STRATHFOYLE_WOMEN'S_ACTIV - Accounts

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".

The objects of the charity as stated in the Memorandum of Association are to relieve poverty, to advance education and the preservation and protection of health specifically, but not exclusively, among women residing in the Strathfoyle and rural Derry areas and their environs by and in particular:

• associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education, and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants;

• the advancement of education, training or retraining, particularly among unemployed people, and providing unemployed people with work experience;

• the maintenance, improvement or provision of public amenities;

• the provision of assistance in the provision of recreational facilities for the public at large and/or those who, by reasons of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances, have need of such facilities;

• the provision of public health facilities and childcare.

Our mission is to provide high quality individual, family and community support for people living in the Strathfoyle area. Central to this is the provision of a range of education and training opportunities, tailored in response to need and supported with high quality childcare. We also seek to influence and encourage other agencies to address social and economic needs and other specific issues facing the community. We prioritise working in partnership with others to achieve our strategic aims. We review our aims, objectives and activities each year to ensure that they remain focused on their stated purposes.

We provide a wide and varied program of activities and events to enable women to access opportunities for learning and development in a flexible and supportive environment. We provide childcare focused on the needs of the child, taking account of the needs of women from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We work in partnership with women’s organisations and other agencies in the North West, at a regional level and beyond, to influence positive change in the field of women’s equality, learning and development.

At Strathfoyle Women's Activity Group we aim to:

Educate

Working with local organisations and individuals, we provide educational facilities so that all our stakeholders have an equal opportunity to develop their full potential.

Support

We provide individual, family and community support to our stakeholders, offering the opportunity to make a brighter future for themselves and their children.

Develop Partnerships

We work together with a wide range of groups to maximise our ability to realise our mission.

Deliver Quality

We aim to deliver services that are of the highest quality, that are well planned and managed. We aim to be effective, efficient and accountable in all our work.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

During 2022/23 we delivered 25 capacity building education & training programmes to 296 participants and provided 90 childcare places each week. We also:

• Delivered a series of training programs implemented for staff, volunteers & board of directors.

• Facilitated Creative Crafts

• Facilitated an Anxiety Management with CBT Programme

• Facilitated 2 Positive Ageing Programme to women aged 55+, one on a Monday and one on a Tuesday, offering Social Interaction Crafts, Armchair Aerobics and Holistic Therapies.

• Facilitated Cook it (twice)

• Facilitated Yoga and Mindfulness

• Facilitated Nurturing (twice)

• Facilitated Art

• Facilitated Baby Massage

• Facilitated Baby Yoga

• Facilitated Baby Swim

• Facilitated Toddler Swim

• Facilitated Incredible Years programme

• Facilitated the MAS Programme

• Provided a Drop-in Respite Program for Families with additional needs

• Provided a weekly Jo Jingles Music & Movement program for young children & their parents/carers.

• Provided 2 Weekly Sessions of Stay and Play

• Provided 1 Weekly Session of the Play Programme

• Worked strategically with other women’s centres and groups to develop a Regional Infrastructure.

• Contributed to consultations, external bodies and agencies on social economic and community development issues.

• Worked with other agencies to foster social and economic development.

• Worked in Partnership with Local Community Groups.

• Facilitated Mindfulness programmes

• Facilitated Know, Grow Flow

• Facilitated One to One Counselling

• Facilitated Crochet

• Facilitated Managing Challenging Behaviour

• Facilitated Pediatric First Aid

• Facilitated Emergency First Aid

• Facilitated Understanding Autism

• One to One Parenting

We have also offered Creche for Courses and a Drop-in Respite Creche. We also offer a Parent and Child Together Programme which incorporates:

• Stay and Play

• Home Play (During Covid19 Pandemic)

• Jo Jingles

• Laughter Yoga

• Multisensory Activities

• Trips

• Fun Time Early Movers

The charity retained the continued support of its funders during 2022/23. Total income for the year was £244,295 of which £219,613 was generated from grant funding bodies and £24,682 from donations, course contributions and GP counselling services. Total expenditure by the charity was £244,132 all of which was spent on direct charitable activities. The balance on total funds at the year-end was £124,073, of which £22,475 were restricted and £26,719 were general unrestricted funds. Within unrestricted funds, £74,879 has been set aside as designated funds relating to expenditure incurred on tangible fixed assets.

Reserves policy

The Trustees consider it prudent to hold monies in reserve in the event that unforeseen circumstances should lead to financial difficulties which might put the future of its employment capacity, users’ well-being and general charitable work in jeopardy.

The Trustees have examined the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation and established a formal policy which stipulates that free reserves be maintained at a level which ensures that the charity's core activity could continue during a period of unforeseen difficulty. Free reserves are defined by the Trustees as unrestricted income funds freely available for use as the charity so determines and thereby excludes any funds committed, invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity and restricted or designated funds.

The Trustees’ policy is that the amount of free reserves should reflect three months’ of operating costs. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that in the event in a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current activities whilst consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. The Trustees' assess that three month's of operating costs amounts to approximately £55,000. Free reserves as at 31st March 2023 are £19,831. The Trustees continue to strive to build a general level of reserves in accordance with their policy so that they will be able to continue the current activities of the charity. In the short term, the Trustees have also considered the extent to which existing activities and expenditure should be curtailed, should circumstances arise.

Risk Management

The Trustees are aware of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Internal control risks are minimised through the procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. Procedures are periodically reviewed to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity. Procedures are also in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers and clients. The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

Plans for the future

Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group Ltd, was established in July 1986, aims “to relieve poverty, to advance educational opportunities and to provide better health and welfare through the provision the provision of facilities and activities for women, lone parents and pre-school children of Strathfoyle and Maydown.” Our project is designed to empower individuals while building their capacity to enable them to participate in training events and development activities and health events. The long-term outcome being that their self-esteem, self awareness and confidence is raised equipping them to become reintegrated into the labour market, also in doing this we aim to break down the barriers to participation, i.e. Crèche facilities being available for all day-time activities to enable women to participate. We offer accredited and non-accredited programmes and offer services such as personal and professional development leading to a rise in self-esteem, self awareness and confidence which often is the first step to empowerment.

Governing document

Strathfoyle Women's Activity Group is a company limited by guarantee and accepted as charitable by HMRC under reference XR15202/1. The company was incorporated on 14th March 2002. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the company, and is governed by its Articles of Association. The liability of members is limited in that every member of the company undertakes to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 in the event of the company being wound up.

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

Recruitment and appointment of the Trustees

All members of the board shall retire annually but shall be eligible for election or appointment again. Nominations from members of the group for membership of the board must be in writing and must be in the hands of the designated officer at least seven days before the AGM.

Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association unless otherwise determined by the company in General Meeting the number of Trustees shall not be less than four. Trustees are elected to serve only until the next Annual General Meeting at which they shall then be eligible for re-election. All members of the Board of Trustees give their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity.

Organisation Structure

The charity is administered by a Board of Trustees who are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the company. Board members are from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity. The board as a whole was approved by the AGM and continues to monitor its membership. The Board has appointed a management team to manage the day to day operations of the charity.

The trustees, who are also the directors of Strathfoyle Women's Activity Group Ltd for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

We report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 8 to 22.

The trustees, who are also the directors of Strathfoyle Women's Activity Group Ltd for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Having satisfied ourselves that the charity is not subject to audit under company law, and is eligible for independent examination, it is our 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 our attention.

We have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and our 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.

Our role is to state whether any material matters have come to our attention giving us cause to believe:

1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 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 section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland

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

We can confirm that we are qualified to undertake the examination because we are registered members of Chartered Accountants Ireland which is one of the listed bodies.

We have completed our examination and have no concerns in respect of any of the matters (1) - (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, we have found no other matters that require drawing to your attention.

designated

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

designated

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Strathfoyle Women's Activity Group Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 12 Bawnmore Place, Strathfoyle, Derry~Londonderry, BT47 6XP.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside for use for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of services undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs. Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

The company is a charity and is recognised as such by HM Revenue and Customs under the charity tax reference XR15202/1. As a result, there is no liability to taxation on any of its income.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

GP counselling services

Maternal advocacy support services

Grant funding

Education, training and childcare programme costs

Office admin costs

Heat, light and power

Maintenance and cleaning

Other costs

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxationof Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.

The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £9,086 (2022 - £8,635).

Designated funds represent funding received by the charity to build an extension to the property at 12 Bawnmore Place, Strathfoyle. A sum equivalent to the depreciation charge on the extension is allocated each year to the designated fund, until it is fully amortised.

Certain grants received and receivable may become repayable to the funder if the charity is no longer able to meet the conditions under which they were awarded. Due to the nature of these contingencies it may not be possible to quantify the potential financial effect or give an indication of the timing as to the liabilities that may arise.

The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.

Other related party transactions

There were no other related party transactions during the year.

Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group is the lead partner in respect of the Small Pockets of Deprivation Fund administered by the NI Housing Executive. During the year, the charity received incoming resources on behalf of other charitable organisations amounting to £28,940 (2022 - £54,486). This amount was distributed in full as NI Housing Executive grants during the year and at 31 March 2023, the charity held no amounts in relation to undistributed NI Housing Executive grants.

In relation to the above, the charity is legally bound to pay the funds over to third parties and has no responsibility for their ultimate application. These amounts have not been reflected in the financial statements for the year in accordance with the treatment recommended by the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities”. As no amounts are held for distribution at the year end, there is no effect on the reported assets and liabilities on the balance sheet.