International Peace Education Resource (IPER) Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) Period from 1st March 2022 to 31st March 2023 The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial ststements of the charity forthe period ended 31st March 2023. Reference and administrative details Registered charity name Intemational Peace Education Resource (IPER) Charity registration number N1108297 Company registration number N1667552 Principal office and registered 91 Clady Road office Portglenone BT44 8LB The tNstees Mr S Fields Mr B Hamber Ms M McLaughlin Mr C Winter Independent examiner Donaldson & Thompson 3 Limavady Road Londonderry BT47 6JU Structurei governance and management The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 7th February 2020 and registered with the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland on 17th September 2021 under charity number NIC108297. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.
International Peace Education Resource (IPER) Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued) Period from 1st March 2022 to 31st March 2023 ObJectives and actlvities Advance the education about methods of peacebuilding. Provide opportunities for intemational learning, exchange and dialogue for students and community workers from Northern Ireland, United States, Europe. and other locations. Promote the value of education about peace and the value of dialogue as a method of community development in the area of benefit in Northern Ireland and beyond= To encourage collaborative international research. knoedge development and collegiality bebNeen intemational and local participants in the area of benefit- To afford educational opportuntties to a wide range of participants in the area of benefit, particularly in Ihe greater Armagh area and elsewhere in Northern Ireland, including those with limiled access to such education and training. How to achieve objectives (l) By the provision of training and educational courses and events for local and international participants. (11) By working in partnership and cooperation with educational institutions, community organisations and other relevant bodies to deliver training, Gourses, and events. (111)Bring together in conference representatives of voluntary organisations, Government departments, statutory authorities, and individuals. (IV) Co-operate and enter into arrangements with any authorities, national, local, or otheISe. (V) Arrange and provide for, either alone or with others, the holding of exhibitions, meetings, lectures, classes, seminars, or training courses. (Vl) Collect and disseminate infomiation on all matters relating to its objects. and to exchange such information with other bodies having similar objects whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. (Vll) Organise and deliver an annual accredited course in peacebuilding for intemational students and located in Northern Ireland.
International Peace Education Resource (IPER) Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued) Period from 1st March 2022 to 31st March 2023 Achievements and perfomiance We delivered our summer school on July 8th - 18th 2022. Two main themes that we tocused on were the enormous achievements of local activists and agencies in achieving the current pacification of acute conflicts through years of community dialogue, and the formation of new institLrtions and processes" and the contemporary challenge5 facing them in securrng a continued peaceftjl future. Due to budgetary constraints that were exacerbated by Covid-19 restrictions. that prohibited the sharing of hotel accommodation, we were fOrd to relocate from Armagh City to Magee Campus DerylLondondery. The schedule for the school was wide and varied. A full schedule detailing the delivery of the programme is available upon request. The summers school attracted 14 students from UMASS. This was the minimum that we could viably financialty run the project without either incurring a deficit or substantially increased student subscription which was set at $2,850 per student. Our summer school in 2022 was delivered within the scope of our aims and objectives. The necessary funding required for this was generated through student subscription. We did not apply for funding from the Irish Department for Foreign Affairs as this has proved unsuccessfvl in previous years. Our core funding stream remains the student subscription. Financial review The results for the year are contained in the financial statements attached. Plans for future periods Unfortunately we were unable to deliver our summer school in 2023. This was due to a combination of administration issues on the American side and equally as significant the unavailability of key personnel on the Irish side, in tum due to personal commitments and circumstances. It was unfortunate that we were unable to deliver our programme. but it has highlighted some shortcoming in our organisation. It demonstrated that the delivery of our project is spread thinly over the organisation as a whole. That argument aside it has to be recognised that members do give of their time and have successfully delivered summer schools since 2017.some of our members have are now delivering similar type programmes. accepting the interruptions caused by the Covid -19 Pandemic. It is not a specific criticism of individual members moreover a realisation of the operational circumstances that IPER finds itself in. These circumstances have generated a debate now about the future of the project itself. There appeals to be a growing consensus that the project should be wrapped up. This would of course have to be done in accordance with our constitution. At the date of signing this report a decision on the future of the charity has not been finalised. However, if that is the final decision, as chairperson I would like to thank everyone for their contribution to the project particularly over the past year. We successfulty delivered summer schools that where of great benefft to both the intemational students and the local community here in Ireland.
International Peace Education Resource (IPER) Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (contlnued) Period from 1st March 2022 to 31st March 2023 Plans for future perlods (continued) l am reluctant to single out any one individual, but I feel that we have to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Prof. Marie Breen-smyth, who has had an unenviable role straddling both side of the Atlantic. She has been the inspiration for the project and a driving force behind its, delivery. I feel that it is only correct that as an organisation we do aCknOedge thi5. Small company provisions This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption. The trustees, annual report was approved on 3rd October 2023 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by= •*¥ Mr S Fields Trustee Mr B Hamber Trustee