Titanic Tigers Trustees Report 1[st] January – 31[st] December 2023
Reference and Administration Details
| Name | Titanic Tigers Special Olympics Club |
|---|---|
| CharityNumber | NIC108105 |
| Trustees | Susan Gillen Secretary Jonathan Martn Chairperson Jeremy Adams Treasurer Carol-Anne Martn Donal Heron Joanna Sloan Brian McGuigan |
| Principal Address | c/o Special Olympics Ulster 106a University Street Belfast,BT7 1HP |
| Independent Examiners | Adele Campbell |
| Principal Bankers | The Co-operatve Bank p.l.c. P.O. Box 101 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP |
Trustees Report
The trustees present the annual report and statements of Receipts and Payments, and Assets and Liabilities for Titanic Tigers Special Olympics Club for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Objects of the Charity
The charitable purposes of Titanic Tigers Special Olympics Club are to:
The club is established for the benefit of persons with an intellectual disability in particular to:
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provide or assist in the provision of sports training for the beneficiaries.
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provide opportunities for the beneficiaries to participate in Special Olympics competition at local, regional, national and international level.
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assist the beneficiaries by the provision of social and leisure opportunities and by helping to increase public awareness of the needs and capabilities of the beneficiaries with the object of improving their conditions of life.
As a result of activity in the pursuit of the above charitable purposes Titanic Tigers Special Olympics Club have
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We have provided sports training for children with learning disabilities from a wide range of backgrounds who are often not able to access such sports clubs.
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We have provided opportunities for the children to participate in club and interclub competitions as matches their ability and age.
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We have assisted the children in attending social and leisure opportunities in settings tailored to their needs. They have made new friendships and develop their social skills. We have increased public awareness of Special Olympics through our club endeavours.
Activities of the Charity
Titanic Tigers ran a number of regular activities and events over the past 12 months. The activities were designed to develop the fundamental movement skills of our athletes; running, jumping throwing. During 2023 Tigers ran weekly training sessions, based around athletics skills providing opportunities for development of the athletes at their own level and pace.
Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit
Titanic Tigers have a weekly club night for all athletes. We have over 40 children attending with a waiting list also. There is great demand in the local area for a sports club specifically for children with learning disabilities. The activities are planned by our trained coaches to focus on developing fundamental movements skills. We use guest coaches to help us run sport specific sessions to allow our athletes to try other sports. We have partnered with Belfast Bulls Basketball Club and NICS Hockey club.
Titanic Tigers have been involved in a research project with Dublin City University in partnership with Special Olympics Ireland to look at a comparison of motor proficiency skills of children with intellectual disabilities and typically developing children. Researchers have visited Tigers and worked with our athletes (with parental permissions obtained)
We continue to use Bloomfield Collegiate School as our venue. This is an excellent community partnership and we have several Bloomfield girls volunteering with Titanic Tigers as part of their Duke of Edinburgh. In the summer months we have an agreement to use Campbell College track to enhance our training.
Trips have been an excellent way to allow our children to experience new places and allow family days out with extra support from Tigers volunteers. Some families find these days out are too difficult with their child. These have included, ice hockey, soft play and a local farm.
We held an end of year sports night and awards ceremony. Also we attended an interclub event with other Special Olympics club, this gives our children a tremendous experience travelling to an event and competing.
Parents and Special Olympics Ulster acknowledge the work we do in helping the children become more active, gaining confidence and developing a love of sport. Many friendships have been made and the club provides a support network for the parents also
The activities outlined above demonstrate how Titanic Tigers continues to implement its charitable purposes:
provide or assist in the provision of sports training for the beneficiaries.
provide opportunities for the beneficiaries to participate in Special Olympics competition at local, regional, national and international level.
assist the beneficiaries by the provision of social and leisure opportunities and by helping to increase public awareness of the needs and capabilities of the beneficiaries with the object of improving their conditions of life.
Benefits to members of the public include:
contributing to the development of the children’s physical, communication and emotional skills
contributing to their overall healthier lifestyle
enhancing confidence and self-esteem
increasing public awareness of the needs and capabilities of the children
Titanic Tigers has mitigated any potential harm from the activities through safeguarding training, access NI checks, and observance of good practice. We also have undertaking sports specific training for our coaches.
Titanic Tigers has carefully considered the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve Titanic Tigers' objectives and activities and provided public benefit.
Financial Review
The principal source of income was from fees (£2503), Just Giving (£2580.47) and donations (£826). The principal expense of Titanic Tigers Special Olympics is in respect of general running and activity cost, with the purchase of new kit being a significant spend (£7929.70)
Titanic Tigers Special Olympics had an excess of payments over receipts before other gains of £2754.49 for the year ended 2023. Titanic Tigers Special Olympics continues to be in a healthy financial state as at 31 December 2023 with total cash funds of £5425. 58 Titanic Tigers Special Olympics aims to retain sufficient reserves to meet its expected future expenditure requirements as well as potential future capital projects.
Structure, Governance and Management
Going Concern
The trustees have reviewed its planned expenditure for the year ahead and are satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the Charity can continue its activities and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 can be signed off as a going concern.
Governing Document
The charity is regulated by the Charities Act 2008, and the Constitution and Rules of the charity adopted on 20th June 2019.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
Membership of Titanic Tigers shall be open to people aged 5 - 12 years with a learning disability with registration forms completed by parent/carer and pays the relevant subscription as determined at the Annual General meeting of club members.
Volunteers, parent volunteers and coaches registered with Special Olympics Ulster aged 15 and over are also members of the club.
Those aged 18 and over shall be eligible to be nominated for election to the Committee;
The committee meets a minimum of 5 times a year. With the following officers, Chairperson. Secretary, treasurer, sports office, safeguarding officer and membership officer.
All Officers are elected for a two-year term and are eligible for election to the same office or another office for a further two terms.
The Committee elected at an Annual General Meeting shall have the power to co-opt further members to fill any casual vacancy arising on the Committee, or to enlist committee members with particular skills.
Organisational Structure
Titanic Tigers Special Olympics club is affiliated through Ulster region to Special Olympics Ireland and agrees to follow the Special Olympics general rules and Special Olympics sports rose. Titanic Tigers adopts and implements Special Olympics Ireland code of ethics and good practice.
The club management committee is the governing body of Titanic Tigers Special Olympics Club and consists of all the appointed trustees of the Charity. Under the rules of the charity the trustees must number at least 3. The majority of the trustees offer themselves up for reelection each year at the annual general meeting under the terms of the constitution of the association. At the Annual General Meeting on 2nd October 2023 all existing trustees stood for election and were elected unopposed.
Four full committee meetings were held between January 20023 and December 2023. Further informal meetings were held during the year to deal with routine business as necessary.
The committee reviewed financial matters at each full committee meeting. The Treasurer presented a financial forecast for the remainder of the year to the Trustees at each of those meetings and its implications were considered and discussed. The accounts are presented annually to the membership for discussion and approval, following independent inspection.
Membership and waiting lists were discussed at each meeting as the club has grown very quickly.
Compliance with Public Benefit
The Charity has given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the Charity’s objectives, as well as providing public benefit.
Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the statement of receipts and payments in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities with gross annual income of £250,000 or less requires the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. The trustees will arrange for an independent examination. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the assets and liabilities of the Charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees
Trustee 1
Dr. Susan Gillen -Secretary
Trustee 2
Jeremy Adams MBE – Treasurer
Date 6[th] January 2025