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2022-12-31-accounts

NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 CHARITY NUMBER: NIC100743

NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Contents
Trustees and other information
Trustees Report
Income and Expenditure Account
Balance Sheet
Notes to the Financial Statements
Independent Examiner’s Report		 Page
1-2
3-9
10
11
12-13
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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Trustees and other information

TRUSTEES

Wilson Lambe (President) Ashleigh Birkett (Chairperson) Wendy Beatty (Vice-Chairperson) Jimmy Fenton (PRO) John Thompson (Immediate Past Chair) Ernie Spence (Secretary/Treasurer) Nicola McCracken (2nd Secretary) Tom Stephenson Jim Leitch David Cooke Priscilla Woods Heather McKinstry Marie-Katherine Mayers (resigned December 2022) Sara Martin (resigned January)2022 Mandy Nelson Wendy Moore Lyndsey Thompson (appointed January 2022) Paul Ramsey (appointed January 2022, resigned December 2022) Ian McIlveen (appointed January 2022) Declan McLogan (appointed January 2022)

PATRON

REGISTERED ADDRESS

Paul Walsh (ARCO) Northern Ireland Safety Group 13 De Courcy Avenue Carrickfergus BT38 7LJ

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

BANKERS

ACCOUNTANTS

Ulster Bank Limited Connswater Branch Arches Retail Park Belfast BT5 4AF Hopper & Co Chartered Accountants 6 Doagh Road Ballyclare BT39 9BG

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Trustees Report for year ended 31 December 2022

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022

Reference and Administrative Details

Northern Ireland Safety Group 13 De Courcy Avenue Carrickfergus BT38 7LJ

Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC 100743)

Charity Trustees/Dircetors

The Charity Trustees who served during the year or who were trustees at the date of this report were

Wilson Lambe (President) Ashleigh Birkett (Chairperson) Wendy Beatty (Vice-Chairperson) Jimmy Fenton (PRO) John Thompson (Immediate Past Chair) Ernie Spence (Secretary/Treasurer) Nicola McCracken (2nd Secretary) Tom Stephenson Jim Leitch David Cooke Priscilla Woods Heather McKinstry Mandy Nelson Wendy Moore Lyndsey Thompson Ian McIlveen Declan McLogan

Status

The Charity is registered with the NI Charities Commission under reference NIC100743

The Charity has also been accepted as a charity by HMRC under HMRC number URN number 0115305845 and as such no provision for taxation has been made.

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Structure & Management

Northern Ireland Safety Group is a charity which is governed by its Constitution.

The organisation is primarily managed by an Executive Committee made up of the Office bearers, 8 other committee members and 4 technical advisors on the committee.

There are no employees. However, 2 members of the Executive Committee function as Secretaries and tender for their services on a 3-year contract.

Through the period the payments to the two Executive Committee members were:-

Ernie Spence £32,006.52 Nicola McCracken £ 6,584.76

Description & Purpose

The principal aim and objective of the Charity is to promote occupational health and safety amongst all people in the workplace and as such raise awareness of the reduction of work-related fatalities, workplace incidents and cases of ill health in Northern Ireland for the public benefit.

Activities & Objectives

This is carried out by running monthly meetings which allow health and safety practitioners (and other interested parties) to network together, share ideas and in general strive to improve the overall health and safety of and for the workforce and those who come into contact with them.

The Trustees are greatly appreciative of all their funders and the continued support of their members, without whose help the charity could not fulfil its charitable aims and objectives.

Other activities carried out by the Group include the running of seminars, running of a safety quiz, running of a Safety Conference, management of a Safety Awards scheme (in conjunction with the National Irish Safety Organisation), and the promotion of health and safety to those in secondary education about to embark on work placement.

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Achievements & Performance

2022 was another busy year for the organisation. We recognised early on in the year that it would be a year of transition to a new normal in terms of our meeting activities following COVID.

As such, the year witnessed three different types of meeting. It began with webinars (until restrictions allowed us to meet in person again), followed by a few hybrid meetings, and the year finished with the inclusion of in-person meetings.

A total of twelve meetings were held and the stats below show the numbers for the various meetings.

Month Meeting type Attendees In-
person		 Attendees
online		 TOTAL
Jan Webinar n/a 107 107
Feb Webinar n/a n/a Cancelled
Feb F & B
Webinar		 n/a 58 58
Mar Webinar n/a 92 92
April Webinar n/a 122 122
May Hybrid 12 74 88
May Hybrid
(HSENI)		 13 120 133
June Hybrid 4 48 52
Aug Hybrid 11 33 44
Sept In person 111 n/a 111
Oct Webinar n/a 90 90
Nov In-person 63 n/a 63
Dec Webinar n/a 29 29

A survey was carried out in November to ascertain what type of meetings suited those that attend them. It showed that the major benefits of webinars were: -

Another benefit of webinars was that they are recorded, edited, and uploaded to our website for those that couldn’t make the meeting and this added to the reach they had.

The only element that is missing from online meetings is the networking aspect that comes with in-person events.

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

The survey indicated that members preferred a blended approach with a mixture of online and in-person meetings. Tracking our numbers and outcomes (that we have done since the start of the year) will put us in a great position to shape our meetings for the future. The committee as a whole is behind our search for the best way to provide value to our members and beyond.

A total of 8 meetings were recorded during the year. In addition, we also recorded a presentation with National Energy Action when their NI Training Officer spoke about ways to save money on heating and electric bills. We asked our membership to distribute this to their contacts and it became the most watched recording of the year with 582 views. Interestingly the average view time was 55 minutes and 28 seconds showing that viewers watched to the end.

Our e-zine continues to be the mainstay of how we communicate to those that interact with us. Our subscriber list witnessed real growth through the year (see below).

Subscribers at start
of year		 802 Subscribers at
end of year		 919 Net increase
of
subscribers		 14.5%
The actual number of new subscribers was 142 but we had 25 un-subscriptions over
the year.

Open rates for the e-zines were well up on the year before. We achieved open rates in the high 20 and lower 30 percentages. This compares exceptionally well when benchmarked against the likes of Mailchimp and HubSpot who show in their research an open rate in the low 20% range for similar industry groups. In simple terms our e- zine is opened by one in every 3.5 people on our database.

Membership numbers increased slightly for the year to 282.

Our first in person event during the year was our annual health and safety quiz which took place in the Wellington Park Hotel in February. It was great to see people attending events again.

We were delighted that a number of our members entered the annual All Ireland Occupational Health & Safety Awards, scoring very well against organisations Ireland wide.

Our John Gordon Safety Person of the Year was hotly contested this year with more entries than ever. Winners were announced in the non-H & S person category and the H & S professional category.

We entered the Safety Groups UK Recognition Award for Excellence among Safety Groups and walked away with the top prize, the Alan Butler Award. Several committee members attended the Awards ceremony in Manchester.

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

We also promoted the Safety Groups UK’s Innovation in H & S Award and were delighted when this was won by one of our members - Adman Civil Projects Limited.

Our Farming sub-committee was active through the year with attendance at the Clogher Valley Show and at the Winter Fair alongside HSENI.

In addition, our other sub committees including Development & Governance, Driving, and Education continued to meet during the course of the year.

A new sub-committee was formed during the year to plan for next year’s 70[th] Anniversary celebration.

Last year’s work in collaboration with others continued through the year and is now firmly embedded in many of our activities. The Mental Health in the Construction Sector Initiative carried on and is now known as the Building Mental Health Alliance. This initiative was launched in October. We also continued to play an active role in the Workplace Health Leadership Group.

Work began at the end of the year on bringing the website back to where it was pre COVID with most information being held in the members only portal section.

Overall, it has been a busy year for the organisation, and we look forward to 2023 with a clear mission to promote occupational health and safety across all of Northern Ireland.

Public Benefit Statement

The Northern Ireland Safety Group meets the public benefit requirement as follows:

The direct benefits which flow from the purpose are the improvement of safety and health knowledge in the workforce leading to the reduction of accidents/incidents and ill health at work. These benefits are evidenced through the increase in Group membership, the numbers who attend monthly meetings, feedback from Conferences and seminars that the organisation run, the growing number of subscribers to the organisation's e-zine, the increasing numbers who attend the Annual Safety Quiz and the increased numbers of organisations who enter the All Ireland Safety Awards. There is no harm from the activities pursued by the organisation. The Charity's beneficiaries are Safety Group members and the wider safety and health profession in

Northern Ireland and those people working for or with them be they employers, employees, self-employed or sub-contractors and young people who will be entering the workforce in the future.

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2008 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Financial Review

The Financial Statements show a Deficit for the period of £1,764 (2021: surplus £3,020).

Reserves Policy

The Trustees of the charity have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets ('the free reserves') held by the charity should amount to between 2 and 6 months’ worth of the resources expended which equates to between £9,445 and £28,337 in general funds. At this level, the Trustees feel that they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding; however, it would obviously be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced or activities changed. At present the free reserves (which exclude designated reserves), amount to £28,919 and are just outside the Trustees' target range. The Trustees continue to work towards maintaining their free reserves target.

Designated reserves for Workplace Health (promotion) was reduced from £20,265 to £12,290

Plans for the future

The charity plans to continue the activities outlined above in the forthcoming years subject to satisfactory funding arrangements.

Statement of Trustees Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for the preparation of Financial Statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the surplus or deficit arising in the period and of the assets and liabilities of the Charity as at the end of the financial period.

The Financial Statements are to be prepared on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the Charity will continue in operation for at least 12 months following the period end date.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance of proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Charity at any given time.

They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and for taking all necessary steps for the prevention or detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Signed on behalf of the Trustees:

………………………….. Ashleigh Birkett (Chairperson - Trustee) ………………………….. Ernie Spence (Secretary/Treasurer - Trustee)

Dated: 23 January 2023

Dated: 23 January 2023

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

Income:
Ulster Bank Interest
Subs
Donations
Safety award fees
Quiz Sponsorship
Patronage
Sponsorship
Seminar fees
Seminar Sponsorship & Exhibitors
Other Income
Expenditure:
General Expenses
Printing & Stationery
Postage
Telephone
Insurance & Office Costs
Misc Expenses
Equipment & Maintenance
Secretary/Treasurer
Bad Debts
Bank Fees
Meeting & Events
Conference
Seminar costs
Awards scheme
Meetings Costs
Promotions/advertising
Quiz (NI)
Conference/Quiz (NISO)
Driving at Work NI
Occupational Health running costs
Mental Health in Construction
Development & Governance costs
Web Site
Independent Examination
(Deficit)/Surplus for the period
Reserves Brought Forward
Reserves Carried Forward		 2022
2022
2022
£
£
£
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
29
29
42,762
42,762
-
-
4,620
4,620
2,000
2,000
4,000
4,000
1,500
1,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
54,911
-
54,911
117
117
2
2
397
397
982
982
316
316
2,099
2,099
22,167
22,167
-
-
310
310
317
317
747
747
3,954
3,954
1,894
1,894
6,999
6,999
3,306
3,306
1,773
1,773
527
-
527
3,576
3,576
4,399
4,399
1,658
1,658
940
940
193
193
56,675
-
56,675
(1,764)
-
(1,764)
42,973
2,722
45,695
41,209
2,722
43,931		 2021
£
Total
1
37,777
-
3,675
-
4,000
3,000
-
-
264
48,718
18
5
654
1,068
290
365
17,805
-
263
3,422
419
4,518
1,214
6,358
165
-
500
3,972
-
3,661
826
175
45,697
3,020
42,675
45,695

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

Balance Sheet

Current assets:
Debtors
Ulster Bank Current account
Ulster Bank Reserve account
Paypal account
Current liabilities:
Creditors
VAT
Accruals
Nat West Credit Card
Net Assets
Charity Reserves:
At 1 January
(Deficit)/Surplus
At 31 December
Unrestricted Reserves:
Designated Reserves
Workplace Health (promotion)
Free Reserves
Restricted Reserves:
Safety Sam		 2022
£
2,025
30,986
13,489
-
46,501
639
1,214
718
-
2,570
43,931
45,695
(1,764)
43,931
12,290
28,919
2,722
43,931		 2021
£
937
33,447
13,460
-
47,844
126
1,498
525
-
2,149
45,695
42,675
3,020
45,695
20,265
22,708
2,722
45,695

Approved by the Trustees on 23 January 2023 and signed on their behalf by:

E Spence Secretary/Treasurer

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

Northern Ireland Safety Group meets the definition of a public benefit entity. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity.

The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2017 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements.

1.2 Fund accounting

Incoming resources that may be applied for the Association’s general purposes are treated as ‘unrestricted’ incoming resources and are credited to the ‘unrestricted funds’. Funding for purposes designated for a specific purpose by Council is credited to ‘designated funds’. Where a donation or grant is required to be used for a specified purpose, the amount concerned is treated as a ‘restricted’ incoming resource and is credited to the appropriate ‘restricted fund’.

1.3 Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified.

Investment income is included when receivable.

Incoming resources from grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.

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NORTHERN IRELAND SAFETY GROUP YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

1.4 Bank interest

Bank interest is recognised as an incoming resource when it is credited to the bank statement. All bank interest is treated as unrestricted income to the General Fund.

1.5 Resources Expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT that cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.

1.6 Fixed assets

All items of capital expenditure below £1,000 are written off as incurred.

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

I report on the financial statements of the Northern Ireland Safety Group for the year ended 31st December 2022.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner

Northern Ireland Safety Group's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

Northern Ireland Safety Group's trustees consider that an audit is not required under section 65(2) (audit) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 for the year and that an independent examination under section 64(1) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 is required.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out under Section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.

Independent examiner's statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.

_______ S Hopper FCA Partner Hopper & Co

Date: 23 January 2023

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