SOLAS
Charity Registration No. NIC100114 Company Registration No. NI072164 (Northern Ireland)
SOLAS
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
SOLAS
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
| Trustees | |
|---|---|
| Tom Doran (resigned 24" Jan. 2024) | |
| Emily Gallagher | |
| Fionnguala McCotter (Chair) | |
| Caitriona Nic Sheain | |
| Lorraine McErlain (appointed 7" Nov. | |
| Elaine Holmes | |
| Ross Reid (resigned 14" Dec. 2024) | |
| Steven Egan (appointed 7" Nov. 2024) | |
| Mairead McCartan | |
| Joanne Mercer | |
| Jean McGann | |
| Secretary | Fionnguala McCotter |
| Joanne Mercer | |
| Charity number | NIC100114 |
| Company number | NI072164 |
| Registered office | Parkmore Building |
| 284a Ormeau Road | |
| Belfast | |
| BT7 2GB | |
| Auditor | Kearney &Co |
| Donegall House | |
| 2™4 Floor | |
| 98-102 Donegall Street | |
| Belfast | |
| BT12GW |
Auditor
SOLAS
Page Trustees’ report 1-7 Independent auditor's report 8-9 Statement of financial activities 10 Balance sheet 11 Statement of cash flows 12 Notes to the financial statements 13 - 23
SOLAS TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).
Objectives and activities
The charity's objectives are to;
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e Advance health and wellbeing, education and development, with particular reference to those children with special needs currently falling outside the statutory provision;
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e Provide ‘pathways’ to services which vulnerable families may not normally be able to access;
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e Support families who engage with Solas, and build a strong physical and practice infrastructure which will provide consistent, quality care and support:
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e Ensure that the voices of children/young people with mild to severe learning disabilities are heard and that their voices shape and influence the development of government policies and mainstream services; Increase the visibility of children/young people, their parents/carers and siblings and ensuring their full participation in community life;
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e Lobby and advocate for increased bespoke services for families through representation on all key committees, steering groups and bodies with the potential to support our work;
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e Train highly skilled staff to promote our commitment to excellence; working with academic institutions, voluntary agencies and statutory bodies to ensure that our practice and experience contributes to research and evaluations which work towards improving practice;
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e Develop a team of dedicated volunteers who use their skills/experience in schools, ensuring children are supported to have an optimum education experience.
Current services include:
1. Childcare, Youth & Respite Services
Afterschools, respite support (afternoons, evenings, weekends), Saturday Clubs, Sibling Clubs, Youth Clubs, and Summer & Holiday Schemes. These services promote inclusion for children and young people with disabilities while providing essential childcare and respite for parents and carers.
- Home Support & Therapeutic Services
Support for families at all stages of the diagnostic journey, offering home-based assistance, information, Parent Programmes, and Parent Advice. Therapeutic services include play therapy, art therapy, counselling, and wellbeing activities for adult and young carers. These interventions support families who may feel isolated or are experiencing mental health challenges.
3. Early Years Programme
SOLAS TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
Support for children and families from Play & Stay through to pre-school. As lead partner in the Belfast Wide Early Years (BWEY) SEN Initiative, Sdl4s works with Glenbrook SureStart, Kids Together Belfast, and East Belfast SureStart. The Seedlings (2-3) and Sunflowers (3-4) programmes support 30 children with disabilities each year. In September 2023, Sdlas was invited by the Department of Education to deliver a SEN pre-school provision for children with disabilities who have a Statement of Educational Need.
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Educational Programmes Programmes designed for children with mild additional needs who are not reaching their full learning potential, including the Back on Track programme and a range of educational workshops.
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Young Adults Programme — SONA A day service for young adults transitioning from or leaving Special School. SONA provides opportunities for young people with disabilities to develop life skills, engage in wellbeing and social activities, and spend time in a safe, supported environment with peers.
The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects are.
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Enhance the physical infrastructure of the organisation ensuring that facilities are fit for purpose and designed to best meet the complex needs of many of the service users supported. In the past year we have developed a new programme SONA, and hired a new space at the YMCA site in Stranmillis, which we developed for young adults transitioning from Special School. This programme supports young people with life skills, cookery, independence skills, healthy eating and wellbeing, exercise, social skills, trips, etc
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Consolidate and strengthen the organisation's services, expand the capacity of Sélas to deliver vital programmes to children, young people and their families, and to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation through creating a business model which is robust and reduces their current dependency upon grant funding.
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Work collaboratively with a diverse range of organisations, alt of which contribute to the delivery of effective services, primarily to benefit children and young people with additional needs across Belfast. In particular, Sélas works with 3 key partnerships, South Belfast Surestart (through the Early Years the Belfast Wide Early Years (BWEY) partnership led by Sélas. We also collaborate on youth programmes with Kids Together, a similar disability service organisation to Sélas operating in West Belfast.
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Promote excellence in their practice - Sélas works closely with all Belfast based Universities and Teacher Training Colleges. Sélas currently offers placement opportunities to students from QUB, Stranmillis, St Marys & UUJ studying a number of degree programmes (including health & social care, psychology, education, masters in autism, and masters in atypical child development). Many of the students who come to Sdlas on placement are retained as staff members/volunteers.
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Tackle disadvantages experienced by children and young people with moderate to severe learning needs who experience an acute lack of choice or options throughout
SOLAS TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
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their lives when trying to access appropriate services; through delivery of early years and daycare services, afterschool provision, youth services and educational support.
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Grow organically and continue to develop a diverse range of programmes, projects and activities which meet the needs of the whole family; the group currently deliver their services across 8 settings, the majority of which are located in areas of greatest disadvantage.
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Generate income through Social Enterprise activities delivered through access to Self- Directed Support Packages. Self- Directed support is the provision of tailored individual support packages for children and young people with severe learning difficulties and disabilities. Children and young people in this category are eligible to access direct payments from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and can use it to buy in the support they feel is most needed to improve their quality of life and provides benefit to them personally. Sdlas provides self-directed support services and also offers administrative support to families to access the scheme. In the year, we also provided Communication Boards to a range of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Playgrounds.
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Childcare / Youth and Respite Services - these services focuses upon children aged 5 to 18 years old and as per core mission, targets those children with the most complex and challenging needs. It provides a valuable childcare service for working parents, and respite for those parents who desperately need support. These services are tailored and based upon the needs of each individual child / young person with suitable staffing support in place as per organisational policies and experience.
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Engage with Parents/Carers to enhance services: Sélas engages with parents and carers on a daily basis in relation to the needs of both their children and themselves. The feedback and information they provide is vital to the ongoing success of the organisation. Parents/Carers inform the development and enhancement of core programmes and activities. Parents/Carers readily support evaluations, research and frequently represent the needs of their child(ren)/organisation to funders, politicians and statutory authorities.
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Engage with Staff - Engagement with our staff team is critical. The feedback and input they make to ensure delivery of high-quality service and provision is vital to the day to day running of the organisation.
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Engage the Local Community/Businesses to provide support to the organisation; this helps us create an extended welcoming and safe environment for the children/young people and parents/carers who use our facilities.
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Community Organisations - Sélas works extensively and engages with a diverse range of community organisations. We partner with Kids Together in a number of programmes including some youth activities and BWEY, as mentioned above. Other BWEY partners include Glenbrook SureStart and East Belfast SureStart, We are part
SOLAS TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
of the Ulidia Campus Plans, which includes Solas, Rosario Football Club as well as Scoil an Droichid (primary school moving to the newly refurbished Ulidia School site adjoining Sélas and the Ulidia Playing Fields). The campus partners have been working together for several years to deliver services to the community and to maximise the use of the community resources that we collectively hold.
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We also work closely with Forward South Partnership and South Belfast Surestart, with whom we have service delivery partnerships. In addition we hire rooms from, YMCA, Mornington, Rosario Youth Club, Village Church Haypark and Scoil an Droichid to support the delivery of some of our community services.
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Local Schools - Sdlas and local schools engage on a daily basis in the best interests of the children/young people attending the organisation. Their services are interdependent and necessary to create the best possible development and educational opportunities for the children who attend their facilities. Schools understand the challenges of providing safe and consistent care for children who need stability in order to thrive. Schools support and understand the need for this project.
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Belfast Trust and DE - Sdlas has engaged from the outset with key statutory agencies in developing the services which are so important to so many families. Positive engagement is essential to the ongoing and continued work of Sdlas. The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
Achievements and performance
Solas has experienced another year of growth, responding to the increasing demand for care / respite, educational support, developmental programmes, therapeutic services and home support, across Belfast and further afield. The establishment of our young adults transition programme, SONA, has been further developed in the year, and is supporting a growing number of young people coming through from children’s services. Many of these young people have experienced our children’s services and are now at the point of leaving special school and need a bespoke support programme. SONA endeavours to help young adults to reach their full potential, by encouraging new skills and further developing existing skills in a holistic and individual way. It includes independent living skills, such as cookery, self-care, laundry, money management etc. It also promotes health & wellbeing, such as physical exercise, healthy eating, art therapy, yoga, mindfulness, and offers all participants social opportunities to enjoy a range of leisure and recreations, such as bowling, swimming, day trips etc with peers.
Contracts with the BHSCT demonstrate the growing confidence that the Disability Services at the trust place on services offered at Sdlas. Cash balances have improved, net assets have been maintained and the charity is able to maintain a healthy operating surplus. Sélas received a significant boost in the year with securing £250,000 from the Goodman Foundation towards the new £2.5m building development project which began construction in September 2025. A further £250,000 from Goodman Foundation was received in March 2025.
SOLAS TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
COF (Community Ownership Funding) was received in year. The accompanying funding Agreement is between the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Sél4s Charity. This Grant Fund Agreement is for £750k in capital for the new Sélas Centre on the Ormeau road, and £50k in revenue to support the opening of new building. This new Sélds Children’s Centre is due for completion in December 2026.
In February 2025, we worked in partnership with the Ulster orchestra, the Belfast City Council Ulster Hall, Cross Border Orchestra in a fund-raiser that also provided an opportunity for our young people to perform an original piece, alongside the professionals at the Ulster Hall. It was a huge success, not just in raising profile and funds for our new building, but also hugely successful in delivering a truly inclusive event. The success led to the nomination of Sélas by Belfast City Council in the All-island Pride of Place Award — as an inspiring example of community innovation and resilience across the island. We went on to be awarded the runner up prize in the Inclusiveness category.
Additional work was carried out in the year procuring the Design team for our new building, as well as securing full planning permission for the new building, and doing the ground work to procure the Contractors for our new centre building project. A significant amount of work was required in the Spring and early summer period, to plan the move of services off site, which would have to take pace over the summer months We had to ensure that all summer services would continue to run as normal, without disruption. YMCA provided us with additional space, which allowed us to crane our mobile units off the Parkmore site and onto the YMCA site. Planning permission for the relocation had to be secured from the City Council, and the logistics of moving the units planned and executed to a very tight schedule.
Financial Review
The results for the year are set out on the Statement of Financial Activities. The Trustees consider the financial results satisfactory.
Sdlas has a risk management policy in place under which risks are identified and reviewed by management on a regular basis. Procedures are in place to manage the risks.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three- and six-month’s expenditure. The Trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
SOLAS
TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and is registered as a charity with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. The Company was established under a Memorandum of Association and is governed by its Articles of Association.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Fionnguala McCotter — Director Chair Emily Gallagher Caitriona Nic Sheain Lorraine McErlain appointed 7th November 2024 Elaine Holmes Ross Reid resigned 14th Dec 2024 Steven Egan appointed 7th November 2024 Mairead McCartan Jean McGann Joanne Mercer
None of the Trustees have any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The directors of the company are also charity Trustees for the purposes of Charity Law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association directors are elected at an Annual General Meeting by the members {in person, or through an authorised representative or by proxy).
All new directors receive in-house induction and training appropriate to their roles.
Sélas has a Management Committee, made up of Trustees. The Committee meets regularly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. The day-to-day responsibility for the provision of the services rests with the manager and the senior management team.
Auditor
The Board of Sélas approved appointment of Kearney & Co as their auditor for the year.
The Trustees’ report was approved by the Board of Trustees
Lit Bike Fionnguala McCotter Trustee
IS:4' Dated:
SOLAS
TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS’ REPORT)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Sdélas for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees‘ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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e select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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e observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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e make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
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e® prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Auditor
Each of the persons who is a Trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that;
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e so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditor is unaware; and
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» they have taken all relevant steps that they ought to have taken as trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies’ exemption.
SOLAS
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOLAS
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Sdlas (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 30 June 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, and the notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of lreland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 30 June 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended.
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
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the information given in the Trustees’ report, which includes the directors’ report prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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the directors’ report included within the Trustees’ report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.Matters on which we are required to report by exception.in the light of the
SOLAS
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOLAS
knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the Trustees’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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- _ the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or - certain disclosures of Trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or - we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or - the Directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the Trustees’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
Responsibilities of the Trustees
As explained more fully in the statement of Trustees' responsibilities, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: https:// www .frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Jarak bourse wach. Sarah Louise Lynch (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Kearney & Co
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
Donegall House 2™ Floor 98-102 Donegall Street Belfast BT1 2GW
SOLAS
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | ||||
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income from: | |||||
| CharitableActivities | 3 | 612,864 | 836,852 | 1,449,716 | 1,290,714 |
| Investments | 4 | - | - | : | 7 |
| Totalincome | 612,864 | 836,852 | 1,449,716 | 1,290,714 | |
| Expenditure on: | |||||
| Charitable activities | 5 | 324,034 | 917,432 | 1,241,466 | 1,102,622 |
| Total resources | |||||
| expended | 324,034 | 917,432 | 1,241,466 | 1,102,622 | |
| Net | |||||
| {expenditure)/income | |||||
| fortheyear | 288,830 | (80,580) | 208,250 | 188,092 | |
| Transfers between | |||||
| funds | (80,580) | 80,580 | - | - | |
| Netmovement in funds |
208,250 | - | 208,250 | 188,092 | |
| Fund balances at 1 | |||||
| July2024 | 389,624 | 545,967 | 935,591 | 747,499 | |
| Fund balances at30 | |||||
| June2025 | 597,874 | 545,967 | 1,143,841 | 935,591 |
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed assets | ||||
| Tangibleassets | 8 | 143,010 | 150,074 | |
| Currentassets | ||||
| Debtors | 9 | 11,991 | 51,540 | |
| Cashat bankand in hand | 1,983,817 | 1,080,094 | ||
| 1,995,808 | 1,131,634 | |||
| Creditors:amounts fallingduewithin | ||||
| oneyear | 10 | (994,977) | (346,117) | |
| Net current assets | 1,000,831 | 785,517 | ||
| NetAssets | 1,143,841 | 935,591 | ||
| Income funds | ||||
| Restricted funds | 11 | 545,967 | 545,967 | |
| Unrestricted funds | 597,874 | 389,624 | ||
| 1,143,841 | 935,591 |
SOLAS
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
| Notes | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Cashflowsfromoperatingactivities | ||||
| Cashgeneratedfrom operations | 13 | 907,754 | 497,043 | |
| Investingactivities | ||||
| Purchaseoftangiblefixed assets | (4,031) | (18,779) | ||
| ___(4,034) 903,723 |
___(18,779) | |||
| Net increase in cash andcash equivalents | 14 | 903,723 | 478,264 | |
| Cashand cash equivalents atthe beginning | ||||
| oftheyear | 1,080,094 | 601,830 | ||
| Cashandcashequivalentsattheend ofthe | ||||
| year | 1,983,817 | 1,080,094 |
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
- 1, Accounting policies
Charity information
Solas is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 284A Parkmore Building, Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2GB.
1.1 Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's constitution, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” {as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives unless the funds have been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.
1.4 Incoming resources
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
1 Accounting policies
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the
amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.
1.5 Expenditure
All expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability and is incurred and classified under headings _ that aggregate all cost related to the category. Expenditure on charitable activities are costs incurred on the companies’ charitable operations including support costs and costs relating to the governance to the company apportioned to charitable activities.
1.5 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Freehold land and buildings Equipment/IT Equipment Motor Vehicles 4% Straight Line 33% / 20% Straight Line 25% Straight Line
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
1 Accounting policies
1.6 Impairment of fixed assets
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss, If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and intangible assets not yet available for use are tested for impairment annually, and whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired,
1.7 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at cail with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
1.8 Financial instruments
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settie on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
1 Accounting policies
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
1.9 Employee benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee's services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
1.10 Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
3 Charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds
2025 2025 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Fees 569,708 - 569,708 462,288
Grants - 836,852 837,361 812,233
Donations 30,595 - 30,595 16,193
Other Income 12,561 - 12,561 -
612,864 836,852 1,449,716 1,290,714
4 Investments
Unrestricted Total
funds
2025 2024
£ £
Interest receivable - -
----- End of picture text -----
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
5 Charitable activities
| Charitable | Charitable | |
|---|---|---|
| Expenditure | Expenditure | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Access NI | 2,880 | 1,718 |
| Accountancy | 2,120 | 1,962 |
| Activities and resources | 77,374 | 49,389 |
| Advertising | 7,853 | 6,134 |
| Bank charges | 357 | 331 |
| Cleaning | 5,759 | 1,734 |
| Consultancy | 7,519 | 8,962 |
| Depreciation | 11,093 | 40,482 |
| Employee Benefits | 53,286 | 1,600 |
| Equipment | 4,576 | 4,517 |
| Heat, light andwater | 17,168 | 18,505 |
| Insurance | 12,565 | 3,012 |
| ITand telephone | 17,604 | 12,892 |
| Legaland professionalfees | 17,058 | 11,687 |
| Motor | 11,484 | 13,345 |
| Rent | 53,839 | 49,990 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 10,584 | 5,770 |
| Room hire and catering | 7,341 | 7,746 |
| Salaries andwages | 902,347 | 844,418 |
| StaffEntertainment | - | 38 |
| Stationery | 4,361 | 4,322 |
| Subscriptions | 970 | 999 |
| Sundry expenses | 3,703 | 2,833 |
| Training | 1,977 | 2,920 |
| Waste disposal | 1,667 | 1,872 |
| 1,235,484 | 1,097,178 | |
| Shareofgovernance costs (Audit Fees) | 5,640 | 5,040 |
| Fire Safety | 342 | 404 |
| 1,241,466 | 1,102,622 | |
| Analysis by fund | ||
| Unrestrictedfunds | 324,034 | 68,923 |
| Restricted funds | 917,432 | 1,033,699 |
| 1,241,466 | 1,102,622 |
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
6 Trustees
None of the Trustees received any remuneration or benefits from the Charity during the year. No person connected with a Trustee received a salary from the Charity during the year (2024: Nil).
7 Employees
Number of employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theaverage | monthly | number | ofemployees | during | the | year was: | Number | Number |
| 63 | 66 |
Employment costs
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 734,912 | 639,839 |
| Social security costs | 120,130 | 132,330 |
| Pension costs | 47,305 | 72,249 |
| 902,347 | 844,418 |
Key Management Personnel
Key management personnel include all persons that have authority and responsibility for planning, directing, and controlling the activities of the Charity. Key management include the Managing Director, Childcare Services Manager, HR Manager and Finance Administrator. The total compensation paid to key management personnel for services to provided to the Charity was £102,928,
No employee of the Charity received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: Nil).
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
8 Tangible fixed costs
| Fixtures, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freehold | Fittings | ||||
| tandand | and | Motor | |||
| buildings | Equipment | Vehicles | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Cost | |||||
| At 1 July2024 | 173,650 | 103,562 | 75,173 | 352,385 | |
| Additions | - | 4,031 | - | 4,031 | |
| At30June2024 | 173,650 | 107,593 | 75,173 | 356,416 | |
| Depreciation and impairment | |||||
| At1July2024 | 41,676 | 89,193 | 71,444 | 202,313 | |
| Depreciation charged inthe | |||||
| year | 6,946 | 3,214 | 932 | 11,093 | |
| At30June2025 | 48,622 | 92,407 | 72,376 | 213,405 | |
| CarryingAmount | |||||
| At30June2025 | 125,028 | 15,182 | 2,799 | 143,010 | |
| At30June2024 | 131,974 | 14,369 | 3,370 | 150,074 | |
| 9 | Debtors | ||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Prepayments and accrued | |||||
| income | 11,991 | 51,540 | |||
| 11,989 | 51,540 | ||||
| 10 | Creditors: amounts | falling due within one year | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Othertaxation and social | |||||
| security | 27,489 | 14,009 | |||
| Creditorsduewithin one year | 26,334 | - | |||
| Accruals and deferred income | 941,154 | 332,108 | |||
| 994,977 | 346,117 |
9 Debtors
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
11 Restricted funds
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purpose
| Balance | Balance | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| asati | at30 | ||||||||||
| July | Incoming | Income | Resources | June | |||||||
| 2024 | Resources | Adj. | expended | Transfers | 2025 | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| HomeSupport | 51,199 | 66,678 | 31,170 | (73,258) | 75,790 | ||||||
| Childcare/Respite | 120,987 | 310,486 | - | 86,899 | (351,269) | 80,580 | 73,885 | ||||
| Early Years | - | 249,983 | - | 31,797 | (155,844) | 99,324 | |||||
| Youth&TBUC | 78,731 | 86,006 | 20,883 | (162,296) | 23,324 | ||||||
| BackonTrack | - | - | 7,087 | (6,752} | 335 | ||||||
| Therapeutic | |||||||||||
| Services&Carers | 23,921 | 57,500 | - | 20,000 | (50,987) | 10,434 | |||||
| SONA | 68,993 | 60,702 | - | (117,026) | 12,669 | ||||||
| Capital | 184,601 | 580,842 | - | 576,000 | - | 189,443 | |||||
| Other Restricted | |||||||||||
| Funds | 17,535 | - | 6,754 | - | - | 24,289 | |||||
| 545,967 | 1,412,199 | - | 648,802 | - | 917,432 | - | 80,580 | 545,967 | |||
| 12 | Analysis of | net assets | between funds | ||||||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||||||||||
| Funds | Funds | ||||||||||
| Total | Total | ||||||||||
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||||
| Fund balances at 30 June | |||||||||||
| 2025are | |||||||||||
| represented by: | |||||||||||
| Tangible assets | 15,186 | 127,825 | 143,010 | 150,074 | |||||||
| Currentassets/ | (liabilities) | 582,688 | 418,142 | 1,250,844 | 785,517 | ||||||
| 597,874 | 545,967 | 1,393,855 | 935,591 |
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
13 Cash generated from operations
| 13 Cash generated from operations |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Surplus forthe year | 208,250 | 188,092 | |
| Adjustmentsfor: | |||
| Depreciation | 11,093 | 40,482 | |
| Movements inworking capital: | |||
| Decrease in debtors | 39,551 | 20,938 | |
| Increase in creditors | 648,860 | 289,407 | |
| 907,754 | 497,043 | ||
| 14 Analysis ofchanges in netfunds |
|||
| 01-Jul | Cash | 30-Jun | |
| Analysis ofchanges in netfunds | 2024 | Flows | 2025 |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Cashat bankand in hand | 1,080,094 | 903,740 | 1,983,834 |
| 1,080,094 | 903,740 | 1,983,834 |
15 Related party transactions
None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with the Charity or a related entity.
16 Retirement benefit scheme
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for afl qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Charity in independently administered funds.
The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £18,001 (2024: 16,894).
17 Taxation
Sélas has been granted charitable status by inland revenue.
Charity Number: NIC100114
SOLAS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
| 18 Deferred income |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| At 1 July2024 | 325,163 | 35,527 |
| Amount released to income | (75,163) | (35,527) |
| Amount deferred in year | 691,154 | 325,163 |
| At30June2025 | 941,154 | 325,163 |