North West Ufelong Learnlng Llmlted Trustees Annual Report North West Lifelong Learning The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Att 2(X16, present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Company No. N1603130 Charlty No. N1104592 Prlnclpal Offlce Roe Valley Support & Advice Centre 32 Main Street BALLYKELLY County Londonderry BT49 9HS Reglstered Offlce 32 Main Street BALLYKELLY County Londonderry BT49 9HS Dlrectors and Trustees The Director5 of the charltable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law. The following Dirertors and Trustees served during the year: Elizabeth Ferguson Mary Mcmahon Matthew Ferguson Company Secretary Elizabeth Ferguson Accountant5 Vale Accountants 11 Thorndale Terrace BALLYMONEY County Antrim BT53 7AZ Bankers Unity Trust plc 4 Brindley Place Birmingharn BI 2JB OBJEcfivES AND ACTniiTIES Page 2
North West Llfelong Learnlng Umlted Trustees Annual Report The purpose of North West Lifelong Learning Ltd is to advance the education of the inhabitants of the North West of Northern Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom as frorn time to time determined by need, with the object of improving the conditions of life for said inhabitants. Education and associated support is freely offered to those to those who are unemployed or who need to acquire new skills for either work purposes or for increased social interaction by associating with statutory authorities, local agencies and community/voluntary organisations. The charity still maintsins a rural based exam centre for individuals completing 'self-studV courses. For the third year running, the biggest increase in this fiscal year has been those undertaking study courses with the Association of Accounting Technicians {A4T). Three trained invigilators are provided by Ceres Europe (Nl) Ltd which still shares admin accommodation within the building at 32 Main Street Ballykelly. Pearson Vue exams. which have been a core for NWLL since 2003 are still an essential part of the facility at NWLL and take place on two dedicated days per month, providing extra income for the charity in terms of rental income. It must be stressed that NWLL Ltd is still an essential part of the exam structure private provision in Northern Ireland, especially in the North and North West and is still the only truly open exam centre for those wishing to take their professional and compliance exams for workplaces and industry. The exam rooms have been inspected and approved for suitability for exams. The Ceres Europe invigilation staff have been commended on their willingness to accommodate both AAT & Pearson clients at short notice and work closely with NWLL Directors to ensure the building structure remains in good condition. The charity still provides back to work placements and training for those wlthout current work experience. There has always been free person to person assistance and educational advice provided where required and this still continues as NWLL directors invest in volunteers who remain a strong part of the main charity shop. A new five-year lease was signed in November 2022. The charity rernains committed to providing educational advice and open exam access for anyone wishing to carry out their 5elf-study courses. As Limavady was chosen in 2018/19 as a medium town for the roll-out of Universal Credit (UC), and once again (2023) this is due to happen to claimants who are due to mlgrate to Universal Credit from other benefits, we have renewed our licence with Advice Nl to assist where possible with basic ICT assistance and signposting to rnain Advice Nl centres immediately for advanced help. The lack of knowledge of pension requirements and the need to create a Government Gateway account for access to HMRC services has Still not been addressed sufficiently in this rural area and NWLL, with its superb knowledge of how to work with older learners still remalns to the fore and we, as Trustees, have remained with our original purpose of improving the ICT capability of those who are not computer or Internet savvy. NWLL, as the leaseholder, still accomrnodates both Ceres Europe (Nl) Ltd {Community Education) and Roe Valley Ancestral Researcher5 {a history group) to share the location and they both provide staff and volunteer support to complete Admin duties. This sharing of costs towards heat, light and power bills is still very welcome, and indeed essential, in this year of rising fuel costs and has played a key role in maintsining the viability of all 3 organisations. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Page 3
North West Llfelong Learnln8 Umlted Trustees Annual Report Within the village of Ballykelly, NWLL still remains a cornerstone for community services with an Advice Centre, a charity shop run by volunteers, a meeting place, a reading room, a library, family history for the area, and a focal point for young and mature of all ages. Staff, volunteers, and Directors undertook Safeguarding training March 2023 as this remains an essential requirement. Free additional training was given to those requiring Level l and Level 2 Food Safety, Health and Safety training and 1st Aid qualifications to be able to work both in the Centre and part-time to other employers in both Limavady and Ballykelly fast food outlets. Two female volunteers were able to take on Supported Employment outside NWLL via Jobs and Benefits and one female volunteer was able to return to full-time employment after a tirne in the shop which helped her self-confidence dealing with customers. NWLL signed on with NACN (North Antrim Communty Network) and through them was successful in obtaining a Dept of Agriculture grant to completely revamp the shop interior- rnaking it almost 'boutique' like, instead of 'just' a charity shop. This raised the morale of everyone in the building and sales are steady, depending on the economy itself. Registration with NACN is still free and is rnaintained for the enormous benefit gained from visiting other associations across the North Coast. A small grant has encouraged the set up of a craft club, now entering a 2nd year in 2023 and with support from NWLL, is increasing in strength. Education can have many different pathways. FINANCIAL REVIEW The trustees consider the financial performance by the charity during the year to have been satisfactory. The trustees have examined the charivs requirements for reserves in the liqht of the main risk to the organisation. The working capital and future funding are dependent on establishing further resep4es going forward. STRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT North West Lifelong Learning Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered with both HMRC and the Northern Ireland Charity Commission. Presently it has 3 Volunteer Trustees (2 female, I malel. The charity invests heavily in establishing reliable and trustworthy long-term volunteers. This would be the base from which to recruit volunteers. Existing trustees would recommend, interview and select whom to appoint. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any tlme the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial ststernents comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The above report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime as set out in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102). Signed on behalf of the board Elizabeth Ferguson Company Secretary 31 March 2023 Page 4