2024-03-31-annual-report

Magill Family Charitable Trust

Charitable status granted by the Charities’ Commission for Northern Ireland (20 January 2023: NIC 109328)

Trustees First Annual Report to the CCNI for the Period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

INTRODUCTION

The Magill Family Charitable Trust (MFCT) was established by a trust deed on 12 September 2022 to embody the charitable vision and values of David and Joan Magill and received charitable status with the CCNI on 20 January 2023. The Trust supports local charitable activities aimed at reducing inequality, improving health and quality of life and promoting reconciliation. It operates exclusively as a grant-making entity, funded by donations from the Magill Family. The Trust is proactive and does not invite open funding applications. Instead, it identifies partner organisations and individuals capable of delivering projects and services aligned with its charitable objectives. All of our funding partners make a difference and bring about positive change in peoples' lives. We conduct written and face to face evaluations with our grant partners and where appropriate meet directly with individuals who have benefitted from the activities delivered by our grant partners to ensure the maximum impact from our funding.

The MFCT is a member of the Funders Forum for NI and also engages in discussions with other family charitable trusts to help to inform future planning. This report covers a 12 month period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 and is the first annual report to the CCNI covering the first full 12 month period of our Trust’s operation. The MFCT made grants totalling £94,705 in this period providing assistance to a total of 16 organisations.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

In setting objectives and planning charitable work, the Trustees adhered to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 4(b) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, known as the public benefit requirement statutory guidance.

AIMS, OBJECTIVES, AND ACTIVITIES

Charitable Objects The charity's activities revolve around five main areas:

• The prevention and relief of poverty in Northern Ireland

• The assistance in the treatment and care of persons in Northern Ireland suffering from mental or physical illness

• The advancement of conflict resolution, peace, and reconciliation, good community relations, and the promotion of religious harmony

• The promotion of social inclusion of people in Northern Ireland for public benefit

• The promotion of participation in healthy recreation, particularly by the advancement of amateur sport in Northern Ireland

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Prevention or Relief of Poverty

• Foodstock : a charity that provides practical support to people identified as living in crisis in Belfast through the provision of food, resources, and advice : £10,000

• Child Evangelism Foundation : to provide relief to Ukranian refugees in Romania £1,500

• • St Gerard’s St Vincent de Paul : a charity that provides people in immediate crisis with food, clothing, other everyday essentials, help with bills: £350

• Footprints Women’s Centre : to provide funding for the social supermarket within a charity which provides crisis intervention, training, support and development as well as advice and advocacy for women: £3,000

Assistance of Those Suffering from Mental or Physical Illness

• Lighthouse : a charity committed to the prevention of suicide and self-harm; the promotion of positive mental health and the provision of support services to families who have been bereaved due to suicide: £10,000

• Cancer Focus , Focus Friends Support Group: a support group run by the Cancer Focus charity for younger women (under 50) who have had a secondary breast cancer diagnosis: £5,000

• Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) : New Script for Mental Health Campaign: a campaign run by the PPR charity seeking improved mental health services which operates as a support group for service users and those bereaved by suicide £9,600

Advancement of Conflict Resolution, Peace, and Reconciliation

• Ardoyne Youth Club : to part fund a study visit for a youth group from Ardoyne Youth Club which offers targeted youth provision helping to develop local young people in a personal, social and educational way, working with young people aged 5-25: £10,000

• Limestone United : to fund a young women’s cross community soccer and lifeskills project on a North Belfast interface: £5,000

• Down and Connor Diocesan Trust: advancement of religious harmony £2760

• Harmony Community Trust: a cross community organisation founded in 1975 to promote community relations and social inclusion: £500

• Lough Derg: a place of Christian pilgrimage and prayer in Donegal: £440

• Ongoing discussions with a local reconciliation organisation during this period.

Promotion of Social Inclusion

• Cuan Mhuire : a charity whose main objective is the rehabilitation of persons suffering from alcohol, drug and gambling addictions: £12,480

• Street Soccer NI: a charity set up for the disadvantaged groups of society such as the homeless, people with addictions, mental health issues, ex-prisoners, refugees, asylum seekers and long term unemployed which aims to bring positive change to people’s lives using football: £12,960

Promotion of Healthy Recreation and Amateur Sport

• Mary Peters Trust a charity which helps young people, both disabled and able-bodied, achieve their sporting dreams and ambitions: £10,000

• Minnowburn Riding for the Disabled : part of the RDA charitable organisation, which provides horse riding for adults with disabilities in a friendly and supportive group setting: £1,115

FINANCIAL REVIEW

A summary of the results for the reporting period is available as part of this report and accounts.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT

Governing Document The charity is governed by a trust deed dated 12th September 2022.

Trustees In accordance with the trust deed, there shall be a minimum and maximum number of trustees. As a family trust financed by the Magill family, the majority of the appointed trustees are Magill family members or related to Magill family members. The chairman is an independent trustee selected for his personal qualities, experience in the proper operation of charities, and his past collaboration with the late David Magill in charitable activities.

Organisational Structure The trustees hold ultimate responsibility for the policies, activities, and assets of the charity. They meet regularly to review developments and seek advice from professional advisors when necessary.

Risk Management and Avoidance of Harm

• Financial: Annual risk assessments are undertaken, with close collaboration with auditors.

• • Safeguarding: Whilst accepting that safeguarding is the responsibility of the beneficiary organisations, the charity requires written assurances from them that they have proper safeguarding policies which they diligently implement. A safeguarding report is also required during monitoring of achievements and performances.

Trustees

Mr Paul Shevlin Chair Mrs Joan Magill Founder/Settlor Ms Joanne Magill Ms Denise Magill Mr Patrick Murray Mr John Leo McGurk

Address 82a Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AD Auditors MB McGrady and Co Accountants Suite 2B, Cadogan House, 322 Lisburn Rd, Belfast BT9 6GH