SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report forthe year ended 31 De¢ember 2023 The Trustees present their Report and Accounls for the year ended 31 De￿mber 2023. which also comprises the Diredors, Report required by the Companies Act 2006. Reference and administrntive details The charity name The legal name of the charity is.- SOS N.1. The charity is also known by rts operaling name, SOS Bus N.1. The charitys areas operation and UK charitable registrntion The charity is registered in Northern Ireland wth the Charty Commission in Northern Ireland ICCNI) with charrty number NIC100247 Legal structure of the chanty The charity is constiluted as a a company limited by guarantee, registered under the Companies Acl. The governing document of the chanfy is Ihe Memorandum and Artides of Association eslablishing the company under company legislation. There are no restrictions in the goveming documents on the operation of the Charty or on its investment powers Other than those imposed by Charity Law. By operation of law. all trustees are directors under the Companies Act 2006 and all d1￿ctOrS are trustees under Charities legislation and have responsibilibes. as such, under both company and charity legislation. The trustees are all individuals. The principal operating address. telephone number. email and web addre55e5 of the charity are:_ Weavers Court Business Park Belfast BT12 5GH Telephone Email address 028 9066 4505 info@sosbusni.com Web address www.sosbusni.com SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The registered office of the charity for Companies Act purposes is'.- 25 Shore Road Holywood Northern Ireland, BT18 9HX The Trustees in office on the date the report was approved were:_ Mr M J Brooks Mr P Loughins Mrs S C Henderson Miss M Dunne Mr D J Maguiie MrDGMark The following persons served as Trustees during the year ended 31 December 2023 . The trustees who served as a trustee in the reporting period. and. if applicable. their dates of appointment or resignalion during the year were=_ Name Appointed Resigned/Retired Mr M J Brooks Mrs F Dougla5 MrJ P Hughes Mr P Loughins Mrs S C Henderson Miss M Dunne Mr D J Maguire MrDGMark 29 November 2023 29 November 2023 15 May 2023 15 May 2023 15 May 2023 All the trustees are also tnefflbers of the charity. SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Object5 and activities of the ¢harify The purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document The Charity's objecls are specifically restricted to the folk)wing= advancement of health or saving of lives by prowding emergency medical treatment and care.. relief of those in rTeed by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability. financial hardship or other disadvantage through the provision of non emergency medical care. treatment, advice, emotional support and 5U5tenance- advancement of education of children and young people up to the age of 25 years old including vocational training and training in life skills.. advancement of citizenship and community development by provision of advice, information and proces5 of referral to professional agencies.. advancement ol education of volunteers including training in health and safety and lrfe skills. The main activities undertaken in relation to those pu￿OseS during the year The main aclivilies undertaken during the year to further those purposes are detailed below. Night Time Setvices.. Creating Safer Streets. Volunteers provided compassionate, non-judgemenlal support lo anyone who in need 01 feeling vulnerable. ensuting their safety and well-being. Day Time Response Team-. Street-based therapy and crisi5 inletvention. Launched in 2021, this serwce continued to grow in 2023 following a pilot programme in partnership with PSNI. It offers essential mental health supporl and crisis intervention for individuals with complex lives who face barrier5 in accessirig setvices. Event Welfare Services: As part of a multi-agency health and safety team at concerts and major events. SOS prowded safe spaces for fflental health intewventions. substance use recovery, and assistance in getting people home safely. Signposling Project". Led by volunteers, this initiative ensures that individuals with long-term, r.nmr)Ip.x np.p.d8 rp.r,pivp Ihp apprnpriatp n.arp Ilnli Intppr% Arp Irainp(I tn e.nnnpr.t r.lipntq tn partnpr organisalions for sustained support. Volunteer Training & Development.. Volunteers are equipped with skills necessary for delivering effective street-based interventions. They are encouraged to conlribule to the design and development of SOS sevvices, ensuring a community-driven approach. SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Reportfor the year ended 31 December 2023 Overview of SOS Bus Nl SOS Bus Nl is commltted to creating safe spaces across Belfasl. As a volunleer-centred organisalion, our services are co-designed. developed. and evaluated in collaboration with volunteers. clients, and multi-agency partners. Our volunteers are trained to provide.. .First Aid .Harm Reduction .Menlal Health InteNention .Naloxone Adminislralion .Suicide De-escalalion .Safe transport to A&E or other safe spaces We also collaborate with agencies supporting refugee families. providing vital transport and resettlement assistance for asylum seekers in Norlhem Ireland. Collaboration with Partners SOS Bus Nl works closely with emergency services. statutory bodies, other charities, universities, and community groups to tackle serious social issues. Our collaboration with the Police and Ambulance services has reduced crime rates and unnecessary hospital admissions, making Belfast safer for everyone. The main activities undertaken during the year lo further the charity s puryjose for the public benefit Beneficiaries The charity continues to support the general public of Northern Ireland. with a focus on vulnerable populations. including.. .Victims of assault .Individuals experiencing homelessness .Those in fear of violence or crime .Victims of substance fflisuse .Those feeling lonely or isolated .Individuals experiencing 5uiGidal thoughts Ko). reeJoureeJ Deplo￿.ed To facilitste service delivery in 2023. SOS Nl utilised-. .A 60-foot Flexi Bus, providing a safe space for anyone in need .Two response minibuses. allowing volunteer teams to respond to calls from PSNI. bars, and the public to transport vulnerable individuals to our bus for comprehensive care. SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the yearended 31 December 2023 2023 Service Delivery .Nighl-Time Response Services were provided each Friday and Saturday as part of the Purple Flag Night-Time Economy initiative. A team of 12 Team Leaders welcomed 27 new welfare volLJnteers and 1 new driver this year. .The SOS Bus supported 1299 clients. including B49 people under the influence of drugs or 3IcDhol, 150 individuals experiencing homelessness, 49 mental heallh interventions, and 32 suicide interventions. .SOS Welfare Services were delivered at 20 concerts, 5UPPOrting 697 people all of whom were provided with a safe space for substance recovery. 60 clients were brought home by SOS Response Mini-bus. 240 young people were co1￿cted by Parents or Relatives. Daytime SeNices The Daytime Response Team delivered 519 interventions. supporting.. .49 individuals in need of mental health 5UPPOrt .370 people experiencing homelessness .117 individuals who were referred to partner organisations for long-tenll care Partnership and adaplalion In 2023, collaboration remained central to our work. By partnering with organisalions such as Belfast City Council. PSNI, The Ambulance Service of Nl. the Welcome Organisalion, Extern, NEXUS, and Alcoholics Anonymous. we provided more comprehensive support to those in need. These collaborations allowed us to adapt our Safe Spaces and signposting iniliatives. ensuring our services remained responsive to the evolving challenges faced by our dients. Whether offering mental health 5UPPOrt, addiclion recovery assislance. or safe transport. these partnerships helped us deliver a wide range of effective services. Our involvement in the Purple Flag Initialive further highlights the importance of partnership. The Purple Flag status, an accreditation that recognises safe and well-managed night-time economies, reflects our commitment to making Belfast's city centre a safer pla￿ for everyone. Working with the Police SeNice of Northern Ireland (PSNII, Belfast City Council, Belfast BIDS, local businesses, and other community OTganisations. we contribute to reducing crime and supporting vulneiable individuals. These collaborattve efforts underscore the power of partnerships in addressing complex social Issues. EJY pooling resources and expertise, we ensure our services are integrated into a broader slralegy for public safety and welfare, providing impactful. long-term solutions for the Belfast community. Together, we are building a more connected support system lo make the city safer, more inclusive, and betlei equipped to ffleel the needs of vulnerable populations. The trustees have had regard to the Charity Comrnission's guidance on public benefit in managing the activities of Ihe charity. SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The main achievernents and perfomiance of the charity durin9 the year Results for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 are Provided in the Statement of Financial Aclivilies on page 14 of the financial statements. A summary of the assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2023 ale provided in the Balance Sheet on page 17. The financial stalements should be read in conjunction wilh their relaled noles, which appear on pages 19 to 30 and have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP IFRS 102). In summary: 1. Total incoming resources have decreased by 29U/o to £159,296 (2022.. £225.477) 2. Total resources expended have decreased by 37'k to £180,722 (2022.. £288,140) 3. There was a nel deficrt of £21,426 in the year (2022.'£62.663). Fundraising actNities during the year Fundraising is critical to the continued success of SOS Bus Nl. Our vilal services are funded through a combinalion of grant5. donations frorn individuals and businesses, and the generosity of our supporters. These contributions enable us lo provide essential support to vulnerable indiwduals in Belfast. includin9 those experiencing mental health crises. homelessness. or substance misuse. Without consistent funding, we would not be able to operate our Safe Spaces or deliver crucial interventions such as suicide de-escalation and overdose prevention. Donations allow us to train volunteers. maintain our fleel of response vehicles. and ensure our services are available wherb needed most-whether during the day or night. The support we receive from the communty is not just financial but reflects a shared commitment to making Belfast a safer and more caring place. Every donation, laige or small. helps us sustain our efforts to create lasting positive change for individuals and the wider community- The difference the charity's perforniance during the year has made to the beneficiaries of fhe charity and the wider society Throughout the year, SOS Bu5 Nl has made a significant impact on both its beneficiaries and the wider community. By providing cribcal sUPPOrt through our Nighttime and Day Titne Services, we have safeguarded the physical and emots.onal well-being of vulnerable individuals across Belfast. Our trained volunteers offered non-judgmenlal. compassionate care to people in crisis, including those experiencing mental health challenges. substance misuse. hotnelessness, and suicidal thoughts. In 2023 alone. we conducted nearly 3000 inlervenlions, delivering essential services such as crisis counselling, suicide de-escalation, and overdose prevention. SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the yearended 31 December 2023 The presence of SOS Bus Nl has also alleviated PTessure on local resource5. particularly emergency services such as the Police Service of Norlhein Ireland (PSNI), Health Trusts. and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIASI. By offering a Safe Space where individuals can receive immediate help, our setvices reduce the need for poli￿ and ambulance callouts, hospital admissions, and other slalulory intervenb"ons. This contributes to a more efficienl use of public resources. while creating a safer environment for the broader community. Through our collaborative partnerships and ongoing dedication. SOS Bus Nl continues to play a vital role in building a safer. more supportive Belfast for all. Structure, governance and management of the charity The methods used to recruit and appoint new charity trustees As set out in the charity's Articles of Association, the charity may by ordinary resolution appoint a person who 15 willing lo act to be a Tru5tee.' and determine Ihe rotation in which any additional Trustees are lo retlTe. No person other than a Truslee retiring by rotation may be appointed a Trustee at any general meeting unless.. he or she is recommended for re-election by the Trustees." or not less than fourteen nor more than thirty five clear days beloie the date of the meeting, the Charity is given a notice that.. -is signed by a member entitled to vote at the meeting- -stales the memberfs intention to propose the appointment of a person as a Trustee- contains the details that, if the person were to be appointed, the Charity would have lo file at Companies House.. and is signed by the person who is proposed to show his or her willingness to be appointed. All persons who are entilled to receive nolice of a general meeting must be given not less than seven nor more than twenty eight days. notice of any resolution to be put lo the meetin9 to appoint a Trustee other Ihan a Trustee who is to retire by rotation. The Trustees may appoint a person who is willing to act as a Trusteee. A Trustee appointed by a resolution of the other Trustees must retire at the next annual general meeting and must be laken into account in determining the Ttustee5 who are lo retire by rotation. The appointment of a Trustee. whether by the charity in a general ffleeling or by the other Trustees. must not cause the number of Trustees lo exceed any number fixed as the maximum number of Trustees. SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 The charity's organisational Structure The charity is managed by a diverse and experienced board of trustees supported by a team of dedicated employees and volunleers. The day to day operational activity of SOS N.1. is board led, supported by4 employees. The trustees. bankers and advisors Bankers Solicitors Danske Bank Liffltted. Donegall Square Wesl. Belfasl. BT16JS Edwards & Co, 28 Hill Street, Belfast. BT12LA Financial review The charity's financialp05ition at the end of the year ended 31 December 2023 The financial posilion of the charity at 31 December 2023 and comparatives for the prior period, as more fully detailed in the accounts. can be summarised as follows-_ 2023 2022 Net expenditure <21.426) (62,6631 Unreslricted Revenue Funds available for the general purposes of the charity Total Unrestricted Funds 198.099 219,525 198.099 219.525 Total Funds 198.099 219,525 Financial review of the position at the reporting date, 31 December 2023 . The trustees consider the financial performance by the chanty during ihe year lo have been salisfaclory. especially given Ihe ongoing economic environment and fluctuations in the regional funding landscape resulting from Brexit. and the resutting concenlration of charities seeking funding from a smaller pool of funders. The charily generated a cash deficit of £21.426. SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Policies on reseThes. The Board'5 objective is to build reserve5 and hold them al a level equivalent to 6 months operating costs. The Board of TTUStees keep this position under constant review. Details of The Independent Examiner Mr William Wilson Member of Chartered Accountants Ireland 25 Shore Road Holywood BT18 9HX SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Statement of the Director5. and Trustees. Responsibilities The charity's trustees are responsible for ihe preparalion of the accounts in accordance Wlth the terms of the Companies Acl 2006. the Charilies (Northem Ireland) Act 2008, as amended and The Charities (Accounts and Reports} Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015. In particular, the Companies Act 2(K)6 and charity law require the Board of Tru5tee5 lo prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fail view of the slate of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements the Board is required lo to prepare the accounts in accordance with Unrted Kingdom Generally Accepled Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable lawl. select suitable accounling policies and apply them consistonlly", make judgements and eslimales that are reasonable and prudent. prepare the financial slalements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business., stato whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statetnents. The law requires Ihal the tiuslees must nol approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the suiplus 01 deficit of the charity for the year. The Trustees are also responsible for fflaintaining adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posrtion of the charity and which are sufficient lo show and explain Ihe charivs tran5action5 and enable Ihem to en5uie that the Iinancial slatements complywith Ihe Companies Act 2006 and complywith regulations made under the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for laking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularilies. The Trustees are also responsible for the contents of Ihe Trustees. report, and the statutory responsibility of the Independent Examinei in relation to the Ttustees, repDrt is limited to examining the report and ensuring that . on the face of the report. there are no material incon5151encies with the figures di5c105ed in the financial statement5. 10 SOS N.1. Trustees. Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Method of preparation of accounts - Small company provisions The financial statements are set out on pages 14 to 30. The financial statements have been prepared implementing the FRS 102 SORP {Stalemenl of Recommended Practi￿ for Accounting and Reporting by Charities) 2015, (as amended by the Bulletin issued in February 2016). and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102, (effective 1 st January 2016). These financial statements have been prepared in accoidance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. This report was approved by the board of trustees on 2 October 2024. Mr Peter Loughins Director and Trustee 11