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← AA Veterans Support

2025-06-30-annual-report

Company registration number NI607703 (Northern Ireland)

AA VETERANS SUPPORT ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

AA VETERANS SUPPORT

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees MrAAllen
MrM Bingham
MrT Keenan
Mr Alan Mearns
Country of incorporation United Kingdom NI607703
(Northern Ireland)
Charity registration Northern Ireland 100908
Registered office UnitC3 Edenderry Industrial Estate
326 Crumlin Road
Belfast
Co. Antrim
Northern Ireland
BT14 7EE
Independent examiner AAB GroupAccountants Limited
1-3Arthur Street
Belfast
Co. Antrim
Northern Ireland
BT1 4GA
Bankers Ulster Bank
11-16 Donegal Square East
Belfast
Co. Antrim
BT1 5UB
Solicitors O'ReillyStewart Solicitors
Courtside House
75-77 May Street
Belfast
BT13JL

AA VETERANS SUPPORT

CONTENTS

Page

Trustees’ report 1-10 Independent examiner's report 11 Statement of financial activities 12 Balance sheet 13

Notes to the financial statements

14-24

AA VETERANS SUPPORT TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts 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 2019).

OPENING STATEMENT FROM OUR CHAIRMAN — THOMAS KEENAN

It is my privilege to present the Annual Report of AA Veterans Support Trustees for the year ending 30 June 2025.

Over the past twelve months it has been a particularly busy and important period for AAVS. During the reporting period from July 2024 to June 2025, our work across Northern Ireland has continued to expand in both reach and impact. Demand for support remains high, and we have seen first-hand just how vital these services are for veterans and their families.

The response from our volunteers, partners and the wider community has been outstanding. Their commitment, generosity and willingness to step forward whenever needed continues to make a real difference. Quite simply, none of what we have achieved would have been possible without their support.

Since our establishment in 2011, AA Veterans Support has been grounded in practical help, peer connection and early intervention. That focus remains unchanged. Over the past year we have continued to respond to the real pressures facing veterans and their families, particularly around mental health, social isolation and the ongoing cost of living challenges. We have also paused to remember valued volunteers who are no longer with us. Their commitment and compassion helped shape this organisation, and their legacy lives on in the support we continue to provide.

Visibility and engagement remain central to our approach. Our monthly Veterans Breakfast Clubs continue to sit at the heart of our work. These mornings provide far more than a meal; they create a safe and welcoming space where veterans can reconnect, access information and speak openly among those who understand their lived experience. We remain sincerely grateful to the Ledley Hall Youth and Boxing Club and Jumna Street Linfield Supporters Club for their ongoing hospitality and practical support in delivering these sessions.

Our counselling service has once again been a cornerstone of our provision. Over the course of the year we delivered hundreds of hours of one-to-one counselling support. Referrals have come both directly from veterans and through partner organisations. We have worked hard to ensure that anyone seeking support is seen promptly, without unnecessary delay or barriers. Timely, confidential access to professional counselling remains central to our ethos. The feedback we receive from veterans and their families consistently reinforces the importance of this work and the positive difference these services make to people's lives.

Respite provision has also featured strongly throughout the year. Our caravan breaks remain in exceptionally high demand, with bookings filling quickly once released. These breaks offer veterans and their families valuable time away from daily pressures, allowing them to reconnect and focus on their wellbeing. The difference is tangible: families return rested, relationships strengthened and resilience restored. We are particularly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for their grant support, which has enabled us to expand respite provision alongside mental health support.

The Armed Forces Pathway Navigator, funded by the Veterans Foundation, has been instrumental in strengthening our outreach work across Northern Ireland. This role provides daily practical support to serving personnel, veterans and their families. The Navigator not only identifies appropriate services and opportunities but actively supports individuals to engage with them, ensuring that signposting translates into real connection. This hands-on approach has helped remove barriers, improve outcomes and ensure that those who need support are not left to navigate complex systems alone.

As Chairman, | remain immensely proud of what has been achieved over the past year. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers, trustees, funders and supporters. Their continued commitment drives this organisation forward and enables us to keep delivering meaningful support.

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AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

Most importantly, it is a privilege to serve the veterans and families who place their trust in us. Their resilience and strength sit at the heart of everything we do, and it remains an honour to stand alongside them.

Our commitment remains clear. We will continue to strengthen our services, widen our reach and ensure that those who have served, and their families, receive the support, respect and care they deserve. A crucial part of this will be our ability to secure and sustain the funding needed to support and grow this work in the years ahead.

Together, let us continue to make a positive impact.

Thomas Keenan

(AAVS Chairman)

Objectives and activities

The Charity’s objects (“Objects”) are specifically restricted to the following: -

To promote the welfare and well-being of all serving and ex-service men and women from or living in Northern Ireland by all or any of the following means:

  1. Provide, secure or promote the provision of counselling and other forms of therapeutic intervention, training and other assistance to find suitable employment, rehabilitation and resettlement services, advocacy, advice and guidance and general support services.

  2. Provide respite and support services to the families and carers of such persons. 3. Seek to obtain medical treatment within Northern Ireland for all those who are injured.

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AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit and are satisfied that the charity's activities during the year have furthered its charitable purposes for the public benefit. The public benefits that flow from the purpose of promoting the welfare and well-being of all service and ex-service men and women living in Northern Ireland include:

(1) Improved coping skills to deal with the adjustment to civilian life; reduced levels of stress and anxiety, improved self-care and self-help strategies and enhanced self-esteem and confidence leading to better mental, physical and emotional well-being; and enhanced employment prospects resulting in reduced fevels of financial hardship.

(2) Reduced levels of stress and anxiety on the part of family members and increased knowledge and understanding of the range of support services available and how to access them.

(3) Reduced isolation and increased engagement with family, friends and the wider community.

The beneficiaries are serving and ex-service men and women living in Northern Ireland and their families and carers.

These benefits are evidenced through internal case records, beneficiary feedback, service evaluations and ongoing research relating to the challenges associated with transition to civilian life. The Trustees confirm that no private benefit arises beyond that which is incidental to the furtherance of the charity's purposes.

The charity's activities during the year have included work in the following areas:

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AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

TRUSTEES

The trustees, who are also directors for the purpose of company law, who served during the period 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, were:

T. Keenan (Chair)

DIRECTORS (TRUSTEES)

A Director must be aged eighteen years or older. No one may be appointed a director if he or she would be disqualified from acting under the provisions of article 34 of the Articles Association. The number of Directors shall not be less than three. A Director may not appoint an alternate Director or anyone to act on his or her behalf at meetings of the Directors.

APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS (TRUSTEES)

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AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

Achievements and performance

Significant activities and achievements against objectives

Expanding Our Impact Through Meaningful Projects.

Over the past year AA Veterans Support has continued to grow, delivering an expanding range of projects and services that support the wellbeing, resilience and social connection of veterans and their families across Northern Ireland.

We are proud to highlight a number of key activities and initiatives delivered during this reporting period.

Veterans Camera Club — Creativity Through Photography

The Veterans Camera Club has continued to develop over the past year, providing both experienced and beginner photographers with the opportunity to explore creativity through photography.

The initiative provides a therapeutic outlet while encouraging social connection, confidence building and skills development in a supportive setting. Importantly, the Camera Club is entirely veteran led. Participants shape the direction of the group, share knowledge and support one another through a strong peer network.

This approach has helped foster trust, friendship and a renewed sense of purpose among those involved.

Veterans Football Team — Building Camaraderie Through Sport

Our Veterans Football Team continues to go from strength to strength, participating in regular training sessions, matches and tournaments across Northern Ireland and further afield.

The team plays an important role in bringing veterans together, strengthening friendships and supporting positive engagement with the wider community. Like many of our initiatives, the team operates on a veteran-led basis, with participants organising training and fixtures themselves while the AAVS team provides support where needed.

This approach encourages leadership, ownership and peer support. It also helps strengthen the informal “buddy network” that sits at the heart of our work. Through these connections, individuals who may need additional support can often be identified early and signposted quickly to counselling, welfare assistance or other services.

Veterans Christmas Lunch

During the year we hosted our third Veterans Christmas Lunch at the Royal British Legion on Montgomery Road. The event brought together over 100 veterans for a Christmas lunch, entertainment and an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. We were also honoured to welcome serving members of the Armed Forces, further strengthening collaboration and engagement across the wider veterans’ community. We are extremely grateful to the chefs, military personnel and volunteers for giving of their time to make our veterans Christmas lunch possible.

Core Services

Alongside our projects and community initiatives, we continue to deliver a range of core services that provide direct support to veterans and their families. This includes the provision of donated furniture to those in need. However, our capacity to store furniture remains a challenge due to the need to carefully prioritise the limited space and resources available within our Treatment and Training Centre.

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AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

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Counselling Service

Our counselling service remains a vital part of the support we offer. During the year our professional counsellors delivered hundreds of hours of support to veterans experiencing a range of mental health challenges. We remain particularly proud of our ability to provide timely access to support, with most appointments arranged within 48 hours of an initial request. Early intervention can makea significant difference and ensures veterans are not left waiting when they reach out for help.

We are grateful to National Lottery Awards For All and The National Lottery Community Fund for their continued support in helping sustain this important service.

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AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

Welfare Support and Respite Breaks

Our welfare and outreach team continues to assist veterans facing financial hardship, housing issues and other challenges.

Respite breaks remain one of our most sought-after forms of support. Every available booking during the year was filled and a waiting list remains in place. These breaks offer veterans and their families the opportunity to step away from everyday pressures and spend valuable time together in a supportive environment.

We are extremely grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for the grant that enabled us to expand our respite provision from one caravan, which was regularly oversubscribed, to two. While demand remains

high and availability fills quickly, this additional capacity has allowed us to support more veterans and families than previously possible.

Veterans Breakfast Clubs

Our monthly Veterans Breakfast Clubs also remain a cornerstone of our outreach work, providing a relaxed and welcoming space for veterans to meet, talk and access support if needed.

We are particularly grateful to Ledley Hall Boys and Girls Club and Jumna Street Linfield Supporters Club whose generosity and community spirit have helped make these gatherings possible. While we predominantly deliver our veterans breakfast clubs in these two locations, they are supplemented by outreach events in other venues such as the Montgomery Road Royal British Legion and Brownlow House, the latter being in collaboration with the Ancre Somme Association. Services Provided

During the reporting period the charity delivered a wide range of support services, including:

The activities outlined above provide a snapshot of the support delivered by AA Veterans Support during the year and demonstrate the breadth of assistance available to veterans and their families. In addition to providing direct practical support, we also work closely with partner organisations to ensure veterans can access the wider services and specialist support they may require.

Future Priorities

Looking ahead, AA Veterans Support remains committed to strengthening and expanding the support available to veterans and their families across Northern Ireland.

Demand for services continues to grow, particularly in areas such as mental health support, welfare assistance and initiatives that reduce isolation and create connection. In response, we will continue to develop our counselling provision, expand our outreach work and build upon the projects that have proven most effective in supporting wellbeing and strengthening community connections. We also take pride in our collaborative approach to developing and delivering services. Working alongside partners, those who have accessed our service and the wider service community, helps ensure the support we offer reflects current need and allows us to explore new opportunities to strengthen and expand provision where required.

Developing strong partnerships with statutory bodies, charities and community organisations will remain an important part of this work. Collaboration helps ensure veterans are able to access the right support at the right time. SSS8 5 SS -7-

AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

Securing sustainable funding will also remain a key priority. Maintaining financial stability will allow the charity to continue delivering its services while developing new initiatives that respond to the evolving needs of the veteran community.

Above all, our focus remains unchanged: ensuring that veterans and their families receive the support, respect and care they deserve.

Fundraising Standards

AA Veterans Support is committed to ensuring that all fundraising activities are conducted in an open, honest and respectful manner.

The charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and adheres to the Code of Fundraising Practice. The trustees ensure that fundraising activities are carried out responsibly and in line with recognised best practice standards.

Financial review

Reserves policy

The trustees have established a reserves policy in order to protect the charity against unforeseen circumstances and fluctuations in income.

The policy states that AA Veterans Support will seek to maintain sufficient unrestricted reserves to cover approximately twelve months of operating costs. This is estimated at £29,915. This is intended to ensure that the charity can continue to deliver its services and meet its commitments should income reduce or unexpected expenditure arise. The reserves policy is reviewed regularly by the trustees and updated where necessary to ensure it remains appropriate to the charity’s activities and the level of demand for its services. At 30 June 2025 Free reserves were £63,754 exceeding our current policy.

The trustees recognise that the charity relies on a combination of grants, donations and community support to fund its work. Securing sustainable funding remains a key priority in order to maintain existing services and support the development of new initiatives that respond to the evolving needs of the veteran community across Northern Ireland.

The trustees monitor income, expenditure and financial performance throughout the year to ensure the charity operates within its available resources. This oversight helps ensure the charity remains financially responsible while continuing to meet the growing demand for its services.

The restricted funds as at 30th June 2025 were £39,719. This is a decrease of £29,915 from the previous year. The unrestricted funds as at 30th June 2025 were £84,918. This is an increase of £2,317 from the previous year. Total income as at 30th June 2025 was £75,030 which is a decrease of £57,902 from the previous year. Expenditure as at 30th June 2025 was £102,392 which is a decrease of £14,406 from the previous year.

Major risks The trustees recognise the importance of effective risk management in ensuring the continued operation of the charity. Key risks that may impact the charity's ability to deliver its services are identified and reviewed regularly by the Board. Appropriate steps are taken to manage and mitigate these risks where possible, including maintaining appropriate financial oversight, monitoring income and expenditure, and developing partnerships that strengthen the sustainability of the organisation.

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AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a company limited by guarantee. Every member of the Charity undertakes to contribute to the assets of the Charity, in the event of it being wound up while he or she is a member, or within twelve months after he or she ceases to be a member, for the payment of the debts and liabilities of the Charity contracted before he or she ceases to be a member, and for the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of contributories among themselves, such amount as may be required not exceeding £1.

The Trustees meet at least once a month and more frequently where required to ensure effective oversight of the charity's activities and governance.

AA Veterans Support is a member of the following bodies and is committed to operating in line with recognised best

practice standards:

¢ The Fundraising Regulator

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:

Mr AAllen

Mr M Bingham

Mr T Keenan

Mr Alan Mearns

TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102) and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP FRS 102).

Company and charity law require the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

~ select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

& make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

~& state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Charities SORP have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

~ prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy, at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention, and detection, of fraud and other irregularities.

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AA VETERANS SUPPORT

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTOR'S REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025

The trustees’ report was approved by the Board of Trustees. Mr T Keenan Trustee pate LY [BOLE

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