Finance Score: -5

Governance Score: 5

Support Score: 6

Accounts overdue -5
Strong growth: +2
Multiple Deficits: -2
No PartB

Good trustee age range: +3
Dynamic board: +3
Mainly male board: -1

Grant maker support: +6

Overall GiG Score: 6

FIGHTING WORDS NORTHERN IRELAND

The Charity�s object (�Object�) is to advance the education of children and young people in all aspects of the art of creative writing and the appreciation of the written word in all its forms through the provision of support, opportunities and related activities which foster their creativity, literacy and talent.

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

The charity has received backing from multiple prominent grant makers recently
There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and dynamic in terms of composition
This charity is based in an area of high deprivation

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

The Board is predominantly male

Financial issues to consider:

Latest accounts are overdue for filing
On several occasions in recent years income has been less than spending

Established: 8 years

http://www.fightingwords.co.uk/

hello@fightingwords.co.uk

Financial Data

Income & Spending ?

Year end	31/03/18	31/03/19	31/03/20	31/03/21	31/03/22	31/03/23
Income	£65,751	£98,509	£67,146	£269,904	£165,226	£426,307
Spending	£62,929	£71,638	£78,649	£128,404	£209,025	£311,685
Surplus/deficit	£2,822	£26,871	-£11,503	£141,500	-£43,799	£114,622

Download accounts

Listed activities

The advancement of education, The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science

How it operates

Arts, Cultural, Education/training

Where it operates

Northern Ireland

This charity is based in an area of high deprivation

Who it helps

Children (5-13 year olds), Youth (14-25 year olds)

Who works here?

6 employees

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years

Community Foundation for Nthn Ireland	£22,380
Garfield Weston Foundation	£20,000
The Foyle Foundation	£20,000
DCMS	£12,460
CAF	£5,000
Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland	£4,631

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
Garfield Weston Foundation - Multi-Year Grant (2 Years) award
£10,000	24/09/2021	Fighting Words - the Next Chapter
The Foyle Foundation - Arts
£15,000	16/09/2021	towards the Young Playwrights’ Programme over the next 12 months
Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland - Accessing the Right to Write
£4,631	09/03/2021	To enable Fighting Words NI to to connect with at least 20 new schools across NI and provide Storymaking Workshops to approximately 400 young people. The funding will cover 1 day/week of the Workshop ....more To enable Fighting Words NI to to connect with at least 20 new schools across NI and provide Storymaking Workshops to approximately 400 young people. The funding will cover 1 day/week of the Workshop Co-ordinator's salary.
Garfield Weston Foundation - Multi-Year Grant (2 Years) award
£10,000	04/09/2020	Fighting Words - the Next Chapter
Community Foundation for Nthn Ireland - Creative story-making to build young people’s resilience and support their mental well-being in uncertain times
£12,460	27/07/2020 5	Towards Creative Story making
DCMS - VSCE CMC Fund
£12,460	27/07/2020	NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots ....more NET, Comic Relief and Children in Need will use this funding to provide: increased support to vulnerable people and hidden groups, thus reducing the burden on public services; reach local grassroots and small organisations who can provide an on-the-ground community response to the crisis; and, support local charitable organisations to mobilise volunteers to enable better targeted support in communities through empowered local groups.
CAF - Grant to Fighting Words Belfast
£5,000	06/05/2020 3	Grant to Fighting Words Belfast to support the organisation through COVID19
Community Foundation for Nthn Ireland - Fighting Words Goes Digital
£9,920	05/05/2020 4	towards a digital connection programme with young people
The Foyle Foundation - Small Grants
£5,000	23/04/2020	towards core costs to support the charity as they adapt their activities (face-face to online) and transition to an operationally independent company during the year end March 2021 (awarded grant in ....more towards core costs to support the charity as they adapt their activities (face-face to online) and transition to an operationally independent company during the year end March 2021 (awarded grant in response to coronavirus)
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£10,000	16/04/2019	Fighting Words Belfast: The Next Chapter

Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How is it governed?

Directors (7)

Current Directors appointed

Gender Split

Based on 6/7 persons

Age Range of Directors: 26-66

CONNOLLY, Paul
Appointed: 2022
Occupation: Workshop Facilitator & Musician

CROSSAN, Paul
Appointed: 2022
Occupation: Broadcaster

DRYLIE, Andrew
Appointed: 2023
Occupation: Director

GALLAGHER, Anthony, Professor Dr
Appointed: 2017
Occupation: University Professor

NEWELL, Tim Kenneth
Appointed: 2016
Occupation: Television Producer

O'NEILL, Bethany
Appointed: 2021
Occupation: Hr Consultant

Ó CUANACHÁIN, Colm Tomás
Appointed: 2021
Occupation: Education Director

Legal constitution

Charity registered in Northern Ireland on 21/10/2016, number: NIC105751
Registered at Companies House on 20/05/2016, number: NI638582

Main office

Fighting Words Northern Ireland, Connswater Shopping Centre, Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast, BT5 5LP

Data Sources