Annual Report 2010
Message of support from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin T.D., to the Federation of Irish Societies Annual Meeting 2010
Our Vision
• To achieve a confident, healthy and empowered Irish community participating fully in a multicultural Britain.
Our Mission Statement •
To be a strong committed representative voice for the Irish voluntary sector and to provide a comprehensive range of quality support services to member organisations.
Our Strategic Aims •
To support, represent and develop the Irish voluntary and community sector in Britain.
•
To ensure equality of opportunity and social inclusion for the Irish voluntary sector.
•
To work closely with other minority ethnic groups in identifying and addressing community health issues.
•
To promote and increase access to diversity in Arts and Cultural experiences.
•
To ensure FIS maximises opportunities to ensure financial viability and appropriate resources to successfully manage the activities of the organisation including governance, management and administration.
I would like to express my appreciation and congratulations to the Federation of Irish Societies and its affiliates for their work over the past year. I want to place on record the Government’s deep gratitude for the work all of you do. The commitment of your organisations has improved the quality of life for thousands of Irish living in Britain and has helped maintain and enhance our vibrant Community. I am deeply conscious of the enormous debt we in Ireland owe as a nation to generations of Irish emigrants. For those of you who made Britain their adopted home, the experience was all too often one of hardship and sacrifice. I would also like to recognise those members of the Irish community who were born in Britain, but who also share a great pride and affinity with Ireland. It is important for the Irish community to have a strong voice in Britain, especially come election time. I would like to congratulate the Federation for the work it did ahead of the recent British general election in ensuring that the Irish voice was heard, and listened to, by those seeking your vote. Without a strong voice the priorities of the Community go unnoticed and can sometimes be forgotten. I would also like to wish the Federation well with its work on raising awareness within the Irish community on the importance of fully participating in Census 2011. The Census provides an opportunity for the Irish community to be accurately counted. I can assure you that our people in Britain - where by far the largest Irish born population outside of our island resides - will remain a particular focus for the Irish Government. I would like to congratulate the Board and staff of the Federation of Irish Societies and all of its members on your achievements and wish the Federation and its affiliates all the best for the year ahead.
1
Chair’s Report The Federation of Irish Societies continues to grow and develop and to be recognised as the key representative organisation for the Irish voluntary sector in Britain. Despite uncertain political times, we have had greater engagement with British Government departments than ever before as well as maintaining warm links with the Irish Abroad Unit and the Embassy of Ireland. We have initiated, coordinated and contributed to strategic debates of key importance to the Irish community. We captured opportunities in the run-up to recent elections to raise our profile on the political agenda, to encourage civic participation within the Irish community and to work with political representatives to address Irish invisibility. We have cranked up the Census 2011 campaign in the hope of increasing sign-up by second and third generations and promoting their engagement with the wider Irish community. The ageing demographic, poverty, poor health and recession are currently expanding demand for help from Irish organisations at a time when the government agenda is to reduce expenditure at national and local level. There is still widespread unmet need particularly among older and vulnerable Irish people and families living in areas marked by multiple deprivation. While there are legitimate concerns about government cut-backs, the notion of empowered communities provides opportunities for the Irish third sector to expand. Civic society is alive and well in the Irish community in many
parts of Britain. There is considerable scope for investment in Irish organisations who have a sound track record in delivering quality accessible services to local communities. FIS is ideally placed to provide support to Irish organisations or groups to develop, improve or expand services, alone or in partnership with other Irish, BME or local community groups. We know there is more to do to capture the creativity, entrepreneurship and initiative of the wider Irish community and to build on the cooperative relationships developed between Irish and British governments during the Peace Process. There is still some way to go in exploiting the talents of the business, financial and legal worlds inhabited by Irish people to redress recession and improve economic development in Britain and Ireland. However, with the vision and expertise of the trustees and the skilled commitment of FIS staff we can move towards our vision. My grateful thanks to the Ambassador and his team for their continued support and especially the generous funding from the Emigrant Support Programme. May I say farewell to staff who have gone, and welcome those who have joined us. I sincerely thank them for their dedication, commitment and patience though a difficult time. I am grateful to the trustees for their inspiration and guidance and our members old and new – without them FIS has no purpose.
2
CEO’S Report
Whilst it has been a relatively uncertain and unpredictable year for all sectors, such times of change also present many positive opportunities and at FIS we have sought to work within this framework to the benefit of our members and our community. Our core services focus on building a strong voice for the Irish in Britain and building stronger organisations which reflect the strength of civic society within the Irish community. In welfare, culture, carers, elders, Travellers, sports and heritage our members reach out across the community and it is our role to support them with best practice, organisational development and good governance. This year sustainability has been at the forefront of our work. We have encouraged and supported members towards partnership working, sharing infrastructure and expertise between different Irish organisations and between Irish organisations and other community groups. Our members are increasingly reaching out to the wider community to deliver services at neighbourhood level. This shift addresses contemporary policy agendas and affords economies of scale which help to ensure a sustainable future for the Irish third sector while catering for the diversity of the Irish community in Britain. Balancing stability and adaptability, our members have demonstrated that despite the difficult economic climate, they provide an excellent range of services worth recognition and investment.
We have continued to play a significant role in drawing attention to health issues within the Irish community. In addition to mapping, representation and responding to consultations, we have engaged in a range of health promotion activities, helping members to include focused health campaigns in local events. The FIS General Election community campaign, the first of its kind, has strengthened our voice in the political arena and supported our considerable efforts in policy areas such as equalities, care, culture and social justice and we look forward to building on this work into the future. This coming year will be a time when we engage with new policy frameworks and seek to strengthen our community by extending our reach into the second and third generation through our Census 2011 campaign. We are grateful to our funders in the Irish government for their continued support and I am personally indebted to the Trustees, the FIS staff and our many friends nationally who have contributed to such a successful year for FIS.
3
Our Members
Forgotten Irish
FIS has over 150 member organisations across Britain that include arts, heritage, and sports organisations, Irish clubs and community centres and Irish welfare agencies meeting the health, housing and support needs of the most vulnerable in our community.
The Irish have always been a diverse socio-economic community in Britain, but despite the level of success for some, large numbers of Irish people still remain on the margins of society. Those who came to Britain (often by invitation) as economic migrants after the Second World War worked in difficult circumstances. They sent money home to families in Ireland who would have remained impoverished without this financial support. Many from that generation are disproportionately represented among the poor after a lifetime in low skilled,
Irish arts and heritage activities contribute greatly to the diversity of Britain’s cultural life. In towns and cities where the Irish community have settled there is a host of cultural events and opportunities for young and old with both traditional and contemporary Irish performances, classes and dances. More than 70% of our member organisations provide a range of welfare, housing and support services, ranging from low threshold day centres to support for people with complex needs such as mental illness, homelessness, alcohol misuse and social exclusion. Our members devise innovative ways to provide services which are accessible, culturally sensitive and responsive to the needs of the community. Members work together and in partnership with Primary Care Trusts, NHS trusts, Local Authorities, employment services and other community and minority ethnic organisations.
Irish clubs have adapted over the years to meet the changing needs of local Irish communities, offering services and activities to all age groups. Irish heritage is celebrated through music, sports, festivals and tea dances. Older Irish people can access a range of lunch clubs and services bringing them together to maintain strong social and community links. Within the context of a strong Irish identity many have now reached out across their neighbourhoods to become hubs for the wider community. The Irish community in Britain is diverse in terms of social background, gender, generation, degrees of integration, economic success and religious affiliation. Areas traditionally populated by the Irish are now places of great multicultural diversity with a shared migrant history and a common experience of deprivation and exclusion. Increasing numbers of younger people with mixed heritage engage in Irish cultural and social activities proudly expressing their dual or multiple ethnic identities.
4
low pay jobs, with health and life expectancy lower than the general population. Often referred to as the ‘Forgotten Irish’, many now rely on the support of our member organisations to assist them in the twilight of their lives. Regardless of socioeconomic status, Irish people in the UK have the highest rates of cancer in the population. Levels of heart disease are broadly similar to those within the Asian community. The incidence of limiting long term illness is similar to that of the Pakistani and
Bangladeshi community. Admission rates for mental illness are higher than in the general population although lower than in some minority ethnic groups. Although the rates of suicide are among the highest in Britain, the focus on other minority ethnic groups is disproportionate by comparison. While the health problems of other minority ethnic groups are far from adequately addressed, Irish health disadvantage remains largely invisible or arguably ignored.
Contemporary Irish The Irish in Britain thrive on a culture of self-help. There is a strong tradition among those who are financially or socially successful of supporting the community by volunteering as trustees, advisors or supporting organisations by offering skills, expertise and energy. Those who come to Britain now come with a confidence created by a prosperous Ireland built on the back of high levels of education, professional qualifications, language skills and entrepreneurship. Despite the current economic problems, contemporary
Irish migrants have a positive orientation to modern Ireland and pride in its development and skills which are needed internationally. This new-found confidence is expressed through contemporary Irish culture, arts and sports and the success of the global Irish Diaspora in business. However there is still a considerable need to engage this cohort and capture their talents for the rest of the community. In representing the Irish community in Britain 5
FIS aims to strengthen the links between the Contemporary Irish (new) and the Forgotten Irish and forge a greater commonality which reflects all that is best about Irish culture. Bringing together Irish professionals and our traditional member organisations, raising the profile of the community in the political landscape and forging a dynamic relationship are aspects of our work that will enable us to better reflect and represent the contemporary Irish community in Britain.
Representation Giving a voice to the Irish in Britain
As the only national representative organisation for the Irish community in Britain, we aim to ensure that the community’s needs are acknowledged and addressed in regional and national policy. We have been invited to represent the community on a number of national and regional bodies which make or influence policy. We make regular submissions to government consultations drawing on the real experiences of member organisations and the communities they serve. Whilst we identify issues of concern we also demonstrate the innovative solutions of the community in meeting identified need. Our regional focus ensures that the Irish community is consistently represented across different key population centres. We were pleased to see some tangible outcomes to our submissions and direct representations this year in areas of Health, Census 2011, and the Equalities Bill. Considered an “invisible” ethnic group, the Irish community often fails to be represented in policy and implementation plans addressing issues as pertinent to the Irish as to many other ethnic groups. We have a number of sustained and active partnerships with other community interest groups who share our concerns, thereby strengthening our voice and proffering shared community solutions. FIS engage in strategic debate highlighting strengths within the community but also where the Irish community are excluded in relevant policy. We have engaged in a significant number of statutory consultations and successfully addressed exclusion in a range of health and social care strategies. Responses we have submitted in this period include: • • • • • •
Government Green Paper: Shaping the Future of Care Together London Mayors investigation into Home Care Services North West Mental Health Improvement Strategy Equalities and Human Rights Commission Crown Prosecution Service: Single Equality Scheme ONS Census 2011 Outputs
6
'An important part of FIS work is to highlight the inequalities and needs of the Irish people here and to raise the profile and awareness among key decision and policy makers, I totally support their work.'
Ellen Halley, Irish Community Care
Advisory groups We continue to participate fully on a number of Advisory bodies including Race on the Agenda (ROTA), Office of National Statistics (ONS), and the Mayors Health Equality Strategy. We have participated in a number of Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) discussions regarding the forthcoming bill, lobbying for specific mention of the Irish and Irish Traveller community in policy implementation guidance.
Census 2011 We have continued our negotiations with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and successfully lobbied for public consultation of guidance on the use of Census outputs. Through our liaison and submissions we have sought to prevent data about the community being aggregated with ‘White British’ thus losing evidence of any specific inequalities faced by the Irish community.
Civic Participation Our election campaign sought to increase civic participation by encouraging community members to register to vote and feed Irish interests into the debate. Our census campaign plans will focus on getting Irish people of first, second and third generation to engage in the community, in the arts and in volunteering. Our Irish Professional Network supports an interface between the professional, business and community sector.
7
Community Development
Building partnerships, forging futures A core element of our work is to provide members with consultancy services which assist them to strengthen their infrastructure, develop their services and forge a more sustainable future. Our Community Development staff work with members to identify their organisational goals and ambitions. They deliver tailored solutions through planned 1-1 support or group training events. Regular briefings, forums and newsletters have ensured that all our members are up to date on best practice across the voluntary and community sector. They are able to draw on other Irish organisation’s experiences and successes in addressing the needs of their local communities. We provide extensive support in areas of: • • • • • •
Governance Business planning Strategic capacity Fundraising support Networking opportunities Identifying potential partnerships
We also offer practical assistance in: • • • •
Asset transfer and stock management Workforce development Mediation Assessing the needs of local Irish communities
Last year our staff delivered over 125 support sessions, 35 training opportunities and more than 200 brief interventions to more than 70 Irish community organisations. The outcome of our work is empowered and adaptive Irish community organisations providing quality services across the UK in areas of welfare, culture and community.
Building Partnerships Between Members
Tackling a tough economic environment calls for radical shifts in how we work. Through our work with Trustees and staff we have increased peer support and collaboration across the membership. We have brought members together who have benefited from better economies of scale by sharing back office functions such as IT, finance and HR services, joint utilities purchasing and making funding applications. The more radical are pursuing merger opportunities or group structures to create a more sustainable emergent Irish voluntary sector. The FIS Community Development Team has an excellent range of skills and experience to support organisations through all aspects of the collaborative process and through the challenges they face.
8
'FIS plays an active, crucial role in developing contacts within the community, and in informing and representing us. Over the last year FIS has helped us learn more about marketing and fundraising and brought us together with other groups to find out how we could all increase our efficiency and impact by working collaboratively.'
Dermot Murphy, Chair Irish Support & Advice Service
Working Across the Sector
In June 09 FIS commenced an exciting new partnership with Prevista Ltd to provide 16 London members with free business planning support. Each member received to up to 12 hours of business planning tailored to their specific needs. In feedback one member said “The FIS-negotiated Prevista project proved an excellent resource that has provided us with an experienced professional to support the development of our work here. We fully expect to increase our income as a result.“
Midlands Collaboration
FIS staff approached all members in the Midlands and then brought together nine organisations who wished to explore how they could be more sustainable through working together collaboratively. The collective strength of large and small organisations working together was recognised, and it has been agreed to apply for funding for a joint culture and heritage project. In addition, two members were supported through a scrutiny and consultation process and are now sharing premises, back office functions, and operational management.
Irish Management Consortium (IMC)
FIS initiated an Irish Club Managers Forum in the North to encourage the sharing of information and good practice, attracting more than twenty members. The forum identified many shared concerns about profitability and club management and the idea of joint procurement emerged. This would enable members to pool resources and make savings through bulk purchase. The Federation led on exploring the mechanisms for this and it was agreed that a Company Limited by Guarantee would give members a legal safeguard and a structure whereby all savings or profits would be shared by the member organisations. As a result a fully independent company, The Irish Management Consortium, serving the Irish community in the North has been set up and is now fully operational. IMC continues to receive regular development support from the Federation with the Clubs Development Worker playing a pivotal support role. The organisation supplies a wide range of products and services that are specifically related to our clubs and community groups at very competitive terms. The membership is growing every month and the success of the consortium will have a significant impact on the sustainability of the Irish clubs in the Federation.
9
Health & Well-Being Building blocks for community well-being FIS is the only national Irish organisation in Britain which takes a key role in promoting the health and wellbeing of the Irish community. Drawing on robust independent research we identify key health concerns pertaining to the Irish and Irish Travellers, representing these to national and regional health agencies. We seek recognition for community activities which support the wellbeing of our diverse community and share best practice with partners across the statutory health sector, as well as non-Irish community organisations. Arts, Culture and Health A thriving culture and heritage contributes much to the health and wellbeing of communities and individuals. At FIS we have encouraged members to exploit opportunities to reinforce positive health messages through cultural activities. The FIS London St Patrick’s Day Health Bus staffed by Irish volunteer health professionals attracted more than 300 people seeking advice and information on a range of issues, in particular those that affect Irish people. Mental Health There is much in Irish culture and within the community in Britain which supports good mental health. Nevertheless Irish people in Britain do present with high levels of mental ill-health. They often find that mainstream NHS mental health services do not understand their particular experience as Irish people with a culture and heritage different to ‘White British’. As well as persistently emphasizing such needs to the NHS, an important strand of our work is demonstrating how our members effectively respond to those needs.
We encourage potential partnerships between FIS members and the NHS in order to support the NHS achieve health policy initiatives. Mapping of Elders Services We undertook an extensive mapping of services provided to older Irish people by the Irish voluntary and community sector. This helped us to identify strengths in provision, innovative ideas developed by our members, as well as gaps in services for the community. With this evidence base we can provide good quality data to our regional NHS partners and identify priorities to ensure sustainability. We will also encourage further development of these excellent services by linking members and sharing ideas and collaboration activities, as well as lobbying funders on their behalf. Our member’s services to older Irish people in the UK also attract many non-Irish who appreciate the culture of care and support they receive. The opportunity for our members to link into forthcoming commissioning programmes is one in which we can show that the Irish community sector serves local neighbourhoods with good quality support for older people. We have provided our members with: • Funding advice • Information on how to engage with local PCTs’ • Regional partnership opportunities with other member and the NHS • Focused workshops to share best practice
10
'FIS has been proactive in bringing our Irish community and their needs to the forefront of the agenda and keeping it there. This work is invaluable as it compliments the work of all the Irish charities. FIS has been excellent in asking for feedback on a wide range of issues which directly affect our Irish carer's lives in terms of their health and well being and those that they care for.
Eileen Taylor, Irish Community Services
The Manchester Mental Health Conference This year we ran a Mental Health Conference in Greater Manchester in partnership with SEVA, the regional mental health community development team responsible for raising standards in mental health care for ethnic groups. The conference was also supported by Commissioners of the North West Mental Health Improvement programme. We were particularly pleased with the high attendance from both senior health professionals and the community itself. As well as the obvious publicity, networking and health promotion opportunities, the conference achieved several key outcomes: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Prevalent mental health needs for Irish people were acknowledged both by the community and the mainstream health sector Effective responses from within our membership were showcased. They provided simple but effective ways in which the NHS could make their services more accessible to the community Improved partnership opportunities between Irish community services and the NHS in key areas such as dementia The formation of a North West Regional Health Forum to bring together a number of Irish-based organisations to look at potential commissioning opportunities for our members
Workshops at the Mental Health Conference encouraged participants to think systemically about how to tackle long-standing problems of access and treatment for the community.
11
Culture
Celebrating the role of Irish culture in Britain FIS is proud to support our membership’s rich tradition of celebrating Irish culture in Britain. Many popular events across the year embrace the best of traditional and contemporary Irish culture and offer a bridge across different communities, bringing people together and promoting social and community cohesion. The vision for our cultural strategy is to support a vibrant and contemporary Irish cultural scene by drawing on the great traditions of Irish music, dance, film, art, literature and sport. We also aim to promote emerging arts and culture from Ireland to appeal across the generations of Irish people in Britain. Our Census campaign will engage with significant numbers of second and third generation Irish people to promote a more contemporary identity and cultural experience through a renewed interest in their heritage. To help us achieve this we have developed links between key cultural
organisations who can support our campaign strategy. Festivals And Events We continued to provide a range of tailored consultancy services to members running arts and culture projects, with a particular focus on planning for vibrant St Patrick’s Day celebrations and Irish cultural festivals. The Birmingham St Patrick’s Day festival this year attracted more than fifty thousand people into the Irish quarter, reflecting the success of local FIS members working together to develop fresh festival ideas. We supported the Bolton Irish Heritage Group lay the foundations for a new Irish festival in the coming year. In London we were part of a dynamic festival group that was inspired to showcase some of the most contemporary Irish acts as well as music from the traditional London Irish scene.
We have been trying to forge a new 'open' identity, with all operating systems regulated and transparent. Throughout this transition FIS has been very supportive and has enlightened the team on numerous occasions with 'best practice' and structural advice. As we continue to forge the new relationship both with each other and the associated bodies, it provides me with confidence that FIS is 'in our corner' ensuring that we are well advised and moving forward in unity.
Mick O’Loughlin, Director, St Patrick’s Festival Board, Birmingham 12
'Comhaltas in Britain has been assisted, guided and encouraged by the Federation of Irish Societies for the past 5 years. Expert advice, opportunities for performance, and real organisational friendship have enhanced our year.' Vincent Jordan, Chair of Comhaltas Na Breatainne
Irish Cultural Forum
In addition to continuing to work with individual organisations and events, there has been more emphasis on working collectively. Our cultural forum has been a valuable initiative to bring together staff from the leading cultural organisations across the country. Meeting two or three times a year, and supported by regular online briefings, the forum serves to identify common opportunities and concerns, share information and ideas, and exchange good practice. The forum will continue to inform and shape FIS’s cultural strategy and support programme for members.
Lobbying for Culture
Whilst recognised for its distinctiveness, Irish culture has not always benefited from funding opportunities from major arts funders. Building on our relationship with Arts Council England (ACE) we have lobbied for funding for local community cultural projects, and for a greater recognition of the significant part Irish culture plays in British life. We have secured growing support from ACE regional officers and we are now assisting our members to develop robust applications reflecting the quality of their cultural activities.
13
London Olympics
FIS has been a community advocate at relevant Olympic committee meetings to ensure the Irish community in Britain is fully involved and included. The Cultural Olympiad is a year long series of events to showcase UK arts and culture to the rest of the world. We have been working with our members to ensure the Irish in Britain are included, both in London and throughout the regions.
Partners in Arts
FIS continues to develop cultural ties with other communities including the Chinese and Polish. These relationships present a significant opportunity for our members to meet the wider needs of their local neighbourhoods and exchange skills. Not only through cross cultural engagement, but also by the fresh perspective presented by working with external professional arts organisations.
Health
A thriving culture and heritage contributes much to the health and well-being of communities and individuals. At FIS we have encouraged members to exploit opportunities to reinforce positive health messages through cultural
activities.
Make Irish Votes Count The 2010 General Election Irish Votes Count campaign was the first attempt by FIS to use a general election as an opportunity to raise the profile of the Irish community in Britain in the political domain. The campaign was extremely well received by all sections of the Irish community and had significant coverage within the UK based Irish press. In the lead-up to the general election we worked with member organisations and wider community interest groups to articulate the concerns and ambitions of the community through a published manifesto launched at the House of Commons. Subsequent community election events were held in Manchester and in local FIS services in West London. We recognize that the General Election transformed the environment in which FIS will be required to represent the diverse views of the Irish community. In this coming year and beyond, in every region of the country and every relevant policy area, FIS members will need to be prepared to engage with
new Government programmes, new arguments, new thinking on policy development, new structures and new representatives. FIS will continue to build on our achievements and bolster the confidence of our members to seek the ongoing support of MP’s and Councillors. The Make Irish Votes Count Campaign: • Mainstreamed the voice of the community in a traditionally sensitive political environment • Encouraged community members to register to vote and feed Irish interests into the debate • Engaged all three major parties including senior politicians who attended the manifesto launch • Created a template for inclusion of the Irish community as part of the election narrative • Conducted targeted research on the numbers of Irish voters across the electorate and the potential influence of the Irish community.
I would like to applaud the excellent Irish Votes Count initiative by FIS prior to the General Election in May. From a CHC perspective it galvanised us into communicating with our Irish customers but also those in the wider community. Our own in-house mini general election was lots of fun but it also made some of our Irish people aware that they had a right and indeed an opportunity to have their say. Another example of the benefits of being a FIS member particularly in these challenging times.
Danny Maher, CEO, Cricklewood Homeless Concern 14
Survivors After ten years investigation the Commission to inquire into Childhood Abuse in Ireland finally reported back to government. The Commission was established in May 2000, pursuant to the “Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000”. The Commission’s report, The Ryan Report, was published in May 2009. It cited evidence of the endemic abuse of more than 30,000 children in state institutions. The impact of the report has been significant for all those involved, and the country as a whole was deeply shocked at both the extent of abuse and the lack of action to tackle this by either Church or State. It is estimated that about one third of survivors have settled in Britain. A campaign by Survivors in the UK in 2002 led to the setting up of five Outreach and advice services for Survivors. FIS has supported these survivors services since their inception by acting as an information conduit between the Department of Education and Science and the Irish Survivors Outreach Services based in the UK. Over the course of this year we have been working hard with the UK based Survivor’s services. For Survivors the report was a significant acknowledgement of their experiences but also brought memories of those traumatic experiences to the fore. There was no specific recommendations in the report to continue with longer term provision of the outreach services in the UK despite formal evidence of the positive impact of such support on the lives of Survivors. 15
FIS has lobbied Ministers in the Irish government responsible for implementing the recommendations of the Ryan Report and for the related Trust Fund. We have sought to raise awareness of the critical role the UK based Survivors Outreach services play in the health and well-being of Survivors. An evaluation report in 2005 and feedback from Survivors demonstrates the appropriateness of the services in providing a range of different support mechanisms from which Survivors greatly benefit. • •
• •
1-1 counselling and support Practical advice and information to access benefits, setting up trust funds, access to mainstream mental health and social services Assistance with applications to the Educational fund for Survivors and their families Group support services
We continue to lobby for recognition of the needs of UK based Survivors and for the ongoing support they receive through the Outreach services. We will be involved in consultation about maintenance of the forthcoming Trust fund which will oversee funding of any future support for survivors both in Ireland and the UK. We have sought to build a positive working relationship with a number of the UK Survivors campaign groups who share the concerns and perspectives of survivors using the Outreach Survivors services. image source: www.ucd.ie
FIS Team
Financial Statements FEDERATION OF IRISH SOCIETIES STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2010
Trustees Dr Mary Tilki
Chair
Sheila Large
Trustee
Declan Carroll Paul O’Donovan Pauleen Roche Karen Scanlon Mary Spillane
Treasurer Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
Bill Dee Dermott Lappin Gary Fereday Michael Snee
Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee
Incoming Resources Incoming resources from generated funds
Unrestricted Funds £
Restricted Funds £
Designated Funds £
Total 2010 £
Total 2009 £
6,815
-
-
6,815
42,865
2,576 3,925
-
-
2,576 3,925
7,983
Voluntary income Activities for generating funds Investment income
Total Incoming Resources
Staff Jennie McShannon
Chief Executive Officer
Seán Hutton
Policy Officer
Ann Gould Frances McAuley Patrick Marmion Rita Corrigan John Gradwell Ged Kelly Marion McCracken John Hudson Helen White Leigh Monaghan
Executive Assistant Capacity Building Co-ordinator Senior Clubs & Community Centres Development Officer Senior Community Development Officer Clubs & Community Centres Development Officer Cultural Officer Finance & Communications Officer Reception/Administration (Birmingham) Community Development Officer Reception/Administration (Manchester)
579,493
-
-
579,493
642,658
──────
──────
──────
──────
──────
592,809 ──────
──────
──────
592,809 ──────
693,506 ──────
589 551,996 10,601 ──────
10,299 ──────
8,758 ──────
589 571,053 10,601 ──────
682,955 11,454 ──────
563,186 ──────
10,299 ──────
8,758 ──────
582,243 ──────
694,409 ──────
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Resources Expended Cost of generating voluntary income Charitable activities Governance costs Total Resources Expended Net Incoming/(Outgoing) Resources beforeTransfers Transfer between funds
29,623 (17,258) ──────
Net income Reconciliation of Funds Total funds brought forward at 1 April 2009 Total funds carried forward at 31 March 2010
12,365 57,274 ────── £ 69,639 £ ══════
(10,299) ──────
(8,758)
──────
8,500
10,566
70,016 ────── £ 78,516 ══════
137,589 ────── £ 148,155 ══════
(10,299) 10,299 ────── ══════
FEDERATION OF IRISH SOCIETIES BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2010 FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets
Auditors
CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank and in hand
Alison Ward, Chartered Accountant Bank Chambers, 188 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, Essex IGB 5BD
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year NET CURRENT ASSETS
Offices London:
NET ASSETS FINANCED BY:
95 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF Tel 020 7833 1226 ; Fax 20 7833 3214 info@irishsocieties.org www.irishsocieties.org
Birmingham: Suite 211, Keys Court, 82-84 Moseley Street, Birmingham B12 ORT; Tel 0121 622 4169; Fax 0121 622 5613 Company Number: 04013148 Registered Charity Number: 1092268
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Designated funds
(903) ────── (903) 138,492 ────── £ 137,589 ══════
2010 £
2009 £
-
3,254 ──────
30,760 336,157 ────── 366,917 218,762 ──────
27,886 299,931 ────── 327,817 193,482 ──────
148,155 ────── £ 148,155 ══════
134,335 ────── £ 137,589 ══════
69,639 78,516 ────── £ 148,155 ══════
57,274 10,299 70,016 ────── £ 137,589 ══════
The summary financial statements are extracted from the full audited financial statements. The audit opinion on the full financial statements was not qualified and they were approved by the trustees on 7 September 2010 and submitted to the Charity Commission and Companies House during September 2010. Copies of the full financial statements, including the unqualified audit report, can be obtained from the charity’s registered office: 95 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF; telephone 020 7833 1226. Dr Mary Tilki (Chair) The summarised financial statements are consistent with the full audited financial statements.
16
10,566
17,258 ──────
Alison Ward Accountants Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors
CALLING ALL IRISH PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE THEIR IRISHNESS... The Federation of Irish Societies is calling on all Irish people to celebrate their Irishness. In the run up to the Census next year, (27th March), FIS is asking the Irish community to play a big role in encouraging as many 2nd and 3rd generation Irish people to tick the Irish box. The Census provides us all with an excellent opportunity to widen our community, by reconnecting with those that have Irish roots and heritage. If you are Irish, and want to help us, then join the campaign at:
www.howirishareyou.com
For further information about the campaign, please email: Alex Smith on alexandersmith@irishsocieties.org or call 020 7520 3139
N A O T Y A D I L C HO I T S A T N VAL I A T F S E F E C WIN A N D DA N A C I S U M IRISH