## North West Cultural Partnership Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) Period from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the period ended 31 March 2023. ## Reference and administrative details Registered charity name North West Cultural Partnership Charity registration number 106022-0 Company registration number N1640622 Principal office and registered 20-22 Hawkin Street office Londonderry BT48 6RE The trustees Mr K McFarland H Deeney K Donaghey L Hetherington J Magowan Independent examiner Keith McElhinney 42A Clooney Terrace Waterside Londonderry BT47 6AP ## Structure, governance and management The charity is a company limited by guarantee, which was incorporated on 5th September 2016. The company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, which were signed on 12th August 2016 on behalf of the first members of the charity. The charity is managed by the trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law. They meet throughout the year in order to manage the activities of the charity. They are elected by members at the Annual General Meeting. ## Objectives and activities The Charity's objects ("Objects") are to:- (1) Promote for the public benefit community participation in arts and cultural activities in the Fountain estate and surrounding areas (the "area of benefit") by: (i) providing and managing facilities for the education and training of people of all ages in music, drama, performing and creative arts; (ii) stimulating artistic creativity through the provision of facilities and support for artistic expression; and (iii) providing access to a range of art forms and performance opportunities. (2) Advance public education by encouraging and fostering enhanced understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of arts and culture through the production, development and promotion of concerts, performances, festivals and cultural events. ## North West Cultural Partnership ## Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) ## Period from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 3) Promote citizenship and social inclusion through involvement in community arts in communities that face deprivation or other disadvantage and in particular: (i) provide support and organise activities which develop the skills, capacities and capabilities of young people to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals; (ii) engage with a range of age groups within the area of benefit in a manner which seeks to bring change within communities and also within the lives of of individuals; (iii) encourage socially excluded individuals and communities to explore social issues through drama and other art forms. (4) Advance community development by providing facilities and practical support to community and voluntary groups and organisations that are or intend to be involved in community arts activities so as to increase their efficiency and effectiveness and to encourage such groups and organisations to cooperate to achieve their aims. In order to achieve the above objectives the charity's activities include Improving facilities - The charity continues to work towards providing state of the art facilities, for the benefit of the local community. The development of New Gate Arts & Culture Centre is therefore a priority for the charity. Education and training - The charity delivers music, dance, drama and other creative arts tuition on a weekly basis. Additional training is provided if and when a need is identified. Aiding the development of skills, capacities and capabilities. Festivals and events - the charity delivers the New Gate Fringe Festival, as well as a number of smaller events each year, encouraging community participation in the arts, in an area that suffers from deprivation. Older peoples programme - the charity delivers a programme of events for older people who are most at risk of social isolation. Community relations - the charity is involved in an array of activities aimed at building understanding and reconciliation within and between communities that suffer as a result of division and mistrust. The charity have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. ## Achievements and performance Work is progressing well on the renovation and extension of New Gate Arts & Culture Centre, with steering group meetings, site visits and informal discussion taking place regularly. In preparation, for moving into the new facility, we have upskilled our board, staff and volunteers, through various training opportunities; we have also visited a number of similar venues to learn from their experiences, explore management and operation systems, ascertain how the venues operate, what processes they have in in place and what has or hasn't work. We look forward to moving into our new state of the art centre in the near future and the opportunities it will bring. Our classes, workshops, talks, tours, performances and events have continued to take place. We have used these to educate, inform, advocate and bring about the change that we envisage. Our 'Be the Change' programme has developed links with several youth clubs, from different communities, offering impactful cross-community interaction. Our partnership with the Bogside Brandywell Health Forum has provided older people with opportunities to attend large social events. The Triax Warm Hub Initiative ensured that those within our communities, who were struggling could keep warm or who required advice or help to reduce their sense of isolation, where able to do so. This was particularly beneficial during a harsh winter and financial difficulties for many. Again, we worked with Feile to ## North West Cultural Partnership ## Company Limited by Guarantee ## Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) ## Period from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 animate the area around New Gate during Halloween, this and our performance at the Shared Island Conference and our Envisioning the Future Youth Conference were the stand out events during the period. We have also been working with groups across the council area to prepare for the Kings Coronation Celebrations. We were delighted to offer an American University Inter a placement with us, help to facilitate the Building Communities Network Programme by providing space in our team for their local worker. Furthermore, we look forward to working with NI Screen to employ two people as part of their Creative Industries New Entrant programme. Finally, we were thrilled when our colleague Samuel James Kee was recognised in the New Years Honour List, being awarded an MBE for services to the community. ## Financial review The results for the year are set out on the following pages The charity incurred a deficit for the year of E3,284 (2022: Deficit E3,406)and at 31 March 2023 the charity had net assets of El 86,153 (2022: El 89,436) ## Plans for future periods It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to 6 month's expenditure. The charity considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. ## Small company provisions This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption. The trustees' annual report was approved on 23 February 2024 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: Mr K McFarland Trustee