Belfast Domestic Mission for the Poor of Belfast
Trustees Report Year ended 31 March 2024
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1 Belfast Domestic Mission for the Poor of Belfast (known as Belfast Domestic Mission or the Mission) was established in 1852, to help alleviate poverty, support Sunday Schools and discussion groups and provide practical support to those in need. This is the public benefit we promote. There is no harm or private benefit from our purposes and we have had regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit requirement statutory guidance.
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2 Our Charity Number is 103374. Trustees registered with the Charity Commission are Rev Chris Hudson, Ms Monica Burns and the NSPCI Trustees Company. The official address of the Mission is All Souls’ Church, 5 Elmwood Avenue, Belfast BT9 6AZ
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3 The Trustees are happy to report that activities on behalf of the Belfast Domestic Mission are increasing.
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4 Donations to the NSPCI Widows Fund were discontinued, after review by the Trustees. Donations to Sunday Schools continued and to the North Belfast Book Fund, to purchase books to disburse to children of disadvantaged families. Disbursement on an ad hoc basis of £20 and £25 TESCO vouchers continue, to families and individuals identified locally as being in need. Help for purchase of school uniforms, PE kit and shoes was provided to a number of families.
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5 The Mission received M&G dividends of £5,891 as well as Department for Communities dividends of £147, and £88 in interest from the bank. The bank balance of the Mission at the end of the financial year is £ as noted in the accompanying accounts
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6 The Trustees held two meetings during the year. Communication with those members who are frail and unwell continues by phone and, for those with access, by email.
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7 It was agreed that Sunday Schools and the North Belfast Book Fund would be supported with an increased donation from financial year 2023/2024. Rev Chris Hudson reported that it was un necessary to continue to provide financial support to the NSPCI Widows Fund, a situation which can be reviewed, should the Fund’s financial situation change significantly for the worse.
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8 Discussions took place with the Food Kitchen in North Belfast about a significant monthly donation of funds to support their work. While the initial meeting was very positive, we have not heard from them since. We will continue to reach out and offer financial support in financial year 24/25.
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9 A larger float of TESCO vouchers is being made available for disbursement, following the decision last year to aim for a spend of at least £5,000 per annum to target the poor of Belfast through practical support
Signed on behalf of NSPCI Trustees
Monica Burns