meet key employees. Truste¢s are ¢nGouTaged to attend appropriate external tszining events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
THE HARMONY COMMITYrrY TRUST REPORT OF THE COUNCIL (COIYllNUED) Organisation The Council administers the clwity and sets the strategic direction and policy of the charity, meeting around 6 times per year. A scheme of delegation is in place and day to day responsibiltty for the provision of the services rest with the centre manager together with the administrntton and PTogrdmme manager5. Related parties The charity has a close relationship with tbe Department of Healtty The Executive Office and BBC Chilthen in Need which have provÈded funding in support of the pr0MMe$. Rtsk management The Inte¢S have a risk management strategy which encompasse5: An annual review of the risks tbe clwity may face. The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the plan" and The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potentlat impact on the charity should those Tisks materialise. Thi5 work has identified only a few minor new Tisks but it has resulted in better emergency procedures and contingency plans and has given the impetrjs forbetter planning. Particular attentioD has focused on nOn-fancial risks arising from fire, health and safety of residents and staff and food hygiene. A key clement of financial risk is the setting of aTeserves policy and its regular Teview by knjstees. OBJECTIVES AND AC[MEs The company's objects and principal activittes are the: Promotion of mutual tolerance and understanding through the provision of cross-community programmes for children, young people and adults based at Glebe House. Improvement of social welfare, heahh and pbysical well-being and advancement of ethication through the operation of the residential centre. The rnain objectives for the year focused on the provision of crnss-comtnunity programmes for disadvantaged childreJ young people and adults iD¢luding senTor citizens. The trnst i8 very involved in the cottununity and is dependent on voluntary help in all aspects of its activitics. Significant numbers of volunteers involved in the management of the company and in the delivery of its PTogrwnmes. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Pro ¢¢ts and centre aetivities tn 2022tt3 the trnst continued its recovery from the low levels of fa¢e-to-fa¢¢ activities imposed during the paLden)ic, and progressed the irnplernentation of the recommendations of the Williamson Review of governance and management in the TnisL working towards a more sust&inable full¢. We filled the newly restored post of Director and Andrew Mccracken took up the at the beginning of April 2022. During the year we strengthened our Council of Management by briDgiDg in four Dew members. In doing so we added significantly to our collecttve skill seL With a new Director in post the trn5t was better placed to deliver on our Strategic Platl 2021-24. and to plan alld build for our second half-century of progranuues at Glebe House. This work included tbe estsblislllnent and nurturing of new partuerships with organisations across the region more locally. An important new vertte that we ernb8Tked on in April 2022 is the Seedbed gardening aDd environment initiative. This volunteer-led project has added a new dimension to the work of Glebe House and has attracted people who had no previous experience of Glebe House, increasing our cohort of volunteers. This has been crucial ill the trust's response to events itL the 2023f24 yeaT. The Seedbed has contributed significantly to our efforts to more fully realise the potential of Glebe House as an asset foT the local communty in the KiIclieflStraTLgfoTIVLecale area and ha5 brought many participan working together. It h&s also welcomed 50m¢ Syrian refilgees who have played a role in the dev¢lopm¢ut of the Seedk
THE HARMONY COM[( TRUST REPORT OF THE COUNCIL (ColINuED) Pro ects and centre activities Cont'd We continued to create, expand aod deliver our suites of progrdtDEtLes foT young ¢kLildr¢n. t¢¢Thagers and adults, addressing the effects of ]ife in our divided so¢i¢ty. deprivatioD aDd TUTal isolation. In spring 2022 we recruited a third pmgranllne worker wbose focu5 was the programmes for younger Childre We had around eighty children and young people alld similar numbers of adults taking part. The very positive feedback from participants an(L in the c&8e ofthe children and young people. their patents and guardians is powerfid testimolly to the transformative Arapact of Glebe House in the live5 olindividua15, fatnilies and conununities. tn September 2022, with the help of an ad hoc group of local volunteer5. Glebe House become home to a family of Ukrainian refijgees. With professionally qualified volunteers the Trust provided English language thition to the paT¢nts and to several other Ukrainian rnfvgees in the are& One element of our efforts to pui the Tst on a more sustainable foottng has been the development of a new website and a more impactful presence otl 50cial media. After the year end, in April 2023 the Trust W&5 advised by The Executive Otyice tbat fimding from the Central Good Relation5 Fund was under thTeat as a result of the budget reductions being imposed OD Northern treland by Whitehall. This loss of our largest single grant ofTecentyears was all but Confrned in the summer and conf]Ttued on I September. Thi$105s, alld associated further losses, necessitated the temporary cessation of our programmes for children and young people and forced the Tnt to rnake all five remaining staff redundant. Since then a growing group of volunteers been ¢r¢atiD& planning and delivering programmes foT adults and fimdraising activÉtie5, and has been preparing applicatiODS foT futkding to Testart programmes for children and young p¢ople. rammes Funding During the year our programmes and operatiOll5 were 5UPPOrted fjnancialty by The Executive Office; the Department of Health. the Deparlment for Communities. the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. BBC Children in Need. the Arts Council for Northern Ireland. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, the Halif FouDd&tiou. Coop¢rativ¢ Alternatives (througb the Cultivating Community FaTming progr8nune), the AXA Parks Fund, PowerNI. Children andyouih The Children aDd Youth Programme had avery successful yw. We stsrted a dedicated prograrntne- Youth Impart - desigtLed by tecllagers forteenager5. In Decernberwehad our fjrstresidential weekend iince before the pandemic. We were able to ¢ngag¢ with 78 young people over tbe course of the year. filling 310 child space5 on 16 different programmes. Thts included a fLve-week Sullllner scheme" Faster. Halloween and Cl)ristmas schemes. a series of day trips. and several one-off events including a fun day which welcomed oveT 200 people to Glebe House. Progrdmme participants came from Ballgor. Newtownard5, Killyleagty DownpatricL Castlewel1a itrdglass, Saul, Straugford and Kilclief. Our programmes offered the young people a selection of fun and inclusive activities desigtted to provide opportunities to meet new friends and have the freedom to express themselves in a safe, supportive environment. Tbe participants look part in a variety of programrnes throughout the year. These progrnnmes focused on topics such as online gaming aWalless nature and wellbein& Creative thinkin& positive relationships, social development and teaWOrk.
THE HAKMONY COMMUNITY TRUST REPORT OF THE COUNCIL (CONTuED) Adultprogramme 2022123 had a very full prograrnme of activities forthe participants ofthe A(lt Programme with tbe Combination of themed events, work5hop5 and study tOUEsproving very popular. This programme tsrgets disadvantaged people of aIl ages who have Iimited opportunities for SOCTal and educatio[1 inteTaction and relevant and positive cross- community engagement The majority of the participants iu this project were aged over 60. as this was identified as 8 5¢¢tor of the local community m05t interested in tbis programtue. There weTe approximately equal numbers of participants from eitber side of ow traditional cott]munity divide, mainly from working cl&ss ba¢kgrounds. though a number were of other sociecO[LOmic ba¢kgroun¢ls or did not identify with these cla55ification5. We aimed for an equal mal&lfemale balance, but a large majority were women. We worked closely with small voluntary community grnups and isolated individual4 in the Newry. Mourne and Down alld the Ards ond North Down eouncil aTea5. The partictpants Would not have had th¢ opportullity to meet outside of their own ar tlor had auy other contact with'others" apart frorn through this programme. We organised more thatl 100 workshops on a wide range of topics iuclllding circus for older adults. crafts, Chi Mc. cxploring arE pottery classes, photoaphY cl&8ses. boccla (a game like bowls). cookery cias5¢5, an RNID workshop, genealogy. and ChristD]as Decorations. Our longeT day eveffis included a Chinese New Year celebration. International Women's Day, an Easter EvenL a HailoweeD event and a Cbristm&8 Celebration. Trips included the Con O'Neill Tour of east Belf&s¢ Belfast Harbour commissio Sinclair SeamaDS PresbyteTi8n Church & St Joseph's. Sailor Town. two plays by Patricia Downey. one about QDline bullying and suicide and tbe second focussed on the Shankill bombing, Belf&5t City & MiIltown Cemeteries. and Qtteens Universty and BotanÈc GaTdens. The majority of the participants of the Glebe House Adult Programme ]ive alone. with a sizeable nurnber in nal sitsations. Many hav¢ 5bied away from social contract since the pandemic but this programme provides vital opportunities to conllect atLd bave fun with others from both their own and other communities in a safe setting. IKJokin ahead The people who have feltthe worst impacts of the pandemic and the continuing cost-of-living crisi5 are those who were alrcady the most disadvantaged in our sociery and who experience the daiIy reitieS of povety, social exclusion and inequalities. During 2022123 the cost-of-living crisis became even more acute. In addition, in Northern treland the barrier5 and distances Ixtween our commwiities ar¢ still real and are reflected in the tw(year pcriod of pojitical vacuum and stand-off. Building positive community relations is a Work in progress. Loneliness is recognised increasingly &8 rnajor isslle impacting many people'5 well-being, particularly (although not exclusively) among older peopl¢. The problem of isolation is all th¢ more acute and chronic in rural areas. This is reflected in the higb level of demand for our Adult Programme, and the value of the programme for th¢ people who take part is evident in their conllnents at the end of this report. Th¢ need for what we offer at Glebe House h&s never been clearer than it is now. Our work at Glebe Hwse is ultimately about relationships: the friendships that begin and grow" the 5elf-esteem that e0vers and flourishes. the joy of being together and discovering things together. Staff and voluDteer5 The loss of our staff in autumn 2023. with their extraordinary dedicatioffj expertise. knowledge, creativity and energy, was a major Setback for the Tnt and the whole Glebe House cornmunity, particularly in view of the growing need for the WO that we do. All who are involved in Harniony Coll]rnunity T including all those whose lives are changes by our worl are in their debt. Volunteers are essential to every aspect of the WO of Harniony Community TrusL We are gratefijl to the volunteers who work on ourprogrammes, who help with fundraising and other aspects of our worL and who since our financial challenges of 2023 have worked hatd to make Sure that Harmony Community Trust can continue its work into the tre.
THE HARMONY cOMMUy TRUST REPORT OF THE COUNCIL (CONTINUED) PUBLIC BENEFIT The diTectOT3 that they have had due regard for the guidance produced on Public Benefit by the Charity Commission for Northern Jrelan(L and are pleased to rep that during 2022123 they have continued to meet the Public Benefitrequirement by the provision of PTo£rammes aJ)dactivities for adults andyoung people as described in detail above which expose the participaots to differetkt communities and culttwes. offering edu¢ational workshops and opportimities for individua]s in the local cornmunity to participate in a social environnent. FINANCIAL REVIEW The financial ststements have beffl prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by chLties. Statement of Recommended Practice appli¢abl¢ to charities preparing their accounts in accordallce with the Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable tn the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)- Chartties SORP (FRS 102). Couneil reports that the Statement of Ftnallcial Activities reflects Net Outgoing Resources in 2022r2023 of £56,484. Post April 2023 a significant fijnding cut was imposed and in September 2023 the decision was reached to make atl stsff r¢dUndat and reduce our programme activity to those tbat could b¢ operated by our entbusiastic volunteers. The Trustees are looking iuto all rneans of generating fiwding to enable the Tntst to continue to achieve its charitable objects, whilst at the same ttme containing rllnni costs tLece5sary, so that the Trust may continue to operate within its available fmancial faciltties to enable the Trust continue to meet its liabilities as they f1 due. The propety was revalued professionally in 2023 rasulting in a value of £6LM).000 being ret]ected in the accounts by way of a prior year adjustment is Tequired for a change in accounting policy. Net assets at 31 March 2023 were £601.080. Principal funding sources Harmony Cornmunity Trust was funded and supported during 2022r23 by The Executive Office" the Department of Health. the DepelltfQr Coullnunities" the Departmentof Foreign AffaiTS and Trnde. BBC Children illN¢ed,. the Arts Council for Northern Treland. Newry. Mourne aDd Down District Coullcil. the Halifax Foundation. Cooperative AlteTnatives. through th¢ Cultivating Commulliry F8rnLiDg programme. the AXA Parks Fund, PowerNI' and tbe Public Health Agency Clear Project. As in the past we bave relied on donations from participants and donations from numerous individual donors and friends. We thank all our funder5. large aud small for their continued support without which the continuing provision of services by Harn]ony Community Tn]st would be impossible to maintsin. The hard work of the srnaIl team of 2 fi-time and 5 part-tirne staff assisted by nuruerous volunteers and committee members ill 2022r23 is acknowledged. Without their committnenL adaptability amd thrill it would not have been possible to maintain the faciltttes andn the programmes. The Trustees are working to secure fuudillg to re-establish staff positions and re-build the programme5. Thanks t a]so be given to the many childre young people and adLLIts who passed through our doors and continue to be the inspiration that kceps us goitlg. IDvestment policy tn the present fanCIal positio llo investment policy is cunrntly relevant. Reserves policy The Teserves are CuentlY invested in the pri)pety and fire reserves are not anticipated to be available for a number of years. Th¢ trustees are currently negotiating and considering the disposal of assets which are surplus to requirelnents which will generate resources to create an adequate level of reserves. tn achievement of tbis the trustees are conccntrating on keeping tigbt control of costq whilst seeking additional Sources of funding and fjjndraising opportunities.
THE HAIIMONY COMMUNrrY TRUST REPORT OF THE COUNCIL (CONTINUED) PLAJYS FOR FUTURE PERIODS The major financial target for the trnst is to ensure sustainability for our programmes. With ollgoing tightening of statutory fi]nding availability and the short terni nature of such thding. parti¢ularly the lack of funding for ConU[ty Relations prOamm¢S with young people. the trustees continue to develop PTogratDmes which will generak additional direct fimding and attract gratLts from non-statutory souwes. We aTe optimistic that in spite of the setbacks of 2023 we will continue to meet the chaUeng¢s that 2024 and beyond brillgs, ready to adaptto the changing position of the community in Northern trelanl but only too aware that the demand for the services we offer is undiminished 3Dd indeed incre&%ed by the ongoiug effects of the pandemic, even if changing in ernphasi5. The demand for Glebe House and our progrdmn]es and the ideas that have been irLcorpordted into our fjjture plans are indications that there is still an important role for Harnlony Community Tn to play in the life of Northern Ireland. As well as continuing our ongoing ¢ross-comrnuffjity programmes with childTen, young people and adults in 2023124, we will be developing the followitkg ]DitveS to b¢ iEnplemented as and when possible:_ Expanding our programme throughout the Newry Mi ourne and Down Council are4 &8 well &8 adjacent COD]munities in Ards and Nortb Down and Lisburn and CastIeteagh. with a focus on promoting good community relations in a Shared society. aniBing residentiaI community relations programmes for children, young people 8nd adults from disadvantsged communities. Developing adult programmes including thdy seminar4 wojksbops. work-study progrdDe5 and study tours. Restoring a Teenage Programme with a focus on citiZCD5hip aud volunteering. Continuing to provide respite breaks for children from the Health and Social Cat¢ Trusts and umbrella Care OrgarLisations. Developing an integrdted programme of independent living jnd new opportunities for child andyoung people with learning disabilities. Promoting the inclusion of the etEIC and national minorities in our cou]uity. Recruiting, and 5UPPOrting more volunteers and prOvIdg Leader Traitling. Organising ¢ross-CODununity day events for senioT5 in Newry Mourne and Down District and Ards and Nortb Dowll. Marketing Glebe House and encouraging the use of the frdCi]ittes by self-progr8mming groups supported by Glebe House staff. Developing the Seedbed communty gardening alld environtnentaI stewardship Project. Developing the natural habitat at Glebe House for ellvirollmental and educational projects. Continuing to build on our fimdrai5ing and marketing strategy to increase our income generation.
THE HARMOliY COMMUNrrY TRUST REPORT OF THE COUNCIL (CONTINUED) RESPONSIBILifiEs OF THE COUNCIL Coullcil isr¢sN)ll8ibl¢ lorpreprin8 the R¥wiaThl th¢ t¢nlentginTh1 with 4)plitible law TrguIalion8. CDmp8oy law tcquiKs dir¢ctors to pre fimnciai slate1 R)r each fila1 yeHr. UndN I]Mt law th¢ direcrS havL' Llcted t0pr¢e the fiewl81 statsments inaewr(lwc withuuited Kid0 Ge[allY A¢¢ept¢d A¢¢ounting Prnctic¢ (Unit1 knngdom AwOu1Dg SiaTh1 ond appli¢abk law). The fine11 st8t¢m¥nt5 tve réquired by law lo give a tnK 8Th1 fair vi¢w of IhE Stale of 8fFairs of aNI of the Inooll?¢ 8nd Experttlittye of the t1Y for Ijmt peii4xL In IbcsB fmollcial Statem the dIt¢Sr ffguittxj to.. select suitable pokni¢s 4nd Ih¢nupply them ¢on8islellily" niake judgm¢Dts ¢im tbai are Tras0ble pnKl¢rt' pJEpNre finCl7 3tstwllents on the going ¢owkm lesS il ts irAVP¥Dwi4le io Pres1¥ tIMI t comwy ivill wAllue in bwiJtss. COU11 is spO*s1b1e for keeping ptow u¢u>untityg rwonls thai disc108e wilh reasonabl¥ ac¢urdCy 41t iil]y tiin¢ fiimncidl position ol tIK COMn5 artd eDable to ensure thot th¢ fftlancial ststeme1 ¢ompty with Accounting a1 Repo¥iiry by c1wil.. Ststem¢nt of Reconiinvnded PTh¢tic¥ fipplicable tg chanti¢8 pr¢ydring their account$ in aOnI8r with the Fironcial Reporting sta[d applicobie in the UK R¥yubltc of IlAnd (FRS 102) - Chrities So1 (FRS 102) anil Comiw)i¢s A¢1 2(KTr6. They 8Je alsy) tt4)onsibl¢ for 8#F¥gu4rdin8 the assets of the ComnY For tekirg reasonabk s¢PS tbe preventiollaTMt detecliots of frau(l other irre%ulaTiti AUDITORS A resolution for th¢ rwintmert ofB&k¥rTilly M(M)ney MooTr aalIt0 oftho is to k prow¥8ed atthe Eorthcoitiing Annual btheting ID with Section 485 of thE CfxllI1Cs Ari 2(X)6. ACKNOWLEDGEMEIYTS "Fo everyone WI Vol1 servw tiilxts is The MM)rk of tlK Trwt could nol go on without ¢onlinued aiml (Wicai¢d ¢ffort& "ro everyo wh[> generou81y ¢onlribuial to our lund& graieful that)ks aTV given. tr) knrge or doi)atio it 15 not practicable to recolli all in this IH)thL A lisl ofdottatiQll8 of one undS or over i8 giv¢n in note 2 to the accolts. To lh¥ all the 1¥n1paI FwyJ¢r81isI in the Financrdl Review above t1&&S for genero grant-asd tQMryr(Is tlw opttalit]g costs of thtrTrwL Glekn Hou 23 Bisjwpscowl Rolld Kil¢lier Stran8ford Co Down BT32HZ By orthr ol the COW11 Mr.$ Ctitylxsson Chaitthan 1<1oJ11É1L4 Registercd inNorthem Iwl8Th1 No: Nt010639