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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
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C.H.A.R.T.E.R for Northern Ireland

  • Status

    Received: on time

  • Income

    £272.2K

  • Spending

    £294.6K

Charity no. 105834 Company no. 54626 Date registered. 03/04/2017

Public benefits

The benefits flowing from our purposes are that the capacity of grassroots organisations is enhanced, and capacity built in working class loyalist communities; residents in deprived communities are empowered to fully engage and integrate; communities are able to articulate their needs, build new partnerships and networks, and benefit from social

and economic regeneration; there are better inter and cross community relations in interface locations, and an increased tolerance of difference and a better understanding and respect for other cultures and communities; there are improved educational and employment outcomes for young people living within deprived communities; there is enhanced wellbeing amongst young people, and they are better able to reach their potential; there is a decrease in violence and antisocial behaviour; conflict is increasingly resolved through dialogue, negotiation and mediation; ex-prisoners and combatants are reintegrated into wider society and feel confident to access mainstream services. These benefits are demonstrated through feedback from clients; data collected on outcomes; reports to funders on programme outcomes and the reporting of charitable activities in the annual reports and accounts of the charity. There is no harm arising from any of our purposes. Our beneficiaries are the public within East Belfast, North Down and surrounding areas of Northern Ireland and, in particular, those living in deprived areas or in working class communities suffering from the legacy of the "Troubles". Private benefit - The Charity employs staff but the benefit to them is incidental and a necessary consequence of delivering the charitable purposes of the organisation.

What your organisation does

CHARTER undertakes a capacity building role, equipping and empowering disconnected communities in East Belfast, Castlereagh, and North Down and Ards. It supports the development of community groups and organisations and assists with the building of new partnerships and networks, and mechanisms for inter and intra community dialogue, collaboration

and problem solving. It provides support for communities to articulate their needs and shape their futures, so they benefit from the Peace process and from social and economic regeneration. CHARTER provides programmes which engage individuals and communities, especially those living in Interface locations to build better inter and cross community relations. For example, the ‘Learning through The Divide’ programme, developed with Short Strand and the Ethnic Community Forum brings together young people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, increasing tolerance, cultural awareness of other communities, and respect for others. Through its programmes, CHARTER works to improve educational outcomes for young people. It provides mentoring and personal development initiatives for young people living in areas of deprivation, and assists with their employability. It works collaboratively with youth organisations to provide health education training for young people, promoting good mental health, suicide and drug and alcohol awareness, and provides access to courses and community events which promote the self development, the education and employability of young people. CHARTER promotes alternative nonviolent methods of resolving conflict through dialogue, negotiation and mediation and of tackling antisocial behaviour through community based restorative justice projects. CHARTER is also involved in the reintegration of ex-prisoners and combatants, providing counselling and therapeutic services to ex-prisoners and their families, tackling their social isolation and promoting their health and wellbeing.

The charity’s classifications

  • The prevention or relief of poverty
  • The advancement of education
  • The advancement of citizenship or community development
  • The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
  • The advancement of environmental protection or improvement
  • The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
  • Other charitable purposes

Who the charity helps

  • Adult training
  • Community safety/crime prevention
  • Ex-offenders and prisoners
  • Interface communities
  • Men
  • Mental health
  • Older people
  • Specific areas of deprivation
  • Unemployed/low income
  • Victim support
  • Volunteers
  • Women
  • Youth (14-25 year olds)

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information
  • Arts
  • Community development
  • Counselling/support
  • Cross-border/cross-community
  • Cultural
  • Economic development
  • Education/training
  • Heritage/historical
  • Relief of poverty
  • Urban development
  • Volunteer development
  • Welfare/benevolent
  • Youth 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

£272.2K

Spending

£294.6K

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

(4) The Company’s objects (“Objects”) are specifically restricted to the promotion of urban regeneration and community development within areas of social and economic deprivation in Northern Ireland (Hereinafter called the ‘area of Benefit) by bringing together representatives from the voluntary sector, statutory authorities, the local authority, members of the community and other parties in a common effort to advance the benefit of the inhabitants in the area of benefit, and in particular: (4.1) to relieve poverty, unemployment, and social and economic disadvantage; (4.2) to advance education and promote the educational attainment of the local inhabitants and provide opportunities for lifelong Learning; (4.3) to provide training and retraining opportunities, particularly among the unemployed and economically disadvantaged, and to provide the unemployed with work experience and to promote initiatives which tackle long term unemployment; (4.4) to facilitate the involvement of the local community in community planning; (4.5) to maintain, improve or provide public amenities and provide or assist in the provision of recreational facilities, for the benefit of the public at large, or specifically for those who by reasons of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances, have need of such facilities; (4.7) to advance environmental conservation and improvement; (4.8) to advance conflict resolution and reconciliation and to promote public safety; (4.9) to advance the arts, culture and heritage, and to create opportunities for participation in the arts and cultural activities; (4.10) to promote and develop the local voluntary sector; (4.11) to promote social inclusion, and promote the capacity and skills of members of the community within the area of benefit, in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society; (4.12) to undertake any other charitable purpose, or purposes, for the benefit of the community, which are, or hereafter may be deemed, charitable under the law of Northern Ireland.

Governing document

Memorandum and Articles

Other name

Charter NI
  • 6 Trustees
  • 6 Employees
  • 50 Volunteers

Contact details

Public address

  • Charter Ni, First Floor, 275A Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 1AF

Trustee board

Trustee
James Birch
Mr Brendan Mackin
Mr Denis Rowan
Mr Craig Brown
Mr Albert Hewitt
Mr Peter Bunting

List of regions

  • In Northern Ireland
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