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 Pu￿0$¢3 01- the Lharily at the end of Ihe Irportin8 period. Unr¢slricted and designated I'¢serves totalled
£871,334 at the close ofthe period.
Pollcy on re$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 Un￿st1.1cted 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 inc￿93e to our ruui'rin8 fiJndin8 from NIHE & NHSCT. To manage I'isk
re8ularly review costs. identify most cost e(Yectivc mC￿S ￿ 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.
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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.
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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 S￿vICes 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, In￿Me 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.
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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 arr￿ted.
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
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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 doCUn￿￿t
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 p￿bity and have employment ruponsibility for all
slaff.
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Causeway and Mid Ulster Women's Aid
Trustees, Report
Reenilln￿nI ffnd appoiMlmeAI oftrustees
The dIrec￿rS 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 manngen￿llIpers0n￿el 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 Organis￿l0fta1 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.
c￿￿floW 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 It￿e 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
dcvelopM￿ts, 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
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