2025-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

Charity name: The British Irish Association

Charity registration number: 1194743

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The purpose of the BIA is to promote the advancement of education in international political affairs, the arts and social sciences in the United Kingdom and Ireland by increasing mutual knowledge and understanding between the peoples of Great Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland, particularly by bringing together leading representatives of the worlds of culture, politics, education and business.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	The main activity of the CIO is its annual conference. This brings together over 150 participants drawn from a deliberately wide range of politicians, officials, academics, journalists, leaders in community and cultural organisations and influential business people who will disseminate within their contact groups insights and lessons gained from the conference. The CIO also holds a colloquium each year for a focused group of policy makers and officials.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The trustees are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance and are reminded of it regularly. In particular, the trustees have satisfied themselves that the CIO continues to make a public benefit.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference The BIA is not a grant making body. Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38

Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	The BIA’s conference in September brought together people who would not otherwise meet, enhanced understanding across community and class divides, involved the community sector in the wider constitutional and economic debate, introduced new officials to their counterparts, deepened relations between Ireland and Britain and helped to sustain peace in Northern Ireland. A colloquium which was held earlier in the year took as its focus democratic processes in Northern Ireland and innovative public administration. A full report of each year’s conference proceedings is published on the charity’s website.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The total net assets at the end of the period were £320,561
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The charity aims to hold in reserve sufficient funds to cover at least a year’s core costs in default of income.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	The surplus at the end of the period was £ 58,907
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Income from conference fees, grants from the UK, Welsh and Irish governments and corporate donations constitute the charity’s funds.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Suggestions are sought and soundings taken about potential trustees from the existing trustees at their regular meetings. The Chair then consults the trustees individually before putting names forward for appointment and election by the Board.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The British Irish Association
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1194733
Charity’s principal address	Prama House 267 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7HT

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Nam e of pers on (or body ) entitl ed to appo int trust ee (if any)
	Evelyn Collins	Vice-Chair
	Ciarán Devane
	George Fergusson	Treasurer	to July2025
	RoryGodson
	Cathy Gormley- Heenan
	Dominic Grieve	Chair
	Catherine Hayward
	Alison Hilliard
	Roisin McDonough		to June 2025
	John McGrane		to June 2025
	Adrian O’Neill
	David Porter	Treasurer	from July2025
22

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Dates acted if not for whole year

Trustee name

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

	Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address	Type of adviser Name Address
	Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations Tho trustseB dKlare thatth•y havè approved the t￿￿t￿$, report abov•. Slgn•d on behalf ofthe charrty's tru$tstrs Slgnatur•lsl Full nam•lsl Evelyn Collins Domini¢ Charfes Rob8rt8 Gri8ve Position leg Sg¢r•tary. chair, etcl Vic* Chair Chair 27.4.26

THE BRITISH IRISH ASSOCIATION Statsmènt of Flnancial Activltles For the Year enthd 31st D￿￿nber 202S DFA Totsl Funds Y•8r Reconciliatlon 10 31st Fund Dgcembèr 2025 Unrestricted Funds Total Funds Year to 31st D•umbeT 2024 Not• Incom• GrBnts Department of Forelgn Affairs 8nd Trade.. ReConcllliat￿ft FUTh1 Donations Interest on Bank Accounts Conferenc8 Fees Receipts Currency Adjustments 47.754 47.754 25.254 51.468 2.940 60.559 47,288 24,767 41,899 2,970 58,010 2S,254 51.468 2.940 60.559 Total R•ctslpts 162.722 25,254 187.976 174,915 Expendlture P8id to consutsnls Telephone & Fax Printing, Postage & Stationery Publications & Subscriptions Meets'ngs Fares & Ifisits Insurance Committee Dinner Office Equipment Dep￿cIation1AnnU￿l Investrnent AIow8n¢e Office Premises Other Expenses AccoUntancylBook-keepin￿l￿dependent EXam1r￿l10n Conference Costs Colloquium Bank Charges 42,194 787 657 9.470 404 530 51,664 1,191 1,187 49,998 997 651 423 3.731 1.185 1,175 423 3.731 1.901 1.175 42 1,738 716 142 187 458 50,218 2,613 45 404 546 187 1.434 62.972 2,613 45 528 1,118 1,416 59,024 6,907 30 976 12,754 Total EXP￿d{tUr* 103.815 25.254 I29.￿9 122,449 Surplus I (Deficitl.. 58.9J7 58.907 52,466

Independent ExamRner's Report on the Accounts Report to the trustees of The British lrisb Association Registered charity number 1194733 On aecounts for the year ended 311t December 2025 Respective responsibilities of trustees and ex¥dminer As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. you consider thal the audit requirement of section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) does not apply. It is our responsibility to state, on the basis of proceduTes SF¢cified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 43(7)(b) of the Aci, whether particular matters have come to our att¢ntion. Basis of independent exan)iner's report Our exarnination was carried out in accordance with the General Dir¢ctions given by the Charity Cornmissioners. An examination includcs a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presenicd with thos¢ records. It also includes consideration of any unusual iiems OT disclosures in the accounts, and s￿kIng explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all thc cvidence that would bc required in an audit. and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by thc accounts. Independent examiner's statement In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention: (i) which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requiremenls to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of th¢ ACL and to prepare accounts which aL'cord with the accounting record and lo comply with the accounting requirements of the Act. have not been met. or (2) to which. in OUT opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounls lo be reached. Plumridge Accountancy Limited Sanders Gate. Churchfields, Stonesfield, Oxfordshire. OX29 8PP