The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2022. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statements of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.
Objectives and activities
The Campaigner movement started in the UK in 1922 and has existed in Northern Ireland since 1957. It is an inter-denominational movement, with groups or “clans” formed in any evangelical place of worship, subject to agreement by church leaders to our Statement of Faith. Campaigners seeks to: -
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encourage thoroughness in all aspects of life and increase awareness of teamwork and working with others. This is achieved via various sporting activities and games, and also through participation in award schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.
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promote Christian teaching and the maintenance of Christian doctrines as set out in its Statement of Faith.
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develop contact with an increasing number of churches, allowing a greater number of children and young people across Northern Ireland to take part in its activities.
Campaigners is a uniformed organisation for children and young people from age 4 up to age 18 which meets on a weekly basis, from September to April/May each year. Children and young people are grouped into sections according to their age: Eagles (age 4 to Primary 2), Junos (Primary 3 to Primary 6), Inters (Primary 7 to Year 9) and Craftsmen (Year 10 to age 18). It offers structured weekly programmes for each clan which are tailored according to the various age groups and which cater for the varied interests of children and young people. Clans from different churches also meet together at both organised district and regional events such as indoor football, Bible quizzes and camps. Campaigners also provides a comprehensive programme of training for its leaders which includes general training on delivery of the weekly programme, Child Protection training, First Aid training, and such other specialised training as may from time to time be considered useful.
Advancement of the Evangelical Christian Faith
Campaigners Youth and Children’s Ministry Northern Ireland (“Campaigners”) seeks to make known the Gospel of Jesus Christ by providing teaching from God’s Word, the Bible, encouraging the maintenance of Christian doctrines as set out in its Statement of Faith, seeking to demonstrate God’s love in practical ways and to lead by example. Its aim is that children and young people will come to personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through benefitting from the opportunity to explore Christianity in a safe, nurturing environment.
The direct benefits which flow from this purpose are an improved sense of wellbeing for children and young people attending Campaigners as they receive teaching from God’s Word, the Bible, via our Timeline Bible teaching resources, and the promotion of Christian values and high moral standards for the benefit of individuals, with children and young people attending Campaigners encouraged both by the teaching they receive and by the example of our leaders to adopt a moral framework where they are good citizens. The indirect benefits which flow from this purpose include the moral improvement and responsible citizenship in society as a whole which religion is considered to encourage.
Advancement of Education
Campaigners offers a comprehensive range of age-specific programmes that cater for the varied interests of children and young people. Our programmes are aimed at providing opportunities to have fun, but also have a focus on personal development, physical activity, civil awareness and Bible teaching, all of which seek to build children and young people into responsible adults.
The direct benefits which flow from this purpose are the spiritual, personal and social development of individual children and young people who participate in Campaigners’ activities, events and programmes, the development of practical and life skills, sporting talents and creativity through our activities, and increased self-esteem and self-confidence of individual children and young people. The wider benefit to the community at large is the enhanced social education and responsible citizenship that flows from this purpose.
All of the above benefits will be demonstrated through feedback from the children and young people who are members of Campaigner groups (known as “clans”) and the clan leaders, and also through
feedback from local churches. The organisation’s beneficiaries are children and young people throughout Northern Ireland, with membership of Campaigners open to children and young people of all faiths and from all sections of the community. The only private benefit flowing from our purposes is related to the employment of our staff, a permanent part-time Administrator and a Development Officer on a fixed-term contract, both of whom receive salaries as a result of their employment. However, we consider this to be incidental and necessary in order to further our charitable purposes as it allows our organisation to be run efficiently. There are no other private benefits as our activities are open to all and are advertised as such on our website. We do not anticipate that any harm will flow from any of the above purposes.
Public benefit statement
The trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit and they believe that this has been met through the achievements outlined in this report.
Achievements and performance
Campaigners Youth and Children's Ministry (NI) Trust operates within 16 churches in Northern Ireland. This is made up of different Denominations - Baptist, Presbyterian, Congregational, Methodist and Pentecostal.
We have 4 districts within the region of Northern Ireland
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Armagh
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Lagan Valley
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North Down
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• Antrim
We have approximately 620 young people aged 4 years to 18 years and have a progressive programme that caters for all ages and varied interests. The programme focuses on creating a safe and fun environment to encourage the development of the individual’s potential, spiritually, practically and physically, and also encouraging involvement within the community. The programme seeks to develop a framework to encourage the exploration of the Christian faith in partnership with the local Church. Campaigners is open to all children and young people from all walks of life.
Events
We normally hold different events throughout the year at Regional and District levels, it was great that some of these events and activities resumed after the restrictions of Covid-19 in 2021. Clans restarted in September but with fewer numbers attending. District and Regional events were phased back into the Calendar of events 2022.
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Activities evening
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Archery competition
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Archery evenings
Two special Regional, events were organised for Campaigners Centenary 1922-2022. This brought all Clans together to celebrate this land mark occasion. We held a Carnival in Crawfordsburn Scouts centre. Where all Clans, Chief’s leaders and Clansmen came together for a great day of fun. fun
There was also a Thanks Giving Service in Ballymena Elim Church, attend by many Clans to celebrate the faithfulness of the Lord over the past 100 year of Campaigners.
Splash Sports canoeing did not take place due to no trained leaders. This is being assessed and will be addressed more in 2023.
Ongoing Development
The CYCM Development Coordinator continues to work alongside all Clans helping support and energise the work within each current Centre. Also Maintaining resources and helping with the delivery of training.
The Development coordinator operates as the public front to the leadership team, as we seek to extend Christ’s Kingdom among children and young people. Enquiry’s, from a new Centre are being followed up with ongoing discussions with a hope for them to commence in the new year 2023.
Leader’s support
The Campaigners once again organised Fellowship evening in each of the 4 districts. This was a time for Chiefs and Assistant Leaders from different Clans to come together, to encouraged, discuss and share their experiences and expectations of the past year and the year ahead. These were all well attended.
Resources are continually uploaded on to the website to support all Chiefs and Assistant Leaders.
Training
Chiefs training usually occurs once a year. Assistant leaders that have been helping in the Clans have an opportunity to become fully trained Chiefs. Part of the training took place online, with 8 leaders from different church’s being trained. All met face-to-face in May to complete their training. Campaigners also provided 4 District workshop evenings throughout the region. The main focus was ‘how to help your Clan to thrive and not just survive’. These were well attended and enjoyed by all.
Project M
This is a mission project initiative that we offer to our older Clansmen (16 and 18 years old) to help with the funding of their trip. The aim is to promote missions within the Craftsmen Clan and impact the lives of the individual young people by facilitating access to mission’s activity on a global scale. This year we had 2 applicants participating in the programme, from 2 different churches, Ballycrochan Bpt and Portadown Bpt. Both young people had an amazing time away.
Financial review
The financial results are as set out on pages 9 -10 of the accounts. The trustees are aware of the reduced revenue in the financial report for 2022. The Centres have not fully recovered from being off over Covid-19 and this has undoubtedly affected numbers and the return of children and young people within our Clans. Clans are not operating to the same level of numbers as were before covid. This has in turn affected annual subscriptions and income. Council is very thankful and appreciative of the Churches and leaders who are working hard to increase these numbers.
Structure, governance and management
Campaigners Youth and Children’s Ministry (NI) Trust is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. The company was incorporated on 08 February 2007. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objectives and powers of the company and is governed by its Articles of Association. The liability of the members is limited in that every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up while he/she is a member or within one year after he/she ceases to be a member, for payment of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before he/she ceases to be a member and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding-up and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories amongst themselves, such amount as may be required not exceeding £1.
The directors of the charitable company are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees who have served during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Rev Paul Dunn Deborah Hamilton Hugh Kerr Jill Lorimer Rev Mark McClurg Graeme McKillen
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
This report was approved by the board on 9[th] June 2023 and signed on behalf of the board by:
Margaret Kerr Secretary