Ealu 202312024 Annual Return Icoverlng perlod ijl July 2023- 30" June 20241 Trustees Report
Charity Name: Ealu Registration No: NIC 107649 Address: Unit 2, 17 Shamble Lane, Dungannon, BT70 IBW Trustees: Noel Quinn Paul Tlerney Siobhan Nugent Shayne Tierney Eileen Shields Brendan Donaghy Our Aims & Objectives The support, for the benefit of individuals, their families and the broader community, of ex- prisoners in tern]s of self-bettennent, well-being, social and economic inclusion, and community re-integration in areas of economic, physical and social deprivation (in Tyrone and throughout the island of Ireland) by all or any of the following means: Economic regeneration: Througih the relief of financial hardship and unemployment; Through the provision of finaiicial assistance, technical assistance or business advice or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people. Social regeneration: Through the advanceineiit of education, training or retraining, particularly among unemployed people, and providing unemployed people with work experience the provision of a wide variety of programmes/services which support economic and social inclusion. the provision of trauma support services, counselling and wellbeing programmes eg mindscaping. the provision of interniediation, peace-building and reconciliation support service and programmes. the provision of personal development programmeb and dedicated support activities for young people. the provision of well-being, educational, heritage and cultural support programmes and activities for older people and the general public the provision of a neutral community venue, providing access to a raiige of free wellbeing, educational, heritage, cultural and social activities, opportunities and events for all ages and baCkounds.
Specific programmes include: EMMA (Ealu Mediation; Mindscaping9 Art) Project- is a programme ot'work for our Women's Group that involves a Mindscaping programme which is about dealing with trauma through the creative writing process; a coui'se in Mediating Intra and Inter Community Tensions and an Arts programme whiLh runs weekly throughout the year Womens's Group - weekly meetings here in Ealu and social outings with other women's groups Mindscape project- which works to support any individual or group suffcring conflict-related trauma- PTSD, prolonged grief Youth physical fitness programme- which delivers a programme for our youth Workshop "Men's Shed" enhances the mental health of ex POW'S Mediation - this is an ongoing progryamine which EALU provides to our local community, this helps create new mediators The Critical Dialogue programme, which supports developing inter-community relationships and networks that we previously would not have had access to and this has contributed signifLcantly to our learning and vision for the future. Writing and Art project- which works to support woman with grief and trauma Health and Wellbeing Programme - which works to provide yoga and meditation classes, counselling and support to the vulnerable in our community. Building the capacity of the disaffected young people Programme- which supports our youth who regularly seek our support aiid advice, especially when problemslissues arise for them. Community Minibus - providing this service to our local community and in particular our rural community, youth syroups and women's groups. JRCT Activities - provides mediation services to our local COlTLmunity, this is an ongoing progyramme for EALU, eg domestic disputes and mediation between youn people EALU'S Activities & Achievements EMMA (Ealu Mediation. Mindscaping? Art) Project- (funded by The National Lottery) is a programme of work for our Women's Group that involves a Mindscaping programme which is about dcaling with trauma through the creative writing process. a course in Mediating liitra and Inter Community Tensioiis and an Arts programme which nS weekly throughout the year Feedback from an EMMA participant.. '[ really enjoyed being part of the EMMA project with a great group of womcn, I learned so much and t'eel confident in myself after attending the courses, these type of programmes are invaluable to womcn with PTSD and trauma"
Mindscape - (funded by SSGT and The National Lottery), this course was developed by EALU under the direction of writer and faLilitator Maura Johnston and the Co-ordinator of EALU Franki¢ Quii]n in which the participant paints and writes to tell their story. The course can be shared with other groups and individuals in any community or any country as a gateway to dealing with individual and group trauma. Feedback from a Mindscape participant "I have attended this course a few times now and I can't recommend it enough, the relief ot expressiiig myself through art is very therapeutic having dealt with a lot of trauma in my life - thank you Ealu for offering me the opportunity to participate" Youth physical fitness programme- (funded by SSGT, The National Lottery). this prO'arnme consists of boxercise and talks on anti-sectarianism, personal growth and confidence building. This keeps the young adults occupied, empowers them to become better adults, more inclined to keep fit and to stay away from the drug and alcohol scene and leading to better community co-ordination and our future coinmunity leaders. Feedback from Youth physical fitness participant "I have been attendiiig the Youth physical fitness prograin for a while now, it is a bi'illiant Class and I have made good friends and it keeps my inind active and body too" Workshop 66Men's Shed Project" (funded by SSGT) enhances the mental health of ex POW'S by makiiig different crafts items. The women's group also use the woi'kshop t'or art, tlower arrang7ing, pot building and painting. We intend to develop thÈs into a social economy project. Feedback from Workshop "Men's Shed" participant "l enjoy the coinradery with the other meii and using my skills to make the different crafts" Mediation - (funded by JRCT, SSGT) EALU provides mediation between families, travellers and other organisations. This service has proved invaluable to our local community as disputes often prolong and the cominunity feel EALU ot'fers a safe space to talk. Feedback from family member who received mediation "Having attended EALU a few years ago for mediation, I found myself back there again due to differences in our estate, the prot'e&+sional manner in which they dealt with this was outstanding, very f¢iir and decisive" Our Women's Art Project (funded by SSGT and The National Lottery) which works to support Women with grief and trauma. They have developed an Arts Proj ectlExhibition and are hoping to develop a Social Economy Project to market their work and a publication with some film Llips chronicling stories and meinories of thc conflict and its impact. This involves training and skills building with enhanced learning from other groups of women in Dery and PUL in Ballyrnoney, Mid-Antrim and F¢rmanagh. The women's art continues to be on display in EALU f'or the public to view. Their art was also on display at The Hill of The O'Neill Dungannon.
Feedback from the Women's Art Project "when I see my art hanging up in Ealu's ommunity room I am reminded how far I have come as an individual, it has also increased my confidence- thank you Ealu for your continued support" The Critical Dialogue Programnie - (funded by SSGT) which supports developing inter- community relationships and networks that we previously would not have had access to and this has contributed significantly to our learning and vision for the future. This will entail continuing to organize workshops and hostingF Vislts with other constituency and peacebuilding activists. discussing and orllegaLy issues impactingy locally and beyond. monitorintydiscussÈng BrexitlBorder Poll concerns. convening meetings to keep the local community infomied. and continuing our engagement with the Churches Inter-ConstLtuency group in Belfast. At times, the Critical Dialogue programme involves training workshops, engaging facilitators and speakers, plus the organization of events to the wider community. Feedback from The Critical Dialogue Programme "As a facilitator with the Critical Dialogue Programme I find more young people Lngaging" Health and Wellbeing Prooramme - (funded by SSGT) which works to provide yoga classes, counselling and support to the vulnerable in our community. This progi'amme allows EALU to maintain and build our he¢ilth and wellbeing prograinme which involv¢s CounsellinS1&YnpOstIng, building relationships with agencies and service providers, and supportingi and developingi our Workshop "Men's Shed Social Economy and Therapy ProjeLt" Feedback from the Health and Wellbeing Programme "I have been receivinu ongoing support from Ealu which regards to my mental health, the support has been my retiige and I can't thaiik them enough" Building the capacity of the disaffected young people Programme - (funded by SSGT) which supports our youth who regularly seek our support and advice, especially when problems/issues arise for them. This includes dealing with youth justice issues, soLial services, education bodies and training agencies. It also involves workshops and courses to be delivered in our training space. Confidence building and capacity remain big issues for many young people who are vulnerable to both the dgS scene andlor recruitment to disaffected am]ed group. Feedback from the Building the capacity of the disaffected young people Prooramme 'Having a saf'e space to come to is invaluable to us as young people as we need somewliere to teel safe, it also gives us a place to go rather tlian the streets"
Focus of Work The main focus of EALU'S work is to provide a shared space to promote economic, social, educational, cultural, artistic, good-rclations, peacebuilding and other activities across the social divide to improve the conditions of life for the residents of Tyrone and surroundin environs and North Arniagh and Monaghan. To stamp out sectarianism and racism. Principal Funding Sources The key funders of EALU include.. The Joseph Rowntree Trust. St Stephen's Green Trust; Clotliworkers Foundation, The National Lottery and local council. Structure, Governance and Management st The company was fonned on l July 2016. The company was granted charitable status on the th 26 October 2020. Recruitment and Appointment of the Board of Directors The directors of Ealu are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company's Articles are known as members of the Board. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, one third of the members of the Board must stand for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. Members, Induction and Training The board members are cilready familiar with the work of EALU and board meinbers are encouraged to participate in relevant activities. The Board members underwent dedic<lted governance training (delivered by Kevin Hippsley in Rathmor) in 2020 to reflect the additional requirements of the organization as a regyistered charity. OblAgations of the Board Tlie main obligations of the Board are to develop and oversee the implementation of policy and to ensui'e that structiires and management complies with le&ial requirements and good governance practice. Organisational Structure The organizational structure (t"or the reporting period covered) consists of 6 trustees and 2 employees, which include a Project Co-ordinator and admin staff. Risk Management The directors have assessed the major risks to which the company is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the company, and are satisfied that systems are in plac¢ to mitigate the exposure to the niajor risks. How EALU has mitigated any harm flowing from its purposes EALU operat¢ under strict governance oversight, process and procedure. Our programmes adhere to clear and comprehensivc internal policies I guidance and external parameters d¢t¢rn]ined by funders, management agents and govemment departments. Employees and the Board are supported and encouraged to take whatever training is necessary to prepare them for their role and support their day-to-day activities (e.g. Governance Training or Safeguarding Training etc). Regular reporting is provided to each and every funder and each programme undergoes initial and ongoing risk analysis to detemiine what if any risks are posed by the programme (in regard to hann to users, participants, workers, the community,
thc funder or the organisation). In this way - any potential hann is identitied and specific measures established to mitigate risk from the outset and as circumstances change or new activities are planned. EALU also take care to survey the needs of our user base and indeed the wider community- before any new programme I service is planned. and we also endeavour to capture and take on board as Inuch feedback as well in order to evaluate the effectiveness of our charitable work. This allows us to monitor any poteiitial areas of harm- and mitigate where possible. How EALU has ensured that any private benefit has been incidental to the public benefit All our activities are directed towards solely providing a public benefit - any private benefit generated is purely incidental. Trustees or employees of the Charity are ineligible and prohibited from accessing any of the services or supports which our programmes offer. The only private benefits accrued are purely in relation to the roles and responsibilities ot. workers. For example our Women's Group project worker may attend a residential (thus benefitting from the charitable work) in their essential supervisory capacity only. Additionally, employees may benefit, for example, from training (which they attend in a supervisory role alongside participants or via direct training - where it is deemed esscntial tor their role, i.e. safegyuarding7 training) but again any benetit is purely incideiitiil. Each progyrainme works within strict guidelines, with strict controls on personal expenses, and with all expenditure scrutinised at multiple levels to ensure appropriatenebs, fair value and necessity. Statement of compliance in regard to the Commission's guidance In settingy our objectives and planning our aLtivities for the year thL' trustees have given care1 consideration to the Cliarity Commission for Nortliern Irelaiid's guidance on publiL benefit to ensure that the activitAeS liave helped to achieve the Lharity's purposes and provide a bLnefit to tlie beneticiaries.
Signed by EALU Board of Trustees Noel Quinn.. Date.. ziloilu)L Paul Tierncy: Date: Liloi Iu)Lf SÈobhan Nugent: Date: OIILOL Shayne Tiemey: Date: Eileen Shields: Date: tl 011ioL3 Brendan Dona¥hy: Date: *1 oilLoL