Community Advice Newry. Mourne & Down IA company limited by guaranteè. not havlng a share capital) DIRECTORS. ANNUAL REPORT for the financlal year ended 31 March 2023 The directors present their Directors, Annual Report, combining the Directors, Report and Trustees, Report, and the audited financial stalements for the financial year ended 31 March 2023. The t7nanclal statements are prepared In accordance wllh the Companles Act 2006, FRS 102 'The Flnanclal Reporting Slandsrd applicable In the UK and Republic of Ireland" and Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of RecommThnded Practice appllcable to ¢harllles preparfng thelr llnanclal slalenenls In accordance wlth the Flnanclal Reporting Standard appllcable In the UK and Republic of Ire18nd (FRS 1021. The Dlre¢tors' Report contain5 the Informallon requlr&d lo b8 provlded In the Dlreclors, Annual Report under the Stat8m8nt of Recommended Practice ISORP) guldellnes. The dlrectors of the company ara also eharlty trusleas for the purpos8 of charlty law and under the company's constllutlon are known as m8mbers of the board of Iruste8S. In thls report the dlrectors of Community Advice Newry, Moume & Down present a summary of Ils purpose, governance, acllvltl&$, a¢hlevemenls and finances for the flnanclal flnanclal y8ar 31 March 2023. The company Is a reglstered charity and hence the report and rasulls ar8 pr8s8nled In a form whlch complles wllh the requlrements of thè Companles Act 2008 and. although not obliged lo comply wlth the Statement of Recommended Pracll¢e (CharStles SORP effective January 2015), the organlsation has implemented ils recommèndallons where relevant In these financial ¥talements.
Community Advice Newry, Mourne & Down IA company limited by guarantee. not having a share capital} DIRECTORS. ANNUAL REPORT for the financial year ended 31 March 2023 Revlew of Actlvitle$. Achievements and Perfomiance Community Advlce Newry Mourne & Down ha$ four key principles whlch helps us to fulfil our aims,, 1. Independent: We will always act in the interest of our cllents, wilhout influence from any other oulslde bodles. 2. Impartlal: We don't judge our cllenls or make assumptlons about them. Our service is open to everyone, and we treat everyone equ811y. 3. Confldenllal: We won," pass on anything a client tells us, or even if the fact that thfti vlslt us, wlthout their pemlssion. 4. Free,. No-one has to pay for any part of the service we provlde. Whoever you are, whatèver the problem, we are here to help-by phone, by emall, onllne WhatsApp, and In person. Our staff and volunte8rs see so many people wllh so many kinds of problems and that glves us a unlque insight Into the challenges peopl8 a facing today. Wlth the rlght evidence, we can demonstrate both lo local and reglonal government how things can be made better for people. We want to see every person In our community empowered to make decisions and exerclse thelr rlghts, where everyone had dlgnity in livlng and where all are treated falrly by those holding or exerclsing powe Our vlslon and Ihe charlty's purpose are.. The protecllon and preservallon of health. Tha rellef of povèty, sickn85s and dlstress. The advancement of educatlon. As an organisation we contlnue lo make progress In provldlng a seamle8S CUStom8rJourney for members of our local community lo access ourseNices through th8 varlous channels mentioned abova. Thè past yaar has been oxtremely challenging for our cllènts who were faeed with rislng Inflatlon and soarlng food, energy and houslng costs. Many c118nts experionced fianclal dlfflculll8s, Job losses, relation5hlp breakdowns, mounting debts and poor mental health. The straln on households was Immens8 and Increaslngly people In full lime employmenl came lo us for advice. One of the kgy strengths of the organlsallon Is tha avallablllty of Income maximlsalion calculatlons for every client. often thls has resulted in some clients rec8lvlng ben&flls whlch they did not know they were entitled lo. Dgllvering high quallty, hollsllc Informallon and adviGo Gruclal In the rellgf of poverty, sickness and stres$. People are comlng to us for help wlth Increasingly carnp18x problems and options to resolve such Issues Can be Ilmited. Despite these challenges wo are proud to say Ihal our Charity roso to th8 task. Bul we cannot do it alone and w8 know Ihe impact of bulldlng and maintaining m8anlngful partnorships. Ono of thoso partn8rshlps Is th8 Strategi¢ Stakeholder Forum whlGh Is tha body representing the Gommunlty voluntary and social enterprlses In Community Plannlng within the Newry Moume & Down Dl8lrlct Councll area. Worklng closely together durlng the COVID Crlsis has seen the development of referral pathways with a wlde varfely of organlsatlons. Without having these referral pathways our cllenls would not only ba worse off financially but many would be struggling rnentally. Staff can provlde Ihe initial advlce, bul should on*olng support be required we can access the pathway very quickly. Exarnples are Foodbank's, Women's Aid, Tr8inlng Programmes, Social Prescriblng groups. Equally our partners can access our services uslng our Dlgital Referral Systern whlch Is on our webslle. We have also developed good working partnershlps wllh the Mulll-Disciplinary Teams whlch are based In GP Surgerles across both the Southern and South Eastern Trusts. Thls has allowed Social Workers, Health Vlsllors and DlstrlGt Nurses to refer to our servlces and they often accompany Ihelr servlce users lo the 8ppoinlmenl as they have good knowledge of both the service user and thelr families. This partnershlp has shown wllh support from the Health Care Professlonal and Communlty Advice tha client has reduced stress and anxiety less dependence on drugs and alcohol. I belleve the tlme Is rlght for the Health Servlce to put long term investment into advlce provlslon and by dolng this money Is saved for the health service Ir. the long term. This year has seen an Increase in the number of requests from local community groups such as Men's Sheds, Mental Health Charities lo deliver presentations on who w3 are and what we do to help those who most need it in our local community- This has increased awareness ofour service not only lo those who have attended the sessions, but Ihey have been able to bring the information back to family friends and ulhers In the communlty. Many of the groups who we presented lo are now using our Digital Referral Pathway. With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis many organisations have asked u5 to deliver budgeting sessions lo their employees and to Iheir service users. These sessions have been invaluable in passing tips and improving the financial capability of those attending. Throughout the year we have provided staff and volunteers with training which is important for their continual personal developmenl. Training has been delivered intemally and delivered from extemal organisations. We listen to what our staff and volunteers require to assist them in delivering a hight quality servi. Our Organisalion is now in the second year of our Business Plan from the Business Plan an Operational Workplan was implemented which has improved reporting meGhanisms and achieving targets. The Trustee Board have actively
Community Advice Newry, Mourne & Down (A company lirniled by guarantee, not having a share ¢apital) DIRECTORS, ANNUAL REPORT for the financial year ended 31 March 2023 assisted and worked with the Manager and her team throughout the year, lo asslst In maklng the rlghl things happen for the organisalion. Whilst govemance is a key area of responsibility, efforts are also aimed at providing leadership using the skill sets that each Trustee brings lo the organisation and with the objective of optimising the effectiveness of the organisation. All declsions that are made are fundamental to the service, our clients and staff. In settlng the objectives, Ind for the plannlng ahead, the Trustee 8oard have given careful conslderatlon lo the Chartty Commission for Northern Irelands guldance on publlc b8nefit, to ensure that the actlvltles have helped lo achleve the charills purpospl and provlde a benefit for Ihe beneficlaries. Many thanks to all our Funders who, wlthoul thelr bell8f In the work that we do, we would not be able lo make an Impact on our communlty. Our cora fundlng comes from Department for Communllles and Newry Mourne & Down Dlstrlcl Councll. They have supported us In the dellvery of the Debt Project, Welfare Reform, Tribunal RepSentatIOn and Generallst Advlce & Infomallon. We secured fundlng from Southern H8alth & Soclal Cara Trust whlch allowed us to support clients in rural isolated communltles. Fundlng was also secured from the Southern Publlc Health Agency for our Advlce 4 Health project whlch allows us lo support patlenls and staff In Dalsy Hlll Hospllal. Part of Ihls fundlng also goes towards Advlce 4 Health clinics for Ethnic Minority & Migrants including Travellers living in tha Newry & Mourne Area. The other part of this funding provides terminally ill patients and their families in the Southern Area Hosplce to recelve support and advlce In the Hospice. As part of the pllot for the Soclal Supermarket we recelved fundlng as part of the wraparound servlc8. We provlded additional advlce hours and secured £23,000 in unclaSmed beneflls for those who used the Soclal Supermarket. I would like to thank the Board for thelr support and guldanco dudng 2022123 Includlng many meetings and zoom calls. We hav8 an excellent Board with each Dlreclor brlnglng 8 wealth of experlence lo the table. I want lo give a heartf8lt SP8clal acknowledgement lo the Incredlble adaplabltity and resSllence of the staff toam ond volunteers who are always driven to he ) as many people as possible. Rosemarl8 Mc Donnell Flnan¢lal Revlew The flnanclal slalemenls are presented in the standard format required by the ¢ompanles Act 2006 and the Charitles SORP. The Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) shows the gros$ Income from all sources. Flnanclal Rosults At the gnd of the financial year tha Company has assets of £384.492 {2022 £387,411 } and Ilabllltles of £775 {2022 £19,790). The net assets of the company have Increased by £16,096. Dlrectors The dlreclors who seNed throughout the flnanclal year, except as noted, were as follows: Paul Kane Artur Kmiecik Samuel Mccalllster Cllve Walllngton Nadlne Havern Aoife Downey (Appointed 4 January 20231 In accordance wllh the Artlcles of Assoclallon, the dlreclorE 'elire by rotation and, belng ellglble, offer Ihemsolves for re-electlon. Compliance with sector.wide Legislation and Standards The company engages Practive1Y wilh legislation, standards and codes whlch are develuped for the sector. Community Advice Newry. Mourne & Down subscribes to and is compliant with the following.. The Companies Act 2006 The Charities SORP IFRS 1021 Public Benefit Statement In setting our objeclives and planning our activities for the year the trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's statutory guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities have helped achieve the charity purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.
Community Advice Newry, Mourne & Down IA company Ilmlted by guarantee. not having a share capital) DIRECTORS. ANNUAL REPORT for the financial year ended 31 March 2023 Chalrmans Report I"he Board of Directors of Communlly Advlce Newry Mourne and Down would Ilke lo express thanks lo the Chlef Executive. Rosemarie M¢Donnell. her Senior Management ieam of Anne Burns and Kellle Murray and all the staff and volunteers who helped our Gommunity find a path through this most challenglng of years. I would also wish lo thank the whole of the Board who have volunteered Ihelr time and expertlse not only lo attend Board rneetlngs but lo underta*o a varlety of other duties. often unseen, without which we could rfoi have functioned eff8cllvely as a Board. The past year has Wltne5sed our local communlty contlnue to suffer from the aftereffects of COVID-19. Thankfully whilst the worst of the infection Is behlnd us, unfortunately some of the longtall consequences Ilnger on lo affllct our population. Long temi physlcal Illness, mental health, bereavemenl, redundancy, famlly breakdown, domestlc abus8 and isolation, all exacerbated by the perfod of COVID-19 dlsrupiion, stlll remaln and conllnue to Impact upon the Ilves of our clllzens. The stark raallly of tha cost-of-jlvlng crlsis, caused by a multitude of factors, has continued. The m8nifestatlons- hlgh Inflation, decllne In real Incomes, hlgh fuel, heating and food costs, rfslng rents and accommodatlon shortages- have now Intethlned wlth the aft8reffecls of COVID.19 to attempt to squaeza the very soul out of our communlty. The abs8nc8 of slratèglc pollllcal laadershlp al a regional level has not 8881sted our 8bility to recover. However, Newry Mourne and Down Is a resilient and inherently caring community. This resllienee has been contrlbuled lo by the work of Community Advlce who havo contlnued to glve free. Independent. confidential and Impartial advice and advocacy. accessible to everyone across the who18 of the councll area. Thls Serv[ has been delivered in ever new and Imaglnallv8 ways to an even greater number of cllents whllsl havlng at Sts cor8 a one-lo- one, face-to-face r8latlonship, so k8y to cllenl confldence and organls8tlon81 success. It Is worthwh118 nollng that'.hls year has witnessed some trends developlng In our work. One such trond has been the growth In inter-related issues belng presented by cllenls. No longer do cllenls present wllh one standalone Issue: rather th8y often prgsent wllh complex issues which slratch and challgngo our responso. Anothor trend has been the Increase In Issues whlch may not be p&rc&lved by others as typical of our work. Hence whllst the Issues of welfare b8n8flts arg Stlll of major slgnllI¢ance, around forty percantago of issuos presented by clionts are non- b8nefits Issues. A flnal trend worth recordlng has been the growth In cross-border Issues often related to pgople worklng In two legal and poliliGal jurisdictions, made mor8 probl@mallc by tha OUOrkIng of Br&xlt. Qne m&asure of tho success we have had in dealing with the above 1$ the financial gain obtalned for our cllenls. Qver £6.1 mllllon In galn has gono dlrectly to them, and Indlreclly to tha communlty, In addlllon lo over £2 mllllon In debt resolullon. Another measure has been the oVehelMIng posltlve feedback whlch we have recelved from those cllenls who we hava had the pleasure lo help and In so dolng have reduced the stress In thelr Ilves. Communlty Advlce does nat work In Isolallon. Wlthout our funders, Includlng th8 Department for Communllles. Newry Mourne and Down Council, Southern Trust, the Publlc Health Agency, the Money and Penslons Service and the many prlvale donors, we slmply could not hava dellvered our s&rvlce to the communlty. In the year ahead we wlll conllnue to work closely wllh them and seek Ihelr ongolng support and understandlng. Llk&wls&, w& wlll conllnu& to loln wlth our slsler commun5ty and statutory organls8tlon$ to help dellver an Increaslngly Ilnked up servlce to and for Thls report will detail what we have done and for whom we have done it.11 will help demonstrate an organls811on that has shown flexibility and responsiveness,, an organisation that has shown that It not only uses Its head bul also Ilslens to Its heart,. an organlsation Ihat has visibly contributed to the reslllence of the communlty, a communlty In which it is firmly anchored,, an organisation which has added ignif5canlly to the monetary value ol that communlty; an organi8ation whoso poopla are fully committed to its Vision, Mission and Valuas. The flnanclal statements are prepared In accordance wlth Ihe Companles Act 2006. FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and accounting and reporting by the Charities Statemenl of Recommended Practice applicable to chariiies preparing their financial statements in a¢cordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and RepubliG of Ireland. In this report the Directors of Community Advice Newry Mourne and Down present a summary of ils purpose, govemance, activities, achievements and finances for the financi il year. Paul Kane, Chair of Board ofTruslees
Community Advice Newry, Mourne & Down IA company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital) DIRECTORS, ANNUAL REPORT for the financial year ended 31 March 2023 Auditors The auditors, Daly Park & Company Ltd. (Chartered Accountants} have indicated Ih81r wllllngness to conllnu8 In office in accordance with the provlslons of Sectlon 485 of the Companles Act 2006, Approv by the Board of Dlrector$ on and slgned on Its behalf by: Paul Kane Dlrect Cllve Walllngton Dlrector