Saintfield Community Trust
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE PERIOD 1[ST] December 2021 to 30[th] November 2022
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the companies’ act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period 1[st] December 2021 to 30[th] November 2022. The trustees have adapted the provisions of accounting and reporting by Charities statement of recommended practise applicable to charities preparing their accounts an accordance with the financial reporting standard applicable to the Uk and republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 Jan 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
OBJECTIVES AND AIMS.
Saintfield Community trust is committed to the following.
The Charity's objects are to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Saintfield and its environs without distinction of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, ethnicity or political, religious or other opinion and in particular to:-
- Advance community development by:
(i) providing facilities and support for community and voluntary groups and organisations.
(ii) organising community and family events and providing facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupations for those individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age or social economic circumstances or for the public at large.
(iii) managing land and buildings for the benefit of the community and facilitate the availability and safeguarding of community assets for the community and voluntary sector:
(iv) promoting active citizenship and volunteering in the community
(v) promoting social inclusivity, good community relations, social cohesion, racial and religious harmony and equality and diversity.
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Promote sustainable means of creating employment and training opportunities in the area of benefit by providing premises and facilities to encourage the development of new, and expansion of existing businesses.
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Promote and facilitate community participation in amateur sport and healthy recreation.
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Promote education and training by delivering and/or providing facilities for classes, workshops, training course and other forms of tuition.
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Promote arts and culture by encouraging community participation in creative arts and organising cultural and arts initiatives and events.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
In spite of difficulties following the pandemic of recent years, SCT has managed to grow use of the Saintfield Community Centre, all in line with the Associations objectives and all intended to benefit the local community.
Towards the year end Saintfield Community trust SCT merged with Saintfield Development Association (SDA).
Saintfield Community Trust was originally established by Saintfield Development Association as a separate company limited by guarantee, with charitable status, to operate the new community centre in Saintfield. The object of this new organisation was that a new group of volunteers would take on the new responsibility. This did not happen, with result that largely the same group of volunteers were running both SCT and SDA, resulting in duplication of meetings and communication. In 2021 at the Annual General Meetings of both SCT and SDA it was unanimously agreed that a merger of the two organisations, whose charitable objectives were almost identical, made sense. Development Trust NI agreed to fund Andrew Talbot of Collaboration Ireland to facilitate the process, Andrew having experience of mergers of Charities. The process was initiated on 14[th] March 2022 with a working group of ten people representing both SCT and SDA. During the following 6 months all the necessary administration, including legal requirements, was completed. Peter Bowles and Co solicitors, kindly provided the legal work pro bono.
The merger process provided an opportunity to reconsider the name of the merged organisation. The new name of Saintfield Community Association (SCA) was agreed unanimously. This has been communicated with all stakeholders.
The charitable objects of the legacy organisations are carried forward into SCA, which is strengthened by having both a significant asset in the form of the windmill field and an income stream from the community centre.
Usage of the facilities at the community centre has grown over the period. During the year 1750 individual booking were made totalling over 3100 hours of use for community based activities.
A spin class was launched which has grown to 5 classes a week. A grant of £10,000 was secured from NMDC and spin bikes and related equipment purchased.
With help from SDA, approval from NMDC and grants and donations totalling £19,971.64 from numerous providers a community garden was established at the rear of the community centre.
Annual General Meeting.
The AGM was held on the 25[th] October 2021.
Financial Review.
These are the fourth set of Annual Accounts for the Saintfield Community Association and run from 1[st] December 2021 to 30[th] November 2022. This review compares this period to the previous 12 months.
Cash balances start of period £65,845 Total income in period £91,547 Total expenditure including transfer of all cash at hand and assets to new merged SDA / SCT (renamed SCA) in period £127,603. Net income retained to cover Debt to Barclays bank £31,302.
Principal funding sources.
The association’s total income in the period was up £72469 on the previous year, grants for equipment, community garden and the council’s contribution to running costs constituted £38,506 of this income.
Expenditure supporting the key objectives of the charity.
The funds expended on charitable activities amounted to £54329 with expenditure being up on last year by £39869.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE PERIODS.
As SCT has now merged with SDA all future plans will be cover by the newly merged organisation SCA and these can be seen listed in their Trustees report.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Saintfield Community trust has a committee structure within the overall membership and the following office bearers, elected at the annual general meeting.
Chair
Honorary Secretary
Honorary Treasurer
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS
Registered Company number NI649047
Registered Charity number NIC108269
Registered Office
22 windmill Road Saintfield BT24 7DX
Company Directors that held office during the year
Damian John Scarlett Brian Robert Gamble Anna Walker (ceased 1 April 2022) Paul Daniel McGeown
Company Secretary
Ian Mack
Independent Examiner
NBAS Chartered Accountants C/o NBAS Chartered Accountants 17 Carnmoney Road, Glengormley Newtownabbey BT36 6HL
Transfer and merger.
The charitable company has passed all assets and liabilities to SCA as detailed in financial review section above.
Approved by order of the board of directors on 21[st] August 2023 and signed on its behalf by
Paul McGeown – Director.