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2023-03-31-accounts

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Charity no. 108633
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www.polishsisterhood.com ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023

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REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 'POLISH SISTERHOOD' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TAX YEAR 01/04/2022-31/03/2023

In 2022/23, the aim of our Association's activities was to understand and support broadly mental and physical health of Polish women and their families in Northern Ireland.

For this purpose, we organized as many as 8 meetings with psychotherapists to talk about the problems that most often affect us (mental illnesses in the family, the difficulties of bilingualism, a sense of loneliness, lack of fulfilment, lack of self-confidence, family traumas, and problems with children). Additionally, 8 meetings of the Circle of Women support group were held, during which women can speak and are listened to. Catering was provided for the meetings.

For the broader well-being of Polish women, 'Polish Sisterhood' organized a number of outdoor events. The 'Walk around Belfast' project promoted physical activity by organizing a series of walks around Belfast's green spaces with Walk leader. An additional incentive was a competition for a healthy meatless salad with prizes, with the participation of a dietician who advised participants what and how to eat with the greatest benefit for the body. Two of the mentioned outdoor events referred to our native tradition and culture (Kupala Night, Spring Equinox) in order to cultivate our national identity. And on International Women's Day, we organized a beauty session for interested women at the 'Izette' salon in East Belfast.

To keep Polish people in NI connected with their native language, our association organises monthly meetings for reading enthusiasts; during this period, we read and discussed 11 books together. Work is also underway on a project aimed at creating a Polish public library. So far, a book collection of almost 1,000 items has been collected, which, despite the lack of a specific location, is already available for borrowing.

Additionally, for integration purposes, compatriots of both sexes held 6 Sunday family meetings with board games, refreshments and fun.

'Polish Sisterhood' took part in the Community Development & Health Network project at the turn of 2022/23, using the mentoring of the Women’s Tech organization, thanks to which it obtained practical support in the development of its activities. As part of this project, our association has created a professional website that aims to reach a wider audience, including those who do not use social media (Facebook).

Encouraged to look for opportunities to cooperate with other organizations, we organized the Dumpling Festival together with the Chinese Welfare Association, during which the local community could take a closer look at our culinary culture. Our members presented as many as 6 different types of dumplings, the tasting of which was met with great applause.

And in cooperation with the Polish Community Association Belfast, POLCA and the Consulate of the Republic of Poland, we were also involved in a project supporting Polish children staying in foster care in NI. Work on this project is in progress.

EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:

APRIL '22

10/04/2022 "Playing together" - family Sunday

15/04/2022 "You are the fantasy of all your ancestors" - psychological workshops 23/04/2022 "General Meeting" and election of Management Board members for 2022

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24/04/2022 "Inner Critic" - psychological workshops

24/04/2022 "The Ring - Classic Japanese horror" - literary meeting

30/04/2022 "Meatless salad competition" - final of the 'Walk around Belfast' project 30/04/2022 "Family May Day" - outdoor event

MAY '22

08/05/2022 "Playing together" - family Sunday

22/05/2022 "Family picnic" - outdoor event

29/05/2022 "Longing for an alternative world" - literary meeting

JUNE '22

12/06/2022 "Playing together" - family Sunday

25/06/2022 "Kupala Night" - a traditional outdoor event

26/06/2022 "Justice of the Sheep" - literary meeting

JULY '22

16/07/2022 "Travels in dreams and space" - Women's Circle 31/07/2022 "American Dream" - literary meeting

AUGUST ‘22

14/08/2022 "Playing together" - family Sunday

17/08/2022 "Elevate mentoring & grant" – project completion and video release

20/08/2022 "The burden of parenthood" - Women's Circle

28/08/2022 "The Twentieth Wife" - literary meeting

SEPTEMBER '22

11/09/2022 "Playing together" - family Sunday

17/09/2022 "Because I love you like Ireland" - Women's Circle

09/10/2022 "When the mind sleeps" - conversations with a psychotherapist about mental and mental illnesses

24/09/2022 "Library at Midnight" - literary meeting

OCTOBER '22

15/10/2022 "Money buys happiness" - Women's Circle 23/10/2022 "Playing together" - family Sunday

30/10/2022 "Maps for lost lovers" - literary meeting

NOVEMBER '22

19/11/2022 "Friendship has many names" - Women's Circle

27/11/2022 "Evening of autumn poetry" - literary meeting

DECEMBER '22

03/12/2022 "Life with two languages" - meeting with a psychotherapist 17/12/2022 "Like fire and water" - Women's Circle

25/12/2022 "Christmas literary meeting" - literary meeting

JANUARY '23

07/01/2023 "All children are ours" - organizational meeting of the project supporting foster families

14/01/2023 "Instead of spring, eternal winter" - meeting with a psychotherapist

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21/01/2023 "On the threshold of new events" - Women's Circle

28/01/2023 "Between the lips and the rim of the cup" - meeting with a psychotherapist 29/01/2023 "Mysteries of the human psyche" - literary meeting

FEBRUARY '23

18/02/2023 "General Meeting" and election of Management Board members for 2023 25/02/2023 "Understanding a teenager part. I” – meeting with a psychotherapist for parents 26/02/2023 "Getting to know Old Slavic demons" - literary meeting

MARCH '23

04/03/2023 "Understanding a teenager, part II” – meeting with a psychotherapist for parents 11/03/2023 "Women's Day in a beauty salon" - meeting with a beautician 18/03/2023 "Cycles of my life" - Women's Circle

18/03/2023 "Dumplings Festival" - event in cooperation with CAW 25/03/2023 "We are looking for spring" - a traditional outdoor event 26/03/2023 "The magic of a good crime story" - literary meeting

SUMMARY:

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REPORT ON THE CHARITY ACCOUNTS OF THE 'POLISH SISTERHOOD' ASSOCIATION

FOR THE TAX YEAR 1/04/2022-31/03/2023

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01/04/2022 Opening Balance £1,617.00
INCOME (Deposits)
2022 Membership Fee/Workshop Fee paid by 29 members £ 410.00
29/04/22 Community Development & Health Network £1,000.00
23/05/22 Chinese Welfare AS CWA £ 350.00
22/06/22 Migrant Centre NI £1,080.00
25/10/22 Community Development & Health Network £4,000.00
01/12/22 Migrant Centre NI £ 270.00
27/01/22 Migrant Centre NI £1,975.00
27/03/23 Chinese Welfare AS CWA £ 210.00
TOTAL: £9,295.00
EXPENSES (OUT)
Project
Coordinators £2,800.00
Catering
£ 49.57
Volunteer-Elevate
£ 92.15
Workshop-Elevate
£ 126.04
Swimming pool-
ticket £ 94.55
Room hire
Accidental Theatre £1,450.00
Storage Room
Accidental Theatre £ 480.00
Catering / prices
Cook+Roll £ 418.55
Ice Bowl Tickets
£ 62.50
Refreshments
£ 682.54
Catering
£ 506.50
Psychological Workshops
£1,200.00
Policy Insurance
£ 117.60
Zoom Subscription
£ 143.88
Cushions
£ 400.00
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Elevate-Office Supplies £ 258.63 Trifold Leaflet AJ Graphic Design £ 100.00 Travels/Miles £ 305.55 Dumplings Festival Chinese Welfare Association £ 104.51 TOTAL: £9,392.57 31/03/23 Closing balance per statement

£1,519.43

Polish Sisterhood Assets

Asset status before the year 01/04/22-31/03/23

Yoga mats x 6pcs £90.00 Litter picker grabber x 15pcs £150.00 Event Shelter £371.31 Printer £117.16 Projector £377.00 Roller banner £51.90

Purchased between 01/04/2022-31/03/2023

Cushions £400.00

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF 'POLISH SISTERHOOD' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TAX YEAR 1/04/2022-31/03/2023

Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of Charities Act.

My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.

My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:

  1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act.

  2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records.

  3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act.

  4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above, in connection with following the directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.

Leanne Winters

Credit Control Administrator

Date 9/01/2024

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