Annual Report 2011

THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH Simon operates has many challenges and no more so than in recent times, as we focused on supporting the local Simon Communities during a period of rising need and decreasing resources. 2011 was also a difficult year organisationally; it was a period of retrenchment and ‘cutting our coat to fit the cloth’. All organisations in public and voluntary services are facing significant budget cuts and Simon Communities is no exception. In 2011, the Board had to make very difficult decisions; in some cases, functions could be distributed among the local communities; in others we had to find ways to reconfigure our operations to become more efficient. The result was that operating expenses are down by almost 20%, and staffing has been reduced by the same percentage. We continue to look for ways to ensure that we deliver effectively and efficiently on our commitments to our Communities, our funders and the Irish people.