2023-07-02-annual-report

BELFAST A￿• USBIMN cowuyrry p[X)￿CT 27 HOl￿00d Road. B•lfa3t, BT4 3BA vw.balcprW.org.uk [e-mail] Td: [phone] Belfast And Lisburn Community Project (NIC 107561) ••Ann￿l Re￿rt of TnLStees for the Belfast •nd Lisburn Community Project (2022-2023)" Purpoge of the Charity to relieve poverty linked to homelessness or those at risk of becoming homeless. To Work io prevent I￿nCle$Sness. need and distress among those in Belfast and Lisburn and surroundin8 areas. Further to this objective: To provide activities within our community" which are to enhance skills and raise self•confidence as a first Step towards changing their live5. Overcoming that by meeting people where they are in their lives and showin8 them skills that are relevant to them and creating workshops by the provision of conferences. trainin& inforniation. advice and other fxilities, services or support. Brin8 tO8ether Fvle who have a common interesl of the public benefits in our community and facilitale their sharing and networking, so they kM)w they are not alone. To promote the ne¢d5 of homekss and marginalised people I￿allY by means of high quality PK knby helping to redwe discrimination towards them and influencing the local community to become more supportive •Thl kss judgemental. To provide information, support and practical help thal will empower people to make and act on infomied hoices arrived at by themselves, in particular for pxoplc who are homeless and those vulnerable to comin8 homeless, who are lacking the necessities of life, and to *lvance educrdtion on issues aS￿lated with homelessness for the public benefil. Providing safe shelter, accommodation, food and health counselling, emergency assislance to families or individuals affected by ￿verty or diy)s5￿10n. Provide material and support to families to meet thcir family objectives. Promrtin8 8wd relations between persons of different rncial ￿up5 for the public benefit. The Fyomotion of w￿¢ reduction, re-use reclamation. recycling. use of recycled products and the use of surplus wthirh h¢lFs ts FYolcc( our environment and raluces the amounl of wasle senl lo landfills and incineratOf5. •lf••t And Ll•burn Couunity ProJ•ot Walk INN To HeLp The H￿￿elesS Chatlty IWs•¥: ¥ZC107561

Rciising valuable reSou￿e5 ensu￿5 a grccner f￿vre which provide benefits to both our environment and ccononi)'> h¢lpin8 rKoplc improvc 11)cir hcalth and wcllbcing and for the genernlions beyond. Chairperson's Message l. Inirnduction The Truslees present their annual rep)rt on thc aclivilies of the Belfasi and Lisburn Community Project for the fin&Thcial Nrar 3rd July 2022 10 2nd July 2023. This year has been one of the most challenging in the Proje¢t's history. defined by a significant setback bul alx) by the resilience and dedication of our volunteers and supportcrs. 2. Principil Aclii'ities and Review of the Year The principal acliviiy of the Project conlinues to be the operalion of a f¢)od banK suppx)rting the homeless and the proi'ision of support to those in nttd within the Belfast and Lisburn c(xnmunities. The year under review. was dominated by a major flood at our premise& Causd by a watcr leakage. This incident had severe and immediate consequences for ow operalions: * Premises Closure: The Project's base was rendered unusable and was forced io close for a peri(xl of six months to facilitate repairs arKI recovery. Substslltial Damgge: The rnajority of the chariiy's contents. including ￿Orage, equipmenL arKI supplie ii'ere damaged b). the t100d￿'aICr. * Insurance Dispute: Regrcttably, our insurance provider has refused to accept resp)nsibility for the damage. Consequently, the Project has had ts) bear the full burden of the recovery effort& relying on our resource5 and the goodwill of our community. Despite these ovetwhelming challenges our core mission was maintained. Through the incredible efforts of our volunteers, Ive were able to coniinue the distribution of food parcels lo those in need. operating from lemporary arrangements. 3. Current StAtus and Future Outlook The damage lo thc premlses and the ensuing closure has made it unviable for the Project to continue operating from its previous location. * Relocation.. As a direct result of the flood, the Trustees look the dilTicult decision to vacate the premises permanently. * Future Premises: A key strategic priority for the Trustees is securing a new, pemlanent home for the charily. We are ac11￿clY seeking a suitable new premise and are hopeful thal we will be able to secure and occupy a new facility during the 2024 calendar year. This will alloth. us to restore our full range of services and build a more resilient and secure future for the Project. 4. AcknowledgemcDts The Trusiees M ish 10 record their profound gratitude lo our volunteers, whose unwavering commitment ensured thal our vitsl food bank service. homeless outreach service, advice and accomodation conlinucd without intemiplion during this period of crisis. We also extend our sincere ihanks to the Communit), t.or their conlinued supp)rt and understanding. B•l£aAt And Ll•burn Co￿unItY Proj•ct Walk INN To Help The Ho.Trele33 *rlty Wthr: IIZe107561

We Adhert io Strict budwary contro15 aThl transparenl ttPOrtin8 practices and to minimi8ed expenjes. no one in our ¢ommunities h￿￿e1c3￿cl8 alone. This rewt was apwoved by the Trnsiees cm behalf of the Belfast and LiS1￿rn Communiiy Proj¢¢L Signed behAlf of 8108ll025 Jennifer Wootton Chairpern)n. B¢lfaX •thl Lisburn Community Project Jennifer M'oolton Gloria Hu8lKs Perla Kodkarova Gold Imoukhuede This rel￿ rtfiects the pttiod from 3 of July 2022 kn 2 of July 2023. thla is bAsed on internal records B•lf••t And ￿#bUrn Co*•unxty ProJ•¢t Ilalk 114N To Help Th• HcxD•l••8 Ch•riLy Y￿r. WIC107561