2025-06-30-annual-report - J29 Project Ltd

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Charity no: 107583

Company no: 653491

2024 JULY 01 - 2025 JUNE 30

TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT

The trustees present their report and fnancial statements for the period 01 JULY 2024 - 30 JUNE 2025

REGISTERED ADDRESS:

26a Downshire Place, Banbridge, Co. Down BT32 3DF

TRUSTEES SERVING DURING REPORTING PERIOD:

Mike Joseph Bambrick (appointed 1 July 2023) Lena Bambrick (appointed 1 August 2023) Gerald De Souza (appointed 1 June 2025) Lauren Porter (appointed 1 June 2025) Judith Beresford (appointed 1 June 2025) Emma Hull (appointed 1 June 2025) Hilary Elizabeth Leathem (resigned 8 November 2024) David Orr (resigned 31 May 2025) Jane Carr (resigned 31 May 2025)

CURRENT TRUSTEES:

Charity no: 107583

Company no: 653491

2024 JULY 01 - 2025 JUNE 30

OBJECTS & ACTIVITIES

The charity’s objects (‘Objects’) are specifically restricted to the following:

To promote the well-being of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland and its environs and in parcular the Banbridge area, without disncon of age, sex, race, polical, religious or other opinion by all or any of the following means in so far as is exclusively charitable.

To promote the well-being of the inhabitants of Northern Ireland and its environs and in parScular the Banbridge area, without disSncSon of age, sex, race, poliScal, religious or other opinion by all or any of the following means in so far as is exclusively charitable;

The preven`on and relief of poverty within the Banbridge area.
The use of physical fitness, health and wellbeing for the greater good of the local community within the Banbridge area.
The preservaon and protecon of health and life within the Banbridge area.
The advancement of community development within the Banbridge area.
The advancement of educa`on within the Banbridge area.
The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage by ensuring all our services and outworking of our purposes are as accessible to every sec`on of the local community as is physically possible regardless of social standing or personal circumstance.
The relief of unemployment for public benefit.
And generally improve the condions of life for the said inhabitants by associang with the statutory authories, voluntary organisaons and inhabitants in a common effort to meet our objec`ves in accordance with the benefit to the greater Banbridge community.

For the avoidance of doubt, the system of law governing the arScles of associaSon of the charity is the law of Northern Ireland.

ACHIEVEMENTS, PERFORMANCE & PUBLIC BENEFIT

Charity no: 107583

Company no: 653491

2024 JULY 01 - 2025 JUNE 30

The reporng period has been a highly successful and producve `me for the charity with increased community-outreach and social-impact.

The focus throughout this period has been to give a hand up rather than a hand out, priorising deep and meaningful connecon opportunies with service users to assist with value, self-respect and equipping to deal with issues of apathy and poverty by seizing opportunies to simply leave their home and try new things.

At the beginning of the reporng period was the Hope ‘24 Summer programme. Summer is sadly a difficultme for many services users who are impacted by the effects of poverty with the pressure of trying to entertain and feed children. This can led to increased stress and pressure on parents and carers. In addion to this many of the older beneficiaries reported that this is also ame when the normal roune changes and programmes and connecon opportunies running throughout the year are halted, leaving them feeling more isolated and lonely. J29’s summer Hope programme has been carefully designed to come alongside the youngest and the oldest in the community, creang opportunies for engagement and support along the way, relieving some of that pressure, stress and isolaon. In the summer of 2024 the programme reached over 60 families with an esmated impact on over 300 local people. The programme took the form of trips to various local places of interest such as Newcastle, Slieve Gullion, a trip to Silent Valley and a fantasc Family Fun Day in Ballyards Castle with BBQ bounce castles and a variety of different acvies for all ages. The Summer programme proved a huge success with local families and provided a welcome relief for parents during the long Summer months. Connecon opportunies also took place around the table with weekly meals for al areas. Feedback from this period indicated not only the wonderful distracon and help it was to families over the summer but how the programmes also allowed for deeper connecon opportunies across those from different cultural backgrounds, helping to integrate the community together in fun and meaningful ways making lasng friendships and lifeme memories. All of the acvi`es were fully funded and both transport to the venue and food was provided.

Our popular Community Lunch programme connued to thrive during the reporng period with weekly free lunches provided to the local community on a Wednesday ahernoon followed by a me of social engagement and acvity. We would regularly see up to 40 local people coming along each week to the lunch to enjoy a me of connecon and engagement. There is a pool of approximately 70 people who aiend from a variety of different backgrounds and across all ages. It feels like a large family around the table with social grandparents connecng with their social grandchildren in the most beauful of ways.

We also launched two new walking groups during the reporng period for male and female members of the local community. These took the form of morning walks around local parks and nature walks. These groups were successful and brought new service-users into the charity, especially those who felt more comfortable being out in nature as opposed to be ‘confined’ to a parcular place or building. Walking helped those struggling with mental health issues to open up a liile easier and allowed for mes of breakthrough and signposng along the way. Following on from the walking groups the charity introduced a me of connecon through board games and breakfast. This was extremely good fun especially over the colder winter mornings when it was a liile harder for folks to venture outside. Games like Uno really helped to break down language barriers too with lots of laughter and less need for google translator.

In November 2024 J29 launched their first community choir. This was very popular, a very fun way to connect young and old. The choir was led by one of the Trustees of the charity and sang in various places throughout the town in the run up to Christmas. The choir brought tremendous joy to our streets, the community connec`ng with the community in a very simple expression of love. To have people of all cultural backgrounds and differing faiths united together in the choir made it extra special.

Charity no: 107583

Company no: 653491

2024 JULY 01 - 2025 JUNE 30

Christmas 2024 in J29 was celebrated with a carol service and a beauful Community Christmas dinner and Liile Light Bags distributed to 250 members of the community to help brighten their Christmas. The compassion work connued as well, supporng families in need of crical support with the essenals of food, heang and electricity over the period. This work is not talked about publicly to any great degree but happens in the quiet, following consulta`on with families and other statutory and voluntary bodies.

In January 2025 the first course of the Bereavement Journey was launched responding to the need on the ground for support for those living with grief. This course ran very successfully with 80% of those signed up new beneficiaries. The feedback from the course was extremely posi`ve, affirming that the course made a tangible difference to the lives of all who completed it.

Our parent and toddler group, Bubble Club con`nued to thrive with an average aiendance of 25 families on a Monday morning. Bubble Club provides a vital outlet for young children and their carers in a safe and loving space.

The work supporng ethnic minories arriving in the Banbridge area has connued to flourish. The naonalies supported consist of Sudanese, Bengali, Pakistani , Russian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Syrian Arabs, Syrian Kurds, Jordanian, Somalian, Indian, Columbian and Bulgarian. This group is made up primarily of those seeking asylum and those who have secured refugee status. In addion we also support any newcomers to our area such as economic migrants. It is our heart at J29 to support individuals both praccally and pastorally. The praccal tasks we have assisted with include; registering with a Doctor, Denst and Opcian, signposng to the local foodbank, vising schools to secure places for children and sourcing warm clothing . Advocacy is a significant part of our work to ensure ethnic minories understand their rights and are empowered to have a voice. In total we supported 25 ethnic minority families consisng of 93 individuals.

Once a week we have held our women’s only conversaonal English class called ‘Invited’. This is an opportunity for women to gather together, improve their language skills and form meaningful friendships in a safe and welcoming space. The group would average about 10 ladies each week. Topics covered have been wide ranging and have included discussion about restoraon, compassion and prayer. The sense of family amongst such a diverse group of women ranging from 19 yrs old to mid 70’s has been beauful for us to behold. ‘Invited’ is far from a stand alone enty in J29; the ladies and their families con`nue to engage with all aspects of the ministry.

The work supporng ethnic minories in the Banbridge area faced an unexpected challenge in the summer of 2024 following an outbreak of an-immigraon protests across N.Ireland. As a charity we now had families whom already traumased by war had the added anxiety of hoslity in the very place they had sought safety. In the midst of fear and turmoil for many we have been able to bring comfort and a safe space for individuals. One parcular Sudanese family were sadly forced to leave their home following a hate crime incident. As a ministry led to reach these very communies we had the opportunity to support this family during a highly tesngme. Our involvement with this family from their arrival in the area was very praccal helping them accessing services, improving English and integraon into the community. We connued to support the family in their relocaon; vising them and connecng them with organisaons in their new home. Consistency and dependency are essenal requirements when suppor`ng asylum seekers who have experienced constant change, and as such at J29 we ensure that we are dependable.

Amidst the darkness of violence on our streets directed at ethnic minories in 2024 we have sought to bring light and joy whenever possible. One parcular occasion was the hos`ng of a child’s 1st birthday party. The young Muslim mother is far from home, without family support and unable to return home as her circumstances are deemed ‘too shameful’ by her own community. It was deeply moving to see this young woman touched by love and acceptance.

Charity no: 107583

Company no: 653491

2024 JULY 01 - 2025 JUNE 30

During this reporng period much work took place through the medium of art and specifically the HE-art programmes. The heart of HEart is about nurturing belonging and connecon within our diverse community and supporng personal restoraon and joy that comes from receiving uncondi`onal love.

Some key facts and figures on the me frame include the delivery of 8 different projects using a wide range of crah mediums eg kniong, sewing, painng, crochet, flower arranging with 116 places filled. 15% of parcipants are new contact, 40% of parcipants are non English speaking women from a range of 7 different naonalies ageing from 18-84 years old. It is worth highlighng the diversity and inclusivity of the groups (age, language, physical and learning difficules) which is a reflecon of the value placed on acceptance and family within J29. The number of parcipants from ethnic minority background is also a very posive sign of how these women are integrang within our J29 community and can be aiributed to the success of that specific area of work within the charity.

The process of creang something generally involves a waing and a perseverance while the different stages progress and come together, and this can result in great frustraon for some, especially when learning completely new crah skills. One of the most uplihing aspects of the classes has been how the ladies have helped each other in thesemes, when age, language and cultural differences are completely irrelevant and connecon is made through sharing skills and kindness. This also then paves the way for celebrang together when the crea`ve process does come to an end and the highs and lows of the whole experience are shared.

In this reporng period the charity connued to grow in term of numbers of service users, number of volunteers, links with statutory and voluntary agencies, range of funders as well the number of programmes offered to the community here in Banbridge. More importantly during this reporng period the tangible difference was the growth in the depth of relaonships with people on the ground. This reporng period saw us journey with a service user and her family, someone we had grown to know and love over the past 7 years, as she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. We had the privilege of being at her bedside in both the RVH and Evora hospice Newry and speaking at her funeral. During thisme as a charity we took a stand with our community in the form of a vigil to remember those who had lost their lives through suicide and stand united with their families in grief. Programmes and acvies are all wonderful in the moment but the focus for J29 has to be connecng with people one life at ame and carrying hope and light in `mes when this world looks like a very dark place.

ENDS

Charity no: 107583

Company no: 653491

2024 JULY 01 - 2025 JUNE 30

Financial review for year ending 30 June 2025

The results for the year are set out in the statement of financial acvies.

The charity recorded a net gain for the year ended 30 June 2025 of £21,202

The fund balance at 01 July 2024 was £54,272

This leaves total reserves of £75,474 of which £43,717 are restricted funds.

PROPERTY & PREMISE

During the reporng period due care and aienon was paid to the maintenance of the premises. All necessary health and safety cerficaons were updated including PAT tes`ng, food hygiene and fire safety.

GOVERNING DOCUMENT & CONSTITUTION OF THE CHARITY

The Charity is governed by the Memorandum and Arcles of Associaon dated 16th May 2025 (updated.)

Four new trustees were added to the trustee board during the repor`ng period.

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC BENEFIT

The directors acknowledge their responsibilies for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounng records and the prepara`on of accounts.

In seong our objecves and planning our acvies for the year the trustees have given careful consideraon to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure the acvies have helped achieve the Charity’s purposes and provide a benefit to the beneficiaries.

The Charity trustees have complied with the duty to have due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission under secon 4(b) of the Charies Act (public benefit statutory guidance.) Details of the main acvies of the Charity to further the charitable purposes for the public benefit have been detailed in ‘Achievements, Performance and Public Benefit’ on page 2. REPORT ENDS