2023-08-31-annual-report

Victims/Survivors & USC Foundation - North Antrim Charity no.106392 Date registered. 18/10/2017

Secretary DAVID J GUTHRIE

32 Farran Road,

Ballymoney, BT53 8HD

Trustees Report

1. The Trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended August 2023. Prepared in accordance with the governing constitution and the Charity

Commission’s Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.

1. The name of the charity is the Victims/Survivors & USC Foundation- North Antrim and its address is 32 FARRAN ROAD, BALLYMONEY CO. ANTRIM BT53 8HD

NORTHERN IRELAND*

It is registered with the Charity Commission NI with registration no. 106392.

1. Chairman and Secretary Chair: Thomas Henry Secretary: David J Guthrie Trustees: Mr Thomas Henry Mr Samuel Woodside Henry Mr David J Guthrie Mr Andrew Gardner Kane Mr William Johnston Mr James Francis Mckillop Mrs Diane McKay Mrs Margaret Laverty

2. The Charity recorded with sadness the death of Trustee Oliver Crawford Gibson and the resignation of Mr Beattie Doak MBE.

Mrs Diane McKay & Mrs Margaret Laverty were appointed Trustees.

1. The Victims/Survivors & USC Foundation - North Antrim was registered as a charity on 18/10/2017 operating under a governing constitution.

2. Appointment of Trustees: New Trustees are proposed and seconded by the membership. A short induction programme is provided for new Trustees. Management: The Trustees meet quarterly to review matters of policy and to make appropriate judgements, directions and decisions on Foundation issues. The Trustees have delegated the day-to-day administration of the Foundation to the Chairman and the Secretary. None of the Trustees received any remuneration, apart from out of pocket expenses.

3. Purposes and Activities: - The purpose and benefit of the Victims/Survivors & USC Foundation flows from the prevention or relief of poverty so that those beneficiaries who are in need will be given assistance with paying for essential items such as heating oil or food vouchers, thus helping to reduce the level of hardship and stress to people at difficult times in their lives. The direct benefit which flows from promoting welfare and benefit of the beneficiaries is that people who have worked together during the Troubles and victims and survivors of the Troubles can find friendship and continued comradeship between them. This helps to improve their emotional well being. The direct benefit which flows from preserving the traditions and artifacts of the USC is that the public will learn about the institution and that there will be a historic record for the public record and that the artifacts will be preserved for future generations to appreciate. The support of other organisations or charities with similar purposes in such circumstances as may be deemed appropriate and insofar as they are charitable.

Strategies adopted. In accordance with the provisions set out in its constitution, the Trustees have adopted the following strategies to meet the Foundation’s principal object:

(i) Awareness and sourcing of Beneficiaries. The Trustees remain committed to promoting the welfare of those who have worked together during the Troubles and the victims and survivors of the Troubles. The number of people we are able to help or who are in need will be identified primarily by the befriending service. The various gatherings, suppers, and outings the Foundation tries to provide on an affordable basis. By bringing people together in social gatherings, respite occasions and historic acts of remembrance. Also by providing volunteers to do home visits for those less able to leave the house.

(ii) Assessment of Beneficiaries. The Foundation relies on the assessment made by Statutory agencies such as Jobs & Benefits, and evidence of the assessed level of income to the Beneficiaries.

1. Investment performance: The Foundation currently has total resources valued in excess of £16,342.00 and with resumption of charitable activities will actively seek income by way of donations, often via the activities of the membership.

2. Charitable Outgoings. Throughout the Covid pandemic, the Foundation maintained a very modest support by way of £10 Christmas voucher to 24 beneficiaries and a donation to one beneficiary to assist with travel to Londonderry for treatment. Charitable activities support amounted to £290.00

3. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities in respect of accounts: Charity law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its financial activities for that year. In preparing those accounts the trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.

Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and prepare the accounts 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 that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and are able to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safe guarding the assets of the Charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

1. It must be noted that the usual business of the Foundation was severely curtailed in an unprecedented way through the Government directed Covid 19 measures and it has taken a while for normal business to resume. A resumption further complicated by the death of Trustee and Founder member the late Mr Oliver Crawford Gibson who had been in sole charge of Foundation’s obligation to the Charity Commission’s Public Benefit requirement and statutory guidance.

2. Jan-March 2020 Lockdown measures.

3. March 2020- April 2024 No active business, nothing to report other than the limited issue of food vouchers and one hospital travel payment recorded in paragraph 9 above.

4. 1 April 2024 Normal business resumes. Financial report, Independent Examiners Report and Trustees report to be completed and uploaded to Charity Commission Website.

5. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER. The Trustees have appointed John McMULLAN as independent examiner,the report is available and uploaded to the Charity Commission web portal.

Chairman Thomas HENRY 11 JUNE, 2024