EGLINTON COMMUNITY
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2022
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 November 2022.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
Objectives and activities
In setting our objectives and planning our activities the trustees have given consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that our activities have helped to achieve the charity's aims and purposes.
The main activities of the company are to promote the Community Centre as a place of education, sport and well-being for all inhabitants of Eglinton and the surrounding areas. Our public benefit is provided by ensuring that activities are run for little or no contribution from the participants so as to ensure there is no financial barrier to accessing the services provided.
Eglinton Community Limited provides a wide range of educational, sport, advice, well-being, arts and crafts activities. In addition we provide a warm space in the newly opened Community Library for the benefit of inhabitants of Eglinton and the surrounding area to support those who are experiencing fuel poverty. In the last year we have also established a community wide food growing programme and community larder to reduce food waste and also help local residents who are experiencing food poverty.
Achievements and performance
Eglinton Community Hall provides recreation space for various local sporting groups, hall space for social welfare groups to promote health and well being and plays a focal point for many village activities for all ages from birth upwards.
Eglinton Community Hall is the designated Emergency Rest Centre for this rural area and we continue to work closely with Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Regional Community Resilience Group Multi-Agencies to provide a community based response to flooding in the area. We responded to a local flooding event in July 2022 and assisted in preventing homes from flooding and in the recovery after the event.
Eglinton Community Hall has approximately 1000 people using its service each month. The Community Hall continues to be a source of support and advice.
Financial review
Eglinton Community Hall is reliant on ongoing hall hire and recreational activities to cover its day to day costs. The Trustees authorise applications for charitable purposes to provide health, recreational and support services.
Finances are in a healthy position and the Trustees expect the organisation to remain sustainable and fulfil its charitable purposes.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee having no share capital.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Danielle Conway
Saoirse Fanning
Darren Hylands
Sharon Hylands
Maurice Lynch
Greta Mooney
Ivan Morrison
Rosaleen Morrison
Michael Turner
Gerard O'Donnell (Resigned 25 November 2022)
Gerard O’Donnell, deceased 25th November 2022, was a founding member of Eglinton Community Limited and he is sadly missed by his fellow Trustees and staff members of Eglinton Community Limited. Mr O’Donnell was a Trustee from 1997 until his death at the end of this reporting period.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Saoirse Fanning
Trustee
25 August 2023