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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£687.4K
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Spending
£2.3M
Public benefits
The advancement of religion permeates all activities of the charity. The benefit which flows from the advancement of the Catholic faith in Northern Ireland is a general moral improvement in society because the followers of the faith adhere to a code of behaviour which encourages love of God and neighbour. Mainly, this charity advances the Roman
Catholic faith by the consistent work of Brothers of the Congregation in living and practising the teachings of the Gospel and teaching others to do the same. The benefits of the advancement of the Roman Catholic faith and the promotion of its Christian values, through various charitable works of the organisation, are demonstrated by a general moral improvement in society. These benefits are further demonstrated through the education of over 5,000 pupils in the Roman Catholic tradition in Edmund Rice Schools Trust schools across Northern Ireland (“ERSTNI”), which the charity provides financial support to since it transferred ownership of the schools to ERSTNI in 2009. The benefits are also demonstrated by the improvement of the lives of disadvantaged people who attend non mainstream education at the Westcourt Centre, which is a community facility owned and operated by the charity. Attendees of the Open Doors Learning Centre in Westcourt emerge as more confident, thoughtful and articulate young men and women with an increased interest in their own social, emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual development. The benefits are demonstrated through the improvement in the lives of people who benefit from the work of other charities which are given use of the rooms and facilities in the Westcourt Centre for a reduced rent. The benefits are shown where the lives of homeless people are improved by the charity through programs such as The “Word on the Street – Voices of Homelessness” project. Here the charity demonstrated that homeless people have a life and a voice and are not just stereotypes. This increased the confidence and self esteem of homeless people. The benefits of the charity’s work in teaching young people about the dangers of alcohol and drug misuse (through programs such as the Westcourt Alcohol and Drugs Education Program) is evidenced by an increased understanding of young people on drugs and alcohol and less young people becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. The benefits of social and pastoral work carried out by the Brothers of the Congregation (also referred to as the "members of the charity") is evidenced by the increase in wellbeing of those who receive the benefit of support from the charity through the Brothers who give their time working as chaplains in schools, who give individuals spiritual direction and assist in religious retreats and counselling. The benefits of the work which the charity does in peace and reconciliation projects in Northern Ireland is shown through increased cross community tolerance and understanding. The risk of harm where the advancement of Roman Catholic faith in Northern Ireland is concerned is the potential for sectarianism. However this risk is completely outweighed by the fact that one of the primary concepts in the moral code of Roman Catholicism is the principal of love thy neighbour. Particularly, in Northern Ireland it is of great importance to the charity that tolerance and understanding for all sections of the community is practised. The charity’s beneficiaries are Roman Catholics and the public of Northern Ireland in general. The only private benefit flowing from this purpose is the care and welfare received by the members of the Congregation. This is incidental and necessary because the members devote their lives’ purpose, their entire earthly belongings and their lives’ earnings (generally teacher’s salaries and pensions) towards the advancement of the Catholic Faith in Northern Ireland.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
As a Religious Congregation, faith development in is of prime importance to the Trustees. All aspects of the charity’s work involve the advancement of religion whether it is in the educational, pastoral or international missionary fields. The charity continually assesses its work and searches for the best way to carry out the advancement of the
faith in today’s world. The Brothers undertake social and pastoral work including chaplaincy, counselling for the sick, those going through bereavement and people suffering from alcoholism or depression, among other things. The Brothers provide spiritual direction and do retreat work with members of the public. The Brothers are involved in programs providing guidance and assistance to immigrants. The charity works with members of all faiths to promote cross community peace and understanding in Northern Ireland. The charity supports the international missionary work of the Congregation of Christian Brothers in the poorest and most disadvantaged areas of the world by assisting with personnel and finances. The charity was heavily involved in formal mainstream Roman Catholic Education. In 2009 the charity transferred the trusteeship and properties of its primary and post-primary schools to the Edmund Rice Schools Trust Northern Ireland (ERSTNI). The value attributed to these properties was £48m. The charity continues to support the work of ERSTNI by providing funding on a yearly basis. The charity also makes available playing fields for use by schools for sporting activities. The charity is also involved in non-mainstream training and education. It owns and operates the Westcourt Centre. The Centre is committed to providing an accessible learning facility with a focus on disadvantaged young people. The programs run at the Centre provide personal and social education opportunities. The Centre also offers facilities and services for the whole community, irrespective of age, gender, nationality or religious background.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The prevention or relief of poverty
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of religion
- The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Addictions (drug/solvent/alcohol abuse)
- Adult training
- Asylum seekers/refugees
- Children (5-13 year olds)
- General public
- Homelessness
- Men
- Mental health
- Overseas/developing countries
- Parents
- Youth (14-25 year olds)
How the charity works
- Community development
- Cross-border/cross-community
- Education/training
- Overseas aid/famine relief
- Relief of poverty
- Religious activities
- Youth development
