## **RATHCOOLE CREW** **Charity Number 109232** **Trustees Report 2023-2024** ## **Chairpersons Report** Rathcoole CREW (Creative, Resilient, Empowered Women) was developed to provide educational, recreational and social opportunities for women from the greater Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey and their families. The purpose of our group is the advancement of educational opportunities, the building of capacity, competence and skills for the participants who reside in an area of high depravation and a lack of community facilities and resources. Activities provided by our group include the opportunity to attend accredited and nonaccredited training, to receive recognised qualifications which contribute to improved education and employability options, increased social events and opportunities to engage with other women from their own community and from different communities, and opportunities to engage in community-based activities and events to enhance the lives of local people. The group is governed by eleven trustees who have administered the charity in accordance with the constitution during the past year. The trustees will continue to comply with the relevant Charities Law in Northern Ireland and will ensure that proper accounting procedures continue to oversee all financial transactions in compliance with current legislation. Over the year the Rathcoole CREW delivered, participated in, or hosted various events, furthering the aims and objectives of our charitable purpose. During the year nine women completed ILM Level 5 Leadership & Management course, and the group participated in the Elevate – Community Development Capacity Building Programme and this was a huge accomplishment for those involved. Moving forward, our work will continue to focus on securing enhanced and appropriate office and community space to enable the group to continue to grow and develop, and to secure the resources to provide the community with future opportunities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Trustees and volunteers who give so much of their time and expertise to the development and operation of Rathcoole CREW, the funders who support us, and our communities for their continued partnership working and cooperation. _________________________ Joanne Stevenson Chairperson 26th January 2025 ## **Key Achievements** The key achievement over the past twelve months include: - 60 women completed Developing Women in the Community Programme - Community Consultation throughout Rathcoole - 12 women completed Train the Trainer Programme - 9 women completed ILM Level 5 Leadership & management course. - 7 women completed Shankill Women’s Group Changemakers Programme - 24 women completed the Elevate – Community Development Capacity Building Programme - 8 women completed the TACIT – Promoting Positive Change – Challenging Conversations - 12 women completed the Extern - Addictions Information Session - 15 women completed Antrim Newtownabbey Council/ Community Relations Council funded Cross border Programme. - 8 women completed Leadership and Mentoring training. - 12 women completed Participatory Budgeting - Two Cross community trips to Creggan L/Derry - Trip to Alternatives Shankill - Visit to Newtownabbey Crematorium - Visits to Crumlin Road Jail - Visit to Stormont - Trip to the Whitehouse Museum - Trip to Orange Heritage Museum - Visit to Greencastle Maritime Museum - Visit to Greencastle Community Centre - Delivered 2 x Health & Wellbeing events. - Restorative Practice training programme - Christmas dinner for 50 local pensioners - Kings Coronation community event - 2 women attended the Buckingham Palace Garden Party – Kings Coronation - International Women’s Day events - DWC Celebration event Maghera - Council’s Community Consultation – community hub - Residential – Governance and Running a Community Group - CFNI – Promoting a Women’s Health Strategy - Delivery of 38 Health & Wellbeing, Cultural and History and other workshops including: One Pill Will Kill, Restorative Practice – Alternatives, Inspirational Women, Irish History & Culture, PSNI Neighbourhood Team – Personal safety, Health & Wellbeing – Pet Therapy, Dealing with Trauma & Anxiety, Chest, Heart & Stroke, Menopause, Mindfulness, Women’s Aid, Breast, Cervical & Bowel cancer awareness, Suicide awareness, Trauma Informed Practice, Christmas Crafts, Women’s Aid, Healthy Eating, Red Hand & Shamrock ## **RATHCOOLE CREW** **Income & Expenditure Account as at 31st March 2024** |**INCOME**|£|£| |---|---|---| |Antrim Newtownabbey Borough Council||5,750| |Co-Op||150| |James Brown & Sons||1,175| |CDHN||4,000| |CFNI||4,900| |Income Generation||506| |Other - Donation||50| **16,531** |**EXPENDITURE**||| |---|---|---| |Rent|314|| |Venue Hire|629|| |Insurance|118|| |Transport|1,080|| |Hospitality|777|| |Materials|1,193|| |Equipment|1,417|| |Office|257|| |Project|7,408|| |Telephone|10|| |Expenditure before Bank|Interest and Charges|13,203| |Bank Interest and Charges||81| |Total Expenditure||13,284| _____________________ _____________________ Joanne Stevenson David Browne Chairperson Independent Examiner 24[th] June 2024 24[th] June 2024 **Independent examiner’s report to the charity trustees of the Rathcoole CREW Charitable Company** I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31[st] March 2024, which are set out on pages 1 to 2 of this report. ## **Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner** As the charity’s trustees (and also the Directors of the company for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 It is my responsibility to: - Examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act - Follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland 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 the Charities Act. The 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 Companies Act 2006 2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records 3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice CCNI ARR07 – supporting document 7 August 2016 applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland 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 and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention. Name: David Browne Relevant professional qualification if any: Address: 37 Rathmore Drive, Newtownabbey, BT37 9BW Date: 24[th] June 2024 Signed: _________________________________________________ ## **Company Information** ## **Company Name** : Rathcoole CREW ## **Company Address** : Room 28, The Dunanney Centre Rathcoole Newtownabbey BT36 9DQ **Telephone:** 07708503900 **Email:** rathcoolecrew@gmail.com **Charity Number** NIC 1109232