ELM NI SUICIDE PREVENTION Annual Report for April 2020 to 31[st] March 2023
Charity Reg No NIC 105820
Address 109 Main St Larne BT40 1HJ
Trustees:
Peter McAllister
Adrian Smith
Frances Bird
Carlee Letson
Aims and objectives,
ELM NI aims to save lives, offer advice and support to those that are affected by suicide and self-harm. ELM NI aims to also promote positive mental health within the East Antrim area. We strive to raise awareness of suicide and mental health. We do this by Awareness events, Fund raising events, World Suicide prevention day and Training Events
Summary of years 2020 – 2023
ELM NI are continuing to provide support for those with mental health problems and those who have been affected by suicide and to those who are feeling suicidal or suffering
from mental health problems, we do this by providing counselling, providing different therapies such as relaxation therapy and group support. We still have a strong working partnership with many different groups such as, Wave Trauma Centre, PSNI Wellness and recovery hub, Start 360, NI probation board, Nexus, Ascert and many other groups, this then enables us to provide our services across several types of addictions and mental health issues.
We rely solely on volunteers and on public donations to allow us to keep providing our services. We are a totally voluntary group.
Due to covid all our fundraising plans and information/training events had to be cancelled but we have been very fortunate to have the support of many local businesses and groups. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following;
BCT Terumo, Co-op, MacAllister McAleese solicitors, PSNI, Co Antrim Grand Black Chapter, Man Utd supporters club and Ballycarry Presbyterian to name a few, without their support we would not be here.
Unfortunately we did have a major setback late 2020 early 2021 when we were approached by 2 women offering to volunteer for us to raise money through our charity shop. It all started well with monies being raised being paid via our Just Giving page but very quickly this stopped and monies being raised were held by these 2 individuals and they refused to lodge any of it into ELM NI bank account or Just Giving apparently on the basis that they didn’t trust us
despite having been given copies of our accounts etc. They even reported us to the charity commission but they very quickly decided in our favour and advised them to deposit the money into our account as legally it belonged to ELM NI but again they refused to do this. We were left with no option but to involve the police and then a solicitor. We are very grateful to Trevor Ringland of MacAuley & Ritchie solicitors who donated his services to us and helped us to reclaim a part of the monies raised. We had been provided with an audio message by our landlord which stated that they had in excess of £2000 raised in the name of ELM NI ( this was as a result of them trying to takeover our premises behind our back ) but all we were able to recover through Trever was £828.30 which included a cheque from Man Utd supporters made out to ELM NI. Whilst the question remains, where did the other £1200 + go, you can decide for yourselves, our legal advice was not to pursue it any further.
At the end of 2021 we realised we could longer afford to keep our premises in Main St Larne and with great sadness returned the keys to our landlord. We continue to provide help and support to all who need it as demand is very high as a result of Covid and lock downs etc.
We apologise for the lateness of our accounts and this report but we have numerous family bereavements.
Peter McAllister
Treasurer