2024-03-31-annual-report - The Olive Branch (Respecting Minds)

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THE OLIVE BRANCH (RESPECTING MINDS)

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (INCORPORATING TRUSTEES’ REPORT)

The Directors (who are also the trustees) are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31[st] March 2024, which are prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes. The directors have adopted the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (Charities SORP – FRS102), in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

Achievements and performance

It has continued to be a challenging period for the charity sector as a whole, following on from the covid pandemic and into a high cost of living and inflationary period. The mental health services provided by the charity are very personal and time intensive so with rising labours costs and operating costs, the pressures are readily felt. Demand had been increasing steadily year-on-year and we see no sign of this abating.

The Charity is delighted to engage with the community and has continued to expand its geographical reach. The Charity opened its first free-of –charge, self-referral mental health centre in Magherafelt in 2018, an additional centre was opened in Coleraine and we are pleased to report that another new centre was opened in Ballymena during October 2022.

The Trustees are delighted to be able to offer the services to those in need and are pleased with the high standard of service on offer. Unfortunately the high level of demand for the services is a reflection of the prevalence of mental health issues in the community.

To be able to fund the charitable objectives, the Charity aims to undertake various fundraising activities through the year, including fundraising dinners, sponsored walks and other activities. They were greatly encouraged to be the nominated charity for the North West 200 event again and were delighted that this took place during the year after some cancellations in previous years. The Trustees are extremely grateful for the income it generates for the Charity but also for the fantastic publicity platform it provides. The Trustees wish to express their thanks to the event organisers for providing such an fantastic opportunity.

Financial review and funds policy

During the year the Charity had total income of £155,574 and total expenditure of £158,995 resulting in a net deficit of £3,421.

At the end of the year the Charity had £33,226 in cash. It is the aim of the Trustees, if possible to maintain an unrestricted cash reserve equivalent to that of six months overhead expenditure.

This year’s financial results are disappointing, but taken as a whole throughout the two year pandemic period the Charity has proved resilient in meeting the financial challenges that arose. With the resumption of higher value fundraising events, it is hoped that the Charity will return to a position of net surpluses in the years ahead. The Trustees remain extremely grateful to the donors who have provided funding, despite it being a difficult period for all individuals and businesses. Government grants and schemes have provided some level of funding and the Trustees will continue to monitor any such schemes available.

THE OLIVE BRANCH (RESPECTING MINDS)

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued)

Objectives and Activities (and how they deliver public benefit)

The trustees believe that our purpose satisfies both elements of the public benefit requirement. Our purpose is to preserve and protect the health and well-being of those people suffering with mental illness in Counties Antrim and (London)Derry, by offering a Drop-In Centre and the provision of free counselling, support, assistance and encouragement. The direct benefits which flow from preserving and protecting the health and well-being of those suffering with mental illness in Northern Ireland include improved mental health and well-being levels amongst those living with mental illness in Northern Ireland and raising public awareness of mental health by providing free, counselling, support and assistance in our Drop-In Centre. These benefits will be evidenced through feedback from the public attending our Drop-In Centre, feedback from the public following events we have organised and regular independent evaluation of our services. Our beneficiaries are people living in Northern Ireland who are suffering with their mental health, those who feel in need of our services. There is no harm caused to them flowing from the charity’s purpose. The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is the experience gained by our qualified healthcare staff during their involvement in our charity. This is incidental and necessary in order to achieve the charity’s purpose through the provision of counselling, support and assistance by them in our Drop-In Centre.

Purpose 1

We opened our first free-of-charge, self-referral, mental health centre in Magherafelt on Monday 17th of September 2018, a second centre in Coleraine during 2020 and a third in Ballymena in October 2022. Premises are secured and we have qualified mental health practitioners employed. We will continue to market our services throughout Northern Ireland, and our centres are open to all adults and children over the age of 11. We are also trying to be the voice of mental health in the workplace by marketing the centre in the workforce communal areas. Our Mental health practitioners offer support and up to 6 sessions, and possibly more if necessary and beneficial.

Activities

The Charity’s main activities are described within the achievements and performance section of the Directors’ Report.

Reference and administrative details

Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name:	The Olive Branch (Respecting Minds)
Date of incorporation	6thMarch 2018
Charity Commission registration number:	NIC107098
Company registration number:	NI651485
Principle office and registered office:	6 New Ferry Road,
	Bellaghy,
	Magherafelt,
	Northern Ireland,
	BT45 8ND

Directors and Trustees of the Company

The directors who held office during the year were as follows:

Mr Alan Mulholland

Ms Leoné Paul

THE OLIVE BRANCH (RESPECTING MINDS)

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued)

Structure, governance and management

The Company is a charity limited by guarantee without share capital which avails of the “Limited” exemption.

The company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 6[th] March 2018, amended 26[th] September 2018. In the event of the Company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1. The Board is responsible for the overall governance of the Company with the day to day management having been delegated by the Board to Ms. Leoné Paul.

Directors are appointed in line with the Memorandum & Articles of Association of the company.

The Board of Directors are also known as Trustees for the purposes of the Charity Commission.

Risk management

The directors have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Financial risk is reviewed on a monthly basis having due regard to ongoing income and expenses.

Statement of directors’ responsibilities

The directors (who are the trustees of The Olive Branch (Respecting Minds) are responsible for preparing the directors’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have prepared the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under Company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP-FRS102;
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statement; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In the case of each director in office at the date the Directors’ Report is approved:

so far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity’s auditors are unaware; and
they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charitable company’s auditors are aware of that information.

THE OLIVE BRANCH (RESPECTING MINDS)

REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS (continued)

Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others

The charity does not hold any funds on behalf of others.

Small companies provision statement

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

Approved by the Board on 31[st] December 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Leoné Paul Trustee