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2023-03-31-annual-report

St Johns Youth Club Trustee Annual Return Charity Commission NI Jan 2024

Working to support the needs of children and young people in Mid-Falls locality.

Contents

1. Background

How Do We Do It ?

Raising Standards for All & Developing Participative Structures

2. Our Organisation and Track Record

3. Our Strategic and Operational Approaches

4. Stakeholder Engagement

4.1 Programme Activities

Outputs

Outcomes

Benefits and impact

5. Partnership Working and Wider Engagement

6. Chairpersons Report/Treasurers Report

7. Finances

8. Trustees Responses

1. Background

St Johns Youth Centre was established over 80 years ago to provide youth activities for young people within the St James, Rock Streets and La Salle areas of Mid Falls.

How Do We Do It ?

Our values

Our principles.

Methodology

St Johns YC has core elements throughout its activities, those core processes include a range of methodologies including.

St Johns YC employs a strength-based approach (circle of courage) to supporting young people, individually and collectively. We employ a range of methodologies including centre-based programming and outreach and detached work. This includes personal and life skills development programmes, 1 to 1 mentoring, accredited and non-accredited training, and volunteer leadership development opportunities.

The strength-based model we employ will continue to facilitate a positive pro-active approach to enhancing the social inclusion of young people from the Mid-Falls area by supporting them to build their capacity to engage, enhancing their skills, knowledge and participation of our members and enabling them to overcome the challenges and obstacles they face in their daily lives as well as supporting them to achieve their best potential as they progress in life.

• Raising Standards for All & Developing Participative Structures

Our knowledge and experience has enriched our delivery of local area-based youth and community work with the delivery of strength-based approach (our circle of courage) approaches to support the needs of our young people individually and collectively the St Johns YC employ a range of methodologies that enhances the service delivery of the provision such as:

The core of our approach is the belief that young people , on a daily basis, hold the key to challenging and tackling the disadvantages they face and to improving young people’s life chances and opportunities due to existing poor social, educational, economical and health deprivation.

The voices of our young people are central to the delivery of our practice and methodology. This includes developing involvement with other stakeholders within our provision and across the area. This engagement underpins the service development as we prepare to meet the needs of young people and issues facing the community which change annually.

We organise a number of targeted

stakeholder engagements including summer scheme planning and annual needs assessment to calculate the needs of young people and the community but to also enhance the quality and development of the youth and community work methods employed St Johns YC staff.

This enriches the overall opportunities available to young people in the area. We also provide a local award night to showcase the work and development of our young people with key stakeholders invited.

2. Our Organisation and Track Record

What did we aim to do?

A summary of our main activities to further our purposes for the public benefit, including main achievements in the year.

During 2022/23 St Johns Youth Centre Programme used a strength-based approach to build resilience with young people; creating the space to be positive leaders and provide a youth service which embodied the values and skills of young people to positively impact on our local community and in particular young people within that community. We were confident in the interventions undertaken and enabling relationships which developed, were person centered and modelled accordingly resulting in quality programmes for our children and young people.

We have met all the requirements laid down by the Education Authority (EA) Youth Service) in relation to moderation and financial scrutiny. All verifications submitted across end of year, summer scheme, diversionary and extended provision (previously) have been vouched and signed off by EA.

We have throughout 2022/23 continually met all targets in relation to participation and attendance and we have delivered on all outputs identified and provided evidence to the EA during moderation visits. Historically we provided a range of accredited/ non-accredited programmes for members across a range of areas including, safeguarding, leadership, sports coaching, challenging behaviours, peer mentoring, good relations, and volunteering. This work will progress as we are now attracting more older young people 14-16yrs.

We are guided by a quality assurance framework with a specific focus on Youth provision within our organisation.

Asset Building : We were actively engaged in producing a ‘Building

Resilience and Embedding Wellbeing’ framework for West Belfast Partnership Boards Strategic Health Group.

West Belfast Youthwork Needs Assessment: This work links directly into the South and West Belfast area plan as well as the work within the west Belfast LAG .

Leadership

We supported Young Leaders; We brought through volunteers from members to volunteer leaders consistently across many years and supported those leaders to develop future careers in youth work and beyond. We have a very good record of retaining and supporting volunteers both junior and adult and we provide a volunteer development programme which supports their current and future needs. This year we had three volunteers two female and one male.

Delivery of local based youth work across the Mid-Falls Community including:

Within the youth centre we have a focus on recycling with three bins for household, food and recycling. Going forward this will also include taking activity out of centre through a series of community clean ups on an ongoing basis as part of the Social Action processes.

3. Our Strategic and Operational Approaches

Education Authority Regional Assessment of Need (2020 – 2023) states that young people living in multiple deprivation areas experience poorer outcomes and life chances than those from more affluent and stable backgrounds. We operate within such an area. During April 2022-March 2023

This enables us to provide young people with opportunities to broaden their horizons and support their personal and emotional development while strengthening their role as a valued and effective citizen.

During 2022/23 St Johns YC delivered for young people using our facility by effectively putting together a range of services for young people by ensuring they were coordinated and delivered in a strategic way which maximised impact across the local community. We delivered an effective annual programme of youth work based on young people’s needs and the issues they and other stakeholders identified during the annual engagement events.

Our weekly programme of generic youth work was also designed to meet the needs of two distinct age groups (9 – 13 & 14 – 18 yr. age range), this included providing tailored flexible support for those impacted by specific issues and needs related to gender, sexuality, ethnicity and ability.

In addition, we continued to deliver an intensive summer programme using outdoor learning, sports, recreational and experiential learning activities. Alongside this we will also delivered a programme to support members undertaking the GL Transfer Test. This was delivered throughout the months of July and August we played a very specific role providing young people with positive learning opportunities which met the unique challenge of supporting young people during the summer period.

This process helped support young people to promote positive decision-making choices throughout the summer scheme including the GL Programme of work supporting transfer from primary to post primary.

Staff continually built and maintained relationships for dialogue and informal learning through this experience.

Youth Voices and Planning

Young people were involved in all aspects of the planning and delivery processes which guided our youth programme outputs and effectiveness and in line with our quality assurance framework which incorporated the ‘ Youthwork Model for Effective Practice’ .

Learning in all its forms was a core theme throughout 2022/23 and at all levels. Our youth centre employs a strength-based approach (our circle of courage) to support young people, individually and collectively.

4. Stakeholder Engagement

Our work is guided by government policies and strategies related to young people’s health and wellbeing including EA’s local assessments but primarily by stakeholder engagement with young people and our local community. Our services are relevant and responsive to our community’s needs. Our stakeholders include young people, local families, residents, business and other community and statutory partners.

We are committed to reviewing the needs of local people on an ongoing basis to ensure that our approach is complimentary, coordinated and integrated with the work of all of the relevant stakeholders who have degrees of responsibility for meeting the needs of young people across the id-Falls area.

EA’s regional assessment of need states that stakeholders’ voices especially those of young people are vitally important to both the department of education and the education authority in the design and delivery of youth provision. As a youth provider engaging with young people and based in the Falls area we are committed to improving the life chances of young people using a community development approach.

The voices of our young people are central to the delivery of our practice and methodology. This includes developing involvement with other stakeholders within our provision and across the area. This engagement underpins the service development as we prepare to meet the needs of young people and issues facing the community which change annually.

Outputs

Stakeholder Engagement What we delivered.

April 2022

June 2022

September 2022

March 2023

Programme Activity

Outputs

Members Forum 9-13yrs

We did have some limited success with this forum, however after three different attempts throughput the year we conceded defeat. That said the group did meet on six occasions over a six-month period. Within this process they identified a range of activity both internally and externally to the club which could be incorporated into our planning.

Embedding CRED Principles in our facility.

At different times throughout the year, we undertook activities to reflect the diversity of our locality as well as the diversity of our membership within our Youth Centre. This was observed and acknowledged during Moderation Visits by EA colleagues.

Deliver 1 x Monthly Outreach Session

We delivered 12 x Outreach Sessions between April 2022 and March 2023.

Deliver Generic/Non-Targeted Provision as per EA Specifications

Throughout 2022/23 we delivered a successful Generic Programme of activity for our members. We opened 50 weeks of the year Apr 2022- March 2023

We recruited a membership of 110 young people , the highest number in 14 years.

We increased our contact numbers on a quarterly basis Apr- Jun M 790 F 641, Total 1431 Jul-Sept, M 920, F 841, 1761, Oct-Dec M1068, F843, 1911 and Jan-Mar M 1168 F 831 Total 1999. Total for year 7102.

GL Transfer Summer Scheme Programme July/August 2022

We delivered a programme of work to support our P7 students during a very challenging time whilst they undertook preparation for the GL Transfer Test. The programme of work was over four Saturdays in July 2022. We worked with two local primary schools to identify students and had a cohort of 30 form both schools. We had excellent feedback from participants and parents.

Delivery of Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing Programme (Health and Wellbeing)

As part of our activity in the centre we have Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing as core to everything we do. All our activities and engagements incorporate Take 5.

Connect, Keep learning, Be active, Take notice and Give. Throughout 2022/23 we delivered six Take 5 health and wellbeing programmes.

Delivery of Social Action Project 1

Club Clean up and Clear Out

As part of the work within the club a group of senior members x 8 and staff x 3 completed a clean-up and clear out of the youth centre both internally and externally. During the clean-up a significant amount of rubbish was removed from the youth centre. Alongside this members and staff undertook a clean-up out the youth centre

including power hosing, weeding and asking elderly neighbours of the centre if they had any rubbish they wished us to put in the skip. We were supported in this work by BCC Community Awareness Team who supplied gloves, bags and litter pickers.

Delivery of Social Action Project 2

Organ Donation Week 2022

‘Pink Thursday’ 15[th] September 2022

As part of Organ Donation Week 2022 and to raise awareness about the importance of Organ Donaion, we are held a in the Youth Club on Thursday 15[th] September 2022 for our members. We encourage all those attending to wear something ‘ Pink’. We undertook a fundraising cake and bun sale to raise funds for charity. We encouraged members and parents to bake, which many of them did. In total we raised £75.00 for charity.

Outcomes

As a part time youth centre, we are very proud to say that we have achieved quite a lot during 2022/23. Our activities outlined above have provided opportunities for our members to become involved in a range of activities through generic provision including sport, physical activity, creative arts, individual and groupwork, health and wellbeing, social action projects and Outreach activity. This activity has contributed to the emotional, physical, spiritual and social wellbeing of our member in line with our constitution.

What difference it has made for our young people?

The range of activity delivered by St Johns Youth Centre during 2022/23 allowed us to provide opportunities for our young people to engage in a range of different activity linking directly into the Education Authority’s Engagement Framework below and allowing positive opportunities for learning and development.

Education Authority Engagement Framework

The programme, activities and findings outlined within this report contributed effectively to areas of work listed within the Education Authority’s Engagement Framework. The Engagement Framework is an outworking of the Department of Education’s Priorities for Youth policy, which emphasised the need for new and proportionate ways to demonstrate outcomes of youth work. Its development has been underpinned by an extended process of research, dialogue, consultation and piloting.

Categories
of
Engagement		 Indicators of
Engagement

Intensity and
Commitment of
engagement		 Distance
travelled for
children and
young people		 Children and
young people’s
influence in
decision making
Contact Attends, e.g., to meet
friends and takes part.
in social, creative,
recreational or sport
activity		 Enhanced Personal
Capabilities
Improved Health and
Well-being
Positive relationships
with others		 Makes personal.
decisions on
participation in
activities designed by
others
Engagement Enhanced Personal Contributes to
decision.
making with others
relating to a specific
programme or activity
Capabilities
Improved Health and
Well-being
Developed thinking,
life &/or work skills
Positive relationships
with others
Active
Participation		 Participates in
planned, long term,
group work
programme with youth
work outcomes		 Enhanced Personal
Capabilities
Improved Health and
Well-being
Developed thinking,
life &/or work skills
Positive relationships
with others		 Contributes to
decision.
making with others
relating to a specific
programme or activity
Maximising
Potential		 Enhanced Personal
Capabilities
Improved Health and
Well-being
Developed thinking,
life &/or work skills
Positive relationships
with others

Partnership Working and Wider Engagement

Cardinal O’Donnell’s GAC

About 35% of our members are engaged with Cardinal O’Donnell’s GAC, which is the parish GAA club. As a result, we have been engage in supporting the work of ODs and the youth centre by allowing access to our facilities, with coaches’ form ODs providing some extra coaching for members interested in playing either Gaelic Football or Hurling for ODs.

St Kevin’s PS

About 40% of our members attended St Kevin’s PS, over the last year we have reestablished our previous strong links with St Kevin’s and as a result we facilitated 4 weeks x 3 hours of extra-curricular support to students from St Kevin’s undertaking the GL Transfer Test in July/August 2022.

West Belfast Youthwork Cluster/ West Belfast Partnership Board Health and Wellbeing Strategy

We sit as an active and proactive member of the WBYC. This work links directly into the work undertaken over the previous year by the WBPB Strategic Health Committee. This committee are currently engaged in a piece of work Embedding Wellbeing and Resilience in West Belfast. A core element of this work is the establishment of three Task and Finish Groups to engage with the wider community on health and wellbeing across West Belfast. As part of this work, we will be engaging with youth service providers across west Belfast to ask if the proposed Embedding Wellbeing and Resilience in West Belfast is relevant to the needs of young people. This will be undertaken via focus groups and surveys.

South and West Belfast LAG

St Johns YC were represented on the South and West Belfast LAG, though attendance at some of the meetings has been challenging in the last year as a result of staff sickness and Covid 19.

Chairpersons Report Conor Neeson (Interim Chair)

Before commenting on the work over the period April 2022-March 2023, I would like to say a massive thank you to Seamus Campbell who resigned as chair from St Johns YC in October 2022. Seamus had been with St Johns as Chairperson since September 2019. Seamus was at the helm during Covid and provided excellent leadership and direction for the Youth Centre. Coming out of Covid, Seamus was right back into activities within the Youth Centre. On behalf of the Management Committee, staff and members I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Seamus for all his work in St Johns Youth Centre. We wish Seamus all the best in his new ventures.

Following the lifting of Covid restrictions 2022/23 was the first full year that activities and programmes within the Youth Centre got back to some type of normality. You will note from the information enclosed that it was a very successful and productive year for staff and young people within St Johns Youth Centre, with a range of programmes as well as the generic provision on off four nights per week, with one of these nights being a Sunday.

We are required to provide youth services for 35 young people per night and we exceed that target by over 500 contacts with young people. For the first time in

recent times, we also exceed membership numbers reaching 110 registered members in 2022/23.

We continue to work with the Education Authority, Youth Work Alliance and Boys and Girls Clubs who have throughout 2023 provided guidance, support and assistance in terms of programme delivery and staff training. I would also like to thank the Education Authority for their continued financial support allowing us to deliver the programme of work presented in this report. We look forward to continuing this positive relationship going forward.

Conor Neeson (Interim Chair)

Treasurers Report Eileen Manly

Before commenting on the finances, may I also thank Seamus Campbell for all his work for St Johns YC, I would like to wish Seamus all the best in his future endeavours.

In regard to finances support from the Education Authority has allowed us to employ a core staff team led by the Youth Support Worker in Charge twenty-four hours per week, supported by a Youth Support Worker and seven Youth Support Work Assistants. Hours of work for part time staff range from three hours to nine hours per week. The financial support from EA has allowed us to remain within budget and as well as supporting staff, financial support has also been available to support running costs and summer scheme programmes.

We also generate income from members and users by charging 50p per person per night and while not a significant amount of finances it allows us to do additional activities and purchase materials for use within the Youth Centre.

Going forward we will remain prudent and focused on remaining within budget.

Eileen Manly Treasurer

Finances

The financial year the report relates to Financial Year Reporting April 22-March 23

Please see audited accounts for full report

Trustees

A statement that the trustees have had regard to the Commission’s Public benefit requirement statutory guidance.

All Trustees within St Johns YC have had regard to the Commissions Public Benefit during April 22- March 23

A review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the year

Please see audited accounts for full report

Details of any fund held by the charity that was materially in deficit’ at the end of the year and steps taken by the charity trustees to eliminate the deficit.

There were no deficits at the end of the financial year Apr 22-Mar 23

A dated signature of one or more of the charity trustees

Dated 30-01-24.

Eileen Manly Treasurer

Patricia Conlon Secretary

The name of the charity as it appears on the register of charities, as well as

any other names it is known by : St Johns Youth Club also known as St Johns Youth Centre

The Northern Ireland charity (NIC) number 107951

The names of all charity trustees on the date the report was approved.

Conor Neeson Interim Chair Eileen Manly Treasurer Patricia Conlon Secretary Jim Morgan

The names of all individuals who served as charity trustees throughout April 22- March 23

Conor Neeson Interim Chair Eileen Manly Treasurer Patricia Conlon Secretary Jim Morgan Seamus Campbell

Seamus resigned at the Oct 23 Management Committee meeting.

Details of how the charity is constituted and its governing document.

The charity is constituted to provide, maintain and promote facilities and activities of a social, spiritual, educational and recreational nature with the object of improving the conditions of life of children and young people without distinction of sex, political, religious or other opinion.

The Constitution was updated and amended by the management committee on 16[th] September 2020 at a management committee meeting.

A summary description of the purposes of the charity,

The charity is constituted to provide, maintain and promote facilities and activities of a social, spiritual, educational and recreational nature with the object of improving the conditions of life of children and young people without distinction of sex, political, religious or other opinion.

The Youth Centre shall exist for the use and benefit of all children and young people of the locality of including but not exclusively Falls, Whiterock, Beechmount and St. James’s estates to include.

The name of any person, or body of persons, permitted by the trusts of the charity to appoint one or more new charity trustees and a description of the method used to make such appointments.

All Trustees will be involved in the appointment of any new trustee coming onto the management committee. Eileen Manly Conor Neeson Patricia Conlon Jim Morgan

Process for appointments will require Trustees to identify any potential new trustees, discuss and then invite potential trustees to meet with the management committee before a decision is taken to appoint to management committee.

On behalf of the current Trustees at St Johns Youth Centre

Conor Neeson Interim Chair Eileen Manly Treasurer Patricia Conlon Secretary Jim Morgan