2oZS Newry and Mourne Deaf Club Annual Report 402( 13th January 2024 Reference and Admlnlstratlve Detalls Company Name: Newry and Moume Deaf Club Charity Number: Registered as a Charity in Northem Ireland (NIC105720) Registered Office: Thomas Davis Centre, 21 Doran's Hlll, Newry, BT35 8PQ Trustees: Laurence Mallon (Chairperson) Briege Mccann (Secretsry) Moira Magone (Treasurer) Bernie Doyle Angela Mallon Vinnt Ryan Cathy Ferris Independent Examiners". Mary Rafferty 68B chanlIOrS Road, Newry BT35 8QB Bankers: AIB Group, 4244 Hill Street, Newry BT34 1AU Structure, Governance and Management Governlng Document Newry and Mwme Deaf Club is an unincorporated body, founded in August1989, and govemed by a constitution. Tr oiiginal o)nstition was reviewed and upda1 arKI their nEnt tition adopted at an AGM by special resolution on the 18th September 2015. The thiity is rnanag by an Exeortive C(xnmitteèwhith ofall the appointed Tru*es. The Twstees are noted in the list aly)ve and decled from the MembShip or (X}pted by the Board. The Executive Committee meets typIllY On perquarter. These M.ngS offera ft)wm to review rnt actsvities and to plan forth(x)ming events. conEspOnden and aptli(xts'ons for Thbeip e1Ved are consKIe. in additK)n, OffirS report on their areas ofwnsiLNIty. Furtherad nwtings are cxlled rflU1red, forexample to plan and manage swal events orwoieds. The Annual Retxxt and Statnt0fA(xx?Unts arB app)Ved by ts trustees and then presented to the memtHB at the Annual Generaj Meeting. The Board ofTwstees is dected annuallyfrom ts membership ofthe company and of up tofift&n individual rneMb (and mt less Ihan three). The Board retire from Offi at each Annual General Meeting and retiring members are eligible for reelection if nominated. When new Twstees are appointed to Board they receive an irKluction, Nvhich biiets the members on their roles and responsibilittes and outlines the OanIsatiOnS pUoses, funding an2roents, project and tK)licy wo. All members ofts Boanj of Twstees give trEir time vduntarily and receive no trnefits or remunerafjon fiDm the ccxnpany. Trustees Tre TStee8 0areSteesfcYthe putpose of(kniitylaw, 01Ved duriw Ihefinanaal year nnirvJ fiun 1&January 2023 to 31$1 De(Ember2023 and up to Ihe date of this rEFXXtwere as follows: Laurence Mallon, Briege Mccann, Moira Magone, Bernie Doyle, Angela Mallon, Vinnt Ryan and Cathy Ferris. Trustees, Responslbllltles
The TNstees resF()nsible for preparirvJ ts TN*es' Report arKI the finan(aal statements in acconIan with The Charities (Annual Retum) Regulations (Northem Ireland) 2015, prescribed by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufftt to showand expin Ihe a)nwansls tsanwtions aKI drsck)se wi'th re&80nable &racY at any time financial posthon of the (x)mpany and enable them to ensure that the finan(aal statements compty with all relevant law and legislation. They are also resFY)nsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps ft)r the prevention and detedK)n of fraud and other irregulaiities. Pollcles and Procedures The tharity has a numberof policies arKI prOdureS in pl to which Trustees arKI membe adhere. These are reviewed penicallY to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the organisation and cuThent legislation and indude pdicies and procedures relating to declaring confiicts of interests. reseNes, risk Managent. disdosurB; fraud. health and safety and financial procedures. Risk Management dTrrity rewlarfy undertakes an assessment of iisks to whrh it muht befxyne exposed. It has a Rlsk Management Plan in pla, which identifies and tegoriseS eath wtential risk. the likel110d of the risk oc£uning, (zuses and implications therEof and Ihe ath'ons to mitigate the risks. Related Partles There are no Related Parties. Objectlves and Actlvltles Objectives The objeclives of the charity- as defined by its govemirKJ document- are: To promote for the benefit of Deaf People/Hard of Hearing without distinction of age, sex, race, political, religion or other opinions, by associating the statutory authorities, voluntary organisations, institutions, business and inhabitants in a common effort to advan education and to provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for health, recreation and leisure time activities, with the object of improving conditions of life for all Deaf PeoplelHard of Hearing. To manage, in a responsible manner, any community facility which may be provided for the benefits of all the Deaf People and friends of Deaf people in the Newry & Mourne Area. Actlvltles Newry & Mourne Deaf Club regularly review all activities as part of an on-golng programme of events in order to meet our stated aims. These are to offer advice, information, training, recreational and social activities to deaf people I hard of hearing living primarily in the Newry and Moume area. We provide premises and facilities and provide communication support, practical assistance and other support services for the benefit of deaf I hard of hearing people.
By providing these activities, the charity relieves frustration and stress to a community whose world is deprived of information and activities due to the language barrier. The club is now consldered the leader in Northern Ireland in promoting Deaf Culture and Deaf Awareness Public Beneflt In plannirKJ and dirediro the worf( of the chaiity the Tnjstees have Conside and undeBtand both elements of the public benefft reqU1m-ttt is thatttHB are dired benefits, m11h are LIentifiab and arB available to Ihe public ora section of the public: Reduction in social isolation through the provision of a nter to meet, converse and take part in activities. Participation in community events to articulate their exPerienS and break down barriers Provide information, advice and guidance on topics such as welfare, housing employment Advocacy and engagement with statutory bodies to articulate the needs of deaf people and to contribute to policy change. The beneficiaries of the charities Servi are the deaflhard of hearing people living In Newry and its environs. Any private benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries. Main Actlvlties, Achlevements and Performance Duiing year, we (x)ntinwl to VDvide a full [)gme ofevents and infonrdhjn evenings of interest to all memlHs arKI continued to lobby statutory bodies for equality of services for the Deaf Community. Summary of Maln Activltles: Provision of tri weekly (every third Saturday afternoon) social gatheringslmeetings at Thomas Davis Centre (approx 20-30 people attend from all strata of society). Provision of a learning centre for people learning sign language for the first time and for those who wish to improve their existing skills. Providing a programme of events including 6 games of Bingo and 3 games of "play your cards right, Christmas Dinner in The Whistledown Hotel, St Patricks Day party in Rostrevor Inn and a 351h Anniversary Dinner Paty. We have a planned talk on diabetes and health check update and armchair aerobics. Financlal Revlew Prlnclpal Fundlng Sources tharity Ved rK) outsidefundlrg in the peiiod. Inc£)me generated via Memkrship fees, event admissK)ns, tea mney, and (xrtings monies totalling £3189.(X) Expendilure totslling £3735.83 in the relatJ Main to evenVeXcU10n (xjsts, g0veMa (x)sts, rixxn hire and mthh1p subsidy. This resulted in a deficit of £546.83. Reserves Pollcy While having rK> setaMntts ReSenS the Twstees have assessed the main risksto the charity and have decided to taIn sufficient furKls in orderto meet these risks. Reserves are required to meet the wothing capital requirements of the charity and the Twstees are (x)nfident thatthe nEnt rBseNes provide suffKient se(rity to alowthem to cffitinue activities of the charity for some time in the event of a significant drop in funding l increase in expenditure.
Plans for Future Perlods Newry& Deafaub will (x)nlinueto provKle a rarueofadwbesaKI events attheThomas Centsd will keep the Deafl hard ofhearfro Infmed ofall relgvantinfonith. Wewll also all thJtory IxKlies to imprDve awarerws and advoc on behdfofour t)fiCIalle& PresentationsNMU be SOLyJhtfiun SHSCT rdatiru toorwng Heath (are prMK)n and Type 2 Dialkn and health clwk Declaration This ryx)rtwasaFVDved bytrpTnthat ts held on13triJanuary2024 and thereafter signed on ts behalf by. Lauren Mallon ChaIrpeOn Briege Mccann