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Rostrevor Men's Shed TRUSTEES' REPORT
for the financial year ended 31 December 2023
The trustees present their Trustees' Report and the unaudited financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2023.
Mission, Objectives and Strategy
Mission Statement
Compliance with Public Benefit
The Charity Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s statutory public benefit guidance to ensure that activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the charity's aims and objectives as well as providing public benefit.
Objectives
The purposes of the charity are:
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To provide a welcoming venue for men to talk and connect with others while participating in group and / or individual projects.
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To reduce isolation and increase social networks of men in Rostrevor and the surrounding local areas.
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To provide opportunity for skills development, capacity building and learning of men in the area.
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To advance the health and well being of men in Rostrevor and the surrounding local areas.
The main activities undertaken by the charity are:
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Gardening
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Woodwork and Joinery Workshops
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Community Projects
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Program events with guest speakers
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Day trips for members.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governance
The principal document regarding governance of the charity is the constitution. The committee members are the Charity Trustees.The charity is an unincorporated organisation.
Organisational Structure
The committee is responsible for the day to day running of the charity. The committee is made up of at least ten volunteers elected each year at an Annual General Meeting. The committee stands down at the Annual General Meeting each year and a new committee is appointed in line with the constitution.
All committee members and trustees are volunteers. No-one receives payment for services.
Review of Activities, Achievements and Performance
The trustees, via the committee, normally organise a number of events during the year. The programme of events for 2023 returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The building was reoccupied towards the end of the summer following major renovations that were intended initially to take less than a year, but which dragged on for a total of almost four years. Following occupation, the workshops were reorganised and the portakabins transformed into an assembly workshop, greatly relieving space in the machine shop and allowing easier access for all.
A number of projects were undertaken in 2023. Planter boxes made for The First Dromore Scouts Group in Newry; guillemot boxes for NMDDC; benches were restored for the Youth Club; many sets of summer seats were refurbished; a go-kart was restored; crib manufacture, snowmen and figurines were made for Christmas sales.
A major clean-up of the local pre-school took place in May and again in August. Members took part in a river clean in in July. A stand was taken at Kilbroney Show and another at Rostrevor Christmas fair. A number of table quizzes were attended. A sailing trip involving many members to the Isle of Man took place in summer. We assisted marshalling the Darkness into Light event in Kilbroney Park and the Eoin Farrel Memorial Road Race in October.
Talks were fewer than normal as access to the building was limited but we had The Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum doing a talk on Northern Ireland during World War Two and Wayne Denner did a follow up talk on internet security.
Trips
Members participated in the annual Irish Men’s Shed Association rhododendron cull in Kerry in October. Members took part in the County Down Rural Community Network trip to Donegal and in return we hosted Sheds from Leitrim and Donegal on the return visit.
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Rostrevor Men's Shed TRUSTEES' REPORT
for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 Building
With the building being occupied towards the end of the year, we were able to rent out rooms to other community groups as part of our agreement with Newry Mourne & Down District Council and occupation has been regular with great interest shown for 2024.
Financial Review
During the financial year the charity continued to raise funds via grant assistance, sale of goods, donations received and via the facilities management agreement with NMDDC.
The receipts and payments accounts set out on page 7 reflect the activities undertaken by the charity in 2023. The charity had income of £20,870 and expenditure of £14,704 resulting in a surplus of £6,166. The charity had restricted reserves at 31 December 2023 of £5,283 and unrestricted reserves of £4,071.
Going Concern
The trustees are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the charity can continue its activities and as a result the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 are prepared on the going concern basis.
Reserves Policy
Rostrevor Men’s Shed have a reserves policy, which requires that reserves are built or maintained at a level which ensures it can carry out its purposes consistently year on year.
Results
At the end of the financial year the charity has assets of £9,354 (2022 - £3,188) and liabilities of £0.00 (2022 - £0.00). The net assets of the charity have increased by £6,166.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 11 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
_____ _____ Gerald McCormack James Owens Trustee Trustee
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