## **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: 

1. **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. 

2. **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. 

3. **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. 

4. **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. 

5. **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) 


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…………………………… ...<br>Aeatige<br> Alan McCay (Treasurer)<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Date: 15/09/2025