Annual Reports

TRUSTEE’S & DIRECTOR’S REPORT of the POST POLIO SUPPORT GROUP LIMITED FOR THE PERIOD 1 January – 31 December 2006.

Download Annual Report 2006 (PDF 161 KB)

Charity & Company Information

Charity Name: Post Polio Support Group

Registered Charity Number: CHY 11356

Company Number:354283

Registered Office: The Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, DUBLIN 7

Administrative Office: Unit 319 Capel Building, Mary’s Abbey, DUBLIN 7

Chief Executive: Eamonn Farrell

Bankers: Allied Irish Bank, 126 – 128 Capel Street, DUBLIN 1

Solicitors: Lacy Walsh Solicitors, 77 Strand Road, Sandymount, DUBLIN 4

Auditors: BMOL Partners, 19 Herbert Street, DUBLIN 2

List of Trustees & Directors

1. The following were Trustees & Directors of the Group on the date the Report was approved and signed:

The following also acted as Trustee & Director during the period:

Belinda Redmond (resigned November 2006)

2. In accordance with the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association one third of the Board of Directors are due to retire at the end of the year but may be eligible for re-election if nominated. They are:

Report of the Trustees & Directors

For the period 1 January – 31 December 2006

The Trustees & Directors of the Post Polio Support Group, Charity & Company limited by guarantee, present their report together with the accounts for the periods ended 31 December 2006.

Mission Statement:

"The Post Polio Support Group creates awareness and provides information regarding The Late Effects of Polio among Polio Survivors, statutory agencies and the wider medical profession, and works to ensure that no Polio Survivors have needs relating to their condition, which are not being met".

The Post Polio Support Group is committed to supporting its members and other Polio Survivors and developing its Board, staff and volunteers to achieve the most efficient use of its resources.

Structure, Governance and Management:

As a consequence of the Group’s incorporation as a company limited by guarantee in 2002, the Trustees act as Directors of the charitable company. The Board meets at least six times per year.

Directors are elected by national ballot of members and serve for a period of 3 (three) years, and then may be eligible for re-election. Officers may not serve for more than 4 (four) consecutive years in any given position.

Any member of the Group may be nominated for election as director.

The Directors act at all times within the law and, in particular, the constraints of the legislative provisions for companies laid down by the Oireachtas and are aware of their duties, responsibilities and liabilities arising.

The Board appoints Committees to assist with particular aspects of its work, at least one Director sitting on each Committee. The purpose of the Committees is to assist the Board by carrying out certain of its functions and maintain oversight in relevant areas and report regularly to the Board. These Committees may be attended by a member of staff to provide executive support or on request.

The Committees in existence at 31st December were;

Fund Allocation
Governance and Nominations
Social Support
Fundraising

Ad Hoc Sub-Committees may be established from time to time for specific projects or purposes.

The day-to-day management of the Group business is delegated to the Chief Executive, with other staff members reporting through that position to the Board.

Objectives and Activities – 2006:

The Group has experienced rapid change over the year and growth in the support and assistance work it undertakes for all Polio Survivors.

The Group undertook the following major work developments:-

Group Development

The Board initiated a Group Development Programme, to include a study of all elements of the organisation, to assist with planning the future strategy of the Group. It is intended that this will help clarify the Group’s aspirations for Polio Survivors, build a shared vision for the Group and plan the implementation work of the Group over the coming years.

Membership:

The Group experienced a net increase in its membership from 583 to 653 during the year. All enquiries and applications met with a prompt response.

Assistance to members

The Group was able to meet substantially the needs of members for Aids, Appliances and Services. It has also provided advice and other telephone and written support to members.

Peer support continues to be developed on an individual and on a group basis and it is an area of support that continues to be well received by Polio Survivors.

Research:

Research has continued focussing principally on two projects, firstly, examining the fatigue profiles of Polio Survivors and, secondly, investigating a possible greater propensity of Polio Survivors to developing diabetes than the general population.

Publications:

The Group assembled a voluntary team of medical personnel to contribute to a book Post Polio Syndrome, Management and Treatment in Primary Care. Each contributed in her or his specialism and significant progress has been made. This volume will be distributed to those providing primary health care.

A member of the group undertook on a voluntary basis to edit a book of Polio stories and prepare it for publication. The book, entitled ‘Polio and Us’ is a collection of Polio experiences from 29 of our members, and the sharing of these polio stories will help to increase peer support within the Polio Survivor community.

Three issues of THE SURVIVOR: Irish Polio News, were published during the year. THE SURVIVOR, which has a new design concept incorporating the new logo, serves as an information point for Polio Survivors and health care professionals, and includes articles of interest to all, updates on research into Post Polio Syndrome and the encouragement of a social support network.

THE MEMORIAL BOOK, a legacy initiative of the Post Polio Support Group, was introduced at the AGM to record the memories of those Polio Survivors who have died.

Advocacy:

The Group continued its advocacy on behalf of Polio Survivors. A formal presentation was made in Dáil Éireann to an Oireachtas Committee on Social Affairs.

Website:

It was recognised that the Group’s website needed to be updated and enhanced to meet the increased interest from Polio Survivors and others. Tenders were invited and a contract signed for the complete redevelopment of the website. It is intended to complete the work in 2007.

Fundraising:

Fundraising activities continued throughout 2006 recognising the important role of all donations, of whatever size, in assisting the maintenance and development of the independence and quality of life for Polio Survivors, their families and carers. The Group values in particular the generous sponsorship received from participants in the Dublin, Cork and Limerick mini marathons, as well as the many individual fundraising activities undertaken on behalf of the Group. Corporate donations were significant in assisting to meet members’ needs for mobility devices and minor building works to assist in maintaining their independence and quality of life.

AGM and Conference:

The AGM and Conference was held in Cork. This was to mark the 50th anniversary of the major polio outbreak in the city and county. COPE Foundation, the successors to the Cork Polio and General After-Care Association were valued partners in the activities which included a prayer service, a fundraising breakfast and two specialist talks to assist Polio Survivors. The then Lord Mayor, Deidre Clune, T.D., was a welcome visitor. A number of Polio Survivors from the area made contact with the Group for the first time. The Mayor of Cork, Mr Michael Ahern, and the City Council held a civic function for Polio Survivors from Cork city and county later in the year and a memorial plaque was erected at St Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital, by Cllr Brian Bermingham to commemorate the 1956 polio epidemic.

Relocation:

The offices the Group had occupied at the Carmichael Centre could not handle either the increase in numbers employed, or the high work volumes that were being experienced early in the year. The Board moved the Group’s operational office to a new fully accessible, serviced building in the Capel Building, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7. The Group’s registered company office is still at Carmichael Centre and it maintains a close ongoing relationship with the Centre. The Board recognises that the relocation was accomplished with a minimum of disruption to the work of the Group and acknowledges the contribution the Board of the Carmichael Centre and the staff have made to the development of the Group.

Office Systems:

During the year a complete review of the Group’s arrangements for servicing member information needs was undertaken. A revised membership information software system was developed. This will help service the Group’s needs for the coming years and should lead to greater flexibility in assisting membership needs and enquiries.

At the beginning of the year, in partnership with the Auditors, a complete review was conducted of the Group’s financial recording procedures and software. This resulted in a new accounting package being introduced that has enabled the Directors to have greater access to key financial information and exercise more effective control over the management of the Group’s resources. This has led to improved efficiencies in the manner the Group can account for expenditure on members’ needs for Aids, Appliances and Services.

Funding:

The Board of Directors is committed to maintain sufficient income to meet the needs of Polio Survivors in real terms. Close liaison with the various Statutory Authorities, principally the Health Service Executive (HSE), is maintained and the Group works in partnership with all its funding bodies to accomplish its objectives. The Group fully acknowledges all funding bodies and thanks the HSE, in particular for all the help and co-operation received in the continuance of its work.

The Group will continue to advocate for all the identified needs of Polio Survivors to be met by Statutory Bodies and Agencies, as appropriate.

Insurance:

During the early part of the year a comprehensive review of the insurance cover for the Group was undertaken. This arose from the increased levels of financial activity over and above that of previous years, and the need to protect the Group against any claims that might arise from the activities of the Group. The policy premiums reflect the level of activity within the Group and in consequence show a substantial rise over those paid in 2005. The Directors, working with AON Insurances, took the decision that the cover taken was in the best long-term interests of the Group.

Charities Bill:

The Group has studied with interest the discussion around the contents of the proposed Charities Bill that may be laid before the Dáil in early 2007. The Group will continue its study in this area to ensure that it will be able to meet the requirements of any forthcoming legislation.

Staff Welfare:

The staff complement continued at its current full strength of three. The Directors, and the members, of the Group are extremely grateful for the professionalism, dedication and commitment of the staff at all levels. The Group complies with the provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Acts, 1989 and 2005 and other personnel related legislation.