ALBERT STREET COMMUNITY CENTRE LIMITED TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY2024 The trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply vitlh the chariws Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and °Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable lo charities preparing their accounts in accordan with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102). (as amended for accounting periods Lxjmmencing from 1 January 2019). Objectives and activities The Tmstees have taken cognisance of the CharTty Commission for Northem Ireland's guidance on public benefit as defined in the Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 2008. The mission of the charity is to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of people in the Falls Ward by tackling key causes and effects of stress through a sustainable partnership of public agencies, community groups and voluntsry organisations. This is to be achieved by fulfilling the following key objectives: (i) to 8nhance the health related skills and knowledge of local people and involve them in proj8Ct delivery and evaluation- (li) to provide information, advice and referral services which empower people to make positive decisions about their health., (iii) to provide and ensure access to education projects which improve the physical health and mental wellbeing of targ8tèd groups" (iv) to develop and facilitste community, voluntary and self-help activity which contributes to a healthier community., and (v) to offer cancer, cardiac. stroke and diabetes rehab programmes under the Healthwise Scheme. In practi, this translates to iwo core areas in which the charity is engaged: (i) The operation of the Albert Street Community Centre facilty, which provides the community with a range of services from community based groups who lease unils in the Centre from the charity. {ii) The operation of the HEART Project which has been funded by the Public Health Agency(PHA) from January 201110 date. The project was developed to provide the following: infom)ation, advice and refeffal services which allow people to make positive decisions about their health- access to education projects and courses: developing self help activity which impn)ves the physical heallh and mental wellbeing of people and contributes to a healthier community; offer accredited training to the unemployed and under employed lo assist in securing employment. provide health checks in local communities and WOTkplace settings: and mentoring programme aimed at vulnerable people to help them set goals for their future. Providing training and support such as counselling under U)e Communities in Transition Prograrnme {CIT).
ALBERT STREET COMMUNITY CENTRE LIMITED TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2024 Achlevements and perfomiance The charity continues to provide high quality facilities to the community through the Community Centre complex. As a result of the development of the HABIT Suite, which includes stste of the art gym facilities, people can now access a project of physical activity under the Healthwse Scheme such as Exercise by Referral. Cardiac Rehab, Cancer Rehab, Stroke Rehab, Pulmonary Rehab, Diabetes Rehab and Obesty Rehab. The project has created an bmportant pl of communty infrastructure that facilitates other community based organisats'ons to engage more fully in the issues of health and wellbeing. Local people have been enabled to access a wide variety of screening services. Many I1 people experiencing high blood pressure. high cholesterol and at risk of diabetes have been referred to general practitioners. A large volume of health education courses have been delNered on a variety of topics induding smoking, medication use. drug and alcohol misuse, di8t, nutrition and sexual health. Local people have been enabled to increase their level of exercise through walking club, swmming. Jol therapy, tai chi, ClIng, danderball. water polo. circJJit training, surfing, golf, kayaking, bowling, piGkleball, gardening and cooking. The tharity has the Wheely Indusive Cyding Project which is aimed at all regardless of abilttses or disabilities and it has specially adaptsd bicydes fund6d through Active Belfast. Th6 charity has a Brave Hèarts over 50s men's group and the Sweethearts over 50s ladies, group who can avail of a Tange of physical activities. The charity has a Gardening Programme. 'Headin 2 Horticulture., which operates in the garden of the ntre. as w811 as Grosvenor Road Poly Tunnel and the Frank Gillen Centre. The charity is able to offer counselling and complementary therapy to those in its community at risk of suicide or self hami through the PHAS Protect Lrfe Programme. On6 member of staff has trained in Cardiac Rehab Phase 4. and is delivering this each week from the Maureen Sheehan Centre with referrals coming direcuy from Cardc Rehab Nurses. Two members of staff are trained for Cancer Rehab Phase 4 and there is a continuous programme being delivered since February 2013 in partnership with the Cancer Centre, Macmillan Canr Services and Belfast Trust and Belfast Health Development UniL Two members of staff and one volunteer have achieved Post Graduate Certificates in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. A volunteer recently cornpleted a Phase IV course in Neurological Conditions. The Traveller Intervention Programme commenced in July 2017. This programme employs Iwo members of staff and is now in its seventh year of funding. To date the project has been very successful with the communtty taking part in many of the services offered by Healthy Living Centres across North and West Belfast. Services include Healthwise, Counselling. Complementary Therapies. walking and swimming groups and Tea and Talk Tuesdays. The charty provides a Social Prescribing Programme (SPRING) whith worts very closely wilh Connected Community Care and Multi-Disciplinary Staff. The Charity is a partner in the Communtties in Transition Heallh and Wellbeing Programme which is funded through the Executive Office and is led by the Blackie River Association. 11 is a mentoring programffle for people who live in the West Belfast Area.
ALBERT STREET COMMUNITh CENTRE LIMITED TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY2024 Financial review The results are set out on pages 11 to 26. The charity generated net expenditure of £19,364 for the year (2023 - net income of £362). At 31 May 2024 the charity had total Unrestrtcted Funds of £104,118 (2023 - £81.635) and total Restricied Funds of £272,933 (2023- £314.780). Reserves Policy The charity's reserves policy is to retain a level of unrestricted reserves that matches the needs of the organisation both at the rrent tsme and in Ihe foreseeable fijture. Tha charity aims lo hold reserves that are suffiaent to meet committed grant expenditure and the running costs for a period equivalent to twelve weeks annual expenditure. The Board of Directors have developed a plan to establish and maintain this agreed level of reserves and wll continue to monitor compliance and approprrateness of this policy on an annual basis. At 31 May 2024 the charity had free reserves of £91.770 (2023 - £68.142). This equates to approxirnately ten weeks of expenditure. Plans for Future Periods The charity plans to conts'nue the activities 0uNir1 above in the forthcomin9 years. subject to satisfactory funding arrangements. structure, governance and management The charity was established as a company under a Memorandum of Association which estsblished the objects and powers of the company and is govemed under its Artides ofAssociation. The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law. and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were.. Mr D Power Mr G Fusco Mr F Mccann MrT Rocks Mr M Voyle Organlsational Structure Albert Street Community Centre Limited is govemed by the Board of Trustees. Trustees are appointed so that the charity has a variety of expertise and skills from relevant sectors. Recruitment of trustees involves a nomination from current Board Members. A vote is then held at the next Trustee Meeting. and rf successful, a subsequent appointment is offered. The Board of Trustees ensures the good govemance of the charity by setting its objectives and policy direction and monitoring progress on this, speiifically in relation to the H.E.A.R.T. (Health Education and Relaxation Therapy), and Traveller projects run by ihe charity. The strategic development, approval of an annual action plan, reviewing evaluation reports and approving sustainability plans is the responsibility of the H.E.A.R.T. Project Partnership Comrnittee. A Project Operational Management Group is responsible for the developmenL irnplementation and monitoring of the operational activities of the projects induding the preparation of an annual action plan. Sub committees responsible for the day to day running of the projects then report to the Project Operational Management Group. Liz Mcshane is responsible for the day to day management of the charity. Risk Management The Board of Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed. in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity. and are satisfied that syslems and procedures are in place to mitigate those risks.
ALBERT STREET COMMUNITY CENTRE LIMITED TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MAY2024 Statement of trustees. responslbllities The Imstees. who are also Ihe directors of Ajbert Street Communty Centre Limited for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Tnjstees. Report and the finanaal statemenls in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United 'ngdoM Generally ApIed Accounting Practice). Company Law requires the trustees lo prepare financial statements for each financial year vthich give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of Ihe chartiy and of the incoming resources and application of resources, induding the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. In preparing these financial slatements. the trust are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apkly Ihem consistently. - observe the methods and prinuples in the Charities SORP: - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudenl. state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disdosed and explained in the financlal ststements. and prepare the financial ststements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity wll continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting re(x)rds that disclose reasonable accurary at any tlme the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the finanaal statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking roasonable stèps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregulartties. Auditor In accordance with the company's articles. a resolution proposing that GMCG BELFAST be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting. Small companies exemption In preparing this reporL the directors have tsken advantsge of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006. Disclosure of infonnation to auditor Each of the trustees has confimied that there is no infomation of whith they are aware which is relevant to the audit, bul of which the auditor is unaware. They have ftjrther confimied that they have taken appropriate steps to identtfy such relevant information arKI to establish that the auditor is aware of such infomialion. The trustees. report was approved by the Board of Trustees. Mr D Power TnJste8 Mr M Voyle Trustee Dated.. Dat8d:.........................