School for Social
ENTERPRISES
In IRELAND
The School for Social Enterprises in Ireland
Trustees, report for the year ended 31 March 2023
The Trustees. who are also the Directors under the provisions of the Companies Act 2006,
submit their annual report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31
March 2023.
Reference and administration details
Registered office address.. Brookfield Business Centre, 333 Crumlin Road, Belfast, Co
Antrim, BT14 7EA
Structure, governance and management
Governing Document
The School for Social Enterprises in Ireland is a company limited by guarantee governed by
its Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated on 7 March 1995.
Trustees
Truste6s are currently members of the Trust. Current Trustees were appointed by The Flax
Trust and Ulster University {Ulster Business School)- SSEI in its present form having been
created as a strategic alliance between both organisations. All trustees are guarantors of the
Trust with a maximum liability of £1. The trustees of the company who were in office during
the year and up to the date of signing the financial statements are set out below..
Rev. Myles Kavanagh
Robert McNeill
Professor Kenneth O'Neill (Chair)
John Patterson
Sister Mary Turley
Trustee induction and Iraining
The School ensures that appropriate induction and training is given to all Trustees. The Trust

ensures Trustees are aware of their responsibilities on Corporate Governance. Trustees
have attended govemance training.
Organisation
The Trustees manage all business decisions and meet on a regular basis. The School was
registered as a charity by The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 23 January 2015
Risk management
The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that an effective system of internal financial
control is maintained and operated by the Trust. The system of internal financial control is
based on a framework of regular management information,. administrative procedures. and a
system of delegation and accountability and is designed to provide reasonable assuranc8
that:
the School is operating efficiently and effectively;
its assets are safeguard8d against unauthorised use or disposition-
proper records are maintained and financial information used within the company
or for publication is reliable.,
the School complies with relevant laws and regulations., and
the School's systems of financial control are designed to provide reasonable, but
not absolute assurance against material mis-statement or loss.
The major risks to which the School is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, have been
reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks.
Objectlves, activities and public benefit test
The School's main objectives and activities for the year were to promote the following
purposes for the public benefit..
greater knowledge of th8 nature, rol8 and potential of the social economy to
decision-makers and influencers in the public and private sectors
the advancement of education, training and skills of actual and potential
employees in the social economy and of persons seeking to work in support of
the sector
such other exclusively charitable purpose according to the law of Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland as the Trustees may from time to time decide.
School policies and procedures
The School uses funds donated by the Flax Trust and other sponsorsldonors} to:
provide discretionary {according to ability to pay} scholarships to meet the cost of
personal and organisational development programmes designed to meet the
needs of participating individuals
organise and deliver Masterclasses. roadshows, information sessions and other
means of communicating with ils target market either directly or in partnership
with appropriate I likeminded organisations
provide such other learning activities as are deemed relevant to improved
performance of the social economy

Eligibility to apply for a Flax Trust scholarship-
To be eligible to apply for an award students must meet all the following criteria:
Be a registered student of the School or organisation delivering the programme of
learning.,
Have met all the assessment and financial responsibilities related to the course.
Be at least 18 years old by the application closing date.,
Be a UK or EU citizen andlor hold legal residency status;
Obtain a written endorsement for proposed activity frorn course tutor,. and
Sign an agreement with the School related to scholarship activities.
Public benefit test:
The School Board believes that it has made the advancement of students, education and
development possible by offering and part-funding the Advanced Diploma in Social
Enterprise {ADSE), delivered on its behalf by Ulster University Business School, and
awarding bursaries to students based on the criteria listed above as well as current andlor
future job role and previous experience The objective is to advance the management and
entrepreneurial knowledge and skills of participating students and the sustainability of their
employing organisations through the Advanced Diploma on Social Enterprise.
The School in recent years has delivered a series of Master Classes aimed at improving the
understanding and knowledge of social economy organisations and the effectiveness of
persons working in, for or associated with the sector. These Masterclasses bring examples
of best practice in the sector to decision-makers and influencers in the public and private
seclors as well as to the social economylthird $8Ctor itself. In addition the Transform
participants were invited to take the opportunity to join in with on-line seminars and
conferences being run by the Management & Leadership Network as were the SSEI Alumni
via the SSEI e-zine.
Achievements and performance
The School has been the vehicle for recruiting participants for a flagship programme of
learning each year for the past 15 years normalSy operating as The Advanced Diploma in
Social Enterprise. In 2018 this programrne underwent an extensive internal review and
remodelling which rebranded to become The TRANSFORM Social Business and Community
Development Programme. The programme itself is up for external validation in 2023 and
arrangements are already being made to fulfil the Academic Requirements for this significant
assessment.
In 2022 some 16 persons enrolled in the ADSE ￿ RANSFORM PROGRMME. Following on
from the experience of the previous programme where the content was delivered online (due
to Covid restrictions) it was deemed desirable to continue to offer this programme as a
'hybrid' experience i.e. where participants attended at least one day of each of the six
modules with the other day being available 'on-line'. The year-end review indicated that
participants really welcomed the face-to-face opportunities to network and peer to peer
learning, as well as appreciating the benefits of learning 'at home, or in the office. The overall

experience was very well received. Without exception all participants acknowledged that
they would not have been able to take up this opportunity if it had not been for the Flax Trust
Bursary. All participants were able to fund or get funding to pay for their individual
contribution to course fees.
TRANSFORM
¥O¢IAL.IVlllItIl,CO¥l*UNITY
The 2022 TRANSFORM programme commenced in January 2022 and continued on into
early 2023 for graduations in Summer 2023.
TRANSFORM is a highly focused and interactive programme designed to enable individuals
to gain the knowledge and skills required to start or build social enterprise activities as a
means of social regeneration, community development and financial sustainability.
The TRANSFORM programme is specifically designed for Individuals engaged in one or
more of the following activities..
Community development and regeneration e.g, Housing Associations
Social entrepreneurs
Members engaged in existing Social Enterprises
Board members of Social Enterprises engaged in economic development through Social
Enterprise
Charitable organisations looking to develop Socia l Enterprise activities
Individuals who are self-employed or unemployed, who wish to pursue social enterprise
activities are also considered.
The programme content and approach is designed to provide knowledge and practical
applications that will enable participants to develop and grow through a blend of; Theory,
Best Practice, Case Studies, Site Visits and presentations from Exemplars & Practitioners. Bv
the end of the programme participants will have the knowledge to start or grow a
sustainable social enterprise which can lead to real transformation within their community
and beyond.
The TRANSFORM programme continues to be delivered by the Ulster University on behalf of
SSEI and remains fully accredited through the achievement of the Advanced Diploma in
Social Enterprise.
In March 23 a Social Enterprise Ma5terclass'On Purpose, was held in partnership with SSEI,
Flax Trust, Belfast City Council, BETTER and Work West in St Comgalls Conference Centre la
social enterprise venue}. Amongst the speakers was Chara Clarke a graduate of the ADSE
and award-winning social entrepreneur.
Over the course of the programme participants were also invited to attend a range of events
covering social enterprise tOPlCs such as the MLN Leadership Summit, Breaking Boundaries
(Belfast City Council) and the MLN Masterclass series.

Financial review
Turnover for the year to March 2022 was £0. There was a net negative movement in funds
of £650 and reserves at the year end were £1178, all unrestricted. (Note.. Feeslbursaries
were paid directly to Ulster University and not via SSEI)
Investment policy
The Trustees have the power to invest in such assets as they see fit.
Reserves policy and going concern
The Trust's current policy is not to embark on activitieslinitiatives without the working capital
in its current bank account to meet the value of awards and any costs incurred for the year.
The Trust is in the process of developing a plan to increase income and extend its bursary
and awards to students. Reserves are negligible and the School does not have any
employees working instead through third parties and volunteers.
The Trustees have reviewed the financial statements and have reviewed futur& projections
and are confident that the charity has sufficient funds to be signed off as a going concern.
Plans for future periods.
The Trust's objectives are noted above under Objectives, activities and public benefit
test and may be summarised as.,
'To advance the understanding knowledge, training and skills of persons in or related to the
social economy sector with a view to enhancing the sustainability and 8ffectiv8ness of the
sector,
The School will achieve this mainly by providing funding and assisling in the provision of
facilities, educators, trainers, speakers, role models and other expertise as well as bursaries.
Its strategic targets are:
to raise the profile of the School locally, regionally, n8tionally and internationally;
to expand the School's range of activities and reach thereof through, inter alia,
fundraising activity.,
to use the School to add value and enhance the quality of management and
collaboration in and by social enterprises.
to assist the attainment of the above targets by working closely with past students
to facilitate the formation of an alumni association if they feel it will add value to
their activities, ambitions and organisations.
It will therefore work to:
increase its public profile and public awareness and will actively market its activities:
seek the support of past students and staff and business community to attract
donations (o increase its funds.,
maintain its support to current students.,

work closely with other organisations involved in supporting the sector to avoid
overlap or wasteful competition.
Looking ahead there are discussions taking place to integrate the emerging themes of
sustainability and environmental impact aligned with the social enterprise agenda. Further
work will be carried out to establish relevant and approved content with the University and
other stakeholders prior to any changes proposed.
Statement of trustees, responsibilities
The Trustees (who are also directors of the School for Social Enterprises in Ireland for the
purposes of Company Law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and Uniled Kingdom Accounting
Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustee to prepare financial statements for each financial year
which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of th8 charitable company and of the
incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of
the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustee is
required to..
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP.,
make jud9ments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject lo
any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements., and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate
to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustee is responsibl8 for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enabl8
them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The
trustee is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence
for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Statement of disclosure of information to auditors
So far as each of the trustees in office at the date of approval of these financial statements is
aware:
there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are
unaware. and
they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees in order to
make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the
charitable company's auditors are aware of that information.

Small companies, exemption
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small
companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
Independent auditors
The auditors, Moore Stephens Nl LLP. have indicated their willingness to continue in office,
and a resolution concerning their reappointment will be proposed at the Annual General
Meeting.
On behalf of the Board
Ken O'Neill (Profl
Chairman