2025-08-31-annual-report - Caw/Nelson Drive Action Group

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Draft Financial Statements at 27 February 2026 at 09:34:27 CAW/NELSON DRIVE ACTION GROUP

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).

Objectives and activities

Purposes and aims

Our charity's purposes are as set out in the objects clause contained in the company's Memorandum of Association:

to relieve poverty, sickness and the aged and to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of the Caw Area, Londonderry without distinction of age, gender, sexuality, ethnic origin or political, religious or other opinions by associating with the statutory authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education;
to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and other leisure time occupations with the object of improving conditions of life for the said inhabitants;
to promote such other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined.

Who uses and benefits from our services?

Our objects and funding focus the services we provide to the community of the Caw Area. The main areas of charitable activity are in the promotion and support of local community development activities.

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. Our aims objectives and activities are reviewed, monitored and assessed through our ongoing programme of regular committee meetings. The committee is made up of individuals within the statutory, business, voluntary and community sectors.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

Draft Financial Statements at 27 February 2026 at 09:34:27 CAW/NELSON DRIVE ACTION GROUP

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Achievements and performance

Once again funding from the Lottery, DFC, PHA, Derry City & Strabane District Council and other funders has allowed us to continue to provide a wide range of services, programmes and activities throughout the year. These included Crochet Classes, Creative Crafts, Painting with Oils, Quilting & Soft Furnishings, Crescent Camera Club, Driving Theory Training, GCSE Revision Classes in English and Maths, Jo-Jingles, Caw Stay & Play, Horticultural sessions, Crime Prevention Initiatives, a range of Health & Wellbeing programmes, Zumba, Armchair Aerobics, Circuit Training, Kids Friday Club, Older Peoples Summer Scheme, Caw Women’s Group, Caw Men’s Club, Winter Warmers Breakfast Club. St Patricks, Easter, Halloween and the Christmas Santa’s Grotto were some of the themed events we provided throughout the year.

Due to the cost of living crisis we have also been involved in making referrals to the Foyle Foodbank and other providers. We also delivered Christmas food hampers, hygiene packs and other initiatives to local residents/families in need.

The sit-in and meals-on-wheels service through Caw Luncheon Club continued 3 days per week where just over 8,600 meals were prepared and we also continued with the daily Caw Careline ring-around service which saw over 6,000 calls to elderly residents over the year to check on their health and wellbeing.

The weekly outreach services continued with the Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group, DEEDS Dementia Support Group which included Dementia Training. Weekly appointments continued to be provided from the centre with Advice NW for residents needing help with benefits and other welfare issues. The Minding Mums programme continued to use our centre to provide a counselling service for pregnant women and new mums.

We were also able to provide a 12-week Sign Language accredited course through the NW Regional College, Basic First Aid Training and Level 2 in Food Safety Training.

In September 2024 we held a Charity Coffee Morning with the proceeds going to MacMillan Cancer Support.

We continued to provide support to other groups in the area including Caw Football Team, Caw Community Playgroup, Caw Community Growing Space, funding for a Summer Scheme and Diversionary Programme for Caw Youth Club.

Financial review

The charity has returned an overall deficit of £46,565 for the financial year, primarily due to restricted funding received in earlier years being spent. Due to Covid programmes were unable to run for a period and therefore the National Lottery Community Fund gave the charity a one year extension to use their unspent funding. A new funding application to the National Lottery for a further 5 years was successful and this funding commenced on 1 April 2024. Unrestricted reserves have increased by £8,197. Project income and expenditure varies from year to year depending on funding received and activities organised as a consequence. Core funding from DFC remains at a similar level to the previous year.

The Trustees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. The reserves are required to meet the working capital requirements of the charity. The long term strategy is to continue to build reserves through planned operating surpluses. In the short term the Trustees have also considered the extent to which existing activities and expenditure could be curtailed, should circumstances arise. It is the aim of the Trustees that the unrestricted funds held by the charity should be approximately equal to 3 months' costs for key staff and associated running costs. The current level of unrestricted reserves of £76,087 is in excess of this target.

Plans for future periods

CNDAG will continue to source funding for a wide range of programmes and initiatives to meet the needs of the local community. We are also planning to explore the possibility of sourcing funding to develop a Mens Shed Project on a disused piece of land in the estate over the next few years.

Draft Financial Statements at 27 February 2026 at 09:34:27 CAW/NELSON DRIVE ACTION GROUP

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025

Structure, governance and management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated on 6 August 2007 and registered as a charity with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and HM Revenue & Customs. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association and is governed by its Articles of Association. Member’s liability in the event of the company being wound up is limited to £1.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Mr Robert Thompson

Ms Rose White Ms Mildred Garfield Ms Mary Burton Ms Elizabeth Fields Mr Frederick Dalzell Ms Maureen Hamilton Mr Allister Gault Ms Lesley Nicholl Ms Kerrie Gray Mr Kingsley Baker

Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association directors are elected at an Annual General Meeting from amongst those persons nominated by the Ordinary Members. The directors have the power at any time to appoint any person to be a director, either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing directors. Any director so appointed serves only until the next Annual General Meeting at which directors are to be elected and are then eligible for re-election. A retiring director is eligible for re-election.

None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees, who are also the directors of Caw/Nelson Drive Action Group for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

.............................. .............................. Ms Mildred Garfield Mr Robert Thompson Trustee Trustee Date: .............................................