## Teach na Failte ## Trustees’ Annual Report ## Year ended 31 March 2022 The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2022. ## Reference and administrative details |Registered charity name|Teach na Failte| |---|---| |Charity registration number|NIC107120| |Principal office|39 Bowling Green| ||Strabane| ||BT82 8BW| |The trustees|| ||G Murray| ||T Stewart| ||V McCay| ||W Robinson| ||T Curley| |Auditor|SP McCaffrey & Co| ||Chartered accountants & statutory auditor| ||50 Campsie Road| ||Omagh| ||Co Tyrone| ||BT79 O0AG| |Bankers|Ulster Bank| ||29 Abercorn Square| ||Strabane| ||Co Tyrone| ||BT82 8AL| ||Ulster Bank| ||Derry| ||BT488JB| ## Structure, governance and management Teach Na Failte (TnaF) is a constituted group managed by a regional committee and delivered by local committees at a local level across the region. We are registered with the NI Charities Commission under the registration number 107120. Our main aim is the social re-integration and social inclusion of former INLA prisoners and ex-combatants and their families. We operate on a regional and all-lreland capacity assisting and encouraging a range of groups, individuals and their families to address their needs and prepare for their future as part of a society emerging from conflict. q ## Teach na Failte ## Trustees’ Annual Report (continuea) ## Year ended 31 March 2022 ## Objectives and activities We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. ## Our Aims are:- Supporting Teach na Failte to strengthen wider community development process already developed. To continue to share and consolidate lessons learnt from the Republican Socialist Movement (RSM) transition process. To strengthen positive relationships by addressing issues of mistrust, prejudice and intolerance, whilst promoting anti-sectarianism and peace and reconciliation. To have community and strategic interventions with various groups that are currently using armed actions to advance their political objectives. To work within local urban/rural communities that have large numbers of _ political ex-prisoners/ex-combatants to proactively design and deliver initiatives that bring people together and work to promote diversity, tolerance and understanding. To address the training and employability needs of political ex-prisoners/ ex-combatants. Ensure that interface tensions are addressed and alleviated through both monitoring of points of tension and taking a lead in preventing them spinning out of control. To work with alienated/marginalised young people to prevent them from becoming involved in either anti-social activities and/or new forms of paramilitarism. 2 ## Teach na Failte ## Trustees’ Annual Report (continuea) ## Year ended 31 March 2022 ## Achievements and performance On a regional basis TnaF have been delivering specialised support to Republican Socialist ex-prisoners, ex-combatants and associated groups and individuals. It has contributed to the building of a sustainable community infrastructure which has empowered and integrated ex-prisoners and others who have encountered real social, economic and political barriers as a result of the conflict. Over the year of the project we manage to secure and sustain 7 full-time posts within TnaF. We are delivering services and programmes from offices in Belfast, Derry City, Strabane and Bellaghy as well as working in the areas of Newry, Donegal, Lough and Dublin. The project has engaged with a volunteer base in each district across the region and provides skills, training and vetting to enable volunteers to work as a management committee providing a response to local community needs, tension and difficulties. Outcomes have been having co-coordinated strategic plans for each area with empowered local people with the capacity to address the issues. Secondly the project has provided skills development and training for local people and others associated with the project that has create opportunities and addressed issues around lack of skills, lack of job opportunity, lack of access and unemployment and welfare issues. Thirdly the project has provided a range of training and activities for young people that has addressed single identity and cross community issues, sectarianism, policing issues, anti-social activity, drugs and alcohol issues and other personal development and confidence issues. ## A number of key outcomes across the Region have been TnaF has delivered a number of wide ranging residentials and are developing local stategic plans and frameworks giving ownership to local areas and building capacity. New opportunities have arisen over the year to develop a number of wide ranging Community Development initiatives that are taking place across the region, Bellaghy, Derry, Belfast, Strabane and Newry developing training programmes, youth projects, residents’ groups in Lower Falls and Derry, Community Initiatives in Strabane around the Riverine Project and a Travellers Project in the North West. Teach na Failte have completed a number of residentials and seminars identifying the issues and speaking to to groups from throughout the region. As part of the transitional process 6 members have increased their awareness and understanding of Restorative Practice by graduating from the University of Ulster as certified practitioners in July. This is re-enforcing the position of building viable alternatives to violence when dealing with grass-root community issues. This will be rolled out across the region with more participants showing an interest to take up. Over the period a number of workshops have been held in Belfast and Derry around the transitional work of RSM with regards their participation in a Border Poll. After much analysis a booklet has been produced and has been launched. It has been viewed within the RSM as a very progressive piece of work. We have also participated in cross-border, cross-community workshops on the issue of Brexit. Teach na Failte successfully engaged in work that has seen a reduction in community tensions within the Bogside area of Derry over August period. Over previous years this issue has seen a bonfire in the middle of a busy thoroughfare, with hundreds of tyres burnt, and followed by very expensive clean-ups with rioting and petrol bombing of police. Tech na Failte facilitated a number of workshops with young people and other key individuals, alongside statutory bodies. This successfully negotiated the re-location of the Bonfire to a different site that minimised risk and disruption, the removal and safe disposal of 300 tyres and diffusion of community tensions in this area, which can be built upon in future years. This has been very much welcomed by all involved which was viewed as having a regional impact. Over the period Teach na Failte facilitated the Independent Dialogue Group and delivered a number of workshops in Dublin and Monaghan. It consisted of a core group of around 20 members from across Ireland. The dialogue has progressed into building, through consensus, a document as to how to move forward in Ireland through entirely peaceful methods. This group has now produced some papers and 3 ## Teach na Failte ## Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) ## Year ended 31 March 2022 is beginning an advocacy programme to generate support for this. This group is made up of a wide range of of individuals from a variety of backgrounds that have been actively involved with the conflict in Ireland and is looking at alternative to violence. It has initiated a number of issued based campaigns across Ireland around homelessness and the drugs problem. Support for individual to gain relevant qualifications, employment opportunities, advice and support has continued to deal with Welfare Rights and housing issues. We dealt with clients on issues such as DLA, Income Support, ESA, JSA, Steps to Work, Carer’s Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and Social Fund. 300 participants supported. ## Financial review Teach na Failte is non-profit making organisation. The future financial position of the organisation will be determited by what grant funding is awarded to them. Reserves policy The trustees of Teach na Failte have set up a reserves policy which requires that reserves be maintained, in unrestricted bank accounts, at a level which ensures that Teach na Failte's core activities, could continue during a period of unforeseen difficulty. The trustees consider that this figure should be £15,000 and will endeavour to reach this figure in the next few years. The Reserve Policy is reviewed by the trustees on an annual basis. ## Trustees’ responsibilities statement The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: - ° select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - ° observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP: ° make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - e state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements: - ° prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. They are also responsible for safequarding the assets of the charity and hence far taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 4 ## Teach na Failte ## Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) ## Year ended 31 March 2022 The trustees’ annual report was approved on 27 September 2022 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by: ( urray T Stewart Trustee Trustee 5