Page 2 MOURNE ACTION FOR SURVIVORS OF TERRORISM TRUSTEES REPORT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and the unaudited Receipts and Payments Accounts of the organisation for the year ended 31 March 2024. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES The principal activity of the ortrawsation during the year was operating a Victim Support Group. Tb.e tide of the group shall be MOURfvE ACTION FOR SURVIVORS OF TERIIOIUSM, hereinafter called "NL4ST" CHARtTABLE PURPOSE Tlie objects of "MAST" shall be: (i) To bring reliet" io persons in Mouille who "e sufterillcT hardship, sickness or distress as a residt of :The Troubles, in Northern Ireland. (li) To advance the education of the piiblic in Mourne and elsewhere in the effects of 'The Troubles, and especially the effects of 'The Troubles". on children. (iii) To provide support and counsellillo services in Mourne tor victims of :The Troubles". in NortheiD Ireland. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The purposes of MAST are . I) To brin relief to ersons in Mourne who are sufferin hardshi sickness or distress as A result of 'Tbe Troubles, in Northern Ireland. We address the social and emotional needs of victims and survtvors, their families and carers. we provide recognit20n and acknowled(sement of their traurna. This can lead to increased emotional healtb and wellbeing, impToved self-esteem, reduced anxiety and stress. We demonstrate this by always having an opell door to our members where they can come in times of need for advice, friendship, help and guidance. We have background support in place whereby we call signpost members for fjllther help and guidance covering many situations. Our Befiiending Service bas a listening ear and the facility to accompany mernbers to bospitsl appointments and this eases the stress for members and their families.
Page 3 MOURNE ACTION FOR SURVIVORS OF TERRORISM TRUSTEES REPORT(confd) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 II) To advance the education of the ublic ID Mourne 2nd elsewhere in effects of 'The Troubles, and es ecial the effects of 'The Troubles, on the Children. Our members have the chance to take part in transgeneration8J activities which allow generations of families to come together and enjoy time together. It gives members a chance to interact with others, both within our own group and with other similar innocent victims, groups that we network with throughout Northern Ireland. This addresses sociaI and emotional needs. gives recognition and acknowledgement of the trauma they have suffered and are still suffering from. We have demonstrated this through local media showino our group taking part in our activities. We network with a group from southern Ireland and have had visits to the Lord Mayor of Dublin and The Dail where we had the opportunity to explain the history of MAST and exactly what we do as a group and how this eatly benefits members. We also had visits from the Irish Dept of Foreign Affairs & Trade. MAST has taken part in several surveys over the years conducted by students in Universities at home and abroad who are studying confiict and the effects on individuals and communities. This th¢n shows the public how MAST has grown over the years and how it continues to benefit its members. III) To rovide su ort and counsellin services in Mourne for victims of 'Tbe Troubles, in Northern Ireland. MAST members are able to benefit from the advice, guidance and support provided through our office. Staff members have been trained by the Victims and Survivors service on mental health issues, what to look out for and who to refer to in cases of need. Members are given social inclusion through organised workshops, training and activities. This also gives members increased self- esteem and inclusion which reduces anxiety and stress. New friendships are fornied which reduces social isolation. We demonstrate this by our "Drop -In" listening ear service. befriending services, weekly and monthly group meetings where members can learn new skÈlls through crafts and facilitators and reduce isolation by enu wlth others while learnino at the same time. Those with mental health problems who request counselling are referred to the appropriate counsellor through the Victims and Survivors Service. This service is provided to members free of charge. MAST beneficiaries are victims and survivors of the troubles in Northern Ireland, their families and carers. There is no hann flowing from this puryose. MAST has no private benefit. These benefits are demonstrated through evaluations followin(F each organised eventlactivity. Correspondence from members and feedback surveys back this up. MAST'S action plan is reviewed quarterly by our funder. VictiEns & Survivors Service and checks are carried out regularly to ensure that all guidelines are being followed.
Page 4 MOURNE ACTION FOR SURVIVORS OF TERRORISM TRUSTEES REPORT {cont'd) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE - WHAT OUR ORGANISATION, DOES MAST provides a drop-in Gentre "with an open-door policy" which gives mernbers the chance to seek advice, help with completion of fonns, chat and be Sured of a listenino ear, all in confidence. MAST have two ladies, groups, one meets each Wednesday for 40 weeks per year and the other is for ladies over retirement age and these meet once a month for 10 months. These ladies, uroups teach new skills to the members and in doing so increases social inclusion, new friendships are formed and Enaintained and also raises self-esteem. The ladies benefit from talks, presentations and this in turn reduces social isolation. MAST provide educatKonal classes for our mernbers which are rl under the headino of personal and proiessional developrnent and these have proved to be very popular. At Christmas there is an oruanised dinner with entertaintnent for the members and this is also very well attended and something that members look forward to each year. We have thee respite trips per year which are Cultural, educational and Tecreational. Once a year we have a residential respite trip which lots of our widowed members really look forward to as they are with people who understand the pain of losing a loved one to terrorism. We provide a befriending service for those who cannot attend our or<Tanised events/activities. We include second and third generation victims throucrh our transgenerational events as we feel it is important to educate our children on falnily history and moving forward. As part of our aLmual progr8mme, we have one of our respite day trips to the Royal British Legion Festival of Rernembranc¢ in the Wateront H811 in Belfast. This is our way of remembering those who we have lost in World Wars over the years and durinu "The Troubles". REGISTERED CHARITY The registered charity number is NIC 1046)4 PRIN'CIPAL OFFICE ADDRESS Reivers House l O Newcastle Street KILKEEL Co Down BTJ4 4AF TRUSTEE BOARD The Trustees who voluntarily served the organisation during the year were as follows: Board of Trustees Sandra Harrison - Chairy)erson Ian Johnston - Vice Chairperson Laura Johnston- Appointed as Secretary 11111?021 Aimec GleTrny - R¢signed as S¢Gretary 111112021 Anne Campbell - Appointed Treasurer 111112021 Jov Rooney Bobbie Campbell
Page 5 MOURNE ACTION FOR SURVIVORS OF TERRORISM TRUSTEES REPORT {cont'd) YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 FINANCIAL REVIEW No fijnds are in deficit. Unrestricted funds held at the year-end are in excess of £15,000 (202) - in excess of £15,000). The Trustees would like to maintain the unrestricted funds at this level to cover any unforeseen circumstances in the tllre. GOING CONCERN MAST is dependent on continuing fundin(F from the Victims & Survivors Service. HoeVer, if this source of funding was not forth coming in the futtwe, the charity would continue on a reduced voluntary basis until new fijnders were found. The Trustees are of the opinion the charity will continue in operation for the foreseeable future. RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS The accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 were available to the members on 07 June ?024. These accounts were fonnally approved and signed by the Trustees on 07 June 2024. Sioned by order of board of Trustees: Laura Johnston Secretary