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Newry and Mourne Deaf Club Annual Report 2025 1274 March 2026
Reference and Administrative Details
Company Name: Newry and Mourne Deaf Club Charity Number: — Registered as a Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC105720) Registered Office: Thomas Davis Centre, 21 Doran’s Hill, Newry, BT35 8PQ Trustees: Laurence Mallon (Chairperson) Briege McCann (Secretary) Moira Magone (Treasurer) Angela Mallon Vincent Ryan Cathy Ferris Independent Examiners: Mary Rafferty 68B Chancellors Road, Newry BT35 8QB Bankers: AIB Group, 42-44 Hill Street, Newry BT34 1AU
Structure, Governance and Management Governing Document
Newry and Mourne Deaf Club is an unincorporated body, founded in August 1989, and govemed by a constitution. The original constitution was reviewed and updated and their current constitution adopted at an AGM by special resolution on the 18" September 2015. The Charity is managed by an Executive Committee which consists of all the appointed Trustees. The Trustees are noted in the list above and are elected from the membership or co-opted by the Board. The Executive Committee meets typically once per quarter. These meetings offer a forum to review recent activities and to plan forthcoming events. Correspondence and applications for membership received are considered; in addition, officers report on their areas of responsibility. Further ad hoc meetings are called if required, for example to plan and manage special events or projects. The Annual Report and Statement of Accounts are approved by the trustees and then presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Trustees is elected annually from the membership of the company and consists of up to fifteen individual members (and not less than three). The Board retire from office at each Annual General Meeting and retiring members are eligible for re-election if nominated. When new Trustees are appointed to the Board they receive an induction, which briefs the members on their roles and responsibilities and outlines the organisations purposes, funding arrangements, project and policy work. . All members of the Board of Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits or remuneration from the company.
Trustees
The Trustees, who are trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the financial year running from 15 January 2025 to 31% December 2025 and up to the date of this report were as follows: Laurence Mallon, Briege McCann, Moira Magone, Angela Mallon, Vincent Ryan and Cathy Ferris.
Trustees’ Responsibilities
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The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees! Report and the financial statements in accordance with The Charities (Annual Retum) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, prescribed by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
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The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with all relevant laws and legislation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection offraud and other irregularities.
Policies and Procedures
The charity has a number of policies and procedures in place to which Trustees and members adhere. These are reviewed periodically to ensure they continue to meet the needs of the organisation and current legislation and include policies and procedures relating to declaring conflicts of interests; reserves, risk management; disclosure; fraud; health and safety and financial procedures.
Risk Management The charity regularly undertakes an assessment of risks to which it might become exposed. It has a Risk Management Plan in place, which identifies and categorises each potential risk; the likelihood of the risk occurring, causes and implications thereof and the actions to mitigate the risks.
Related Parties
There are no Related Parties.
Objectives and Activities Objectives ; The objectives of the charity - as defined by its goveming document - are:
To promote for the benefit of Deaf/Hard of Hearing People 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 advance 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 People/Hard 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.
Activities Newry & Mourne Deaf Club regularly review all activities as part of an on-going programme of events in order to meet our stated aims. These are to offer advice, information, training, recreational and social activities to deaf/hard of hearing people living primarily in the Newry and Mourne area. We provide premises and facilities and provide communication support, practical assistance and other support services for the benefit of deaf/ 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 considered the leader in Northern Ireland in promoting Deaf Culture and Deaf Awareness
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Public Benefit
In planning and directing the work of the charity the Trustees have considered and understand both elements of the public benefit requirement — that is that there are direct benefits, which are identifiable and are available to-the public or a section of the public: Reduction in social isolation through the provision of a center to meet, converse and take part in activities. barriers Participation in community events to articulate their experiences and break down 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 charity's services are the deaf/hard 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.
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Main Activities, Achievements and Performance During the year, we continued to provide a full programme of events and information evenings of interest to all members and continued to lobby statutory bodies for equality of services for the Deaf Community.
Summary of Main Activities:
Provision of tri weekly (every third Saturday afternoon) social gatherings/meetings at Thomas Davis Centre (approx. 20-35 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 Mourne Country Hotel Newry and a 37" Year Anniversary party in The Posh Pig restaurant Warrenpoint. We have planned for a health check update and 3 day trips for this coming year. Financial Review Principal Funding Sources The charity received £9852.00 in funding from The National Lottery Grant Fund in this period. Other income was generated via Membership fees, event admissions, tea money, and outings monies totalling £1951.00. costs,Expenditure totalling £3081.35 in the period related mainlytoevent/excursion costs, govemance room hire and membership subsidy. This resulted in a surplus of£8721.65
Reserves Policy
While having no set amount for Reserves the Trustees have assessed the main risks to the charity and have decided to retain sufficient funds in order to meet these risks. Reserves are required to meet the working capital requirements of the charity and the Trustees are confident that the current reserves provide sufficient security to allow them to continue activities of the charity for some time in the event of a significant drop in funding / increase in expenditure.
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Plans for Future Periods
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Newry & Moume Deaf Club will continue to provide a range of activities and events at the Thomas Davis Centre and will keep the Deaf / hard of hearing people informed of all relevant information. We will also liaise with all statutory bodies to improve awareness and advocate on behalf of our beneficiaries. Presentations will be sought from SHSCT relating to ongoing Health care provision and health check.
Declaration This report was approved by the Trustees at its meeting held on 10" January 2026 and thereafter signed on its behalf by:
Laurence Mallon Chairperson
Briege McCann Secretary