Trustees’ Annual Report from 01 September 2022 to 31 August 2023
Charity name: Naiscoil na Banna Charity Reg no: 107365
Address: 250A Garvaghy Road, Portadown BT62 1EB
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity:
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Mr Brian Mac Iomhair – Secretary
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Ms Mary McGinty – Chairperson
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Ms Sarah McKeown
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Mr Peader O Conghaile
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Mr Fergus Nixon
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Mr John McComb (Principal of St John the Baptist PS)
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Mr Ciaran O Fearghail
Governing document
The charity is an unincorporated association, governed by a constitution, dated 27 April 2003 and amended on 3 March 2019.
Trustee selection method:
Trustees are appointed at the AGM. By virtue of the current lease and in accordance with the provision 5.3 of the constitution, the Principal of St John the Baptist Primary School is a member of the management committee.
Objectives, Activities and Achievements
Summary of the charity’s purposes as set out in its governing document:
To advance Irish medium education, social and healthcare in Portadown and in particular to advance the education and social care of children, young people and parents in Portadown and the surrounding area. To advance education in gaeilge culture and traditions among them without distinction of sexual, political, religious, racial or other affiliations and to assist them to develop their mental, spiritual and physical capacities to the full so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and that their conditions of life may be improved.
Summary of the charity’s main activities to further its purposes for the public benefit:
We have provided preschool education through the medium of Irish language to our beneficiaries, children of preschool age from the Portadown and surrounding area. We have delivered a carefully constructed programme based on guidelines from the Department of Education whereby the children learn through play within a simulated environment. We have promoted the areas of development and learning to develop the children's mental, spiritual and physical capacities through the activities we carry out on a daily basis which includes block play, small world construction, table top activities, including games and small construction, imaginary play, role play including home, hospital etc, sand and water play, paint and dough, physical indoor and outdoor physical play, story song and rhyme
time, quiet area for children to relax and enjoy books, cooking experiences and science and technology exploration. We encourage the parents and guardians of our beneficiaries to develop the growth of the Irish medium sector through regular engagement, including issuing regular posts on our social media page with language visuals, and useful phrases to increase vocabulary, and we send home monthly newsletters to keep parents up to date with our key themes. There is no harm or private benefit from our purposes.
Summary of charities main achievements in the year:
The provision of the preschool has benefited the children as they are provided with an early experience of education which provides the foundation for language, raising and problem solving, social skills, behaviour and emotional health, all of which are characteristics that are significant factors in a child's success at school and beyond. The children have benefited from immersive learning of the Irish language allowing them to acquire a second language naturally through daily experience in an Irish language environment.
Our intake has increased this year enabling us to receive pre pegs (2 years and 10 months) and we now accommodate 2 classrooms in our mobile.
The Naiscoil celebrated its 25-year anniversary and hosted a number of fundraising events including the production and sale of our popular 25 year anniversary t shirts.
Financial review
Review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period:
Our main source of funds come from the SELB and we continue to rely on the local community showing support through our fundraising activities. We hold cash in the bank of £4184, all of which is unrestricted funds. We do not hold large funds at any time. We have no debts. We have no reserve policy.
Details of any funds held by the charity that was materially in deficit at the end of the year and steps taken by the charity trustees to eliminate the deficit: Not applicable.
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others:
Not applicable.
Declarations
The management committee confirm that it has regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Ms Mary McGinty – Chairperson of Management Committee (signed electronically only)