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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
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Ballinderry Rivers Trust

  • Status

    Received: on time

  • Income

    £885.8K

  • Spending

    £884.0K

Charity no. 103694 Date registered. 19/01/2016

Public benefits

The purpose of Ballinderry Rivers Trust is twofold: 1. to conserve, protect, rehabilitate and improve the rivers, loughs and water-dependant wildlife of, the Ballinderry River system; the western-shore rivers and streams of Lough Neagh and Lough Neagh itself; for the advancement of environmental protection or improvement, and 2. to educate the

public on the importance of our precious freshwater environment. The charity’s direct beneficiaries are the general public that live, work and go to school in the river catchments in the Trust’s area and the users of Lough Neagh. Indirectly, the wider public of Northern Ireland will benefit from the work of the Trust through environmental improvement that benefits the water environment and wildlife beyond the Trust’s area, and a better informed public which has respect for our shared freshwater environment. The direct benefits for the public which flow from the charity’s purpose of environmental protection and improvement are improved water quality and freshwater habitats in rivers and loughs in the Trust’s area, providing a healthier freshwater environment with greater social, economic and environmental value, and; healthy populations of water-dependant flora and fauna which are an important part of the public’s local natural heritage, and the conservation and protection of these species for future generations to enjoy. These benefits are evidenced through survey work undertaken by the Trust to determine the condition of water quality, habitat or species populations, before, during and after conservation or rehabilitation works are carried out; as a measure of success and achieving the Trust’s aims. Environmental improvements undertaken by the Trust are also incidentally evidenced through Statutory monitoring and reporting, undertaken by Government Departments; and by academic institutions as part of research projects. This provides a level of independent assessment of the Trust’s work. The direct benefits which flow from the purpose of education are increased public awareness of our rivers and loughs and the roles the public can play in their protection; upskilled members of the public in river survey and conservation techniques that give the public an opportunity to play a key role in the protection of the environment and; the provision of dedicated education resources and support to schools and education providers, allowing freshwater topics to be fully integrated into education provision in all schools in the Trust area. These benefits are evidenced through the number of students, community groups and individuals participating in education/information and training events organised by the Trust, the uptake and usage of education resources, the usage of the Trust’s River School, and feedback from participants, education providers and group leaders. The purpose of our charity does not pose any harm to environmental education. Environmental improvement work of the Trust may cause localised disturbance to wildlife and the immediate river environment, however, the Trust utilise best practice, evidence-based, river conversation and rehabilitation methods, which include the mitigation of environmental impact. The Trust also works closely with Statutory Agencies, responsible for the regulation and protection of the environment, ensuring that its work is undertaken to the highest standard and in line with regulatory requirements. The impacts of any works carried out by the Trust are always minimal and are far outweighed by the benefits for which the work is being undertaken.

What your organisation does

1. Through its core activities: a. the Trust acts as the umbrella organisation for river interest groups operating in the Trust’s area of charitable interest. Its policy is to support the development of, and build capacity in these organisations helping to deliver the Trust’s objects and provide wider public benefit to its work. b. the Trust

provides mentoring in the further development of young people and lifelong learners in the field of river conservation and management, benefitting the environment and the wider public c. the Trust provides volunteering opportunities, helping the Trust to deliver its objects and providing wider public benefit to its work. 2. Through its project activities: a. the Trust pursues mainly public grant funded opportunities to promote and develop practical solutions to environmental issues for public benefit and to educate the community on the importance of the freshwater environment.

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of education
  • The advancement of environmental protection or improvement

Who the charity helps

  • Adult training
  • Children (5-13 year olds)
  • General public
  • Voluntary and community sector
  • Volunteers
  • Youth (14-25 year olds)

How the charity works

  • Animal welfare
  • Community development
  • Education/training
  • Environment/sustainable development/conservation
  • Heritage/historical
  • Research/evaluation
  • Rural development
  • Sport/recreation
  • Volunteer development

This display is a broad summary of the charity’s financial information. For a full understanding of the charity’s finances, the reader should view the PDF accounts and reports under the Documents tab above.

Income

£885.8K

Spending

£884.0K

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2024

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2023

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 March 2022

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charitable purposes

3. The Objects for which the Charity is established are: - (1) To conserve, protect, rehabilitate and improve the rivers, streams, watercourses and water impoundments in the geographical areas known as: (a) the Ballinderry River catchment in the Counties of Tyrone and Londonderry/Derry; (b) the Salterstown River catchment in County Londonderry/Derry; (c) all the watercourses entering the western shore of Lough Neagh between, but not including, the mouths of the Blackwater and Moyola Rivers; (d) Lough Neagh; (e) and, to a lesser extent, areas within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland; for the advancement of environmental protection or improvement for the benefit of the public. (2) To advance the education of the public, or any association, institution, voluntary organisation, company, local authority, administrative or governmental agency or public body or representative body in: - (a) The understanding of rivers, river corridors and river catchments, including their fauna, flora, biodiversity, economic or social activity, and river catchment management. (b) The need for, and benefits of, conservation, protection, rehabilitation and improvement of aquatic environments.

Governing document

Memorandum and Articles

Other name

  • 10 Trustees
  • 8 Employees
  • 5 Volunteers

Contact details

Public address

  • Mrs Laverne Fawthrop, Ballinderry Rivers Trust, 231A Orritor Road, Cookstown, County Tyrone, BT80 9NB

Trustee board

Trustee
Mr Stanley Aspinall
Mr Leo Cassidy
Mr Denis Ferguson
Mr Ricky Graham
Dr Rory Mellon
Mrs Laverne Fawthrop
Ms Victoria Graham
Dr Pól Mac Cana
Mr Seáinín Mac Nia
Mr Matthew Mellon

List of regions

  • In Northern Ireland
  • Fermanagh And Omagh District Council
  • Mid Ulster District Council