orth Bdfast Interface Nehwork Company limited by guarantee for the year eDded 31 March 2024 NBIN have three have three key Strategic aims which are: To minimise th¢ potential for violent conflict and supp)rt Ex)sitive intervention in North Belfast To build and maintain positive working relationships within and between communities To play an aciive rol¢ in creaiing positive physical traSfo[lnatton of interface Communiti in North Belfast 202&2024 This year 2023 marks the 25th anniversary of the Friday Agreement and it also mark an important phe in the Ikvelopment of the North Belfast Inierface Networks (NBIN) future strategic objectives. As NB eDrs ils 21 st year of serving the community li has undertaken a review of its role in delivering positive change throughout Upper North Belf&81. Although NBINS primary Strakgic objectives remain the same", To minimise the Ex)tential for violent conflict and SUprt N)sitive iniervention m North Belfasl To build and maintain positive working relationships within and berween communities To play an &tive role in creating tK)sitive physical transfomwion of Interf communities ID North Belfast the amount of effort that is required in the pursuance of each objectivehas changed considerably. Over the past year we have withessed a stead), decline in the number of inrface incidents that NBIN and its Twaddel Ardoyne Shankill Communities in Transition {TAsC) parthers have had to resp)nd to. Throughout the summer months there were no reported IIdents of any significance An relation (o cross interface conflict and even though NBN NBIN and lis parthers continue to maintain an intervention capacity: primarily in relation to arranged fights and problems a&s(lated with transient youth, this is much reduced in relation to historical levels of conthct previously witnessed in the Ardoyme,W(K)dvale and Twaddell areas. Whereas levels of conflict has decreased NBNS work with TASCIT. its community partners. in increasing engagement tween Iccal residents in its catchment area continues to grow. . During the 2023- 2024 peri(MJ the Prom(rting Positive Change Progra has engaged over l(KK) sIdentS in Level l activity by delivering its second Meet the NeIghUrS event and a Cross Community Christmas Fun day with over 51K) residents participating in each event. 120 residents have also taken part in L£vel 2 engagement workshops and craft classes, and a further fAI residents complcted tranche 12.13 and 14 of the Level 3,Challenging Conversations. 9 week course. This brings the number of residents who have participated in Challengjng Conversations to 280 and for tranche 13 and 14 all participants were recruited through word of mouth from other residents who have completed the course. This year the First and Ikputy First Junior Minist¢TS alongside the Belfast Lord Mayor presented the Certificaie of Completion Certificates to those participants who cornpleted the course this year. Twenty residents IOPUL and l (ENR also participated in a 4 week programme What Lies Ahead that soughi to engage residents on the subject of COftL8titullon changc and Includ site visits to Newtownhamilton and Dail Eireann. In September coming we will also celebrate the io anniversary of NBINS role as the lead parther in ihe Twaddell Ardojme Shankn'll Communities in Trdnsition ffAscrr) parniership. The TAsc pannership set out to create the condits'ons that w1]d enable residents to gin the PThess of residential de-segregation by transfornung interface structures. removing segregation walls and (yening gdtes that have closed for over 30 Since 2013 TAscrr have supported residents the Crumlin Rd with the removal of the first Northern Ireland Housing Executive wall to come (k)wn in 40 YTS. This year we have withessed the removal of rwo barriers in Flax Street thai have kept the road closed for over 30 years and later in the year the Colombia Street pedestrian gate wknch has also been closed for over 30 years will open. Page 2
North Belfast Interface Network Company limited by guarantee Director5. report lor the year ended 31 Marth 2024 In relation to the TASCIT Peace Barrier5 Progra. of which NBIN i$ lead partner. the NBIN coordinator continues to be reswnsible for overseeing and implementation of all activitses related to ils strategic plan. This year a furtber 3 of the barriers identified in that StrateC plan. Colombia St Ardoyne Rd and Velsheda Way have been brought to completion. This leaves only one baler for which no community consent for change yet been achieved. Finally applications have been submitted by the NBLN c(x)rdinator to the Northern Ireland Community Relations Councd and the Inrnational Fund for Lreland for continued supp)rt for both NBIN and TASCIT for 202412026. Achievements and perforniance As outlined aLKyve. the company FKlieves il achieved its goals of ptomoting gcKxl coullnunity relations throughout the North Belfast interface are& Reserve Policy In order to caryy out our work il is necessary io hold financial resources in reserve. The trnstees have agreed a policy that requiTes fmancial i.e. unrestricted reserves to be maintained at a level sufficient to sustn 3 months, core activity during a peri(xl of unforeseen difficulty. To operdte as a successful community organisation. we require fmancial reserves f the following purposes., Strategic- acquiring and replacing to benefit the c¢)Tnmunity Accountability - complying with legal and statutory obligations e.g. redundancy payments Operational - to cover running costs not included in grant income, sustaining staff in gap funding pericrfls etc. Financlal review The results are set out in 1[ in the fmancial statements. The directors have (l)taird funding for the near fUre. This report w&8 approved by the Board on 29 November 21r24 and signed on its behalf by M Magulre Dlrector Manus Maguire (Dec I , 2024 11.40 Gmn Page 3