Causewydy and Mfid Ulster Women's Aid Trustees, Report Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 Tl)e trustees, who are directors for the pury)oses of company lawt pi'escnt tlieir strategic reporl for the y¢8r ended 31 Mareh 2024, in cumpliance with s414C of the Companies Act 2006. FIR8nci#I revltw Income in the yeoi. was £1.631.974 and cxpenditure loialled £1,580,814 giving a surplus of £51,161. Tolal funds hcld ai 3 1st March 2024 wer¢ £1.322.150. £450,814 of thc total funds are rcstricled and are not 8vailnble for the general Pu0$¢3 01- the Lharily at the end of Ihe Irportin8 period. Unr¢slricted and designated I'¢serves totalled £871,334 at the close ofthe period. Pollcy on re$erves It is the Charily's policy lo maintain unrestricted res¢ive5 cqual to 6 rnonihs Nnning costs. In 2024. tha( Yaluc is £798,313. A3 at 31 March 2024 total unreslricted g¢neYal re8erve¥ was £523,874. total Unst1.1cted designated reserves was £347,460 and total reslrlcleil reserve5 was £450.814. Prlnclpulfundlng suurces Oui. principal funding sourcc ¢onlinues to be the Supporling People Fund which ensure8 deliveiy of core seJvi¢¢s of refug¢ ond floaling supporL There is no inbuili #ulomatlc increase to this fvnding year on yeaT. To manage risk we regularly Yeview costs, idenlify mosl Cost-effeclivc means to manage running costs. To ensure that we do nol have a single source of fiinding which will increase the risk of our ability to sustain our organisations work we seek and havc secured other Sources of fundirtg to allow Ihe introduction OF necessary services and reloted costs, The cliarity recogniscs the increased nec¢ssity lo work in parlncrship and collaboration with oiher agencies to secure fulure funding. All funds ceIVed are delailed within Ihis rep)rt. Aside from donations from private individurlls ond local businesses, the principle fiJndin8 sources for the chariLy are from grant making bodies and conti'acl income from NHSCT &nd NIHE Suppoitlng People. The chariry recognizes the increased neLessity lo ivork in partnership and collaboration wilh other agencies lo secure future funding. All fund5 received are detailed within this report. Prlnclpul rl.fk.f ond uiicerl4liirtei There is no Inbuili aulomailc inc93e to our ruui'rin8 fiJndin8 from NIHE & NHSCT. To manage I'isk re8ularly review costs. identify most cost e(Yectivc mCS manage Nnrtlng costs and Ihrough our merger pyocesses have been able lo ensure organisational widc Conti'acts which repres¢n¢ savin8s. In order to ensure ihat we do not have a single source of fvndin8 which will increase the risk of our ability to sustsin our organisations Nvork ive seek and have secured olher sources of fijnding to allow the introduction of necessary scrvices and rclated costs. As pafl of ouy ongoing organisational change restTUCturing of our managcment functions is planncd for 2024. Golng concern The Irusle¢s believe that the ckarity will ¢onilftue as a golng concwi. Fundcrs have showi thcmselves to be suppoi1ive, Ilexible and adaplive lo the current situation which is an invaluable hclp lo the wom¢ii's aid community. Thc organisalion continues to work in partncrship with government bodies and a8encics in iernis of developing a longer tcrm slrategy to support victims of domestic violence. Page 2
Causeway &nd Mid Ulsler Womenls Aid Trustees, Report Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 Plans for fknture perlods Alhu and key obJeclivesforfMIMreperlods Implemenlation of managemenl And &dminlstrAlion restructuring processes are planned for next reportin8 Friod thereby ensuring Stre8mlilled and coordin4led management across full geographieal ai'ea served. To ensure all servlees are avallable across Causeway and Mid-ulster wefjs 4pplication for exlcnsion of the Starfish Proj¢¢t will be completcd reflectlng need for inclusion ofcausewdy service users. Options for delivery of self-conlained accommodation uftits will ntInue ¢0 be pursued and all opp(>rtunili¢$ to introduce cornmunity-ba5ed children and youn8 person s¢rvices will sought. Page 3
Causeway and Mid Ulster Women's Aid Trustees, Report Th¢ trustees. who ar¢ directo for the purposes of company law present the annual report together wilh the financial sthtemenls ofthe charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024. Athlevements and Performgnce 2023 2024 bcgan ivith our services being recognised through on invitation being extended for a representative lo attend th¢ Coronation in May. This cam¢ followin8 a visit the previous year from ihe then Queen Consort to oui. Mid-ulster refuse accomm¢)dation. AciDss this year our reluges accommodated 89 women and 53 Children. This figuir is broadly similar to the previous retM)rling period and our refvge oecupancy levels remain high with 96.2% occupancy in year. The high occupancy levels refleci need foi. service and the chan8¢ in the housin8 environment whid) h&s seen A significant Increase in demand for en)¢r8enoy aceommodation gnd the kno¢lcryOrt impact Df increasing difficulty in obtainin8 lon8 l¢rm accommodation, Our community-based SvICes support¢d 748 women ivith Ihc 74.1% Irquiring Floating Supporl servi¢es. Th¢s¢ services provide housing related supwrl. Inclusive of g&inlnB andlor suslaining 3afe accommodation alongside nec¢ssary activities lo address fety, InMe and legal issues grisin8 from abu3¢. The complexity of need and the incr¢ed timescales required lo meel needs becduse of pressures CXPBI'ienccd by key slatulory partners has meant that those we are seeing an Incve8se in duration of sUPPOrt required. Our response lo Ghildren in refu8c has b¢en si8nificantly improved in year through support from Allslale, corporate p81tner of Women's Aid in Northern Ireldnd. Play facililies in both of our refv8es were improved immensdy for all children and wc wcre ulso able to incorpoyale improvements in our sensory spaces. We were very exciied ihis year to be able to move our Mid-ulster community-based services lo new premises. This cnsurcd much improvcd space for slaff lo work and access lo a dedicaled training room space thereby allowin8 further developmenl of Services lo women. Page 4
Causeway and Mid Ulster Womenls Aid Trustees, Report Objectives #nd activities Objeels and t71m The Objects of the Chai'ity for the benefit of the public are.. To relieve distress, sulTei'in8 by the provision of safe temporary a¢commndalion foi. wornvn and theii. children, young people and vulneyable adult dependents who ar¢, may b@ or h&v¢ b¢¢n. experiencing dome51iG. sexual or gender based viol¢n¢¢ or abuse: To relieve dislr¢ss, suffering experienced by women and their childirn. young people and vulnerablc adult dcpendents by providing andlor promoting a rnnge of support scrvices such as information, advice ¢enlres, confid¢niial s¢rvices, couns¢llin81 oulrea¢h, courL support, training and advocacy. To relleve those In need by the pi'ovlslon of infomialion and advi¢e for those aiTectsd by domestic, sexual or 8ender ba3¢d violence or abuse and referral ¢0 relevant support agencies. To advxnce education on violence against women gnd girl8, inrluding Iraffi¢king and exploitalion. 8nd ils effecls. and to relicvc tho$e in need by promoting ils prevention and the protection of those affected. To advance ¢du¢ation on domeslic, sexual and gender based violence and abuse and their effects, and to advocate for and lo relieve those in n¢ed by pu)moling iheir prevenlion and the protection of those arrted. To advance women's and children's human rights and gender equality lo relieve the sufferlng and dislress cuused by violence emanaling from the violation, impairnient or nullification of enjoymenl of their human rights and fund&menl81 freedoms, The promotion of such other charitabl¢ purkX)su as may from lime lo time bc detemiined in accordanc¢ with Norihern Ire18nd charity law. TheJDcus oloiir work Our focus is in the provision of direct services io women and children Htho have experien¢ed domesLic dnd sexual violence Ihrough provision of accommodation and community based support to ensur¢ all necess8ry crisi8 interv¢ntion and long term support is in place lo support victims. We work in parln¢rship with ststutory and Communitylvoluntwy oiganisaiions to ensure best oulcomtts for service users and engag¢ in community based awarcness I'aising on th¢ topic of domesiic and scxual violence. Strategic ¢n8a8emenl with relevgnl statulory bodies and 8overnment departments is ensured to promote our services and necesslty for further developmenL Page 5
Causeway Ydnd Mid Ulster Women's Aid Trustees, Report Reloilonshlp with relfttsdpt7rf1e Causeway & Mid-Ulst¢r Wom¢n's Aid re¢o8nix5 the necessity foi. meaningful partnership workin8 to ensure the b¢st possible outcomc5 those who necd our support. Tu ¢mbed this within our practice Causeway & Mid-ulster Women's Aid has bcen represented on the following multi-agency groups within this pcriod.. Noi'ih¢i'n Domcstic and Sexual Viol¢nce Partnership and associated sub-8roups . Multi-Agency Risk Asse&sment Confer¢nc • Col¢raine and Gold Sui'e Stai1 Partnershlps . Advice Nl Management Commitlee . WAFNI Forum . Family Hub . Noriha'n Area Safeguuding Partnership . Committ¢¢ Rcpre8¢n¢ing Independent Supportin8 People Providers Local Area H()usin¥ Group- NIHE I Central Homelessness Forum - NIHE Pmbllc benefil How our acilvitles deliver publlc benefit.. All our chai'itable aclivllies focus on the support of women ond children who are or havc bccn victims of domestic violence and Are undertoken lo further vur ch¥rilable purposes and for publify benelit. Who used and ben¢filted from oui. services? In 2023-24 IKJth our Irfuges have seen 911% and 950/0 OLL'upancy rates acc()mmodalin¥ 89 womcn and 53 children. 748 ivumen accessed oui. community-bL8ed services ensurinB that supporf lo 2ddress the safetyj housln8, rinoncial, legal, health and personal development needs of women can be addressed. Our preventative education Pi'O8rammes reached over 2000 11-14-ycai•olds ensuring that all secondary Schools in both Causeway Coast And Glens and Mid-ulstcr have access to wogromm¢5 SLlPPOrtin8 their ability lo id¢nli(y unheaiihy relationships and support oplions. The Irustces confirm Ihal they havc compli¢d with the r¢quiremenls th¢ Charilies Act 2008 (Northern Ireland) to have due regord lo the public benefil guidance published by the Charily Commission for Northern Ireland. Structiire? Eovernance And management Nuliire olgovernlng doCUnt Causeway & Mid Ulster WDmen's Aid is & Company l.imited by Guarantee. governed by a Memornndum and Articles of Association. It is controlled by 8 voluntaiy Mgnagement Board who are responsible for sLralegic plannins amd decision makin& financial governance and pbity and have employment ruponsibility for all slaff. Page 6
Causeway and Mid Ulster Women's Aid Trustees, Report ReenillnnI ffnd appoiMlmeAI oftrustees The dIrecrS of the company are s0 chariLy trnslecs for the purposes of tharity law and under the company's Articles are known as members of the Management Committee. Members of Management Board are trcruited through prof¢89ional or personal recommendation and by advertisemerti. Vulunlcers who are to be appointed r¢ceive induction to 1St ihem fvifil their roles in relation to governance of the organisalion. Members to the Board proposed at the annu418ener81 meeting. Office bear¢rs are elected at the flr81 Menag¢ment Commlitee rne¢ling followin8 the annual gener81 meeting. The day-to-day manggcment and op¢ration ol the activitKcs are cai'ried out by a staff team, led by the Chlcf Exc¢ulivc officer and Senior Managcmenl Team who rcp)rt regularly to thc Commitiec. Operational staff and volunteers Contribute to the day lo day actlvities of Ihe ¢harity and their contributlon is invaluable Lo the charity meetln81ts Aims and objeclives. The Mana8ement L'ommiilee meets eleven times w year to receive reports (includin8 financial) from the CEO. Arrffngemefttsforselrtng key manngenllIpers0nel remunerullo Settin8 pY4y and rcmuneralion of the charity's key mana8ement personnel is managed Ihrou8h uslng benchmarking lo s¢l apprnpriale levels and through resources av8il&ble Lo the organisation from fvnding sourccs. This is carried out by Ihe board as and wh¢n requliTd. Major rlsks fjndnidna¥ement ofthoJe rtsks There is no inbuilt automatic incrcase to our recurring funding from NIHE & NHSCT. To manage risk we regularly review costs, idenlify most cost effective means lo manage Nnning cost5 and through our merger processes have been able to ensure Organisl0fta1 wide contracts which represent savin8s. In order lo ensure thal we do not hove a single Bource of ndIng which will increase the risk ofi)ur abilily L(1 suslttin our or8anisations work ive seek and hY4ve secuird other sourccy of funding to allow thc introduciion of necessary services and r¢latcd costs. Flngncl81 instruments Objedlves undpollcles The organisation has a risk mana8em¢nt policy Bnd operntes a risk assessm¢nl framework th1¢h includes canying out risk &ssessment on all activities. Internal control risks are minimised by th¢ implementation of procedures. Procedurcs are in plAc¢ to ensure complianLe with healLh &nd safety of staff, volunleers, cliertls and visitor5 to our prCmis. Supportlftg People QMT (Quality Managemcnt Tool) is fvlly implemented and externally validated. Individual proj¢¢t evaluations ar¢ wmpleted to SUre that the servlca we provide clearly benefit vur scrvice uscrs. Risk management is a standin8 a8¢nd& il¢m at all Management committee meetin8s ¢0 mitigate Ihe risks that the charily faces. cfloW rtsk The tharily's aolivities expose it primarily lo the financial risks in the are8 of incomc generation. The cliarity relys heavily on government agencies ivhose budgets are reduced year on year, leaving the charity increasingly reliant on other agenci and ihe publi¢. Pas¢ 7
Causeway and Mid Ulster Women15 Aid Trustees, Report Crdlt The charity's prin¢ipal fiftanci&l assets are bank balances and Cash. trade and other receivables, and investments. The charily's credit risk is primarily aitributable Lo Its Ite I'eceivablcs. The amounts pres¢nled in the balance sheel are net of alloivances for doubtful receivables. An allowance for impaimient is made where there is an idenlified loss evenl which, based un previous experience, is evidence of a reduclion in the recoverability of the eash flows. Llquldlty rfsk ID order ro maintain liquidity Lo ensure that sufficient fvnds are available for ongoin8 operolions and fvture dcvelopMts, the charity h85 R rescrves policy of m4intaining reserves al 6 monihs runnln8 C03ts and that 811 restricted res¢rves al'e availabl¢ in the fomi of cash at thc bank. The tNste&s I'eporl lincorporaling the dircclors, report And the strategic report) was approved by th¢ trustces of the charily on 19 Deeember 2024 and signed on ils behalf by: Alice Quinn Trustee Page 8