1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023
TRUSTEES REPORT
Funded and Supported By:
NIC 103842
Three Ways Community Centre Well Lane, Newry, Co. Down, BT34 1HE
info@threewaysca.co.uk www.threewaysca.co.uk
Charity Details
Charity Name: Three Ways Community Association
Charity Number: Registered Charity in Northern Ireland - NIC103842
Purpose: Three Ways Community Association is established to relieve poverty, sickness and the aged and to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the St Patrick’s Ward, Newry and its environs (hereinafter called ‘the area of benefit’) without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, class, marital status, political or religious opinion; by associating the statutory authorities, voluntary and community sector organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation; with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.
Charity Trustees as of March 31[st] , 2023
Mrs Cathy Keenan (Chairperson) Mrs Patricia O’Gorman (Treasurer) Mr Padraig Harte (Secretary) Ms Amy O’Gorman (Vice Secretary) Ms Josephine Keenan Mrs Valerie Harte Ms Joanne Mc Ateer Mrs Lesa Hollywood Mrs Mary Markey Ms Bernie Hollywood Ms Maria Keenan Mr Patrick O’Gorman Mr Maurice Rooney Note: No other Charity Trustees in the Year to 31[st] March 2023
Accountant/Independent Examiner
Mc Cann & Co Accountancy Services 53 Patrick Street Newry
Insurance Broker & Underwriter:
Marsh Insurance Ltd (Ecclesiastical Brokers) Bedford House, 16-22 Bedford Street Belfast
Bank
Danske Bank Business Banking, PO BOX 183 Donegall Square West, Belfast
Charity No: NIC103842
Chairpersons Report Cathy Keenan
Good evening,
We are delighted to welcome you to the Annual General Meeting of the Three Ways Community Association. We extend our warmest greetings to all the distinguished ladies, gentlemen, and public representatives present here this evening.
Tonight, we have the honour of presenting and seeking approval for our annual Trustees Report and financial review for the year spanning from 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023. We are grateful for your presence and participation.
We understand the importance of transparency and accountability in our organisation, and we are committed to providing you with a comprehensive overview of our activities and financial performance. We hope that this meeting will serve as an opportunity for us to engage in meaningful dialogue and exchange ideas on how we can continue to serve our community better.
As the Chairperson of the Three Ways Community Association, I am honoured to lead our exceptional team in serving and supporting our community. It brings me immense pride to work alongside such dedicated individuals who share a common goal of making a positive impact in our neighbourhood. Together, we strive to deliver meaningful initiatives and programmes that enhance the lives of those around us. Our unwavering commitment to improving the well-being of our community is what drives us forward, and we are constantly seeking new ways to make a difference.
We are delighted to announce that our community centre has experienced a significant increase in usage during this reporting period. This growth can be attributed to the diverse range of activities and events that we offer, including youth programmes, community training and workshops, and birthday parties. We take great pride in the fact that our centre has become a central hub for community engagement, and we are confident that the incoming committee will continue to serve our community with the same level of dedication and commitment.
In April of 2022, the Easter Bunny made a triumphant return to the community centre, delivering a joyous event for over 120 children and their families. Additionally, our men's shed participated in a pottery, flower and cookery programme, further developing their skills. Believe me, there’s nothing these men can’t put their hands to.
Our senior citizens luncheon club continued their trips out and no doubt have many more planned. Sadly, we have lost some members and we continue to keep them all in our thoughts.
Charity No: NIC103842
In June 2022, our treasurer, Patricia O’Gorman, was honoured with a ‘Lifetime Achiever Award’ by NMDDC for her 20+ years of dedicated community service to our area. We are thrilled that Patricia’s tireless efforts have been recognized and celebrated. The festivities continued with a delightful end-of-year BBQ hosted by the youth club in Kilbroney.
In addition, our youth group was fortunate enough to embark on a thrilling residential trip to Alton Towers, which they all thoroughly enjoyed. It was a wonderful opportunity for our young members to bond and create lasting memories.
Our young people greatly benefited from week-long summer programmes that culminated in a community event attended by over 300 people. The event featured an outdoor cinema, residents get together and a fun day, which were thoroughly enjoyed by all. We owe our success to the generous support of NMDDC and the Department for Communities.
Our youth clubs have continued weekly, engaging in a variety of exciting activities such as learning sign language, dancing and martial arts. Additionally, we hosted another highly successful Halloween drive-in cinema event. Meanwhile, Three Ways Youth Project embarked on a residential trip to London, where they had the opportunity to visit St Ethelburga's Peace Centre. During their visit, they shared their experiences and worked to break down barriers, thanks to the EA. Shortly after, we delivered the annual evening of remembrance for those sadly no longer with us.
During the Christmas season, we were able to deliver a variety of events thanks to the generous funding from NMDDC. These events included arts and crafts for the youth clubs, a Christmas Craft night for adults, a Christmas fayre, a senior citizens Christmas party that was attended by approximately 100 residents, and our annual Santa Sunday which had over 300 attendees throughout the afternoon.
The holiday season was filled with joy and excitement, and these events were the highlight of the year for our committee. We were thrilled to provide opportunities for people of all ages to come together and celebrate the spirit of the season.
In early 2023, we were thrilled to announce that our fundraising efforts, combined with the incredible generosity of our community, had resulted in a staggering £3,000 being raised for our chosen charities: PIPS Hope and Support, Newry Gateway, and Macmillan. This achievement was a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, and we are immensely grateful for the support we received.
The year 2022/2023 proved to be yet another busy and successful year for the Three Ways Community Association. As we transition into the year 2023/2024, we are faced with a multitude of uncertainties. However, I am confident that the incoming committee will rise to any challenges and continue to enhance the association, community centre, and our community.
Our Trustees have been actively representing our community at various meetings, such as the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership (NRP), Neighbourhood Renewal (NR) Health
Charity No: NIC103842
Subgroup, NR Education Subgroup and NR Community/Physical sub-group. However, due to personal and work commitments, it is not always feasible to attend all external meetings. Nevertheless, we are confident that our incoming trustees will continue to represent our community as and when their commitments permit. As a community organisation, we understand the importance of being present and engaged in these meetings to ensure that our community's needs and concerns are heard and addressed.
I would like to take this moment to express my gratitude towards my fellow trustees for their unwavering support, dedication, and commitment to serving our community over the past 15 months. Your contributions have been invaluable, and I am honoured to have had the opportunity to work alongside such a talented and passionate group of individuals.
Thank you.
Cathy Keenan Chairperson
Public Benefit Statement
The Trustees of Three Ways Community Association confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 (5) of the Charities Act 2011 to have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and that the public benefit requirement has informed the activities of the Three Ways Community Association in the year to 31[st] March 2022.
In evaluating public benefit the Trustees note that membership is open to all residents in the ‘area of benefit’ – (Full members aged 18 and over, Junior members under18) – and we strive to provide a range of activities that will cater for all ages but some necessary and reasonable restrictions have been put in place for example, our youth groups’ personal development programmes which would not be age appropriate for primary school children. However, all our seasonal events and fun days are open to all ages in the community.
Financial Review
Financial Performance
Financial performance has been generally consistent with Trustee’s expectations based on previous year’s figures.
Income:
Charity No: NIC103842
The total income receipts for the year amounted to approximately £45,818. For a detailed breakdown of the figures, please refer to the full accounts. This income was generated from various sources, including grant funding awarded and secured during the reporting period. Notably, the Communities Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, managed by Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, contributed £25,162, which also includes financial assistance and facilities management.
In addition, the Association received £12,011 in rent income from user groups of the community facility, a grant aid of £3,402 from The Halifax Foundation for NI to support running costs and the men’s shed. Other sources of income included £5,064 in fundraising and donations.
Overall, the Association's income is healthy, reflecting the success of its efforts to secure funding and increase hire of the community facilities.
Expenditure
Expenditure for the year was £42,823 which was a slight decrease. The main expenditure was related to running costs, purchasing of equipment & repairs, community activities, prizes and donations, community fun day, .
Funds Materially in Deficit
As of the 31[st of] March 2023, Three Ways Community Association had no funds in material deficit.
Major Risks
No major risks have been identified and no concerns have been raised by the accountant as the independent examiner.
Assets & Liabilities
The Trustees of the Three Ways Community Association can confirm that the Association currently hold no assets and have identified no liabilities moving forward.
Financial Management
The Community Association maintain robust financial systems and have good financial management systems in place; all cheques must be signed by two out of our four cheque signatories and all BACS payments are authorised by two out of our four signatories; we have successfully received grants and have always fulfilled all accounting, reporting, and monitoring requirements; our annual accounts are always independently examined.
Charity No: NIC103842