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Northern Ireland Resources Network

  • Status

    Received: on time

  • Income

    £127.6K

  • Spending

    £114.0K

  • Charity no. 109163
  • Company no. 685755
  • Date registered. 18/08/2022

Public benefits

[What are the direct benefits flowing from your organisation's purposes?] The direct benefits from NIRN purposes are as follows: Support provided to existing members allows them to maintain/grow their work in this area More organisations joining the network and engaging in reuse and repair activity Increase in the number of people across NI who

engage and benefit from reuse and repair activity undertaken by our members Increased education and awareness of the Circular Economy and members activities in reuse and repair activity Increased product diverted from waste and landfill and other environmental benefits including reducing emissions. Members who support disabled, homeless and those on low income - those furthest from the workplace - providing job and training opportunities in this sector Members offering community fridges or food sharing which diverts good quality food from becoming waste and is used to support public in preventing or relief of poverty Government policy increasingly directed towards supporting growth of the Circular Economy and reuse and repair sector. [How can the benefits identified above be demonstrated?] Annual survey undertaken with members which measures satisfaction of the support provided and benefits gained from membership of the network. NIRN collects information from all members on their activity and an annual report is produced demonstrating members metrics and the triple bottom line benefits (environmental, social and economic) delivered. The information collected includes : Amount and type of products reused and repaired. Number and type of groups and individuals supported through their reuse and repair activities Outreach and education undertaken over the previous 12 months Number and type of skills/training workshops held and numbers attended Number of volunteers Turnover of organisation This is published in our annual report. Direct benefit with governmental departments by policy papers promoting the growth of Circular Economy and the reuse and repair sector. Activity of NIRN and its members supports DAERA’s in delivering on its waste strategy. [Is there any harm arising from any of the purposes?] No [Who are the charity's beneficiaries?] NIRN beneficiaries are the members of the network which includes social enterprises, charities, community groups and local authorities. Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) publishes a Waste Policy Tracker and the activity and benefits NIRN delivers feeds into this report as part of DAERA’s ongoing policy development. https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/daera/DAERA%20Waste%20Policy%20Tracker%20-%20June%202022.pdf Indirectly the general public. By nurturing existing members and growing the network, it enables more of the general public to access the services our members offer with the accompanying environmental, social and economic benefits. [Is there any private benefit flowing from any of the purposes? Is it incidental and necessary?] No

What your organisation does

Northern Ireland Resources Network (NIRN) members are community organisations, charities, social enterprises and local authorities who operate reuse and repair activities. We provide a range of services which supports their development and growth in reuse and repair and this enables NIRN to deliver on its key objectives including: Connecting -

regular meetings held for our members where they are able to meet, share ideas and learnings from each other. Hosting communication channels for members to directly engage with each other. Facilitating focus group meetings on specific thematic areas and identifying external organisations and individuals operating in this area and hosting talks for them to share experiences and case studies. Training courses - hosting workshops on areas which benefit members including funding, marketing and online selling. Developing Circular Economy (CE) literacy training programme to promote our members are working in this area, the multitude of benefits a CE will bring and how to engage a wider audience to participate in this sector. Marketing - Promotion of our members and their reuse and repair activities through our social media sites, website, conferences and our monthly newsletter. Policy - engaging with central government departments on key policies which impact our members. Consulting with members in responding to consultation documents. Funding or business opportunities - Identifying relevant opportunities and notifying members directly or via our bi monthly members alert. Providing support, where requested, in completing funding applications. Promoting member activities to funders. Quantifying impact NIRN members have on reuse and repair activity in Northern Ireland - Compiling and disseminating triple bottom line KPIs - tonnes reused, tonnes repaired, carbon saving, jobs created, training opportunities and economic turnover to key stakeholders including central government departments and funders.

The charity’s classifications

  • The prevention or relief of poverty
  • The advancement of education
  • The advancement of citizenship or community development
  • The advancement of environmental protection or improvement

Who the charity helps

  • General public
  • Voluntary and community sector

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information
  • Community development
  • Education/training
  • Environment/sustainable development/conservation
  • Volunteer development

Charitable purposes

OBJECTS 3.1. The Charity’s Objects are specifically restricted to the following for the public benefit: 3.1.1. the advancement of environmental protection or improvement of the natural environment by the promotion of community based, sustainable reuse and repair of products and activities and by the promotion, advancement, support and implementation of an effective and co-ordinated national network in Northern Ireland for the development and implementation of sustainable policies and practices to promote the recovery, redistribution, reuse of all products, to promote social inclusion and the engagement of communities in accessing local environmental services, and to maintain a network public presence to encourage waste prevention on a national level through events, conferences, newsletters, internet marketing, best practice guidance and support, policy development and representation, and to liaise on a strategic level with similar network organisations across UK, Ireland, Europe and elsewhere. 3.1.2. the advancement of education about environmental matters related to the re-use and repair of products and to promote training programmes or research related to the re-use and repair of products, social inclusion and community development; 3.1.3. the advancement of community development and the promotion of social inclusion to support members in the delivery of employment and training programmes related to the reuse and repair of products and which target disadvantage and provide opportunities for those people furthest from the workplace; 3.1.4. the prevention or relief of poverty by supporting members through the supply of reused and repaired products and goods for the benefit of the public.

Governing document

Memorandum and Articles

Other name

  • NIRN
  • 7 Trustees
  • 5 Employees
  • 22 Volunteers

Trustee board

  • Mr Michael Sloan
  • Ms Nuala Griffiths
  • Ms Heidi Redmond
  • Mr Liam Mcnally
  • Marcus Campbell
  • Mr Ian Montgomery
  • Ms Megan Mary Magill

Contact details

Public Address

7 Alderbrook, Eglinton, Derry, BT47 3WG

List of regions

  • In Northern Ireland

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