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2024-03-31-annual-report

St Johns Youth Club Trustee Annual Return Charity Commission NI Jan 2025

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 involve using a range of methodologies including.

Strength Based Approaches in the delivery of Local Area Based Youth Work

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 nonaccredited 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. This approach is informed and underpinned by the following Youthwork Outcomes.

Enhanced Personal
Capabilities
•Self-awareness
•Confidence and self-
esteem
•Empathy
•Resilience
•Managing feelings		 Improved Health and
Well-being
•Satisfaction with life/self
•Awareness of health
issues (sexual, physical
and/or mental)
•Ability to make healthy
choices (reduction in risk
taking behaviours/
reduced substance
misuse)		 Development of
thinking skills, life and
work skills
•Decision making
•Planning and problem
solving
•Leadership and
communication
•Creativity
Development of positive
relationships with
others
•Ability to work with
others (teamwork)
•Positive peer
relationships
•Positive relationships
with adults
•Engagement with others
from diverse backgrounds
•Respect for difference.
Increased participation
•Sense of belonging to
community
•Communication
between young people
and adults
•Influences others,
advocates on behalf of
others or takes on a
representative role.		 Active citizenship
•Volunteering (local and
international)
•Awareness of local &
global issues
•Social action
•Employment, Education
or Training

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 2023/24 St Johns Youth Centre Programme used a strength-based approach to increase participation, enhance personal capabilities, improve health and wellbeing, build resilience with our young people and volunteers; 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 the enabling of relationships which developed over this period. These relationships were person centered and modelled accordingly resulting in quality programmes for members and service users.

As in the previous year 2022/23 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 programme of work, summer scheme and end of year were vouched and signed off by EA as well as our own auditor.

We have throughout 2023/24 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. We continue to provide a range of accredited/ non-accredited programmes for staff and members across a range of areas including, safeguarding, leadership, challenging behaviours, (CRED) good relations, health and wellbeing (Take 5 steps to wellbeing) and volunteering. This work will continue as we move forward.

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 .

West Belfast Partnership Board- Embedding Wellbeing and Resilience Strategy.

We were actively involved in the development, roll out and final report on the health and wellbeing needs of young people within west Belfast, thorough the West Belfast Youth Work Cluster Strategic Planning Process. As above this work links directly into the South and West Belfast area plan as well as the work within the west Belfast Local Advisory Group for Youth Work .

Leadership

We supported Potential Young Leaders, throughout 23/24, delivering a number of sessions for young people in the 9-13yrs and 14-18yrs age groups. A total of 26 sessions were delivered through the year. Like in the previous year we brought through volunteers from members to volunteer leaders and now have a group of 10 young people who are actively engaged in leadership roles within our centre. 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.

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

We met all the requirements and successfully delivered the 2023/24 plan. This included: the delivery of the generic/non-targeted youth provision for our locality, including health and wellbeing, members forum, CRED, Outreach work, Social Action, Club Clean up, Internet Safety, Summer Scheme (GL Transfer) , Environmental Activities, and Anti-bullying,

• Participation- Members Forum 9-13yrs-14-18

• Embed Community Relation Equality Diversity (CRED) Principles into St Johns Youth Centre.

A core element of our work is the implementation of CRED. This is reflected throughout the club with specific areas dedicated to difference and diversity. As well as having members and staff with specific needs we also have members from different minority ethnic groups. We also delivered 4 sessions on CRED and what it means in our youth centre.

• Deliver 1 x Quarterly Outreach Session

We delivered a total of four Outreach sessions in 23/24.

• Delivery of Social Action Projects Organ Donation Week

We delivered one Organ Donation Social Action Project during Organ Donation in September 2023. This was directly linked to activities undertaken by other youth centres across the region as part of work undertaken through Youth Work Alliance.

• Club Clean up inside and outside facility.

As part of our summer scheme, we undertook a clean up within and outside the youth club. This was supported by staff from Belfast City Council’s Waste Community Awareness Team.

• Delivery of Internet Safety Awareness

We delivered a number of sessions for 9-13 and 14-18 yrs. These were short but very effective programmes packed full of information for the members, not only those who participated but all those who come to the Centre. It was important for the members to lead these sessions to ensure they were taking on as much information as possible about staying safe online, especially as they get older and transition into secondary school.

• Summer Scheme July/August 2023

During July and August, we delivered a successful summer scheme, engaging and providing a range of club based and external activities to our young people .

• GL Transfer Summer Scheme Programme 2023

As part of our summer scheme, we also delivered a programme of work to support our members preparing for the 2023 Transfer test.

• Environmental Awareness Activities

We work closely with Belfast City Council Parks Outreach Manager using the Falls Park as a base for activity and to develop a better understanding of our environment and nature, This was undertake as part of our 2023 Summer Programme. Within the youth centre we also have a focus on recycling with three bins for household, food and recycling waste. This is supported by the Waste Management Team within BCC.

• Anti-bullying

Sessions were delivered for the 9-13- and 14-18-year age groups within the youth centre. These programmes followed on from the work in the diversity and inclusion programme with members leading these sessions. This was essential in ensuring the main messages of the programme were delivered and promoted throughout the centre with members sharing posters and ideas with younger members.

3. Our Strategic and Operational Approaches

Education Authority Regional Assessment of Need (2020 – 2023 extended to 2024) 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 enabled 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, both within and outside the youth centre.

During 2023/24 St Johns YC delivered for young people using our facility by effectively putting together a range of services and ensuring they were coordinated and delivered in a strategic way which maximised impact across the local community. We delivered an effective programme of youth work throughout 23/24 based on the needs of young people and other identified stakeholders during the annual engagement events. Throughout the year staff continually built and maintained relationships for dialogue and informal learning through this experience.

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.

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 2023/24 and at all levels. Our youth centre employs a strength-based approach (our circle of courage) to support young people, individually and collectively.

Outputs

Stakeholder Engagement What we delivered.

April 2023

June 2023

September 2023

March 2024

Programme Activity

Outputs

Deliver Generic/Non-Targeted Provision as per EA Specifications

Throughout 2023/24 we delivered a successful Generic Programme of activity for our members. We opened 48 weeks of the year Apr 2023- March 2024

We recruited a membership of 95 young people .

As per last year we exceeded our contract targets from EA as follows.

Apr- Jun M 862 F 862 Total (1552

Jul-Sept, M 913 F 751 Total (1664)

Oct-Dec M, 996 F 652 Total (1948)

Jan-Mar M 865 F 836 Total (1701)

Total for year 6865

Health and Wellbeing

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 steps to wellbeing, Connect, Keep learning, Be active, Take notice and Give. Throughout 2023/24 we delivered six Take 5 steps to wellbeing health and wellbeing programmes.

Participative Structures

Members Forum 9-13yrs-14-18yrs

We had limited success with these forums, though a number of sessions were held throughout the year with progress made. Overall, eight sessions took place across both age groups.

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.

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 2023

‘Pink Wednesday’ 18[th] September 2023

As a follow on from the previous year as part of Organ Donation Week 2023 and to raise awareness about the importance of Organ Donation, we are held a in the Youth Club on Wednesday 20[th] September 2023 for our members. We encouraged all members and staff to wear something ‘ Pink’.

• Delivery of Internet Safety Awareness

We delivered a number of sessions for 9-13 and 14-18 yrs. These were short but very effective programmes packed full of information for the members, not only those who participated but all those who come to the Centre. It was important for the members to lead these sessions to ensure they were taking on as much information as possible about staying safe online, especially as they get older and transition into secondary school.

During July and August, we delivered a successful summer scheme, engaging and providing a range of club based and external activities to our young people .

• GL Transfer Summer Scheme Programme 2023

As part of our summer scheme, we also delivered a programme of work to support our members preparing for the 2023 Transfer Test.

• Environmental Awareness Activities

We work closely with Belfast City Council Parks Outreach Manager using the Falls Park as a base for activity and to develop a better understanding of our environment and nature, This was undertake as part of our 2023 Summer Programme.

• Anti-bullying

Sessions were delivered for the 9-13- and 14-18-year age groups within the youth centre. These programmes followed on from the work in the diversity and inclusion programme with members leading these sessions.

Outcomes

As a part time youth centre, we are very proud to say that we have achieved quite a lot during 2023/24. 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, emotional health and wellbeing, social action projects and Outreach activity. Combined this range of 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 2023/24 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.

These included the following.

Leadership Sessions x 4 Programmes

Generic Programme of Activity

Delivered 48 weeks programme of activity for 95 members. Throughout the year we had a total of X 6865 contacts with young people in the youth centre.

Health and Wellbeing Take 5 steps to wellbeing x 6 Programmes

CRED x 2 Programmes

Outreach x 4 Sessions

Social Action x 2 Programme

Internet Safety x 3 Programmes

Summer Scheme

Transfer Support

Environment and Climate x 2 Programmes

Anti Bullying x 2 Programmes

Stakeholder Engagement Session x 4 Activities

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 Engages in, short term, group
programmes•Makes new
relationships		 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		 Participates in the design
and/or delivery of programmes
or activities for self and others,
including evaluation•Acts in a
leadership role•Involved in
the unit/club/project to their
maximum ability		 Enhanced Personal
Capabilities
Improved Health and
Well-being		 Positively influences
others, advocates on
behalf of others•
Takes on a
representative role
within and/or beyond
the your club, unit or
project e.g. in
governance
arrangements or as
part of a local or
regional youth council
or forum
Developed thinking,
life &/or work skills
Positive relationships
with others

Partnership Working and Wider Engagement

Cardinal O’Donnell’s (ODs) GAC

About 45% 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’ from 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 this will continue into 24/25.

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

St Johns YC still sit as an active and proactive member of the WBYC. This work links directly into the work undertaken by the WBPB Strategic Health Committee. This committee are currently engaged in a piece of work Embedding Wellbeing and Resilience in West Belfast.

South and West Belfast LAG

St Johns YC were represented on the South and West Belfast EA Local Advisory Group, though attendance at meetings throughout the year.

Chairpersons Report Conor Neeson (Chairperson)

Following my first full year as chairperson for St Johns YC, I just want to start off by thanking other members of our Management Committee for their continued support and dedication to their roles. I also want to thank the staff form the youth centre who have delivered an excellent programme of work throughout 2023-24. Some of the highlights and stand outs of this programme for me included the important focus given to supporting our members physical and emotional health and wellbeing, through the delivery of Take 5 steps to wellbeing, an evidence-based approach and one supported by the Public Health Agency, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Education Authority through its FLARE Programme.

Internet Safety, Anti Bullying and Social Action also stood out for me. However, that is in no way to demean or disregard the other fantastic areas of work undertaken including Environmental and Climate, CRED and Outreach, all of which have obviously provided excellent learning opportunities for our young people.

As part of our generic activity, we are required to provide youth services for 35 young people per night and like last year we exceed that target on average on a nightly basis. Our membership numbers remained steady reaching 95 registered members in 2023/24.

We continue to work with the Education Authority, Youth Work Alliance and Boys and Girls Clubs who have throughout 2023/24 provided invaluable 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.

Finally, I would like to save my last comments for our staff team who provide the opportunity for young people in our community to have a very positive and fulfilling experience when they attend St Johns YC. Your dedication, enthusiasm, motivation is very obvious when I visit the youth centre. Your engagement with young people clearly shows the important positive contribution you each make to young people who use the centre.

Conor Neeson (Chairperson)

Treasurers Report Eileen Manly

In regard to finances support from the Education Authority has this year again allowed us to continue to employ a core staff team led by the Youth Support Worker in Charge. He is supported by a Youth Support Worker and seven Youth Support Work Assistants. Hours of work for part time staff range from three hours to twelve 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. We have also generated some additional funds through hiring of the hall for a dance group and GAA club.

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 23-March 24

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 23- March 24

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 23-Mar 24

A dated signature of one or more of the charity trustees

Dated 24-01-25.

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 Chairperson Eileen Manly Treasurer Patricia Conlon Secretary Jim Morgan

The names of all individuals who served as charity trustees throughout April 23- March 24

Conor Neeson Chairperson Eileen Manly Treasurer Patricia Conlon Secretary Jim Morgan

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.

Conor Neeson, Eileen Manly. 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 Chairperson Eileen Manly Treasurer Patricia Conlon Secretary Jim Morgan