THE RAINBOW PROJECT LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The trustees of the charlty for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006. submlt thelr annual report and audited flnancial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the Statement of Recommended practi {SORP} 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities. (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. The finanaal statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charitable companys tgoveming document], the Companies Act 2006 and 'Accounting and Rep(Jrting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their acLX)unts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). Review of Actsvity and Future Developments Welcom8 to The Rainbow Projecys Trustee Rep)rt 2022-23. This rep)rt contains details on what has been another extremely busy year for the organisation as we continue to deliver services. inltuence policy and undertake research to understand more about the LGBTQIA+ community in Northem Ireland. Like many other organisations and seplices. The Rainbow Project is still dealing with the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on people's mental health and wellbeing. Our health and wellbeing servic8s are in high demand which has an impact on the amount of time our dients are on waiting lists, for services such as our co ultural counselllng. The Ralnbow Project contlnues to grow and In 2022-23 delivered more seNlces than in any year before it so we Vre pleased that with funding from the Rank Foundation we were able to employ a Health and Wellbelng Officer to supp¢Jrt our clients through their joumey of support. The Ralnbow Project works dlredly with memb8rs of our community by off8ring a wrap-around service for clients to support them through our range of services, induding sexual health advi and testing; mental health support: hate Mme advocacy, ttp¢ultural counselllng. LGBTQIA+ youth provlslon; regional support and a range of other iniiiatlves and programmes. We Vre also dèlighted to secJJr8 another round of fundlng to ènable us to 8ngag8 wlth the BAME Mmunity across Northem Ireland and work in partnership with other s8DAceslgroups such as the Migrant Forum and Rainbow Rèfvgees. to provld8 heaith. wellbeing and emotional supporL Thls work has been particularly important in the Context of th8 mlgrant crisis and TRP has béen able to support a numb8r of LG8TQIA+ Individuals seeking as>lum in Nl. The Rainbow Project has continued to grow our partnership developed with Stonewall in the delivery of a Diversity Champrons programme in Northem Ireland supporting employers in meeting the needs of their LGBTQIA+ employees. We have continued to develop our p)licy advocacy to ensure we are not just working to mitigats the impacts of discrimination, but also working to eliminate that discrimination in the first place. This is through detailed needs assessments. research. communications. and campaigns. The organisation has worked with staff, volunteers and tnjstees in the implementation of a 5-year strategic plan. Emerging as a communty response to the HIV epidemic in 1994, our work and focus has continued to grow as we have come to understsnd the full range of holistic approaches required to mitigate the impacts of discrimination to address the health needs of LGBTQIA+ people. To monitor the organisation's impact and support the Rainbow Project in achieving its vision" mission" aims" and objectives, while remaining aligned to our values. we adopted an outcomes-based accountability model in our strategic plan. We could not deliver this range of activities without a committed team of staff and volunteers and the support of our fijndersldonorslfundraisers. While charitable fvnding continues to come under real pressure. it is a real achievement that the organisation has maintsined the confiden and support of a range of funders who support our activities. Our positive relationships with funders were demonstrated when we were able to communicate the importance of testing and vaccination at Ihe time of the Monkeypox outbreak during the Spring and Summer of 2022 resulting In over 11x1 people r8questing the vaccination and reducing the potentlal impact of a local outbreak.
THE RAINBOW PROJECT LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 During 2022-2023, the Trustees continued to focus on the govemance of the Project. on settlng and monitoring strategy, ensuring systems of control were in place. monitoring finance. and considering major areas of risk. Day- to-day management decisions are delegated to the Director. This work induded a numb8r of intemal reviews to ensure best practice and good govemance. induding a review of The Rainbow Project's policies and procedures and volunteering systems. During this financial year. The Rainbow Project continued to invest in a sustsinability strategy aimed at expanding the sources of income for the organisation including a focus on giving. This investrnent was managed through our govemance structure which indudes a Sustainability. Strategy and Finance Sub-Group of the Board of Trustees whith has overseen the sustainability strategy and will review progress towards agreed markers of success. Vlhile we continue to witness on-going change in the views and attitudes of society in Nothem Ireland that might have been un-imaginable ten or twenty years ago. we cannot be (X)mpIant. Homophobia. transphobia. biphobia and heterosexism are still prevalent in parts of the Northem Ireland community. Our activity last year. has been set against a backdrop of increased anti-LGBTQIA* narratives in Northem Ireland and across the globe. We have been working with our sector partners and other organisations to support those impacted, including our staff members and in particular trans and non-binary people. The Rainbow Project provides dedicated SUPFK)rt and social opportunities to our trans and non-binary community through our Beu group and our hugely successfijl m¢thlY trans and non-binary swimmlng sessions. During 2022-2023 The Ralnbow Project strengthened our work on the campaign to ban 50 called ,nVers1On therapy,. We partnered with the D8partment for Communltles to commission research and have developed our relationships wlth organisations a(xoss the UK and Ireland to maxlmize our impact. The Department for Communities are thus far Committing to a ban on so called conversion pracilces. Tbvo independent academics have be8n identified to assist in the proposed research projecL The Ralnbow Project will have a rol8 In locating and supportlng people to make their submlsslon to the research panel. Th8 Rainbow Project Policy and Advocacy Officer. whlch Is funded by the Joseph R¢)vmtr8e Foundation. led our policy, communlcations and engagemént ¢)n this important work. We believe any ban must b8 compreh8nsive wtth no loopholes. In Ireland. discussions are still ongoing with Roderic O'Gornian Minister for Children. Equality. Disability. Integratlon and Youth of Ireland but at recent IDAHOBIT évént he advised that any legislalion will be trans inclusive. Academl¢s have been id8ntlfied to assist with the proposed research project which his department wants to initiate with Unlverslty College, Dublin. Our partner organisation, LGBT Ireland. will have a role in locating and supporting p80ple to make their submissions to the earch panel. The Rainbow Project has been in the vanguard of promoting as well as defending the rights. needs, views and expectations of the LGBTQIA+ community in Northem Ireland. In another year without an Assembty or Executive. TRP continued to engage with political parties and. elected representatives and departments. We continued to work with the Departm8nt for Communities and others in analysing the recommendations to produce a LGBTQI Strategy to make sure it contains tsrgeted. measurable and resourced actions which are achievable and will make a real effective impact on the lives of LGBTQIA+ people. Through discussions that were initiated with political representatives to establish an all-party group in trans healthcare. MLAS felt a wider forum on LGBTQIA+ issues would be more beneficial. The All-Paty Group on LGBTQIA+ Equality subsequently launched in September. When the Nl Assembly does eventually come out of the current suspension we look forward to further engagement through the All-Party Group. As one of Northern Ireland's key communitylvoluntary sexual health organisations. The Rainbow Project continues to develop its Sexual Health activities and services. Our Rapid HIV and Syphilis Testing Service. now in its 12th year. has been developed and expanded with over 300 men accessing rapid testing during 2022-2023. In addition to this. over 100.000 safer sex packs were dislributed to men across Northem Ireland. and we commenced a key campaign, seeking to bring new HIV diagnosis to zero through a range of actiwties and investrnent. Over the next year, The Rainbow Project will continue to develop its services in line with a holisli approach to the health and wellbeing of our beneficiaries induding id8ntifying and working to meet the physical as well as mental health needs of our beneficlaries.
THE RAINBOW PROJECT LTD TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The Rainbow Project continued to be on the cutting edge of service provision during 2022-2023 with the )ntinuation of Northem Ireland's only co<ultural gay affimiative counselling service resulting in over 1,000 sessions delivered, one to one support. couple counselling and the development of Therapeutic support groups. We have also developed counselling placement Posts to support students in developing an LGBTQIA+ affimiing model of counselling. We are still offering video and phone sessions with dients, and this has allowed us to reach new clierrts particularfy those Irving in rural areas of Northern Ireland. Training for professionals continued to play a key role in our vrt)rk with sexual orientation and gender awareness sessions and an introduction to gay aifirmative therapy sessions being delivered. We have also developed new training programmes whith offer participants more aErenesS on trans and non-binary identities and issues. We will continue to work over the next year to ensure that revised mental health promotion and suicide prevention regional and localty action plans are supporting the LGBTQIA+ populations as a priority. The Rainbow Project's strategic plan focusses on changing the lives of LGBTQIA+ p8ople. changing service providers. changing society and changing ourselves. This change will be achieved through tha development and delivery of key services addressing the needs of LGBTQIA+ people. working with others to increase their avRreness and knowledge of the needs of LGBTQIA+ people, working to ensure society values the positive impact of LGBTQIA* people and continuously developing our ¢)rganisation to ensure it Is fil for purpose. Slructuroi gornance and management The Rainbow Project Ltd (previously Rainbow Health Llmlted) is registered with The Charfty Commission for Northem Ireland and is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 25 October 1995. It Is govemed by a Memorandum and Artides of Association which were last amended on 22 September 2012. The Injstees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served durfng the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Ms JennyAshton Mr Trevor Wright Ms Margaret Peacock Ms KlmberlyAnn Walsh Mr Claran Moynagh Mr Alan Kenneth Martin Ms Karen Geraldine McShan8 Miss Nadine Campbell Mr Patrick Hughes Mr Shane Lynch Mrs Laur8n O'Sullivan-Harris Mr Jonathan Kyle Ms Norah Christie Ms Monica Fitzpatrick Mr Donall Henderson {Resigned 20 August 2023) (R8slgned 3 February 2023) (Resigned 27 August 2022) (Resigned 18 Aprll 2022) (Appointed 5 February 2023) (Appointed 5 February 2023) (Appointed 5 February 2023) None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of th8 trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up. No emoluments Vre paid to directors during the year. Principal actlvlty To seek the benefit and 8nhancement of the mental. emotional and physical health and vlIbeing of lesbian. gay, bisexual and transgender people in Northem Ireland and. in particular. to advan education and awareness by VRY of research. provision of advocacy services. development. assessment and development of infonnation and education services. to provide care and support services. counselling services. clinical services and advic8 relevant to health, particularly sexual health. and well-being; and to promote the equality and rights of lesbian, gay. bisexual and transgender p8opI8.
THE RAINBOW PROJECT LTD TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Rlsk pollcy The Trnstees who servad during the year have undertaken an analysis of Ihe work of the charity: iden11f the Mat risks lo which the charity is exposed and are satisfied thai all appropriate policies. pract aThJ procedures are in place lo mitigate those riqks. A Governance SuGrouP of Ihe Board of Trustees has been fOed and has produced a register of major iisks and millgaling action5. Flnanclal rev(•w During this reporting period, Ihe charity has malntained a good financial position wllh an increase in donalion5 and reseNes held. The Trustees have reviewed the re[Ye5 of Ihe charity. Considering Ihe variable income and fixed cornmitm8nt5, as well as the wider lunding dimate. the review concluded thal to allow the charity to provide a buffer for unintemipted services. a general 1ve equating to apprDximalely four months of total eXPerlture should be maintained. The current Iree reseplas held by the charity are £258.486 which is 31.4% or appmximately four months of the lolal annual oxp8ndilure of 202212023. ststemènt of trust•os' reiponslbllltiO9 The truslees. who are also the dlreclor5 of The Ralntw)w Project Lld for the purpose of compary law. are re5ponsibl8 for preparing Iho Trustees, Report and the finanual 51alemenls In accordance with appllcable law and Uniled Kingdom Axounling Standards (Uniled Kingdom Generally Attepled Accounting Practice). Company Law requires ihe trustee5 to prepare financial stalements for each financial year which give a trL* and fair view of Ihe slate ol affairs of the charitable company and ol the Incoming resources and applScalkJn ol resources. including the Income and 8xpendilura. of the ¢hafitsble company for that year. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitabl8 a¢countrng policles and then appty Ihom consistenuy,. - obseThe the methods and princlples In the Charilies SORP: - make Judgem8nis and esllmales that ara reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable UK Accounting Slandards have be8n followed, sublecl lo any maleTi81 deparlufes disdosed and 8xplalned in the financial statements: arKI - prepare the financlal statements on the going concem basis unless It is inapproprlats to presume that Ihe charitable company will continuei in operation. The trustees aré responsible for keeping adequale xo)untiThJ records that disclose with reas¢Jnabl8 accurw at any time the financial position of the Gharitable company and enable th8m lo ensure that the financlal slatgments comFqy with Ihe Companies Aci 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the a55ets of the charikble company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detectson of fraud and other irregularilies. Audttor A re5c4uiion proposing that Johnston Kennedy DFK be rppoInted as auditors of the charity w511 be put to the Annual General Meeting. Disclosure of Information to audltor Each of the truslees has confirmed that Ihere is no infonnation of which they are aware which bs relevant to Ihe audit. but of whith the auditor is unawarg. They have further confimied thal ihey have taken appropfiate sieps to identify such relevanl informalion and io establish thal the audiior is aware of such infomiatlon. This report has been prepared in accordance wilh the special proVtsiS ol Part 15 of the Companies Aci %106 relating io small companles. The truste8s' report was approved by the Board ol Tru5t8es. Mr Trevor Wrlgm Chalrperson Dale: