2024-03-31-annual-report

BREEN CENTRE SUPPORTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THROUCH CREATIVE INDUSTRIES ACTIVITIES & LIFELONC LEARNINC ECO ANNUAL REPORT April 2023-March 2024

BREEN CENTRE- ANNUAL REPORT

Contents

Strategic Highlights	3
Community Impact	5
Research	6
Community Impact Outputs	6
Independent Examiners Report	8
Micro Accounts	11
Company Information	12

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BREEN CENTRE- ANNUAL REPORT

Strategic Highlights

During the period, the Trustees achieved a number of planned key strategic development outcomes which included.

Developing Women in the Community Programme

The Breen Centre continues to deliver the highly successful Developing Women in the Community Programme within the Macedon area of Newtownabbey on behalf of the Department for Communities.

Three programmes have now been delivered with a total of 45 women participating in a range of topics such as developing self-esteem, improving mental health, leadership and mentoring. The programme also enabled the women to access volunteering opportunities and to plan and deliver their own Social Action Project. The final programme will be delivered during the period April 2024 – March 2025.

Development of Veterans Support Group

The Newtownabbey Veterans Group continues to expand and has engaged in a range of activities during the year. The members continue to meet on a monthly basis and have organised and attended a number of veterans themed events such as the annual VSO Conference, meeting with the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Veterans Champion and the SEFF Border Tours.

The highlight for the group was securing two allotments in the Rathfern estate which enable the members to engage in horticultural activities and training, improving mental and physical health outcomes and providing practical help and support.

Development of Cross Border Programme

The Board also secured the resources to deliver a small pilot cross border project bringing together women from the Newtownabbey and Inishowen areas. This project proved so popular that we developed a larger programme engaging 60 women from both areas in an eighteen-month programme which will commence in September 2024.

Financial Highlights

In compliance with our fundraising strategy for the period 2023-2024 the trustees successfully applied for, and secured, over £157,589 to cover operational, revenue, programme, and staffing costs.

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The Trustees have identified a number of new funding opportunities for the incoming period and will also continue to build on existing relationships. We would take this opportunity to thank all our funders, as we would be unable to undertake much of our work without their generosity and continued support.

Operating Highlights

This year has been an opportunity for the Board to develop a range of new communitybased programmes to be delivered within the Newtownabbey area. We look forward to increasing our community impact and engaging with those in the community who traditionally have not had the opportunity to engage in community-based activities before.

Looking Ahead

Moving into 2025, our work will continue to focus on the major capital project which will see the re-development of Breen Centre into an outdoor learning facility with accommodation, recreational facilities and enhanced office and community space.

Working in cooperation with a number of support organisations and funders we would hope to have this project completed by 2027.

I would like to thank our Trustees and volunteers who give so much of their time and expertise to the development and operation of the Breen Centre, the funders who support us, and our communities for their continued partnership working and cooperation.

Andrew Kernaghan Chairperson 26[th] April 2024

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Community Impact

From April 2023 to March 2024 Breen Centre has been engaged in a wide range of community impact activities which have included:

• Forty-five women from the Macedon ward of Newtownabbey successfully completed the Developing Women in the Community Programme

• With continued support from the Breen Centre the women developed their own group, Rathcoole CREW, which is now supporting women from the greater Rathcoole area. The Breen Centre continues to support, resource and mentor the group and during the period supported them to develop their governance structure and training for the Trustees.

• In 2023-2024 we continued our comparative analysis research study of two areas, one in Northern Ireland and one in England, of the impacts of poverty and social inequality experienced by residents in similar low-income housing estates, Rathcoole and Wellingborough. This year we welcomed residents from Wellingborough on three exchange programmes to Northern Ireland and two to Wellingborough to continue to develop the programme.

• Development of the Women Crossing Borders Programme which has engaged 30 women from the Newtownabbey and Inishowen areas to participate in meaningful dialogue.

• The development of the Newtownabbey Veterans Group

• Thanks to the generosity of the National Lottery, we were able to support a large number of senior residents within Rathcoole who were experiencing financial difficulties during the post COVID and Cost of Living Crisis by providing vouchers for gas, electricity and food.

Other activities included:

• Production of a business plan to support the development of the capital project at the Breen Centre

• Delivery of a range of educational and training programmes within the Newtownabbey area

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Research

Our ongoing research into knowledge and social justice, provides capacity to explore issues of community knowledge and power with partners from Northern Ireland, England, Ireland, and the United States of America which has enabled us to participate in a collaborative inquiry about how knowledge about “severe and multiple disadvantage” is created, interpreted, and used.

Our research informs ongoing community impact initiatives similar to the ones highlighted in this annual report and we regularly share and collaborate with various researchers and funders regarding causes of systematic poverty.

Research and Conference Collaborations

• Belfast Symposium – Impact of Poverty and Social Inequality

• Peacebuilding & Justice Research – State University of New York

• Breaking Barriers, Women in Peace Building, Dublin

• Independent Monitoring Commission

• Ending Violence Against Women & Girls

Community Impact Outputs

PARTNER GROUPS

• Rathcoole CREW

• Newtownabbey Veterans Group

• Inishowen Development Partnership

VIDEO

Video essay production, production, and post-production facilities

PHOTOGRAPHIC

Archive of resources which document the local communities we support

EVENTS

• Cultural tours to Belfast, Londonderry, Donegal, Fermanagh

• Women’s Health & Wellbeing events

• Glen Espie talk – The Terrorist Always Knocks Twice

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• Ending Violence Against Women & Girls symposium

• Christmas Crafts workshops

• Armed Forces project

• Family BBQ

• SEFF Border Tours

• Women in Peacebuilding

• International Women’s Day

• CFNI Anti-Poverty Strategy

• Inishowen residential

• Dalaradia - Mental Health & Addiction Awareness event

• DWC Combined Celebration events

TRAINING

• Train the Trainers programme

• Archery

• Mediation

• Mental health & Wellbeing

• Domestic Violence

• Building self esteem

• Heads Up – Drug & Alcohol awareness

• Restorative Justice

• David Hume – History of Ireland

• Leadership & Management

• Suicide Awareness

• Healthy Eating

• Sound Bath

• Menopause

• Pet Therapy

• One Pill Will Kill

• Trauma informed practice

TAKEAWAYS

Supporting community development through creative industries activities and lifelong learning.

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Independent examiner’s report to the charity trustees of the Breen Centre Charitable Company

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31[st] March 2024, which are set out on pages 1 to 2 of this report.

Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner

As the charity’s trustees (and also the Directors of the company for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Companies Act 2006

It is my responsibility to:

• Examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act

• Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act

• State whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s report

I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the

Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.

The examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.

My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:

1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Companies Act 2006

2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records

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1. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice CCNI ARR07 – supporting document 7 August 2016 applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland

2. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.

Name: Roberta Neely

Relevant professional qualification if any: MACP/ MILM - Credit Controller

Address: 37 Rathmore Drive, Newtownabbey, BT37 9AQ

Date: 26[th] April 2024

Signed: _______

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BREEN CENTRE

Registered Number NI029657

Micro – entity Income & Expenditure Account - 31st March 2024

INCOME	£	£
Grants			154,765
Income Generation			1,436
Other Income			1,388
TOTAL INCOME			157,589

EXPENDITURE

Broadband / Streaming	1,728
Insurance	306
Water Charges	174
Ofice Expenses	159
Rent	4,761
Heat & Light	2,426
Equipment	5,164
Travel	10,003
Volunteer Costs	4,825
Food & Essential Items	5,000
Project Costs	95,390
Hospitality	1,470
Repair & Maintenance	1,092
Childcare	2,180
Sundry	230
Expenditure before bank interest and charges		134,908
Bank Interest and Charges		59
Total Expenditure		134,967
Total proft for year(Restricted funds)		22,622

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Company Information

Company Name: Breen Centre Company Address: 100 Glenshesk Road, Armoy County Antrim, BT53 8RZ

Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Web: www.breencentre.co.uk

Incorporated 16[th] June 1995 Company Number NI 029657 Charity Registration 23[rd] November 2020 Charity Number NIC 107827

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