**Charity no. 108633**
**www.polishsisterhood.com ANNUAL REPORT 2023-2024**
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## **REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE 'POLISH SISTERHOOD' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TAX YEAR 01/04/2023-31/03/2024**
In 2023/2024, the aim of our Association's activities was to focus the efforts on cultivating the wellbeing of women and their families through activities that improve self-awareness and develop their creativity.
This goal was primarily subordinated to regular meetings of the "Circle of Women" support group, during which women can confide in themselves, exchange opinions, listen and be heard. The topics discussed in the Women's Circle concern important, often intimate issues that raise the participants' awareness and self-esteem.
To ensure the healthy spending of free time with families, we organised four family Sundays, during which participants of all genders and different ages could have fun together with board games and snacks. And with the arrival of the summer season, we organised an outdoor picnic for entire families combined with exercise classes for adults and children.
We also took care of the safety of our compatriots on the Internet and social media by organizing a lecture on this topic led by an internet security specialist.
In addition, we enabled those interested to meet with a qualified psychotherapist who introduced the audience to the issue of dysfunctional families and taught them about healthy ways of communicating their own needs.
Artistic classes organised twice a year under the supervision of experienced artists allowed participants, both men and women, to show their creativity and imagination, as well as have a nice time preparing decorations for Christmas and Easter.
One of the goals of our association is to maintain the cultural identity of Polish families and enable contact with the native language. This is achieved, among other things, by monthly meetings of the reading club, whose members jointly select books to read during the year in order to share their reading impressions during the meetings.
Work is still underway to gather the Polish book collection, which currently exceeds 2,000 books. Despite housing difficulties, the number of people using this temporary library is constantly growing.
In addition, we organised two events referring to Polish folk traditions. One of them is the outdoor summer party "Kupala Night" with a number of folk rituals. The second one was a culinary workshop, where participants could bake and decorate gingerbread together - Polish traditional Christmas cookies.
In order to familiarise Polish immigrants with the history of their new homeland, we organised a bus tour around Belfast with a guide, which showed them places of great importance in the history of Northern Ireland.
In total, in 2023/2024, approximately 150 people took part in the events organised by Polish Sisterhood.
And to strengthen the effectiveness of our activities in 2024, we have also started a training series for members of the trustee board.
We based our activities on funds and support from founders:
- QUB ("Welcoming Communities project" supported by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRTC))
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- The National Lottery Community Fund ("Empowering Polish women" project)
- The General Consulate of the Republic of Poland
## **EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:**
## **APRIL '23**
15/04/2023 "The Spring of my childhood" - Women's Circle meeting
30/04/2023 "Family May Day" - outdoor event
30/04/2023 “In the chains of fanaticism” – Book Club meeting
## **MAY '23**
14/05/2023 "Playing together" - family Sunday
20/05/2023 " What do you think about feminists?" - Women's Circle meeting
29/05/2023 "The motif of the nature child in literature " - Book Club meeting
## **JUNE '23**
11/06/2023 "Playing together" - family Sunday – board games tournament
17/06/2023 "It is all my responsibility" - Women's Circle meeting
24/06/2023 "Kupala Night" - a traditional outdoor event
25/06/2023 "Here we are abroad" - Book Club meeting
## **JULY '23**
09/07/2023 "Playing together" - family Sunday 15/07/2023 "Fair sex" - Women's Circle
30/07/2023 " Pictures from the family album " - Book Club meeting
**AUGUST ‘23**
19/08/2023 “Mela Festival” – taking part in the parade
## **SEPTEMBER '23**
03/09/2023 "Under the Greek sun" - Book Club meeting
16/09/2023 "Tell me your name" - Women's Circle
## **OCTOBER '23**
01/10/2023 “Meet Belfast” – bus trip with a guide
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01/10/2023 "Trapped in the system" - Book Club meeting
07/10/2023 "Playing together" - family Sunday
21/10/2023 "Intimate conversations" - Women's Circle
## **NOVEMBER '23**
05/11/2023 “The dark side of the human soul” - Book Club meeting
12/11/2023 "Playing together" - family Sunday
18/11/2023 "Good relationship" - Women's Circle
26/11/2023 "A time passing" - Book Club meeting
## **DECEMBER '23**
10/12/2023 "Pre-Christmas gingerbread cookies baking " – traditional baking event
16/12/2023 "Christmas decorations" – arts and crafts event
## **JANUARY '24**
13/01/2024 " All roads lead home " - meeting with a psychotherapist
20/01/2024 "Woman and animals" - Women's Circle
28/01/2024 "Stories about our grandmothers " - Book Club meeting
## **FEBRUARY '24**
10/02/2024 "General Meeting" and election of Management Board members for 2024
17/02/2024 "Love stories” – Women's Circle
25/02/2024 "A difficult life of a young doctor" - Book Club meeting
## **MARCH '24**
02/03/2024 “Management and strategic planning” – training for the board members
09/03/2024 "Cybersecurity" – training about online security
16/03/2024 "Shame on you! – discussions about shame" - Women's Circle
26/03/2024 "Easter eggs decorations" - arts and crafts event
## **SUMMARY:**
- 1 general meeting of members of the Association
- 10 meetings of the Women's Circle (support group)
- 4 family Sundays with board games
- 1 family board games tournament
- 10 Book Club meetings (10 books read together)
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- 2 outdoor events (May Day and Kupala Night)
- 1 participation in Mela parade
- 1 guided bus trip around Belfast
- 1 traditional baking event (gingerbread cookies)
- 2 Arts and Crafts events (Christmas and Easter decorations)
- 1 psychological workshop with therapist
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## **REPORT ON THE CHARITY ACCOUNTS OF THE 'POLISH SISTERHOOD' ASSOCIATION**
## **FOR THE TAX YEAR 1/04/2023-31/03/2024**
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01/04/2023 Opening Balance £1529.43
INCOME (Deposits)
2023 Membership Fee/Workshop Fee paid by 11 members £ 165.00
02/05/23 Community Development & Health Network £1,000.00
26/05/23 Community Development & Health Network £18.45
28/07/23 Community Fund (TNL) £10,000.00
08/12/23 Mr Jerome Mullen (Honorary Consul) £200.00
02/02/24 Queen’s University Belfast £2,000.00
TOTAL: £13,218.45
TOTAL IN: £13,338.45
EXPENSES (OUT)
Project
Coordinators £1,700.00
Catering
£602.43
Bus Trip
£565.00
Outdoor event
£125.00
Events
£462.89
Room hire
Accidental Theatre £1,500.00
Equipment
£269.98
Milage expenses
£308.85
Psychological Workshops
£150.00
Policy Insurance
£162.40
Office supply
£66.20
Trifold Leaflet
AJ Graphic Design £45.53
TOTAL: £5958.28
31/03/23 Closing balance per statement £8954.60
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## **Polish Sisterhood Assets**
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Asset status before the year 01/04/23-31/03/24
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
Cushions £400.00
Purchased between 01/04/2023-31/03/2024
Trolleys £115.00
Speaker system £155.00
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## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF 'POLISH SISTERHOOD' ASSOCIATION FOR THE TAX YEAR 1/04/2023-31/03/2024**
## **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:
- Examine the accounts under section 65 Charities Act.
- Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.
- State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **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: 14/01/2025
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