Ulster-scots Community Network
Company Limlted by Guarantee
Directors, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)
Year ended 31 March 2024
The directors, who are also the directors lor the purposes ol company law, present Iheir report and the
financial slalemenls ol Ihe charity lor the year ended 31 March 2024.
Reference and admlnlstrjllve details
Reglst8r8d ¢harlty name
Ulster-scots Community Network
Charlty reglslralion number
NIC100986
Company reglslratlon number N1043631
Princlpal office and reglstered Corn Exchange
offlce
1-9 Victoria Sireel
Belfast
BT1 3GA
The dlreclor8
Mrs. E. Cameron
Mrs. L, Mulhollan
Mis. A. Smyth
Mr. N. Mccausland
Mr. G. Campbell
Mrs. C, Evans
Mr. W. Carlile
Mr M. Smyth
Company secretary
Mr D Gilliland
Audllor
Aubrey Campbell & Company
Chartered accounlanls & slalutory auditor
631 Lisburn Road
Bellasl
8T9 7GT

Ulster-scots Community Nelwork
Company Limited by Guarantee
Directors, Annual Report (Incorporating the Direclor's Report) {conllnu•dJ
Year ended 31 March 2024
Slructurey governance and management
Management
The Ulsler-scols Community Nelwork {USCNI is overseen by a Board ol Directors who are
responsible lor selling the slralegic direclion ol the organisalion, with Ihe day lo day management
undertaken by the Operations Direclor who also implements all necessary policies as agreed by the
Board.
The Operalions Director is responsible lor ensuring that Ihe organisalion delivers on agieed largels
and objective5. He is also responsible lor the supervision of the slall team.
Publlc Benellt Statement
The IrLtslees contirm that Ihey have had due regard lor the guidance produced on public benefit by the
Charity COMMI￿￿0￿10n foi Northern Ir81and and ar8 pl8as8d lo report that during the period the charilable
company has continued 10 provide publi¢ benelils through the programmes and services we o118r.
Current Struclure and Stafflng
Chairman
Board ol Directors
Director
Education and Outreach Ollicer
Publications Ollicer
Community Development Officer
Community Developfflenl Ollicer
Community Developrneni Ollicer
Communily Development Officer
Digital Communicalions Ollicér
Corporate Governance
The Ulsler-scols Community Network is comrnilled lo high slandards ol corporate governance.
Allhough the organisalion does not have shareholders, the stall and Board have a responsibility lo
provide clear evidence ol a Iransparenl and ellicienl organisalion lo ils slalfeholders who Include the
Ulsler-S¢ols community, funding bodies and government.

Ulster-scots Community Nelwork
Company Llmited by Guarantee
Directors, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (conslnuedj
Year ended 31 March 2024
Structur8, governance and management (eontlnuedl
The Board ol Dlrectors
As detailed in the USCN Arlicles and Memorandum ol Association: the Board directs the organisalion's
slralegic planning, financial management and operational issues. The Board meels, on average, 7
lirnes a year wilh a lull General Meeting lo be held al least once every 15 months.
The Chairman leads Ihe Board, and the Operalions Director leads the management ol Ihe
OTganisaiion. The Chairman's responsibilities includc selling the Board Agenda and with the
Operaiions Dir8clor. is responsible lor the distribution ol accurate. timely and c18ar inlorrnalion
pertaining lo the aclivilies ol the organisalion,
The diversily ol interest groups from within the wider Ulsler-scols sector, represented by the Boaré is
seen as a key slrenglh ol the Ofganisalion. The operations Direcloi allends Board fjieelings as a
liiikdug belween Ihe stall ol the organisalion and the Board. The Operations Director plays a lull role al
Board Meelings bul doés not have voting righls al such rneelings,
The USCN Board are responsible lor scrulinising Ihe performance ol the rnanagemenl 10 be salislied
as lo the integrity and strength ol linancial inlorrnalion controls and risk managem8nl ol Ihe
organisalion.
Inlernal Controls
The Directors (Trusleesl d¥e responsible lor the Organisalion's systems ol internal control which are
designed lo provide reasonable assurance lo saleguard the organisalion's assels against unaulhorised
use or di5posilion and the mainleriance ol proper accounting records and Ihe:r,Rliabilily ol financial
inlorrnalion used within the organisalion.
The Ulsler-scols Cornmunily Network recognises that elleclive corporate governance remains key lo
maintaining a strong organisalional ethos in which the Ulsler-scois communiiy, Governfflenl aiid
lunders can be confident. Policies and controls are reviewed regularly by r81evanl personn81 and
actions lo address non-conlormanco are Linderlaken wilhoul delay.
The financial procedures ol Ihe organisalion are specifically govgrned by a Financial Procedures Policy
and Ihe Procurement PoljGy.
A managemenl accounting system is in place providing management wilh financial and opefalional
perlormance measurement indicators. Detailed account Summaries ale prepared monthly and
combineo with up lo dale banking records, are regularly presented lo the USCN 8oard In ¢18ar and
concise formals.

Ulster-scots Community Network
Company Llmlted by Guarantee
Directors, Annual Report (Incorporallng Ihe Dlrector's Reporl) (coniinuedj
Year ended 31 March 2024
Objectives and activilies
Objectives
The Ulster-scols Community Ne￿Ork IUSCNI was established in 1995 lo promote awareness and
understanding ol the Ulsler-scols tradition in language. lileralure, rnvsic and dance as well as the
contribution ol the Ulsler-scols communily lo the developrnenl ol life in Norihern Ireland. Ihe border
counties ol the Republic ol Ireland and the ulsl8r.Scols diaspora.
As a represenlalive body ol many Ulsler.Scols with around 650 member groups. Ihe USCN is
commilled lo a comprghensive exploration ol the inleraciion between Ulster and Scolland, which has
been a constant laclor in the history ol Ihe British Isles.
The Ulsler-S¢ols Community Network aims lo preserve. promote and develop Ulsler-scols heritage
and culture in all ils lorms and lo rnake a conslruclive and progressive conlribulion lo delivering a lully
Incluslve society In which mutual understanding ancl loleiance are accepted as the norm - a society al
pcacc with ilsell. We seek to WOIK lo develop a cullurally confident and creative community capable ol
plawng a key role in our sociely in lulure.
We aim lo achieve this by: .
Providing an umbrella organisalion lor all interest groups engaging in Ulsler-scols aclivilies - language.
culture and history.,
Increasing capacily and building relevanl skills with the Ulsler-scols community;
Promoting Ulsler-scols activities and aiming lo increase community confidence.,
Acting as a local point lor dissemination ol information concerning Ulsler-scols.,
Developing Ulsler-scols culluye and herilage throughout the education and .lourism sectors and
Ihroughoul the wider community.
Strateolc report
The following sections loi achievements and pertormance and financial review lorm the slralegic
report ol the charity.

Ulster-scots Community Network
Company Limlted by Guarantee
Directors, Annual Report (Incorporaling the Director's Repori) (conllnu¢d)
Year ended 31 March 2024
Achievements and performance
Mernbership and Member Groups
The USCN has conlinLJed lo supporl our core member organisalions, The Network currently supports
approximaloly 680 registered groups IhroughoLJI Northern Ireland. the border counties ol Ihe Republic
of ITeland and the wider Ulsler-scols diaspora. These groups include Ulsler-scols cultural groups,
marching bands, local history societies. education groups, churches, and schools amongst others.
Actlvitles, Publications and Evenls durlng 2023 and Into 2024
8ased In tho Oiscover Ulsler-scols Centre within the hisioric Corn Exchange building in Bellasl are the
Ulsler-scols Com munily Network's ollice. The Network also manages the visilor5 cenlre, performance
space and shop unil there. This space provides a visible presence lor the Ulsler-SGols communily in
Bellasl and showcases Ih&ir role, impacl and contribution lo wider society Including wilhin Noriherri
Ireland, the Boi'd81' Couiilies, diid Ilie illlVdLI Ili& didbVUl¢l Iidb Iiaol on world history. 11 also allows us lo
showcase the role Ihal the Ulsler-scols community played In the developrnenl ol Bellasl and ils
industrial contribution lo Ihe world, The Board and stall view the centre as an opportunity lo heighten
awareness ol this conlribuliDn and lo maintain the visibility ol the Ulsler-scols comrnunily.
The Network has continued and we will continue as well lo work virtually with Ihosc groLJPS who slill
haven't Ilie confidence lo bring groups ol people logeiher.
USCN also continued lo build upon OPPOTlunilies lor providing Ulsler-scols materials into the
c(Jmmunily as parl ol our outreach work and our collaboralion with member groups. This year, we
placed a larger degree ol emphasis on working with our member groups in Ilie Border Counties and
assisting them as they sought lo deviilop their connections on a braader basis than had been possible
lor the lasl lew years.
other notable activities Include..
Maintaining membership 8noaqemenl - 75 groups either joined or renewed their membership ol Ilie
Network over the course ol the year, keeping membership around 680 groups.
USCN stall provided assislancc ID member groups across the year with over 400 me8lings and 2000
responses lo various qLJeries groups had. We also assisted groups lo sgcure nearly £375k in linancial
assistance in the period.
Throughoul the year stall delivered a range ol talks lo groups. as well as exhibition malerials in a
variety ol venues lo 125 sèssions.
The Education Officer provided talks lo schools on a further l 00 occasioris during the year. and USCN
stall distributed almDsI 17k items ol Iileralu¥e and promolional material during the period covereé by
Ihis reporl. USCN also undertook promolional work al a range ol Clillural and inlurmalion events this
year including leslivals. conferences and cultural showcases.
USCN processed over 160 Access Nl cerlilicales this year lor rnember groups as well as assislirig
over 50 member groups wilh policy adviGe and guidance as we seek lu enhance the capacily ol the
community.
USCN also continue lo develop their online presence through a variety ol social ffledia channels as
they look lo broaden Ihe Teach ol their message particularly as they look lo engage with the

Ulster-scots Community Network
Company Llmited by Guarantee
Directors. Annual Report (Incorporatlng the Dlrector's Report) {eonllnu•d)
Year ended 31 March 2024
Ulsler-scols diaspora.
As part ol ils ongoing programme ol work USCN also delivered Open College Network Nl accredited
courses in Ulster-scols History and Idenlily with 12 courses being delivered across Northern Ireland.
The Publications Officer was extremely productive with articles being produced and carried In a rangè
ol newspapers and magazines throughout Ihe year: as well as researching articles on olhei lamous
Ulsler-scols as the basis lor lulllre publications.
FlnancSal revlew
We are grateful lo the following organisalions who provided support lo the USCN during the peric#J
under review..
Ulsler-scols Agency Core Funding support includlng salailes, eslablishmenl costs and prolacl
monies.
Arts Council ol North8rn Ireland - Supporl under Iheir Naiional Lo118ry Funding Programme Ihal ollers
salary support and sorne c051s ol our programming budget.
Heritage Lottery
under the CFIESI scheme administering funding on behalf ol Department for
Communities lo recruit stall lo assist Ihe lulure development ol the organisalion within the sector.
Scollish Book Trust - a remainder ol a grant Ihal allowed us lo publish an anthology ol Scols poetry by
Sluarl A Paterson. We are the first or9anisalion outside Scotland lo receive this grant from the Scots
Government.
RESERVES POLICY
Reserves are required by any organisalion lo help ollsel the inherent risk potential ol reliance on
lunding applicalions and the proc8SS8s they entail.
USCN aims lo hold three months core operating costs as a Busingss Fqeserve al all limes. This
ensufes an elleclive salary nel exisls lo cover lixed costs and slall salaries as well as successlully
completing any oulslanding project commilmenls.
The actual financial amount held in reserve is reviewed regularly and is dependent on the availabilily ol
assets and the mean monthly operating lolal as calculaled al 8a¢h review.

Ulster-scots Community Network
Company Limited by Guarantee
Directors, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Repori) (Conlinued)
Year ended 31 March 2024
Plans lor tuture perlods
USCN is commilled lo the delivery ol the Key Performance Indicators as sel our Ivi the current 202415
Business Plan ol the organisalion. These include.
Help secure £300k in financial assislancc lor mernbei groLJPS.
Provide 400 advice sessions lo member groups on a range ol relevant issues. Deliver a range ol
geographically diverse inlorrnalion sessions on funding. Support al least 40 member groups wilh policy
development
Facililale l 00 Disclosur8 ¢8rtilicales through Access N I
Recruit al least 100 parlicipanls lor Ihe OCN Nl Accredited Courses ollere8 by USCN. Deliver
lalkslPresenlalions lo al least 60 groups
Grow the Network by 5¢/q during Ihe yeai
Increase walk.in visitors lo the Discover Ulsler-scois Cenlre by 100/.. Deliver a range ol cullural
aclivilies through the centre
Meet regularly with key rllember organisalion5 and rnainlain a strong and visible online and media
presence
Fulure Grant Funding
The USCN has secured core lunding liorn the Ulsler-scols Agency IOT the 2024 calendar year. This
agreement expires in December 2024. Negotiations will commence lo secure a linaf7cial package liom
the Ulsler-scols Agency lor 2025, with a business plan being submilled in lale 2024.11 is also hoped
that during 2025 we will be submilling a mulii-year business plan which will assist us to move away
Irorn Ihe current funding model.
The Direclois are conlidenl that the Ulsler-scols Agency will agree lo provide sullicienl core ILJnding lo
allow the Network lo continue in exislence and are not aware ol any reason why the Ulsler-scols
Agency's linancial support mighl be wilhdrawii.
Arts Council funding has now been secured lor the current linancial year 2024125 to support the po8101
Publications Ollicer and other financial support has been received from Herilage Lollery Fund lo
support an additional post williin lh9 Network through unlil July 2025.
Direclors, responsibililies slatement
The directors. who are also directors lor the purposes ol company law. are responsible lor preparing
the directors, report and the linancial slalemenls In accordance with applicable law and United
Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally AcGepled Accounting Praclicel.
Company law requires the charity directors lo prepare Iillancial slalernenls lor each year which give a
liue and lair view ol the slate ol allairs ol Ihe charilablc company and the incorning resources and
application ol iesources, including the Incorne and expenditure. for that period.

Ulster-scots Community Network
Company Limited by Guarantee
Directors, Annual Report (Incorporating Ihe Director's Report) feonllnu￿j
Year ended 31 March 2024
In preparing these financial slalemenls, the diieclois are required lo.
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.,
observe the methods and principles in rhe applicable Charilies SORP,.
make judgments and accounling estimates Ihal are reasonable and prudenl;
slate whether applicable UK AccoLtniing Standards have been followed, subjecl lo any material
departure5 disclosed and explained in the financial slalemenls".
prepare the linancial 51alemenls on the going concern basis unless il is inappiopriale lo presurne
Ihal the charity will conlinue In business.
The directors are responsible lor keeping adequale accounting records that are sullicienl lo show and
explain the chaiily's Iransaclions and disclose wilh reasonable accuracy al any lime the linancial
position ol Ihe charity and enable Ihem lo ensure Ihal the financial slalemenls comply wllh the
Companies Acl 2006. They are also iesponsible lor saleguarding the assets ol the charily and hence
lor taking reasonable steps lor the prevention and deleclion ol Iraud and oiher irregularities.
Audltor
Each ol the persons who is a direclor al Iho dale of approval ol this report confirms Ihal..
so lar as they are awaTe, there is no relevant audil inlorrnalion ol which the charily's auditor is
unaware., and
Ihey have taken all steps Ihal they oughi lo have taken as a director lo make themselves aware
ol any re18vanl audil information and lo eslablish that the charity's auditor is aware ol Ihal
inlormalion.
The auditor is deemed lo have been re-appointed in accordance wilh section 487 01 the Companies
Act 2006.

Ulster-scots Community Network
Company Llmlted by Guarantee
Directors, Annual Report (Incorporating the Dlrector's Report) (conthtsed)
Year ended 31 March 2024
The directors, annual report and the stratègi¢ report were approved on 20 Decembèr 2024 and signed
on béhalf ol the board ol trustees by..
Mrs. E. Cameron
Dlreclor
Mrs. L. Mulholland
Direclor
Mrs. A. Smwh
Director
Mr. N. Mccausland
Chairman
Mr. G. Campbell
Director
Mrs. C. Evans
Director
Mr. W, Carlile
Director
Mr M. srn￿h
Director