AGM Conference 2015
Chairpersons Report
This has been another very busy year for NOTA NI. In this period we have;
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Reconfigured our approach through the development of three sub groups to bring about
deliverables on the Business Plan. These are the Conference & Training sub group;
Communications and the Journal Club, respectively chaired by Marcella Leonard, Paul
Stephenson and Val Owens.
NOTA NI membership continues to grow and this year has seen the co-opting of
colleagues from the Youth Justice Agency and NIPS to the committee.
The Communications Sub Group continued to update local branch briefing papers over
the course of this year. Pieces were also submitted to NOTA news. Discussions were
also initiated with NOTA National to agree procedures for responding to media queries
in keeping with the national NOTA message. In addition, arrangements were agreed to
enable responses to be provided to local issues.
On the 4th June 2014 NOTA’s AGM entitled ‘Working with Families and Carers of
children and adolescents who sexually harm’ was opened with a key note by Simon
Hackett. Simon is a professor of Applied Social Sciences at Durham University and also
Vice Chair of NATIONAL NOTA. There were further inputs to the day from the Youth
Justice Agency and the NSPCC.
This year also seen the delivery of the NOTA NI Journal Club with events well attended
and received at both the University of Ulster (Magee Campus) and Queens University
Belfast. These free events aim to distil current research and literature in the field to a
wide and diverse audience.
In December 14 NOTA (NI) delivered a Geese Theatre facilitated workshop entitled Sexual Offending - Risk Assessment and Management in Action. Integrating theory, risk
assessment, child protection and risk management into the pathways of child, adolescent
and adult offenders the day was used to walk through the process of managing the risk
of sexual offending from different perspectives.
 Business Plan
Agreed, updated regularly focusing on the following objectives:
 An Open and Welcoming Ethos
 An Increased and More Diverse Membership
 The Maintenance of Financial Stability
 Active Member Involvement and good communications
 To promote good practice and knowledge in the field of sexual aggression/abuse
 An Enhanced External Profile
Future Plans.
In the forthcoming year NOTA (NI) aims to;
 Engage with Health & Social Care Agencies to raise awareness of NOTA and
encourage participation.
 Develop links with groups working with cultural diversity in Northern Ireland.
 Monitor NI communications strategy in partnership with National NOTA.
 Deliver a 1 day AGM/conference in June 2015 on the theme of re-integration and
community support. The seminar will promote an understanding of the experiences of
other jurisdictions and encourage the beginning of an informed discussion of the
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benefits to such an approach in a Northern Irish context. Going forward NOTA aims
to promote an understanding of the benefits of this approach. It will seek to influence
the Departmental directorates approach to re-integration and rehabilitation.
Collaborate with Republic Branch with regard to National Conference 2015
Produce Branch response to Government and statutory consultations.
Agree and promote media pieces on issues likely to promote and raise community and
statutory interest.
Continue to promote meetings of Sexual Aggression Journal Club.
NEC Representative Report 2014-15
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Financial issues. There is an increasing gap between income and expenditure,
although the organisation’s position remains satisfactory. Discussions with Gavin
Williams (accountant) indicate that NOTA is performing well compared to similar
sized charities. The income currently stands as £36K down on this point last year. The
reserves currently stand at £119K, plus debtors owing a further £19K. If the reserves
continue to diminish to below £100K this will pose a serious concern to the
organisation (general trend is loss of 3k per month). The National Conference remains
the greatest potential financial risk but a change in budgeting has resulted in a more
prudent projection of a break-even (zero budget) outcome. It was noted that branch
events usually generate a surplus but these do not take into account central costs.
 A new short life task group has recently been formed. This process differs from the
standing Finance Group in the aims of identification of ideas and strategies for
improving the organisation’s financial situation. Issues covered include membership
subscriptions, the conference model, rates and process for expenses claims, Gift Aid
and E-Learning proposal.
 Branches are asked to offer suggestions for income generation via email to Chair, Gail
McGregor. Branches are also required to submit proposed income and expenditure as
part of their Business Plans.
 It has been agreed that the NEC representative should in future be the Branch Chair.
This to be implemented following our branch AGM. This issue has been discussed in
the past and it should help to forge closer links between branch business and the NEC.
 Generally the Journal of Sexual Aggression is in a healthy position with the next
themed issue on Internet Offenders and Prevention. Back issues will shortly be
available online. NOTA news has also been enhanced by the work of Helen Masson.
 NOTA has a Prevention Committee chaired by Jon Brown. Its first meeting took place
in May and there will be an event at the Dublin conference to engage public interest.
 Communications Committee has a protocol for dealing with media enquiries and
other communications issues including responses to consultations and position/ policy
papers. There are still difficulties in responding to local media enquiries and our
Branch has had discussions with the Officers of NOTA. The principles have been
resolved but need to be worked out in practice so that NOTA can make some impact
in influencing local policy and practice.
 Policy Committee: Currently reviewing NI position paper [written by Libby Ashurst]
on working with young people who engage in sexually harmful behaviour.
Finally have enjoyed my long stint as NEC rep but pleased to hand on the reins.
Treasurers Report
Northern Ireland Branch
Financial Report 31 March 2015
Opening Balance 1 April 2014 - £18,952.60
INCOME
AGM/Conference 2014
£ 2,685.00
Conference December 2014
£ 3,329.90
EXPENDITURE
AGM/Conference 2014
Conference December 2014
Journal Club
TOTAL:
£6,014.90
Closing Balance at 31 March 2015 - £19,632.08
£1,610.10
£3,419.32
£ 306.00
£5,335.42
The NOTA Committee made a proactive decision in 2014 to financially support the
development of the Journal Club which not only provides regular information sessions to
members but also reaches out to potential new members of NOTA. The committee also
agreed to subsidise the December Conference in order to provide a high quality event at an
affordable price. Yet NOTA NI still managed to make a small profit! Congratulations once
more to the Training sub-committee for careful selection of good venues at good rates and to
the Branch Committee for utilising profit for support and development of the work of NOTA
NI.
Secretaries Report pstephenson@nspcc.org.uk
During year we have had NOTA information (briefings) and stand at;
 NOTA AGM June 2014 (100 attendees)
 NOTA December 2015 conference (70 attendees)
 NEXUS annual conference (80+ attendees)
 PPANI Special interest seminar
 NOTA Journal Club evenings- two in Queens and one in Magee
NI Branch has developed a number of briefing papers. These are now being all reviewed by
National NOTA policy group and the basis of these may form future NOTA policy papers;
 How do the Statutory Agencies Protect the Public from Sex Offenders in Northern
Ireland? (reviewed 2013)
 Who Commits Sexual Offences and What’s the Risk in Northern Ireland?
 People with a Learning Disability at Risk of Sexual Offending (reviewed 2013)
 Would Community Notification Work in Safeguarding Children?
 Young People with Sexually Harmful Behaviour (SHB) (reviewed May 2015)
 Housing in the Community for People Who Sexually Offend (reviewed May 2014)
 Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults from Sexual Abuse (reviewed 2013)
 Circles of Support and Accountability.
NOTA (NI) has a growing multi-disciplinary membership comprised of practitioners,
managers and policy makers from the public, private and voluntary sectors, including
members from; PBNI,NEXUS, NSPCC, NIPS, PSNI, PPANI, Youth Justice Agency,
Independents, EXTERN, Health and Social Care Trusts, Barnardos, and NIACRO. As a
result, NOTA (NI) brings a wide variety of perspectives to interventions with sexual
aggressors to prevent sexual abuse. We currently have 110+ members in Northern Ireland
and would welcome expressions of interest form possible new members.
For further information on NOTA please visit: www.nota.co.uk