SHOPMOBILITY MID ULSTER DIRECTORS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The directors present the accounts for Shopmobility Mid Ulster for the year ended 31 March 2023. This is company limited by guarantee with no share capital. In April 2016, Shopmobility Mid Ulster took over the assets and liabilities of the unincorporated entity which prior to this date had provided the service now provided by Shopmobilily Mid Ulster. Background In 2010 a Shopmobility Management Committee was foed to establish a Shopmobility Scheme in Cookstown Town Centre. A number of meetings were held which included key lown centre stakeholders and input from a range of Shopmobility experts. The Bumavon Arts & Cultural Cenlre, Bum Road, Cookstown was selected as the location to base the scheme. Il's a public building which is accessible in a prime town cenlre lotIOn in dose proximity to key amenities and services. In May 2010, funding from the Department for Regional Development {Now Department for Infrastructure) was agreed and the scheme commenced activities in May 2010. Due to increases in demand from members in the Dungannon area. discussions with Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council (Now Mid Ulster District Council) took place and a new scheme was launched in Dungannon in October 2013. and located in Ranfurly House Arts & Visitor Cenlre. In January 2015 the organisation held an Extraordinary General Meeting and renamed the organisalion Shopmobility Mid Ulster with 2 brands- Shopmobility Cookstown and Shopmobility Dungannon. In 2019, the company received funding over a five year period from The National Lottery Community Fund for a new Gobility programme. This will broaden the existing service to a wider area and a greater number of users of mobility scooters and wheelchairs, and continue to address the sooal isolation and exclusion issues which the company deals with. Structure, governance and management The company is limited by guarantee. The company is govemed by tls Articles of Association which were established in April 2016. These established its current objects and powers. Shopmobility Mid Ulster has a cross-community focus and is managed by a voluntsry committee which is elected annually. The appointment of committee is in accordan with the company's Articles of Association. whereby each member will be enlilled to nominate one person only in writsng not less than seven days before the dale of Ihe Annual General Meeting. Committee The committee who seNed during the year were: Mr William Mayne MBE Mrs Ursula Marshall Mrs Brigid Scullion Cllr Mark Glasgow Cllr Christine McFlynn Mr John McGorry Cllr John McNamee Cllr Jospeh O'Neill CllrAnne Forde BEM
SHOPMOBILITY MID ULSTER DIRECTORS. REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Objectives and activities The objects of the Charity shall be to relieve the needs of people witt) disabiif(ies and mobility difficulties in the greater Cookstown & Dungannon areas (the "area of benefit.) by providing or assisb'ng in the provision of equipment and other faalities and services with the aim of facilitating independence in daily living activities and improving the quality of their lives and in particular.. lal to alleviate the disadvantages of pemanent and temp)rary disability- Ibl lo provide services which facilitste and advance the independence of such disabled persons in daily living activrties outside the home environment- Ic) to enhance the confidence. well-being and enjoyment of life of disabled persons through integration in social activities., Idl to relieve the needs of people with disabilities by liaising with other societies, associations or bodies having common or sharing similar interests or objects. Achievements and perforniance The past year has seen unprecedented growth in demand for Shopmobility services across Mid Ulster. Demand for equipment. advice and support was at an all-time high since the organisation was established over 13 years ago. This demand continues lo come from various strands of the heatth Servi with referrals from minor injury units. Occupalional Therapists, Emergency Departments, G.Ps and others. As demand for services rises year on year, additional equipment is reqUId to meet the need. During the past year Shopmobility Mid Ulster purchased 10 additional wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are used to meet rising demand and lo repla older wheelchairs that are no longer fft for purpose. The rising demand from users who wish trj get out and about more has been growing since the end of the pandemic. The past year was the first full year without restricts'ons and it was evident with rising demand, the importance that equipmenl would help lo older and disabled people to gain back some of the independence and freedom lost during Covid 19. The demand for equipment rose by almost 25 /f* year on year with bookings lotalling 16,000 across the year. The demand is staggering and growing and although all our users have health related conditions, approx. 3540/0 of our referrals come directly from Healthcare professionals, Minor Injury Units, Emergency Departments. Occupational Therapists. Physio Departments. and G.Ps. Long-temi borrowing and bridging gaps in Health requirements have led to the conlinued growth from long-term borrowing of wheelchairs and scooters. Over the pasl year closer collatK)ration with Health Care Professionals has brought about an increase in referrals from local hospitals. Occupabon Therapists and Social Workers. as the project continues lo bridge the gap in waiting times for equipment. Broken limbs, amputations and cancer patients have all been referred by medical professionals on a regular basis to borrow Shopmobility equipment whilst waiting on NHS equipment. There has been a growing demand for additional support servIs, signposting and referrals since the end of the pandemic. Many new users who have little or no support structures in place, are reliant on getting infomation on disability and older people help and support. This has continued to grow over the past number of years. Flnancial revlew The main funder continued to be the Department for Infrastructure. Shopmobility are requi to generate match funding lo cover expenditure not funded by Dfl which they have been able to do successfully. The committee will continue to conduct annual reviews of the appropriate level of unrestricted reserves. The purpose of this reserve is lo provide slability for the charity to ensure that it is able lo honour existing conlraclual obligations. to cover unforeseen events beyond the organisation's control and to enable il to continue its operations in the unlikely evenl of a significant fluctuation in expenditure or income.
SHOPMOBILITY MID ULSTER DIRECTORS, REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The commrttee aim to build reserves to at least 3 months of annual expenditu. This may be achieved ty increased funé raising, increasing eamed income or reducing expenditure. The present level of Unrestricted Reserves available lo the charity is £5.651 which is deemed satisfactory. Auditor The auditor. David Lyttle + Co Ltd. is deemed to be reappointed under Sec1K 487121 of the Companies Act 2CQ6. Statement of disclosure to auditor So far as the Director5 aware. there is no relevant audrt information of whith the charty's auditor are unaware. Additionally. the Directors have taken all the necessary steps that they ought lo have taken as Directors in order to make Ihernsefves awwe of all relevant audit information and to establish thal the charity s auditor are aware of Ihat infoimation_ This report has been prepared in accordance wrth the prOvlOnS applicable lo companies enlrtled to the small companies exemption. On behatf of the board Mr William Mayne MBE Director 25 July 2023