PlaySchule
Trustee Committee’s Report
for the year ended 31 August 2025
The Trustees' committee presents their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Objectives
Our aim is to foster activities within Derry City and its adjacent areas in the North West of Ireland by providing and maintaining resources dedicated to enhancing social skills among the youth and raising awareness across the community, without regard for disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic background, or political and religious beliefs, intending to better life conditions. Specifically, our objectives are: (1) To educate and support individuals aged 11 to 25 within the designated area through physical and mental activities, focusing on developing and enhancing their social skills to foster awareness and understanding. (2) To cultivate emotional intelligence among these individuals through activities and collaborations that span different communities, emphasising the growth of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills, thereby aiding them in maturing fully as individuals and contributing citizens to better their living conditions.
Public Benefits and What We Do
The tangible benefits arising from our mission encompass an enhanced self-awareness, encapsulating an understanding of one’s strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivations, and emotions; the fostering of positive, mature, and meaningful relationships; an elevated appreciation and respect for diverse communities; active engagement in community outcomes; and a diminished sense of isolation among “at-risk” youths. These benefits are verified through feedback from participants, instructors, and community welfare experts, alongside regular evaluations of our services conducted by independent entities. In delivering resources and services to our beneficiaries, we must remain aware of any unintended consequences from our activities, ensuring that the positive impact significantly surpasses any potential harm. Our primary recipients are young individuals aged 11 to 25 residing in Derry City and its neighbouring regions in the North West of Ireland.
Results
The deficit for the year amounted to £8,492 (2024 - £10,502 deficit). While the Trustees are encouraged that the deficit has reduced by 19.1% compared to the previous year, we acknowledge that consecutive annual deficits present a significant financial challenge that requires immediate and sustained attention.
Financial Challenges and Response Strategy
The Trustees recognise that the current financial position is not sustainable in the long term and have undertaken a comprehensive review of our operations and financial management. We have identified several key factors contributing to these deficits, including:
-
Reduced funding from traditional sources post-pandemic
-
Increased operational costs due to inflation
-
Limited diversification in our income streams
Strategic Action Plan for Financial Recovery
To address these challenges and ensure the charity's long-term sustainability, the Trustees have approved the following strategic measures:
-
Income Diversification: We will actively pursue new funding opportunities including grants from local authorities, community foundations, and European funding programmes specifically targeting youth development in Northern Ireland.
-
Partnership Development: We are establishing strategic partnerships with local businesses, schools, and community organisations to create sustainable funding relationships and reduce operational costs through resource sharing.
-
Service Efficiency Review: A comprehensive review of our programme delivery costs is underway to identify areas where we can maintain service quality while reducing expenditure.
-
Reserve Building Strategy: Once operational balance is achieved, we will implement a policy to build appropriate reserves equivalent to 6 months' operating costs to provide financial stability.
-
Enhanced Financial Monitoring: Monthly financial reviews and quarterly forecasting have been implemented to ensure early identification of any variance from budget.
The Trustees remain confident in the charity's mission and are committed to ensuring PlaySchule continues to serve the young people of Derry City and the North West of Ireland. We will monitor progress against these measures closely and provide regular updates to stakeholders on our financial recovery progress.
The committee members are determined to restore financial stability while maintaining our high-quality services and will continue to work diligently toward this goal in the next financial year.
Trustees Committee Membership
The following people served on the Trustee Committee during this year:
Dana Rice (Chairperson) Alan McCay (Treasurer) James McCartney
This report was approved by the Trustee Committee and signed on its behalf by: …………………………… ... …………………………… Qh Dana Rice (Chairperson) Alan McCay (Treasurer)
==> picture [156 x 72] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
…………………………… ...
Aeatige
Alan McCay (Treasurer)
----- End of picture text -----
Date: 15/09/2025