2024-07-08-accounts

Community First Responders Armagh|Tyrone

TRUSTEES’ REPORT for the Year Ended 08 July 2024

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 08 July 2024.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102)”.

Objectives and Activities

The charity’s principal activity is to deliver ambulance approved training to volunteers, enabling them to respond to medical emergencies including cardiac arrest, chest pain, asthmas attacks, diabetic emergencies and stroke symptoms.

The charity operates across rural communities stretching from Armagh City in North East Armagh right through to Coalisland in East Tyrone. It currently has approximately 80 responders who reside and/or work in these areas. Each responder is equipped to provide assistance within minutes of receiving a 999 call from NIAS (Northern Ireland Ambulance Service).

Risks

The charity manages operational risks through training and regular risk assesments. Volunteer are trained to a high standard to identify and respond to potential risks. It is recognised that interventions such as CPR carry inherent risks, including rib fractures, particularly in elderly patients; however, these are widely accepted within clinical practice and are outweighed by the potential lifesaving benefits. The charity aims to minimise risk through ongoing training and adherence to recognised guidelines

Public benefit

The Trustee’s have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.

Achievements and Performance

Public benefit is delivered to a wide range of individuals through the provision of emergency medical cover across all areas served by the charity. Since becoming operations, the organisation has responded to over 999 emergency calls, providing assistance that ranges from supporting and monitoring patients while awaiting an ambulance to delivering full resuscitation, including CPR and defibrillation.

We have recently completed additional training, delivered NIAS, in airway management for unconscious patients as well as updated resuscitation techniques.

The charity also plays a key role in supporting families and relatives during distressing incidents. Volunteers are trained to provide appropriate assistance reassurance in such situations, and this aspect of their work has been frequently commended

The charity has expanded it responder network to improve the coverage across its operational area, including communities east of the River Bann such as Portadown, Lurgan and Craigavon. As a result of this recruitment, the number of trained responders has increased to 58.

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Community First Responders Armagh|Tyrone

TRUSTEES’ REPORT for the Year Ended 08 July 2024 (Continued)

The charity provides a comprehensive support network for its volunteers, including structured wellbeing initiatives. This has included organising training such as “dealing with sudden bereavement” and offering access to specialist support services for volunteers who may be adversely affected by distressing incidents encountered while responding.

The charity also continues to provide medical cover at local charitable events, including fun runs, shows, community festivals and sporting events. The services are delivered free of charge, helping to strengthen community relationships and support the recruitments of new volunteers within the areas served.

Financial Review

Financial Performance

During the year ended 08 July 2024 the charity received total income of £5,746 (2023: £35,331) and had an overall surplus/(deficit) of £(11,951) (2023: £23,094). Overall expenditure increased by £5,460. The charity remains in a strong financial position with reserves of £67,089 at 08 July 2024 (2023: £79,040)

The charity continues to maintain a stable financial position, supported by fundraising contributions from local communities, businesses, and patient families. A significant investment has been made in the prior year in new training equipment, which is expected to support to ongoing development to responder skills and training capacity.

Reserves policy

The charity needs to establish a reserves policy to have sufficient cash reserves should the company experience cash flow problems or costs involved in any potential wind up of the company.

It is recommended that reserves equivalent to three to six months running costs for core activities. The target set and realised for this in the current year is £4,000. The level of reserves is reviewed by the trustees and management regularly throughout the year. The minimum level of reserves for the ongoing needs of the charity is reviewed by the trustees on an annual basis.

Volunteer contribution

The charity is heavily reliant on the contribution of its volunteers, who provide emergency response services, attend training, and support community engagement activities. The trustees wish to recognise the significant commitment of time and effort given by all volunteers during the year.

While the value of this contribution is not reflected in the financial statements, it is considered fundamental to the delivery of the charity’s services and the achievement of its objectives.

Plans for the future

The charity plans to continue developing responder training in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), enabling responders to carry out basic clinical assessments and interventions. Additional inhouse training will also be introduced, including support in the management bereavement, with the aim of enhancing support for families and promoting responder wellbeing and trauma awareness.

In addition, the charity intends to expand its fundraising through increase public engagement and events, alongside continued applications for grant funding from both private and statutory sources to support its future development and operational sustainability.

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Community First Responders Armagh|Tyrone

TRUSTEES’ REPORT for the Year Ended 08 July 2024 (Continued)

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (CCNI) under charity number 105982 and is also recognised as a charity by HM Revenue & Customs for taxation purposes. Committee members are appointed or re-appointed at the Annual General Meeting, which must take place within three calendar months after the close of the financial year.

The committee's meetings are held on a bi-monthly basis. The committee members agree the broad strategy and areas of activity. The day-to-day operation of the company is handled by the manager and staff.

The Trustees’, who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements are:

Mr Aidan Early Mr Eamon Casey Mr Shane O Donnell Mr Peter Donnelly

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

The trustees of the charity when elected serve until the next general meeting at which they must be reelected. The management operate a system of internal control designed to provide reasonable assurance, but not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include the following:

• Regular consideration by the trustees of progress reports regarding operational activities. These are carried out detailing performance indicator levels such as participant numbers and financial breakdowns. Any deviations from targets are highlighted and contingency actions are implemented;

• Delegation of authority and segregation of duties among staff; and

• Identification and management of risks to which the charity is exposed.

Statement of trustees' Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and

• prepare financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with Section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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Community First Responders Armagh|Tyrone

TRUSTEES’ REPORT for the Year Ended 08 July 2024 (Continued)

This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 10 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

Registered office:

18 Friary Road Dungannon Co. Tyrone

Eamon Casey, Treasurer

Charity Registration Number: NIC105982

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