skip to main content
The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
Text size:

Derry and Raphoe Mothers' Union

  • Status

    Received: on time

  • Income

    £39.7K

  • Spending

    £40.7K

Charity no. 100834 Date registered. 09/02/2015

Public benefits

The direct benefits which flow from the purposes include ... The purpose of Mothers’ Union is to be especially concerned with all that strengthens and preserves marriage and Christian family life. We have trained facilitators to support and guide parents in the area which through this guidance parents then learn to use respectful communication

skills with their children improving their family and home lives and increasing their ability to raise children in the Christian traditions and faith. We also provide support to young families. Parenting Groups cater to different ages or parenting needs and provide an opportunity for parents, grandparents and carers alike to meet in a supportive environment. The aim is to help each person to develop their parenting skills, build relationships and contribute to the stability of family life in society. The participants learn as much from each other as from the facilitator. Encouraging our members to take practical action to improve conditions for families, both nationally and in the communities in which they live. Members are united in prayer and service to show forth the glory of God and to help forward the work of the church. The organisation provides a network through which members can serve Christ in their own community through prayer, financial support and actively working at grassroots level in programmes that meet local needs and allows members to respond to God's call to faith and action The Social Policy Unit works to affirm our faith and action as Christians through informing ourselves of community issues, suggesting practical initiatives and contributing to local, governmental and United Nation policies especially relating to women We have been involved as a collective group of Mothers’ Unions in campaigns to help highlight and improve conditions for families. For instance, childhood is now treated as a global marketing opportunity and families are facing increasing pressure from advertisers, the media and a consumer culture. Our Bye Buy Childhood campaign equips families to manage this pressure and challenges government and industry to support families and market responsibly to children. We had input in consultations on planned government changes to child maintenance, helping families on separation obtain more secure arrangements for child maintenance. We have been involved in highlighting and promoting shared parental pay and parental leave arrangements on the birth of new children in order to create more flexible circumstances and clear guidelines for families. Our members seek to help all who face adversity in their daily life. For instance we supply emergency toiletry, knitwear for premature babies and trauma teddies for children in traumatic circumstances in the local hospitals which helps relief the distress and provide comfort to those in receipt of these items at their time of need. These benefits are (will be) demonstrated through the many letters of thanks received both from individuals who have directly benefited and from the Neo-natal hospital wards and Paramedics who have witnessed first-hand the how something so simple as a Trauma Teddy of Emergency Toilet Bag makes a difference. There is no harm flowing from our purposes. Membership is open to all those who have been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity and intend to support the Aim, Purpose and Objects of the society. Our members are not all mothers, or even all women, but are single, married, parents, grandparents or young adults who are just beginning to express their social conscience. There is no private benefit flowing from our purposes

What your organisation does

The Mothers’ Union helps in providing the following overseas: • Literacy and Development Programmes Overseas • Volunteers in Community Projects • Relief in Times of Disaster • Parenting Programme Locally we provide through Diocesan Projects • There is an on-going supply of emergency toiletries to the four main hospitals in the joint

dioceses. • Knitwear is made for new-born and premature babies and supplied to all local Hospitals. • Volunteers help in the Foyle Child Contact Centre. • Branch projects are varied and include emergency supplies to Women’s Aid Centres. • Christmas boxes are collected for disadvantaged children overseas. • Trauma Teddies are knitted by members and are distributed to the A & E Departments in all local hospitals, through the Ambulance Service and Fire Brigade. These Teddies provide comfort to children who are in a traumatic situation. • Prayer Shawls are knitted and distributed to housebound members. Parenting Facilitators In the Derry and Raphoe Dioceses, we have three trained facilitators: Their role is to support and guide parents within a group. Through this guidance parents then learn to use respectful communication skills with their children. Good parenting skills are an important part of family life and a constant learning process. Young Families The young families’ coordinator organises events to support young couples in their married life and facilitates families to come together and enjoy activities organised by the Mothers’ Union. The Social Policy Unit works to affirm our faith and action as Christians through informing ourselves of community issues, suggesting practical initiatives and contributing to local, governmental and United Nation policies especially relating to women

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of religion
  • The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage

Who the charity helps

  • Children (5-13 year olds)
  • Overseas/developing countries
  • Parents
  • Preschool (0-5 year olds)
  • Women

How the charity works

  • Education/training
  • Overseas aid/famine relief
  • Religious activities
  • Volunteer development

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 December 2023

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 December 2022

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charity accounts & reports for financial year end 31 December 2021

Independent examiners report Charity accounts Trustee annual report

Charitable purposes

The Mothers' Union is a world-wide society whose Aim is the advancement of the Christian religion in the sphere of marriage and family life. In order to carry out this Aim its Objectives are: I. to uphold Christ's teaching on the nature of marriage and to promote its wider understanding; II. to encourage parents to bring up their children in the faith and life of the Church; III. to maintain a world-wide fellowship of Christians, united in prayer, worship and service; IV. to promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children; V. to help those whose family life has met with adversity.

Governing document

Constitution

Other name

  • 10 Trustees
  • 0 Employees
  • 0 Volunteers

Contact details

Public address

  • Derry & Raphoe Mothers' Union, Church Of Ireland, Diocesan Office, 24 London Street, Londonderry, BT48 6RQ

Trustee board

Trustee
Ms Jacqui Armstrong
Mrs Kay Clarke
Mrs Jean Thompson
Kathleen Finlay
Anne Smith
May Boyd
Mrs Kaye Nesbitt
Mrs Rita Smith
Rev Rosie Diffin
Mrs Diane White

List of regions

  • In Northern Ireland