The Churches, Trust Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report {Incorporating the Directors, Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 The trustees, who are also the diieGlors (oi the purposes of company law, present Ilieir report aiid tlie unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. Reference and adminlstratlve detalls Reglstered charlty name The Churches, Twst Limited Charity reglstratlon number NIC105253 Company reglstratlon number N1027217 PrSn¢lpal offlce and reglstered 11 Limavady Road offSce Waterside DerrylLondonderry 8T47 6JU The trustees Mrs D Rudd- Chair Mr M Agnew- Treasurer Mr B Bell Rev Canon S R Boyd Rev Fr M Canny Mrs J Helheringlon Rev C Jone$ Mrs J Miller Mr D McGowan Mr J O'Kane Mr A Rowan Deacon M Skuce (Retired 21 September 2023) Member Trustees Bishop Andrew Forster Bishop Donal McKeown Rev Stephen Skuce Rev Susan Moore Chief Executlve Mary Holmes Independent examlner Donaldson & Thompson Chartered Accountants 3 Limavady Road Londonderry BT47 6JU The Churches, Trust Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporatlng the Directors, Report) (contlnuodj Year ended 31 March 2024 Structure, governanGe and management The organisalion is a charitable company limited by guarantee, Incorporated on 9th February 1993 and accepted as a charity by HM Revenue & Customs under reference N101212 and registered wth the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 24th May 2016 under charity number NIC105253. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charilable company and is governed under ils Articles ofAssociation. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to conlribule an amount not exceeding £5. The Directors are appointed by the Member Trustees, the leaders of the Church of Ireland, Methodisl Church, Presbyterian Church, and Catholic Church in the North West area. Each Member Trustee appoint5 one clergy and two lay people to se￿e as Directors on Ihe Board. The Directors are responsible for Ihe slrategic direction, and the overall management and accounlabilily of the organisalion. The Board meet every six to eight weeks. Board membership is diverse in ils representation across communities and has a broad skills and expertise base, including financial management, PR, Health & Safely and various community & voluntary sector roles. The Directors delegate responsibility for day-to-day operations to the Chief Executive and staff team. The Chief Executive provides direct line management for staff employed. The organisalion has developed robusl systems and procedures for monitoring and evaluating its work, primarily shaped by the reporting and accounlabilily obligations defined by funding bodies. regulatory organisations and various stakeholder5. These systems include mechanisms for ongoing review and evaluation and feed direclly into reports to the Board of Directors. which include the following.. Financial management (including monthly management accounts) Performance results against targets Stakeholder relationship development Regulatory, audit and compliance matters Policy and procedure development and approval New inilialives HLJman Resource and other organisational matters Proiect I service evaluation and review Prior lo the commencement of the financial year, the board approves a budget that defines the financial parameters and the performance targets for the year. This document is a critical part of the management, monitoring and evaluation of Ihe organisalion's performance. The organisation has extensive expertise in managing and claiming grants both of a capital nature and a revenue nature. ObJectlves and activities The principal activities and objects of the charily as per the company's Memorandum is ' to promote the benefit of the iiihabilanls ol Ihe North Wesl of Ireland without distinction of sex or political. religious or other opinions by associating the local authorities. churches. voluntary organisations and inhabilanls in a common effort to relieve poverty. sickness and distress and to advance education so a5 to improve the conditions of life for the said inhabitanls... The Churches, Trust Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporatlng the Directors, Report) fconllnued) Year ended 31 March 2024 Objectives and aGtlvltles (¢onrinued) Our Vision is.. A cohesive community without discrimination, disadvanlage, or division where people from all communitie5 and backgrounds can equally contribute. Our Mission is.. Utilise the strength and determination of local communities to identify, challenge and tackle the causes and impacl of discriminalion, disadvantage and division reflecling an ethos of peace. trust, humility and hope which are central to our Christian values. Our work is underpinned by a Trauma Informed Approach and an awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adverse Community Environments. and Atrociou5 Cultural Experiences (ACES). During the last year we have focused on embedding this approach into our work. our slaft Iraining, and our service delivery. We believe that this is a transformational approach to Peace & Reconciliation, and to building stronger, resilient, and more cohesive communities. Specifically, The Churches, Trust Limited aims are.. To promote a more united, shared and cohesive society working in collaboration wlth churches, schools, and community and voluntary seclor organisalions In Ihe area. To develop and provide quality services that tackle deprivation and disadvantage focusing on social inclusion, equality of opportunity. and improving community relalions. To proNaclively enhance and support the economic, social and cultural development of all our communities within the North Wesl region. Church leaders acknowledge that deprivalion and disadvantage are key barriers lo building a united community, eqLiality of opportunity and good relations. They recognise their role in presenting a united voice to help change atliludes and ullimately conlribute lo moving our community on from conflict to peace. The commitment to addressing issues of social injustice and inequality shapes the main activities of The Churches, Trust Limited. The Churches, Trust Limited through years of experience and through eslablished networks of churches and schools, understand the challenges facing the communities we 5UPPOrt. We are committed to addressing issues of justice and inequality. Our work transcends all communities. In the interests of a sliared and better future for all we undertake various projecls and activities Ihal bring communities together, and thal encourage healing. understanding and respect. The charity's trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission for Norlhern Ireland's guidance on public benefit. Achlevements and performance The organisalion's aclivilies are shaped by.. Identifying, challenging and tackling seclananism and racism through the delivery of good relations and Cohesion programmes. Recognising Ihe ongoing impact of poverly and disadvanlage, supporting people and families in need, tackling social determinanls of health inequalities and empowering communities. The Churches. Trust Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Directors, Report) (continuedj Year ended 31 March 2024 Achlevements and performance (¢onlinued) Our performance and achievements are summarised as follow5.. Youth training and development programmes focusing on personal and skills development, improving mental health and wellbeing and enhancing life chances. This includes working with margiiialised young people who struggle in formal education structures by providing alternative opportunities through creative pathways. outdoor learning, and personal development programmes. Developing Women tralning and support programmes which focus on buiSding self-esleem and confidence. strengthening family supports. and empowering women to take on leadership roles In the community. Inlerfailh, inler-church community educalion projects vthich focus on the theme of Celebrating Commonality.. These projects aim to build a sense of shared community recognising what we have in common as opposed to focusing on what divides us. Low level intervention care services for older people across the cily and rural areas of the Derry City & Slrabane District Council. The service is designed lo address isolation aiid promote independence in the home. On average we provided 620 support hours per month. Services provided include befriending, chaperoning, reminiscing, shopping, domestic duties, dealing with correspgndence and appointments. Care & Repair-MaintenancelHandyperson service provided at low cost, affordable rates targeting Older People. low-income families and individuals in areas of deprivation. The service includes cleaning, declultering, gardening, power washing, fencing decorating, gullering, grave maintenance - in summary those tasks that are difficult to source from mainstream maintenance service5 but that significantly enhance the menlal health and well-being of those in receipt of the service. Addressing food poverty - The Pantry Project and Social Supermarket. The Pantry Project foodbank provides a crisis response lo people experiencing food poverty. We work with an established network ol over 30 churthes and 12 schools generating food donations through community giving. We work in collaboration wilh communily hubs who work intensively to address the underlying root cause of the crises and signposi people to appropriate services. During Ihis financial year we provided food for over 7,500 people. We have developed our approach lo addressing food povety through our Social Supermarket. working wilh people on transformative solutions that move people from food insecurity on to addressing the determinants of food poverty. The Churches, Trust Limited Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Dlrectors, Report) (Continued) Year ended 31 March 2024 FSnancSal revlew The results contained within the Slalemenl ol Financial Aclivities disclose a Net deficit for the year of £38,891. The Churche5' Trust Limited continues to broaden its income portfolio by strengtheniiig collaborative working arrangements wtth partner org3nisalions and other funding agencies. Public funds and grants received Ihrough the financial year included The Executive Office. Department for Communities, Community Relations Council, Derry City Strabane Council, Northern Ireland Office, Department of Foreign Affairs Ilreland). Education Authority. and Public Health Agency. We are seeking to extend our incorne portfolio by building relationships with charitable Irusls and now include Charities Aid Foundation, Inner City Trust. SSE Airtricily, Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Benefacl Trust. The Honourable The Irish Society and Enkalon Foundation as supporters of our work. In January 2024. The Churches. Trust Limited relocated its main administration office from 121 Spencer Road to 11 Limavady Road, Waterside. DerrylLondonderry, BT47 6JU. The impact of this move on the financial results for the year ended 31 March 2024 wa5 £19,590. This inclL)des Capital Costs and Running Costs and conlributed to the deficit reported for Ihe year. Recurring costs resulting from relocation will be factored into annual budgets going forward. This office move represents a strategic opportunity lo present a more inclusive and accessible core facility with capacily to provide training and development, expand programme delivery, and have a more significant impaGI on the lives of those most marginalised in our community. Small company provlslons This report ha5 been prepared in accordance wth the provisions applicable to companie5 entilled to the small companies exemption. The tru5tees' annual report (incorporating the directors. report) was approved on 17 October 2024 and signed ors behalf of the board of trustees by- Mrs D Rudd- Chalr Trustee MAgn slee Treasurer