Newstai't Et dueatio
Ceiitre
Ile
a)Thi't of tlie Trustees
lor thc Year Jided 31 MArcli 2023
I'he Iiii.%lees who are also dii"eLIoTS of the Gliarity foi. the purposes of the Coinpai)ies Act 2006, prcqeiit Il)eir
I'cpoi'l willi the fii)ancial slilteTn¥nls vf the Cliiiity foi. the yLai' eiide(131 Mai'ch 2023. Tlic Ii-llblces l)ave
ddopled tlie i)rovisioiis of AcLouiiling aiid Repoi1ing by Cliaiilies.. Stateiiienl of Recomiiieiided Praelice
,Ippli¢ablc lo charilie% pi"epai"iiig Iheii accoiiiils iii 2c¢ordcliice willi the fii)aii¢i(Il Repoi'tiiig Slandtird
applicable in the UK and Repiiblic of li el2Énd {FRS 102) (eflective l Jaiiiiaiy 2019).
Chéiiri)erson's Repoi't
A niassive congLattilalions lo this ye2T'S prograi)Iine paiticipaiits. They coiitinue lo iiispire and enei'gise Ilie
Ivoi'k eAiiied out by everyaiie iii Newslart Education Ceiitre, Iiol least the Buai-d of Direcloi's, foi- wlioim I
wi'ile this report on belialf of. Heailfelt coiigrdtulalions are sent by everyoiie oli Ilie Board lo eticli youiig
persoii foi wlial they have achieved. Best wisl)es for their onward jouiney. It l)as been a pi"ivilege lo play a
pai'l in Ilieir prO￿.eSSIOn, developiiieiil, aiid ￿'OWtI).
2023 lias beeii aiiothei siiccessfiil aiid eiicoiii.c1giiig ye<lfft-. My fellow Dii'ectoi'8 ¢0ii1iiiue lo gryiide aiid dii'ect the
woI'k witli deleiiniiialion, PTofessioiialisin, and a deep sciise of cai'iiig. I want lo Ihatth Iliein, oil bchalf of the
eiitire tcani at Newslart, for Ilieii. coiilribiitioi), loyalty, and iinyieldiiiLl SUPPOrt.
Like every oilier yeai-, 20231)igliligliled thi success of tl)e eiitii'e staff team, led by our Centre Dii'ecloi., Mary
Clclt'ke. The team combiJ)es an excelleiit tnix of educalioii, youtli, coinniunily, ￿]d SOCiI2I work specialistns,
pioviding a sh'ong plalfoini foi. tl)e bespoke, wi'apai'oiind sei'vice each yout)g pei'son i'eceives. Well done 10
￿{￿ry aiid the le<11n aiid kEep up tlie b2illiaiit woi-k folksl
Newsllrl'l woi'lc would not happen wiihoiil coiisislenl iiivesliiieiil froiii ftindei's. Tliai]k you to (111 tliosc
t gei)cies wlio suppojt oiir woi'k and wlio, like iis, are COLiipelled to eiisure youiig people, 1'eg￿.d1CSS of
backgi'oiiiid oi. expei-ieiice, i'eacli tlieii. full poteiitial. A iiiassive Ihc11ik yoii lo all oui. slattitOTy aiid coillDiiiiiily
pailiiei's. To say tlie iiiipacl of tlie work would iiot be Ilie saiiie wiiliout yo￿. collaboi'alion would be zi)
undei'statement.
DiJ-e.ctoJ s Rei)ort
I waiil lo $181'1 iny I"epoi"I by ackiiowledgiiig Ilie liard work anil dedication of. all tlie yDiing people wl)o ive liad
Ilie pi"ivilege of workiiig alongside tl)is year. Wl)atever setback8 or challeiiges they faced, Iheii- ability lo
foi'ge fonvard and succeed lias been ali inspiratioi) lo iiot jiist ine, but the eiilii'e le￿n al NEC. Tliank you toi-
youi. belief iii us aiid, inipoi'taiiily, yoiir Inisl ii? lis to help giiide aiid clialleiige yoii lo aiiii liigli aiid claiiii
YOUL success. Yoii are a ci'edil lo yoiii'selves, your pai'ents, and carers aiid lo the coi]]miinity.
I have Ilie pi-ivilegL of woikiiig willi ¢in excellent Boai-d of Dii'eLlors wlio coiiliniic lo siippoi-t i)ie and the
stÉiff leaiii lo biiild Éind develop oiii" woi'k. I w2]111 lo Iliaiik 111eiD foi" beiiig selfless, dedicated aiid coi)Iiiiitted lo
wlial we do. I would like lo give <1 speci<tl wol'd of Ibaiths lo liiii Dojllielly, oiii. ch1< 111)eTSOlI, wlio,se coiiliiiiied
siippoi'l, and giiidaiice ale valiied iimiiiensely.
Tlie wot'k we do and Ilie ivay we caiTy It uiit, Nvoiild not be possible willioiil our leaiii of staff. I'httir
coin]nilmeiil to yoiiiig people is clear ii) liow Iliey C<111'y Ollt tlieii. woi'k and coiidiict them.selves. "fiiiiiilcs lo nll
of you foi" tlie contribistioii you tnake in rdlSiJ]g Ilie bar for yoiii)g p¢ople 7¢ nd foi. oiii. oi.gaiiisatioii.
ri or the Year Ejided 31.st Mai-cl) 2023
Page 2

NewstAI't Edulatioii Centre
oi't of tl)e Trustees
for the Ve31. Ended 31 Marcl) 2023
As a coinniiinity oi'gaiiisatioii we would not eiijuy our siiccess without the suppoi"l of a wide i'aiige of
statuloly and voluntary oiganisatioiis, wiil)oul wliich oiii. Iiolislic appi-oaLlI to Ilie progi'essioii OF youiig
people could not be acl)ieved. As inenlioi)ed pi"eviously, a liugc iliqc nl( yoii to (211 oui. fiiiTrdei's for keeping faiili
witl) us aiid oiii- woi'k. We look toiivai-d to yoiii. conliniied siippoit for oiii- futtii"e woi'k.
OBJECTIVEI S AND ACTIVITif(S
Objectives and aims
Objectives an(1 Activities
Tlie Cliai'ity's objects ("Objects") al'e specifically reslricted to Ilie following..
To cidvaiice eduG¢ilioi) foi. Ilie public beIiefJt by..
(a) The pi'ovisioii of llifoLiiial 1¢ nd foi'i)ial ediic¢ilioii aT]d Iraiiiing iii a sllfe, supportive, and liolislic leaniiiig
enviionimeiil toi. young people wlio have diseiigaged, or been excliided fi'oiii, iiiainsli'eain ediic21ion.
(b) Ilie pi'ovision of course5, SUPPOIt. aiid opporttinilies foi. adiilt Icainei's, loiie parents, ecoiioillically
inactive and iineini)loycd people.
To i'elieve the iieeds of yoiing pcople who have diseng&ged, or beeii excluded fi-om, iiiai115tteain ediication
and Ilieii. faiT]ilies by 11)e pi'ovision of i'esouices aiid SUPPOLt seiviccs iiicliidllig advocacy Lgnd sli'engtlieniiig
faT)iily iiiitiatives and by any charitable iiieaiis as Ilie ttustees consider appi-opi'i&te.
Page 3

NewstAI't E(lucatioii Centre
Repoi'l of the Trustees
foi. tlie Yeai" Ended 31 Mai-cli 2023
OBJLI CTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Public benefit
The piii'poses of Ilie oi'gaiiisalioii al'e lo advaiice edLicalioii foi- yoiii)g people and adull.8. lo pi-oiiiole benefit%
for yoiiiig people ll) the Lowei" Falls area of Wesl Belfast (liei'eiii called 'ilie ai'ea ol benefit,) aiid lo educate
aiid assist young people, so Ih¢y gi-oiv lo full Inatui'ily as individuals ai)d iiienibeis of society dnd tl)eii'
oiiditioi)s of life I)￿Y be inipi-oved. The direct beiiefil which flows fi'oiii this piirpose ineliide..
l. Tlie developiiieiil. educalioii, ￿]d incliisioii of imai'giiialised. at risk, youiig people.
2. 01-feiiiig yountr
people who liave disengaged oi. beei) excluded froiii iiiainsli'eaiii ediicalion an alteinalive
setting in which lo i'ealise tlieir leanlliig potential with llddilional 5uppoII Jneclianisins iii place. NEC woiks
collaboi-atively with coiiiniiinily oi'gaiiisalions, slalulory, 50¢illl woi'k, and ediicalioiial welfai'e agencies.
Oui. second piiiyose focuses oli I'educing aiiy baii-iers young peoplc expei'ieiice iii i-eachiiig tlieir full
poteiitial. NEC acl)ieve,I this tlii'ough pi-ovidiiig wi-ap¢ql-ouiid, holistic siippoi'ts to yoliiig people, their pai"enls,
cai'ei's, and fainilies. We opei'ale a pai"enl's gioiip aiid pi'oiiide liaiiiiiig aiid volunleei. opportuiiities foi-
pareiits, carei's. aiid fainilies to support Ilie positive developinei)t of Ilieii. i'elalionsl)ip with the young persoii.
We proactively woi'k willi tlie youiig pei'soii to addi'ess any issiie5 Iliey may be coiitj'ibiiting lo iii the lioine
and/oi' ¢orninunity iiicluding substance Inisuse aiidlor aggression. Beiiefils include..
l. Streiigtheniiig faiiiilies 2Ji)d providing yoiiiig people with a positive supporl sliucttire iii the hoine lo
positively i-einfoiie tlie developinenl work we pi'ovide iii collaboi'alion with each youi)g peisoii wiiliin oiii.
cei)tt'e.
2. A m01'e developed and coliesive iietwoi'k of seivice provideis offeriiig SiLPPOrt. giiidaiice and eiigageinenl
for yoiiiig peoi)le aiid Iheii. f211Iilies.
3. Advanciiig the ediictltion of adiilt leai"iiers, lone Pl¢ I'eiils, ecoiioinicillly ii)?t ctive 1< lid iu)eJiiployed people
Iliroiigli tlie pi'ovision of coiii'ses, siippoil, and opportuiiilies.
This is evidenced thi'ougli Ilie acci'ediled achieveiiients of young people and our paitiiei'sliip woi'king
airaiigeineiils with statutory i"efci-i'al agJeiicies siich as schools, Ediicatioii Welf(ryre, ai)d the local Ediicatioii
Aiitliority Optioiis Panel. li is fiirtl)cr evideiiced by NEC'S vast expei'iejice aiid success in re-engaging at i-isk
yoiing people, as well as the oiigoiiig paiticipation of pdienls in the activities oiitliiied eai-liei., 1< nd as parl of
oui ye31-ly pi'oject evaluatioii and consuli¢ilion processes.
We woi-k in eollaboi'alioii willi <1 wide i'ciiige of coiiuiiiiiiity, voliiiilary, slatuloiy a(Tei)cies, aiid schools. Tliese
agencies j.eter yoiing pcople lo us and iii ttiiii we signpost yoiiiig people lo vihei. siippoits and specialisii)s
offered by tliese ageiicies wheii Ilie i)ecd Iheni. Wc cngage iii collaborc1tive, jOll)t PLojecl woj'kiiig willi olhei.
alteiiialive education pi'ovidei's, yoiitli-based oi-gaiiis8tioi)s, and local scliools lo build I'esilience iii youiig
people tluough adventtire lean)iiig. A5 I'esiilt, we biiiig innovative Inethodq fron) coiiiii)Linity level iiilo
iiiainstreani service provision.
Adult learners benefit fi'oin a iiniqii¢ coiiipi'eheiisive i'aiige of pi'ogranimes iiicoo)orating p&rsoii<il aiid
pi'ofessional development, vocationdl enlixnLeinenl, <icadeiiiic accreditation, developed over <1 pei'iod of 20
yeai's by NEC as a respoiise lo the oiigoiiig, .specific ediicalioii aiid tt'ainiiig needs of local coiilliiiiiiilies. Oiii.
pi'ogi'Jinnies al'e desigied to undeipin each participaiit's capacity to gaiii aiid siistain meaniiigfiil Li)Iployineiil
by equipi)it)g Ihein witl) Ii'aiisferable skills. Oiir woi'k Iielps bi'ellk the cycle of .%yslei)ii¢ poveity,
disadvantage, unemployiiient, &nd e¢onoinic iiiactivity, directly feli by niost of our pRrlicip<ll)ts and Ihe
faiiiilies.
Page 4

Newstart Education Centi'e
oi't of the Tr115tees
for the Ye4ir Ei nded 31 March 2023
OBJliCTIVE4 S AND ACI"IviI'Kfi S
Yeai. oli yeai-, our woi'k enables an increase iii vi)liinleeiiiig aci'oss Ilie IoLal coiniiiiiiiity. We support yoiiiig
people, a(liills. P£ll"enls, Iiiid Cc1rei"s lo Ilevelop Ilieii. slolls and iT)Otivalioii lo coiili-ibule to local coiiuiiiiiiily
developr)ier)l and I"egenei-alioii efloi"Is.
Iiiiportantly, all oiir work is uiideipii)iied by Ilie principle of caiising 'no Iianii,, flowing dii'eclly froin Diir
iiiaiii L.Iiai-itable coi"e i)urpose, aiins and objectives
OvLrview of the aceounling year
Tliis yeai.. the oi'gai)isalion lias worked 01) iiumei'ous PTojects.'
l. Day School -28 yoiiiig people Lilli2iniiig qiialificalioiis froin eiitry level lip lo aiid inLludii)g GCSE, Ilwoiigli
5-ddy p¢i' weelc liiiietabled pi'ooraniiiic. 13 yOLing people wei'e suppoi-le(l iii &ddi110sial work lo a¢liieve
GCSES iii twiliglit aiid evei)iiig class Pl'OViSiOII.
2. WHAM (Wellbeing, Heallli, Adveiiluie aiid Meiitoring 75 viilnei'able aiid at-l'isk yoiing people supported
lo streiiglliei) Iheii- etLiolioiial wellbeiiig tlii-oiigli adVen￿l"e leai-liiiig alid inleiisjve Jiieiiloi'ing.
3. FIigl) 5 wc provided over 600 houLS of intensive support lo vulnerable and at-i-isk young people.
4. Healthy Liviiig over 100 beiieficiaiies Ii'oin aci'oss the city of Belfast i-eceiviiig fai)iily aiid he¢1111iy living
siippoi'ls lo inipi'ove theii. lives.
5. NEC pi"ovided a raiibse of placeineiit oppoi'tuiiities for sttidents iiiidei.takiiio
Coiiiiiiiiiiity Yoiiili work.
Degree pi"ogi"2iiiiiies iii
6. Heallliy Liviiig siippoit8 to over l 00 people aci'oss Bel fast.
7. Eiiiployability skills developnieT]I pi'ogi'amiDe to ovei- 50 yoiing peopl¥ fi'oin aci-oss Belfast.
FtNAD4CIAL REVJEW
Review of tlie ye<ql'
Tlie conipaiiy liad Ii£l oiitgoiiig I"esoiii'ces foi. tlie yeai. of £127,359 (2022.. nel incoiiiing i-esoiiL'ces of
£39,445), wliich TefleLte(f Ilie coi))plelioii of Ic IILiiiibei' of i)itijects diii'iiig Il)e year. Uiire.stt'icled fiinds
decieii sed by £90,569, Nvliile resli'icled fi]nds decreased by £36,790. The total fuiid bal<ince cit 31 March 2023
was £95,914. (2022 £223,273)
Rcsei-yes policy
The oi-g1c nis81ion's policy is lo ietain a level of free i'eserves, which i)lÉqlches the needs of the oi.gaiiisatioii
botli at Ilie CiliTent liiiie aiid iii Ilie foi'eseeable fiilui'e. Tlie oi'ganisation has developed ¢1 plaii lo establish aiid
Iiiaintaiii Iliis ag]'eed Icvel foT fi'ee iesei-ves. I'lie oi'gaiiisalioii will coiiliiiue to Iiionitor coinpliaiice with 11)is
policy on a iegiilar ba.%is and the Board will review Ilie approprialeiiess of the policy aniiually.
In Tefei-eiice lo oiii- i"es¢L'v¢s policy. il is good prrlclice lo liave 6 n]onllis iililliing Lo.sls aiid salary coiiliiigeiicy
plans along Nvitli i-edLiiidaiicies.
Page 5

NewstArt Education Centre
.J)Di'l the Trustees
for the Yexr Ended 31 M21'Lh 2023
UI'URE PLANS
A foTecast for tl)e yeai- ahead..
EOTAS pi'ovisioii tliis coming yeai. we will coiiliiiiie to pi'ovide places In the Ldiicalion Authoi'ity Noi'ilieni
Irelaiid foi. yoiiiig people oiit%ide of iiiciiiislreaiii ediicalioii provisioii.
Belf<isI City Coiiiicil piovide iiileiisive suppoi't lo yoiing people in Ilie day school Illl'oijgh Ilie coiitiiiiialio
of our Higli 5 progi'ainnie. We ivill coiiliiiiie lo Ileliver Iiealthy Iivllig and fainily siippoi.ls lo IO0+
beiieficiai'ies fi'oiii aci-oss Bclfast.
Coiitinue lo delivei- oui. WI-IAM pi'ogrnimiiie lo viiliieiible and ¢lt-risk yoiuig people f<1ciiig einoti01i81
wellbeii)g clialleiiges.
Secure Peace Pliis fuiiding lo work collaboi'atively widi a i?i)ge of yoiith woi'k pai-kniers lo delivei. ali
inteiisive cioss coiiiiiiiiiiity, cioss boi'dei. pi'ogi'ai)iine.
Seciire ftiiiding to exltiid oiir prograiiiiiies to iiicliide Ilie pi-ovisioi) of early iLileiv¢i)tioii I preveiilioi)
focussed activities foj. yoiiiigei- 1¢ ge gn-oiips
Coiitiiiue to I"eview and develop Olll. P()licy and procedui-al fi'arnewoi'k eiisuriiig boai-d and sl<tff uiideitake
i'elevanl traiiiing.
Refui'bisli pai't of oiir second-flooi. siiace into a Iniilli-lise workshop space to provide a progr<iiillne of skills
developmeiil su¢li as joinery, hoiti¢iiltLire, and Dri.
STRUCTURC, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEI MENT
Goveriiiiig dociiinent
The chai'ity is controlled by ils goveijiing dociiiiienl, a deed of liiisl, aiid conslituleb a liii)ited conipaiiy,
limited by giiai'antee. a5 dcfiiied by Ilie Coiiipaiiies Act 2006.
Covernonce ot the Organisation
Dui'lllcr Ibe peiiod under Teview the dii'ecloi's Inet iiioiilhly. Tiusteesldirectoi-s al'e appoiiiled by noiniiiatioi
Inade in wi'lting by any existing dire¢loi-. At Ilie Genei'al Meeting noniiiialed dii'ectoi's al'e appointed by
electioii.
Page 6

Neivstai-t Education Ccnti'e
Report of the I'rllstees
for the Year Ended 31 March 2023
STRUC.TURE, GOVEI RNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Risk inanagerneiit
The pi-inciples of good goveniaiice aTe einbcdded witliiii all aspect5 Ot Newstait Educatioii Ceiilie
operti1ioi)s willi inaiiageineiit aiid staff bciiig Iceeiily <iware ot. the Boai'd8 respoiisibility of eiisiiriiig Iljat the
oi'tsanisation pi'otecls itself fioin tinaiicial CXPOSUL'e and i.eputalioiial daniage, A close woi-king reldlionsliip
is i)iallltained between the B01<rd and iDaiiageineThl lo eiisiile Ilial oper81ioiially %laff al'e awai'e of Ilie
slandai-ds i-equii-ed ol tlieiii by tlie Boai"d and the Boai'd al'e always iii a position to piovide gui(lan¢e aiid
siippoil to iiiaiiagement in Il)e discli<lrge of tlieii- duti&%. Tliis two way I'elatioiisliip is tlie key feattiTe of
Lowei- ba115 Newslait Project Limited govemance aii'angeniei)Is aiid is ￿ key sli'englh iii Ihe coinpany.
A consciciitious approlich to ensuring Iliclt contractual pi'oject i-equirenieiils Hit achieved has been mainlaiiied
al all tiii)es botli in the aticounling pei'iod being i'epoited on and since Newslart Educ¢ilion Ceiilre
establisllliieiil. Veiy tight fini< IICI(Il coiili'ols oil expei)ditLire ai)d ic11 finaiici81 coiiuiiittiieiils ale illl¢ jl)lallied Jl
all liines aiid pi-oje¢l staff Iiave beeii trained and Iiave becoine expei-iencecl in budgelaiy contiols.ln boili
tliese arec1S ie Pi-oject deliveiy (ind fiii(iiILial conli-ols iiia3]ageineiit all staff have established close woi'king
i-elalionsliips willi luiidiiig or8aiiisatÉons to ensui'e all niandalory slaiidards ¢?I'e consislciitly achieved. Boigl'd
i-ei)I'eseiitalives also actively eiigage will) ftiiidiiig bodics.
"riie Boai'(I, Inaiiageineiit aiid staff are Fully awaie that Ilie iiatui-e of Ilie work iii wliicli Newslart EdiicRtion
Centt'c is involved can bl'ing witli il a Iiigl) levcl of SCLUtiiiy lo ensuL'e tliat all aclivities <ll'e fully coinpli1¢ Ilt
with ftinding i'equii'einenls and,Iliei'efoi-e, beyond L'epi'oach.The Boai'd of Newslait Ediication Ceiili'e is,
therefore, greatly reassw'ed of the coinp<llly'S coinpli4ince with the highest of slaiidards of govemaiice 011 the
basis tlial all iiionitoi'ing aiid evaluation of pi'oject deliveiry deinonsli'ales acliieveillent of all ftiiidei
objecliiies and thal ftiiideis, audits Ic nd voiicliiiig of finaiicial exptiidittii'e aiid Ilie indepeiideiit examind
repoi'l confii.jii conipliaiice willi boili pi'obity aiid J'egiilarity in Ilie use of iiioiiics received.
I'AX STATUS
The conipany is I"ecogiiised by HMRC as a 5"eEislei'ed cl)aiity. Tlie coiiipany is entitled to LliÉirily lax
exeiiiptioi).
This I'epoi-t has beeii prep1¢ red i]1 llccoi"daiice with the special provi.qioi)s of Parl 15 0111)e Loiiipaiiie5 Act
?006 I'elaling lo small cornpanies.
Approved by oi'dei. of Ilie boald of li'iistees oil l Deceinbei. 2023 and signed oil ils behalf by..
Miss M Nolaii - Secretaly
Page 7