THE THOMAS DEVLIN FUND
ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO END 31 MARCH 2024
Registered Charity Northern Ireland No:104593
1
| Annual report for the year end 31 March 2024 | 3 |
|---|---|
| Achievements and performance | 3 |
| Statement of financial activities for year end 31 March 2024 | 5 |
| Reference and administrative details | 6 |
2
Annual report for the year ended 31 March 2024
The Trustees of the Thomas Devlin Fund are pleased to present the annual report for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Achievements and Performance
In this document we are reporting on activities including grants awarded in the 2023/2024 round for the Thomas Devlin Fund Individual Bursaries.
Summary
In 2023-2024 the Fund was in its seventeenth year of operation, offering awards of up to £1750 to young people between the ages of 15 and 19 in order to pursue a career or study in fine and creative arts including moving images and literacy art, the performing arts or music.
Grant Analysis and Applications Supported
CFNI administer the arrangements for the Bursaries on behalf of the Thomas Devlin Fund. Following agreement at a meeting with CFNI on 8 February 2023, the application process was opened on 6 March 2023 and closed on 5 April 2023.
The Guidance notes had been reviewed and revised in discussion with CFNI. The Advisory Panel met on 17 May 2023 to review applications and allocate the bursaries. A total of 16 applications were received and 11 were successful. The total amount awarded in this round was £17180 and the average award was £1562
The Advisory Panel were pleased with the number and quality of the applications in the 2023 round.
Feedback has been received from the individual bursary winners. The individual award winners have sent feedback on their use of the bursaries to the Trustees via responses through CFNI together with information as to how the bursary has benefitted them as individuals. One successful applicant has subsequently been awarded a full bursary
3
for a Music degree course at Brandeis University in Boston USA following his attendance at the weeklong residential that was supported by the Fund.
Examples of bursaries awarded include:
-
Support for attendance at the Berklee College of Music’s singing and piano week long residential program in Boston, Massachusetts, USA
-
Support for harpsichord lessons at Royal Irish Academy of Music
-
Support for Diploma in Professional Dance based in Manchester
A further meeting of the Trustees and CFNI was held on 18[th] January 2024 to discuss the application process for 2024. It was agreed that the Fund would open for applications on 19 February 2024 and close on 25 March 2024 with a date of 23 May 2024 agreed for a meeting of the Advisory Panel to consider applications. The outcome of this process will be reported in the Annual Report ending on 31 March 2025. A meeting was held with INVESTEC on 18 January 2024 to discuss the investment strategy for the Endowment Fund.
3. Public Benefit Statement
The Trustees of the Thomas Devlin Fund confirm they have complied with their duty and have had regard to the Charity Commission Northern Ireland’s Public Benefit Statutory Guidance in their activities throughout the year.
The benefits which flow from the activities outlined above include enhanced educational skills and qualifications and increased participation in the creative arts and music by young people in Northern Ireland.
These benefits have been demonstrated through feedback from bursary recipients.
No harm has been identified from this purpose.
The benefits of this purpose are provided to young people in Northern Ireland.
There is no private benefit from this purpose.
4
4. Financial Position at the end of the financial year 31 March 2023
The opening balance of the Danske Bank Account was £13,304. The closing balance of the Danske Bank Account at 31 March 2024 was £13,387. A signed independent full statement of accounts is registered with the Charity Commission NI. The Fund has no debts. These accounts were approved by the Treasurer and Chairperson and independently examined.
The Thomas Devlin Fund also holds a restricted endowment fund with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. This fund is managed by the Community Foundation and invested for the long term to generate funds each year for bursaries. We work in partnership with the Community Foundation each year to deliver the bursary scheme which supports gifted young people offering exciting and unique opportunities to develop their skills and talent in music and the arts. The value of the endowment fund at 31 March 2024 was £229,185
5
Thomas Devlin Fund
Statement of Danske Bank Account for the year ending March 2024
Income Expenditure Donations £100 Bank Charges £30.27 Interest £13.37 Total £113.37 Total £30.27
Funds on Account
Opening Balance at 1[st] April 2023 £13,304 Deposits: £113 Withdrawals: £30 Closing Balance at 31[st] March 2024 £13,387
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Reference and Administrative Details
Charity Name
The Thomas Devlin Fund
Charity Number
Registered in Northern Ireland No. 104593
Address
99 Somerton Road
Belfast
BT15 4DH
6
Charity Trustees as of 31 March 2024
Ward Vaughan Chair Penny Holloway Secretary Felicity Jones Treasurer Jim Devlin James Devlin Megan Devlin
Governance
The Fund is governed by a constitution which was agreed and signed on 6 February 2006. The Fund is managed by an Executive Committee comprised of all its Trustees. A number of the Trustees hold office, and these are listed above. The Trustees meet with CFNI to plan the bursary awards for the year. CFNI manage the bursary application and distribution process on behalf of the Fund. The accounts of the Thomas Devlin Fund managed by CFNI are received by the Trustees following a meeting with CFNI Fund representatives.
Purpose
The Association is established to advance education and promote awareness and understanding of the effects of gratuitous violence suffered by young people in Northern Ireland (hereinafter called the “area of benefit”) and in particular to promote the involvement of young people in the creative arts and also by providing bursaries to young people or other charitable organisations which will enhance their lives and enable them to participate more fully in society in memory of Thomas Devlin
Public benefit
Purpose one
The Fund provides financial support through bursaries to young people in Northern Ireland in order to enable the award winners to participate in enhancing their skills and knowledge in music and the creative arts through educational opportunities. The bursary awards are provided on an annual basis in three categories and the process is managed by CFNI. Applications are sought from young people annually mainly through schools and colleges and each application must be supported by an applicant's teacher.
7
The benefits which flow from this purpose include enhanced educational skills and qualifications and increased participation in the creative arts and music by young people in Northern Ireland.
These benefits will be demonstrated through feedback from bursary recipients.
No harm has been identified from this purpose.
The benefits of this purpose are provided to young people in Northern Ireland.
There is no private benefit from this purpose.
Purpose two
A further benefit is the increased awareness of the impact of gratuitous violence on young people.
The benefit will be demonstrated by feedback from those organisations with whom the Fund works with to highlight the effects of gratuitous violence on young people in Northern Ireland.
No harm has been identified from this purpose.
The benefits of this purpose are provided to young people in Northern Ireland.
There is no private benefit from this purpose.
8