North West Ufelong Learnlng Umlted
Trustees Annual Report
North West Lifelong Learning
The trustees. who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006,
present their report with the unaudlted financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31
March 2024.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS
Company No. N1603130
Charfty No. N1104592
Prlndpal Office
Roe Valley Support & Advice Centre
32 Main Street
BALLYKELLY
County Londonderry
BT49 9HS
Re8lstered Office
32 Main Street
BALLYKELLY
County Londonderry
BT49 9HS
Dlrectors and Trustees
The Directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purposes of charity law.
The following Directors and Trustees served during the year:
Ellzabeth Ferguson
Mary Mcmahon
Matthew Ferguson
Company Seuetary
Elizabeth Ferguson
Accountsnts
Vale Accountsnts
11 Thorndale Terrace
BALLYMONEY
County Antrim
BT53 7AZ
Bankers
Unity Trust plc
4 Brindley Place
Birmingharn
812JB
Page 2

North West Llfelong Learnlng Llmlted
Trustees Annual Report
OBJECTIVES AND AcrivrriES
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 tlme to time determined by need,
with the object of improving the conditions of life for said inhabitants, in particular offering education and
associated support freely to those to those in Its community 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/voluntsry organisations.
In the Financial Year 2023-24, NWLL Ltd provided: l. Online learning and assessment e-portfolios lelectronic
portfolios) to allow study from either home, work or a classroom. 2. An open exam centre for anyone tsking
electronlc exams in any subject across Northern Ireland, Ireland & the UK. 3. Free educational advice and
networking support for educatlonal advancement for unemployed & employed beneficiaries; 4. A support
and advlce centre registered with Advlce Nl to assist those aged 60+ wlth networkiNa advice for pensions and
benefits inforrnation. For the fourth year running. the biggest increase in this fiscal year has been those
undertaking study courses with the Associatlon of Accounting Technlcians (MT). Three trained Invigilators
are provlded by Ceres Europe INI) Ltd which still shares admin accommodation withln the building at 32 Maln
street Balfykelly. Pearson Vue exams, which have been a core for NWLL since 2003 are still an essential part
of the facility at NWLL and tske place on dedicated days per month, providing extra income for the charity In
terms of rental income. It must be stressed again that NWLL Ltd is still an essential part of the exam structure
private provision in Northern Ireland, especlally In the North and North West and is still the only truly open
exam centre for those wishlng to take their professional and compliance exams for workplaces and industry.
The exam rooms have been inspected again in 2023 and approved for suitsbility for exams. The Ceres Europe
invi8llation 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 buildlng structure remains in good
condltion. An additional part-time worker was present at the most recent inspection and was commended on
hls interaction and assistance to the Inspector. NWLL directors Invest in volunteers who remain a stron8 part
of the main charity shop.
The charity remains committed to providing educatlonal advice and open exam access for anyone wishlng to
carry out their self-study courses. Limavady was chosen in 2018119 as a medium town for the roll-out of
Universal Credit (UC), and once again in 2024, NWLL Volunteer Advisers pln-pointed a gap of Information for
older rural resldents who have been isolated from main benefit centres in Londonderry and Coleraine. NWLL
in Ballykelly is centrally positioned in the village of Ballykelly with other centres almost 20 miles away in
either direction. 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 Trustees
have remained with our original purpose of improving the ICT capabilty of those who are not computer or
Internet savvy. NWLL. as the leaseholder. still accommodates both Ceres Europe (Nl) Ltd (Community
Education) and Roe Valley Ancestral Researchers (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 maintaining the viability of all 3 organisations.x
Page 3

North West Ufelong Learnlng Umlted
Trustees Anmial Report
ACHIEVEMENTSAND PERFORMANCE
May 2023: NWLL supported one volunteer through Level 3 Diploma for IT users. May and August 2023: NWLL
has provided to their exam centre 3 invigilators, 2 were volunteer invigilators and I was an employed
invigilator. One of the volunteer invigilators has now gained employrnent being an invigilator 4 days a month
when requested. June 2023. NWLL put all volunteers through a safeguarding familiarisation course and their
basic Access Nl Checks. August and September 2023 - two volunteers put through their Level l Food Hygiene
and Safety, one volunteer put through Level 2 food Hygiene and Safety. August and November 2023: Five
persons (female} aged between 2540 were signed up to complete a course on employability skills and
personal development so that they could develop courses and training for others in this rural area that are
starting out as volunteers. Two of this group have progressed to study for their assessor award, with one unit
complete and currently they are still engaged with the programme developed by Ceres Europe {Nl) Ltd and
funded by NWLL. February 2024: a Keeping Adults Safe course vrds completed by one of ourAdmin members
and subsequently was signed up for completing the assessor award. February and MaTch 2024: NWLL has
helped and assisted 50 people from the local communlty to avail of a Bryson Emergency Relief Cost of Living
Grant towards electrlcity In the months of February and March. NWLL advi￿r5 managed to get the
assistance they needed In the current cost of living crlsls and these 50 people avalled of £2(X) each, resulting
In a total of £10,000 out into the local community, March 2024: NWLL completed a Land Based Skills
Recruitment Event with funding from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Councll. NWLL continues to
mentor the small craft group that operates from the building on a Thursday evening, the craft club avalled of
grant assistance from soclal connections that NWLL applied for on their behalf. Shop volunteers completed
over 31)0 hours each for the year and are being as5i5ted by a NWLL Director to record their hours and receive
certification for thelr volunteer work.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The trustees consider the financial performance by the charty during the year to have been satlsfactory.
Shop takings are now collected digitally, reducing actual cash in the shop and easier for accounting purposes.
The trustees have examined the charitys requlrements for reseNes in the Ilght of the maln risk to the
organisation. The working capitsl and future fundlng are dependent on estsbllshlng further reserves going
forward.
srRvcfuRE. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
North West Lifelong Learning Ltd is a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered wlth both HMRC and the
Northern Ireland Charity Commission. Presently it has 3 Volunteer Trustees {2 female, I male).
The charity invests heavily in estsblishing reliable and trustworthy long-term volunteers. This would be the
base from which to recruit further volunteer5 and potential Trustees. Existing Trustees would recommend,
interview and select whom to appoint. A new Director has been mentored from amongst our volunteer base
and chosen as an addition to the list of Trustees for the year 2024-25.
The Tnjstees are responslble for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at
any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial ststements
comply with the Companies Act 2￿6. The Trustees are a150 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 subjert 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).
Page 4

North West Ufelon8 Learnln8 Umlted
Trustees Annual Report
Signed on behalf of the board
Elizabeth Ferguson
Company Secretsry
31 March 2024
Page 5