Disabled Christians’ Fellowship Ireland
Trustees Annual Report
Period 1[st] January 2022 to 31[st] December 2022
Trustees Annual Report
Charity – Disabled Christians Fellowship Ireland also known as DCFI.
NI charity reference – 102596
Principal address – 6 Kinallen Court, Kinallen, Dromara, BT25 2DX.
Introduction
Registered as a charity on 15[th] July 2015, this, fourth report of the trustees of DCFI covers the period 1[st] January 2022 to 31[st] December 2022 .
Structure, objects and trustees
DCFI is a trust established under a deed dated 7[th] January 2004. Under the Deed of Trust there is provision for a General Committee made up of at least 3 serving trustees and nontrustee members nominated by each of the active branches. The General Committee appoints a Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary and meets in January, May and September each year.
During the period of this report the 17 branches in Northern Ireland have not held their usual monthly rallies due to COVID-19 restrictions. Under normal circumstances the branches meet at the following areas: Armagh, Ballyclare, Ballymena, Bangor, Belfast South, Coleraine, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Foyle, Larne, Lisburn, Mid-Ulster, Newcastle, Newtownabbey, Omagh, Portadown and Saintfield.
The Branch committees had expressed their concerns in 2021 in their ability to recommence the DCFI meetings in 2022. This was largely due to several changes due to the impact of Covid on the Committee in each branch, the members, and the ongoing impact of COVID to social gatherings. It was anticipated that some Branches may not recommence as a result.
At the end of 2022 three Branches had decided not to meet again. Portadown, Coleraine and Saintfield closed. The future of the remaining Branches is still under discussion within the various committees and the Trustees and it is likely that other Branches will close in 2023.
The AIMS of DCFI as set out in its Deed of Trust are as follows:
Purpose 1: - To advance the Christian religion in accordance with the doctrinal basis set out in the Schedule hereto, particularly amongst people with physical sensory and learning disabilities.
Purpose 2: - To work for the relief of such people regardless of race or religion.
These purposes are being advanced by means of our monthly member rallies which are attended by a range of persons with various forms and or degrees of disability.
Under the Deed of Trust there shall be not more than 10 and not less than 4 trustees, new trustees shall be appointed by the existing trustees. During the period of this report the following persons served as trustees:
Beverly Annett, Wesley Barr, Marie Nesbit, David Watson.
Public Benefit Statement
The trustees confirm that they have regard to the Commission’s public benefit requirement, none of the trustees receive remuneration. The main activity takes place under the auspices of the monthly member rallies during the period September to June each year and across all our branches we estimate several hundred members attend although numbers will have been severely impacted by COVID . Some branches also arrange outings or if possible help arrange respite for some of their members. We also value the contribution of our volunteer helpers without whom our branches could not function.
A key commitment of DCFI is to facilitate members taking respite/holidays by providing financial assistance towards the cost of transport e.g., taxi fares or other relevant out of pocket expenses. This financial assistance has been made possible by means of a ‘legacy fund’. This assistance was limited in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions in place throughout Northern Ireland and respite care being restricted.. During 2022 the DCFI re-commenced this financial assistance, but fewer members availed of this than in pre Covid.
Financial Review
It is encouraging to report that DCFI does not carry any deficits in its accounts. At the end of December 2022, the balances in the charity’s accounts were as follows:
General Account --. £50,652
Legacy Account --. £51,548
Signed: Beverly Annett Signed: David Watson Dated: 28/10/2022