2021-04-30-annual-report

HILLTOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)

Report of the trustee (incorporating the director's report) for the year ended 30 April 2021

The trustee presents her report and the financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2021. The trustees, who are also directors of HILLTOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LIMITED for the purposes of company law and who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 1.

Structure, governance and management

Objectives and activities

Objectives

To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Hilltown and District in the County of Down and its environs without distinction of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, ethnicity, or political, religious or other opinion and in particular: to advance community development by providing facilities and amenities for, and promoting co-operation and joint activities between, community and voluntary organisations. The direct benefits which flow from purpose 1 include encouraging people to become active in a voluntary capacity, more effective communication between local community groups, and access to facilities and activities for voluntary groups and the local population for the benefit of the users. These benefits are demonstrated through the number of groups using our facilities and any feedback which they give us and by the level of uptake of our activities. The purposes of our charity will not lead to any harm. The charity’s beneficiaries are people living in Hilltown and the surrounding rural area.

To provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and other leisure time occupations with the object of improving the conditions of life for those living in the area of benefit. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose includes access to local facilities and activities for voluntary groups and the local population for the benefit of the users. The benefits are demonstrated through the number of groups using our facilities and any feedback which they give us and by the level of uptake of our activities. The purposes of our charity will not lead to any harm. The charity’s beneficiaries are people living in Hilltown and the surrounding rural area.

To promote community participation in healthy recreation by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities for activities capable of improving health. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include access to facilities and activities to improve health and wellbeing. These benefits are demonstrated through feedback from participants and beneficiaries and by the level of uptake of services. The purposes of our charity will not lead to any harm. The charity’s beneficiaries are people living in Hilltown and the surrounding rural area.

To relieve those in need by reason of youth, age or other disadvantage. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include access to local facilities and opportunity to participate in activities and programmes to improve education, health and wellbeing and community safety. These benefits are demonstrated through feedback from participants and beneficiaries and by the level of uptake of services. The purposes of our charity will not lead to any harm. The charity’s beneficiaries are people living in Hilltown and the surrounding rural area.

To advance education and training for the public benefit by organising classes and other forms of tuition. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include the education of people in a range of subjects including First Aid, Committee Skills, basic gardening, personal development courses, computer training, health training, job skills, business development, numeracy and literacy and so on. These benefits are demonstrated through the number of people completing the courses, feedback from participants and beneficiaries and by the level of uptake of our activities. The purposes of our charity will not lead to any harm. The charity’s beneficiaries are people living in Hilltown and the surrounding rural area.

Trustees receive a private benefit as beneficiaries as they can use the facilities, but do not get priority over anyone else. They also receive a private benefit of training in committee skills, first aid, child protection, and other training relevant to the role of trustee with Hilltown Community Association. These private benefits are necessary to achieve the purposes and are therefore incidental.

(A company limited by guarantee)

HILLTOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Report of the trustee (incorporating the director's report) for the year ended 30 April 2021

Achievements and performance

Achievements and performance

Hilltown Community Association was set up to represent the interests of community groups in Hilltown and the surrounding rural areas, and to identify and address issues of common concern within the local community. The Community Association runs Carcullion House, a community facility in the village which caters for a range of community groups. Carcullion House is entirely run on a voluntary effort by the Community Association. The committee of the Community Association works in developing more community projects for the area including development of community amenities and resources for the benefit of the local population. Hilltown Community Association organises the turning on of the Christmas Lights for Hilltown and supports other community events.

COVID-19

The year ended 30th April 2021 was a difficult year for everyone whether in business or in their private lives as COVID-19 hit our communities and our economy. Like all sectors of the economy, Community Advice Armagh was faced with a lengthy lockdown as the virus surged through all parts of Northern Ireland. Like many organisations, our office was not prepared for what was to lie ahead in terms of working from home and keeping the association running.

At this fearful and uncertain time for so many businesses and individuals, our services were required more than ever and so we as a team had to learn to adapt to our change of working environment very speedily in order to serve our community as best we could.

In March 2020 with the sudden lockdown of workplaces, our office felt obliged to do the same. With our laptops and mobile phones, we began working from home to keep our services going via telephone and email. We continued to help and support the local community.

Our facility was closed for long periods due to lockdowns. however our volunteers and service providers have worked tirelessly to maintain a high standard throughout these difficult times.

Financial review

There was a continued demand for the use of the Associations facilities and services. Howeverthis was significantly less than 2020 due to the pandemic. The association reacted swiftly to the drop in income by reducing costs and returning a net surplus of £599 for 2021. The Trustees with the support of course leaders and voluntary staff continued to meet the demand for the Associations resources.

Principal funding sources

Resource Centre Income reduced to £8,506 in 2021 compared with £12,832 in 2020. This was due to closure due to lockdowns. The Playgroup continues to be the mainstay of the Association followed by the Parent & Toddler Group and other local groups.

Funds received from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council reduced from £8,588 in 2020 to £3,506 in 2021.

A net surplus of £559 arose in 2021 compared with £288 in 2020.

Expenditure

Expenditure decreased to £11,969 in 2021 compared with £21,132 in 2020.

Caretaker fees reduced to £1,036 compared with £3,540 in 2020.

Classes, courses and events reduced to £3,002 from £6,583 in 2020.

HILLTOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)

Report of the trustee (incorporating the director's report) for the year ended 30 April 2021

Reserves Policy

The Trustees believe that the charity should hold financial reserves in order to ensure that the charity can continue to operate and meet demand in the event of an unforeseen reduction in funding being available. In setting the reserves target the Trustees have to balance out the demands of delivering much needed services to current clients against the requirements of maintaining adequate reserves to cover future uncertainty.

Principle Funding Sources

The Trustees extend their gratitude to all local community groups using the centre and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council who continue to support the core operating capacity of the charity.

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees (who are also directors of HILLTOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LIMITED for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

HILLTOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LIMITED

(A company limited by guarantee)

Report of the trustee (incorporating the director's report) for the year ended 30 April 2021

On behalf of the board

Martina Byrne Director

30 January 2022