WATERSIDE WOMEN'S CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The Management Committee present their annual report and finanaal statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordan with the accK)unting policies set OLrt in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Constttution. the Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 2008 and "Accountin9 and Reporting by Charities= Statement of Recommended Practi applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordan wilh the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 1021" (effective l January 2019). Objectives and activities The principal activity of the Waterside Women's Centre is to create learning opportunities that are geared towards meeting women's needs and aspirations. Help women gain the Confiden and skills needed to PartIpate in social, family, educational, community and economic life. Support women and children by providing quality onsite childcare. Waterside Women's cent is managed by the Trustees who are responsible for the management of the charity. The Trustees meet monthly to oversee the management of the Centre. The Management Committee employs Centre Coordinators who share the responsibility for the daY-t0daY management of the Centre. The Management Committee have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activitie5 the charity should undertake. Achievements and perfomiance In 2022123 Waterside Women's Centre continued to focus on the needs of the community to ensure woman and children received support to enable them to rebuild their lives and community after the impact of COVID-19 and the continuing cost-of-living crisis. The work of the Centre is focused on women's empowemient and having access to opportunities to shape their lives and the lives of iheir families. We meet our aims by providing access to a holistic range of activities including education, training and skilEs wth support provtded through our on-stte crèche with those women requiring childcare. Staff training and development was promoted and enwuraged. And we continued our successful partnership with a range of tutors and organisations who prowde programmes and activtbes. We continued to offer opportunities for women to achieve goals for their future. Trainin Education and Women's Em owerTnent Our courses and empowemient programmes continue to provide high qualty capacity building programmes for women in safe and welcoming space. The range of accredited and non-accredited courses on offer reflect our responsiveness to members surveys and consultations. Health and well-being remain a core part of our programme and we offered a range of sessions supporting women's physical and mental welkbeing when we celebrated International Women's Day. We delivered a range of courses to 892 women. We believe this figure demonstrates our capacity to work wrth our funders in delivering a wide range of courses and serwces to women to continue lo support them through the current dtfficult times and prepare them for the future. Childcare Our creche staff promded 2.257 places for childn to support their development and allow their rnums I carers opportunities to attend training and development sessions. We welcomed 49 new families and 106 children throughoul the year. We are still working hard to deliver the services needed by families with pre-school children who have had quite a difficuft start due to the circumstances of COVID lockdowns and the strange times we've been though. We had our regular inspection by the Eady Years Service of WHSCT with an excellent report confirming no requirements for Complian nor areas identified for improvements.
WATERSIDE WOMEN'S CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMIThEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Financial review Total income for the year was £211,192, of which £205,714 represents granl fvnding received for projects and £5,360 was generated from user contributions to course fees. The balance of income represents small donations from users. Total expÈnditure by the charity was £204.885. of which £181,698 related to direct charitable activities, and £20.967 related to management and administrdtion costs. The Management Committee have assessed the charity's reserves requirement5 at the year end and determined il appropriate to designale an additional £10,000 at the year end to designated ftjnds, which represent 3 months costs of operating the charity. This increase is to reflect the impact of increased costs faced by the charity as a result of Ihe cost of living crisis. The charity had net assets at the yearond of £111.765, of which £35,875 were held as restricted funds, £45,000 were held as unrestricted fvnds designated by the Trustees to cover costs in the event of a shortfall in funding, and £30,890 were unrestricted in nature. Reserrfes policy The Management Committee consider it prudent to hold monies in reserve in the event unforeseen circumstances should lead to financial difficulties which might PLrt the fLrture of ils employment Capaty, general charstable work and propety in jeopardy. The organisalion is currendy working to meet unprecedented challenges created by the pandemic and the emerging cost of liwng crises. The Management Committee consider that reserves should be equivalent to 3 months of operating costs calculated annually. Resetves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in fijnding they will be able to continue the ¢harWs activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. The Management Committee assess that three months of operating costs amounts to approximately £45,000 and have set aside this amount within a designated fund. This is to ensure sustainability and growth of our support services, investing in the Maintenan of Ihe facilities required to meet our aims for women and children. The Management Committee will rewew the appropriateness of the policy annually. Structure. govemance and management The Charity is an unincorporated organisation govemed by its Constitution which sets oul the objects and powers of the charity. The Managemenl Committee who served during the year and up to the dale of signature of the financial statements Geraldine Compton (Chairperson) Hilary Hamilton Ivice Chairperson) Christine Mclvor (Secretary) Marian Kerlin (Treasurer) Bernadette Duddy Emma Johnston Monica Sherry Cheryl Wannell (Appointed 21 June 2023) (Appointed 21 June 2023) (Resigned 1 May 2023) Recruitment and appointment of members of the Management Committee The Management Committee manages the process of recruitment and appointment of new members in accordance with the provisions of the chartty's Constitution. The charity shall be managed by a Committee consisting of a Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and not less than 2 members of the charity elected by and from amongst the members present and voting at the AGM. The Management Committee has the power to co-opt further members provided that the number of cptionS does not exceed one-third of the total membership of the Committee. The charity provides new members of the Management Commtttee wtlh specific details of what Iheir role entails and also their responsibiif(ies in tems of governance within the organisation.
WATERSIDE WOMEN'S CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMirrEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Statement of Management Committees. responsibllities The Management Committee are responsible for preparing the Management Commtttees, Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (Untted Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting practi). The law applicable to chartties in Northem Ireland requires the Management Committee to prepare financial statements for each finanaal year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the tharity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the chanty for that year. In preparing these financial slatements. the Management Comrnittee are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then appiy them consistently- - obseNe the methods and prtnciples in the Charities SORP; - make judgements and estimates thal are reasonable and prudent: state whether applicable accounting stsndards 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 charity will continue in operation. The Management Committee are responsible for keeping sufficient alxounting records that disdose with reasonable accuracy at any time the finanual posity.on of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 2008. the Charity {Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and the prowsions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Independent examiner We thank Moore Nl LLP for their work in completing the independent examination, and understanding the complexty of the range of funding we've been SueSsful in securing to deliver our aims. The Management Committees, report was approved by the Board of Management Committee. Geraldine Compton (Chairperson) Committee member 11 October 2023