Lismullin Educational Foundation (N.I.) Ltd Registered Charity Number: 104989 Company Number: NI40588
ANNUAL TRUSTEES REPORT FOR MAY 2023 TO APRIL 2024
The aims of the charity, as stated in its Memorandum and Articles, are the advancement of religion and education in accordance with Christian principles and ideals for the public benefit in two main ways:
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a) To foster the religious and cultural development of women and men and to teach the application of Christian principles to everyday life and to do all other things necessary or desirable for the promotion of Christian morals and benevolence.
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b) To foster the pursuit of excellence in human work at every level and to do all things necessary or desirable for the promotion of the highest work standards in accordance with Christian principles.
The benefits that flow from purpose a) are:
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To help build a society that is more peaceful, caring and just, based on the transcendent dignity of each person; and to achieve this by development of character, fostering virtues such as solidarity, justice, integrity, honesty and sense of responsibility.
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The benefits that flow from purpose b) are:
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To help people develop their competence and talents to the full; to create better working environments with greater work-family-life balance; to foster honesty and a spirit of service to society and the community; and for those who can, to help create employment and take greater care of the environment.
The beneficiaries of both purposes are people of all creeds and backgrounds living in Ireland who are interested in developing themselves and making a greater contribution to society. The benefits are evidenced through feedback of a formal kind (e.g. feedback form after a seminar) and an informal kind from those who take part in the activities. Both purposes do not lead to harm. There is no private benefit arising from either purpose. Most of the activities are organised by people working in a voluntary capacity, giving freely of their time and expertise.
DUNRAVEN (104 MALONE ROAD, BELFAST)
Purchased in December 2017, with finances provided by means of loans from Aosanach Educational Trust, a registered charity (Number 20020514) in the Republic of Ireland, with the loans are being repaid over a number of years. Architectural redesign, construction, and fitting out were completed in 2019. The building includes a small chapel which was finished in 2021 and blessed in June 2022 by the Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Noel Treanor.
EGLANTINE (27 EGLANTINE AVENUE, BELFAST)
A suitable property at 27 Eglantine Avenue was acquired in 2021, with the purchase funded by the sale of a property in Marlborough Park, together with donations. Weekly classes on the Christian faith in Eglantine, primarily for women, have expanded throughout the period and continue to draw steady numbers of students, young professionals, and those in their 30s.
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ACTIVITIES ORGANISED
Youth Faith Development
Weekly classes on Scripture and current moral topics in Dunraven and Eglantine have expanded throughout the period and continue to draw steady numbers of students and young professionals.
Communicating Moral Values in Media
Dunraven worked with Catholic Voices (https://www.catholicvoices.org.uk/) in London to host training events for those interested in articulating Christian ideas in the public domain.
Formational and Social Activities for Parents
Formation talks were held for parents, as well as social gatherings, to facilitate friendships and to share ideas on parenting.
Outreach to Derry and Donegal
Bible studies, philosophy classes, faith formation activities were organised in Derry and Donegal.
LISMULLIN CONFERENCE CENTRE
Lismullin Educational Foundation (N.I.) Ltd works in close collaboration with its partner charity in the Republic of Ireland, Lismullin Educational Foundation Ltd (Charity Number 20034757), in promoting and supporting activities that take place at Lismullin Conference Centre in County Meath (www.lismullin.ie), in addition to those which take place at Dunraven and Eglantine. In the context of the aim of fostering the pursuit of excellence in human work at every level, and to do all things necessary for the promotion of the highest work standards in accordance with Christian principles, the following events took place at Lismullin Conference Centre.
Passion for Leadership and Growth Programme (https://www.lismullin.ie/leadership)
This very successful course took place in Lismullin over 6 full-day modules between September 2023 and April 2024 and was attended by 24 participants, with 11 from Northern Ireland companies. The modules focused on:
| Self-leadership | Leading one-on-one | Leading teams |
|---|---|---|
| Knowing yourself | Power and influence | Creatingalignment |
| Finding yourpurpose | Motivation | Fosteringengagement |
| Managing your emotions | Persuasion | Creatingaccountability |
| Defining success | Conversations: developing andproblem-solving |
Building cohesion |
The programme was delivered by Fátima Carioca , Dean and Professor of People Management, who did her PhD in People Management at Manchester Business School, and by Jose Fonseca Pires , Head of the Department of People Management, both from AESE Business School in Lisbon (https://www.aese.pt/en/).
The programme allows the participants to put what they are learning into immediate use through the Leadership Challenge, where each participant shares with a small groups of participants a live leadership challenge they have, and tries to find a solution with the help of the others and of a facilitator.
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Personal Formation Seminars
Men & Marriage
29 SEPTEMBER – 1 OCTOBER 2023
Residential seminar for men aimed at deepening Christian understanding and commitment to the value of marriage, family life, friendships and relationships. The speaker was Ciro Candia , headmaster of Oakwood School in Purley, London, and founder of ProParent which delivers family programmes in schools and in the community.
Hearts + Minds – Finding more meaning and purpose in everyday life 9 – 10 MARCH 2024
Weekend seminar for women with contributions from filmmaker Margaret Kane and scientist Sally Ann O’Brien .
Annual Farming Seminar
Challenges and Opportunities facing Agriculture and Farming in 2024
8 FEBRUARY 2024
Speakers:
Frank O’Mara , Director, Teagasc (National Agriculture & Food Development Authority) Francie Gorman, President, Irish Farmers’ Association Jack Kennedy , Editor, Irish Farmers Journal
Amy Forde , News Editor, Irish Farmers Journal
Lectures on Heritage and History
The Catholic Church in China Today 17 April 2024
Fr Eamonn O’Brien , a Columban priest who has been visiting China since 1979 and worked there for 20 years.
The Law of the Innocents, enacted in Birr in 697 AD to protect women, children and clerics 22 November 2023
Dr James Houlihan , author of a book on the subject, published by Four Courts Press in 2020.
From Samhain to All Saints – Tara and the Conversion to Christianity in Early Ireland 1 November 2023
Dr Edel Bhreathnach is a Professor of History in University College Cork.
The Eucharist in Early Ireland 19 October 2023
Dr Neil Xavier O’Donoghue , lecturer, St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth.
Lismullin Cullinary School (https://www.meathcookeryschool.com/)
Practical hands-on courses for adults, for families, for primary and secondary level students, in its purpose-built training school, which help participants acquire a deeper understanding of the work of the home and its importance for society. Typical activities included “Family Cook Days”, “Cookery & Life Skills Programme” for senior school students, “The Ultimate Corporate & Teambuilding Solution”, “Master the Art of Cooking”.
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Application of Christian Principles to Everyday Life
In the context of fostering the religious and cultural development of men and women and to teach the application of Christian principles to everyday life and to do all other things necessary or desirable for the promotion of Christian morals and benevolence, the following events are organised:
Spiritual Retreats for People from all Walks of Life
These activities took place between May 2023 and April 2024.
Courses in Christian Philosophy and Theology
These courses took place between May 2023 and September 2024.
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The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2023
We are fully compliant with this Act as we have filed the Annual Monitoring Returns each year on time without exception.
Public Benefit Requirement
In setting our objectives and planning our activities for the year, the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped to achieve the charity’s purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
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