ACCESS EMPLOYMENT LTD DIREcfoRS' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 The Directors of the Charity are pleased to presenttheir report and the audited fmancial statements for the year ended 31 July 2024. The Charity have adopted the provisions of th¢ Statemcnt of Recommended Practice (SORP) -AcLX)untin8 and Reporting by Charities" (FRS102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the Charity. Prln¢ipAI actIvIti obje¢tlv¢s The objective of the Charity is to assist people with learnin8 disabilities or physical, sensory, or other impairnient, mental ill health or who are vulnerable due to social or economic circumstances. through the pmvision of advice, inforniation and support in order to gain arfess to employment, edUtIO economic, health, housin& leisure. social welfare and other services on th¢ same basis as others without such disadvantsges. This is achieved through the operation of a Social Firni which provides training, work expericnce and sustained employment for p¢opl¢ with mental ill health, learning disability and others from a disadvantaged background. The Social Firm has the following activities whiGh provide training, work experience and employment as well as providing sustainable income: AEL packages products for other companies a5 well as packaging its own products for sale on-line and also manufactures and prepares Product samples for some of Northern Irelands lop Companies including K-Rend & Spirit. Located on-51te the café has a 5-star rating from Environmental Health and a 5-star rating from Facebook with both sit in. takeaway and delivery options available. Under the regi5ter¢d brand name. Candyrush AEL repackages goods which are imported from around the world and sells them onlin¢. Our product range includes Party Bags, Envelope4 Confectionery and Craft Products. Centrally locatsd in Larne Town Centre the Larne Community Hub. makes the ideal l(Kation for wup meKtings, training coutses, special events. displays, fairs, car boot sales etc. Thg Naggy Burn project encompasses our Community Shed. Allotments and Garden Centre. Each of these 3 projects dovctail with the oth¢r to offer a ran inlera¢tions aimed at promotin$ health and w¢llb¢in e of acliviti¢s ihat provide social and physical rent an allotment and grow their own prodtsce with t within &e local community. Service us¢rs Can simply e widely recognised benefits of b¢in8 Outside, working with nalure, produ¢ing food and saving money, whilst the Comrnunity Shed offer5 an opwtunity. to ty ncw thin 5, increase skills and meel new fnends with similar Interests. Both ekmcnts are ¢ritical In tenns of ing down social isolotion and tackling loftelin¢ss, The Nasgy Burn Garden Centre opened during summer 2020. Commerci&l activty has increased. and it now s¢lls a variety of plants, seeds, composL shrubs, tools and hanging baskets as well as Providing a delivery servirx. te Launched in 2022. AEL personalises products and gAftware with logos and messages using our laser engrav¢r. Our website is being developed to further promote Create Gifts to both p¢rsi)nal and ¢orporate customers.
ACCESS EMPLOYME LTD DIRECTORS. ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 Our Charitable activities offer th¢ following programmes: Sc -25 The Transitions Programrne is a job coaching progranim¢ faciliLiting early intervention with school aged young pcoplc. The primary focus is to better prepare young p¢opl¢ to tr8nsition from school into adulthood, progress to the world of work and active citizens in their communities. PR This programme is for anyone who 15 econ¢Jni¢ally inactiv¢ as 16*, who requires support to gain ¢mploymcnt and or enter long-terni volunteering or furth¢r education, AEL is part of a oonsortium of 5 other organisation& delivering this programme under UKSPF. The prowme commenced in April 2023 and is fund¢d until ¢nd March 2025. As part of the programme AEL will support train¢¢s to gain work ¢xperienc¢, develop their skills and Confiden reduce isolation, and build towards a positive pathway for their future. SPE Da Individuals who have been diagnosed with a learning disability and have been approved for reccipt of community-based day services, through the Northern Health and Social Care Trusc can ask about cornin8 aloTJg to AEL to volunteer 1- 3 days per week. This helps them to gain work experien¢¢, boost thcir skills and confjdence. It may also help them to think about possible work or volunteering opportunities, IKfore deciding on their next steps. The LIFE Pro8ramm¢ offers bespoke support which ensures trninees have choices in how they spend their day, who they spend it with, and the types of activities offer¢d. We aim to share what's important to them. by d¢veloping a person-centred support and action plan that will set realistic 8oals and encourage the development of each trainee. LIFE will promote their physi¢d. mental, and Social health and enhance th¢ir quality of life. ci AEL also offers a fun packed fortni8htly social club, with approximatcly 30 members attending each session. This club provides a saf¢ and Suptive environm¢nt for those with additional needs to wme together and ¢njoy social and recreational activities, go on outings. d¢velop new skills and meet new friends. The club is open to everyone, aged 16+ from the MEA council area. Heroes+ Is a Youth programme funded by Peace Plus until February 2028 and run in partnership with Mencap (lead parther) incredABLE, Can Advocacy N¢twork, Beam, Volunts¢r Now and AEL The programme focu5es on k¢y youth work thetnes such as: P¢rsonal Development Good Relations Citiz¢nship Employability Skills Positiv¢ Progression It aims to promot¢ and inspire partiGipants, aged 14 - 24 who have additional needs, from different baCOundS to build. maintain and manage strong positive relationships and collective identities. developing their potential and providing safe spaces for them to contribute to building an inclusive and cohesive society.
ACCESS EMPLOYMENT LTD DIRECTORS, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 Public BeDefit In shaping the Charity's objectives, the Directors have considered the Charity Commission Nl's guidance on public benefit including th¢ Commission's 'Publi¢ Benefit R¢porting' documeni CCNI PBRI. The direct benefit which flows from this is that disadvantaged peopl¢ are provided with support to access further training and employmeDt opportunitie& thus enhancing th¢ir lifestyle and quality of life and allowing them to operate more effectively in the community. Achievements & Performance Trainees have now returned to pre-covid service Leve15 and are sampling work experience opportunities across all business areas, We have secn a marked Incre in trainees sociAI, communication, attitude to worK independence and skills and experience Icvcls this ycar, compared to the same period last year. This is a direct result of scrviL'e5 returning to pre-covid l¢v¢ls and our 5¢rvices adapting to meet trainees where th¢y were in tenrAS of the support4 they require. At 3111 July 2024 the Charity was providing on average 73 trainin8 places to 35 individuals each wexk as well as mentoring an additional I l individuals outside of AEL, This year we have achieved and delivered the following: ualifieations OCIY Level I Level 2 Elm abili Level 2 Vorational Skills - Customer Car¢ Level 2 Vocational Skills - Team Work Skills Level I Pro ssion to Em ment Lev¢1 I Ind¢ endent Travel Level l Food H iene Level I World Host Customer Care Level I Vocational Skills - Child Dev¢lo Level I Vocational Skills Animal Care Level I Vwational Skills - Exploring Enterprise & Skills for Garden Horticulture TOTAL AwArded Vlfielon8 19 ment 19 67 re$8ion Pathwa cnt Lon terni volunteerin Further Education Number Whilst AEL prides itself in having a mixed ability workforce and continues to create sustainable ¢mployment opportunities, links have also be¢n established and maintained with local employers via our Enclusive Employer Charter. which reco8nises those ¢mployers who provide work tours placements, and ernploymentlvolunt¢erin8 Opportunities to our trainees, enabling them to reach their full potential outsid¢ of AEL and demonstrating their own corporate, social responsibility. We are delighted that these employers have continued lo engag¢ with us via the Chgrter. and we wntinue to see a rise in external work placements and tours being offered.
ACCESS EMPLOYMENf LTD DIRECTORS, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 To end July 2024 employers have facilitatsd 6 exteTDal work placements Tanging from ground maiDt¢nance to retail to rnechanics. There has also becn a totsl of 6 external work tOUTS, across a Variety of business sector including haulage, retail, catering Wrt and filness and ground maintenanc¢. Personal developm¢nt and monitoring of soft outcomes are also a key element of the Charity's trnining programme5. At 3 Jst July 2024 our distance travelled assessment of train¢e5 revealed the following; Soft Skill Ar¢ ConfidencelS¢if Belief SociaVFriendshi in Skills Skills & Ex erience Communication Skills Health Lif¢s le Attitude to work ndence & Reliabili PerceDts e Increse 62.50/. 62.50 87.5°/• 50/ Inde Finaneial review The Charity recorded a net deficit of (£88,378) for the year, When added to reserves brought forward the totsl reserve5 on 31 July 2024 are £433,456. As explained in the countIng policies the Charity's fund5 are nonnally either restricted or unr¢stricÉed. The main fundin8 streams of the Charity #re its 90cial ent¢rpris¢ activities in Pa¢kaging and Assembly, Online Retail, Gillware (Creat¢ Gifts), Rcntal, Lunchbox Café, Community Allotments and Naggyburn Garden Centre which tog¢ther account for 68Q/o of th¢ charity's income. These activities support the Charity's training programmes for adults with disability 8nd disadvantage. The Board hav¢ considered the risks involved in all our Social ¢nt¢rprise activities and are agreed that the d¢sired outcomes are of supporting sustsinable disability employment g4nd ¢reatin8 unrestricted rev¢nue thereby reducin8 dependency on grant funding which is in line with the Charity's cote aims and objoctives. The Board will ensure that action is tsken to teduce or mitigate losses in any of the social enterprise a¢tiviti¢s including ceasing loss making activities. Th¢ legacy from the COVID 19 pand¢mic as well &8 the cost-of-living crisis are both making an impact on the activiti¢s of the charity as well as its ability to create and maintain rn¢aningful businesses. The Board and Senior Management continue to seek to ensure that Pdctivities are making a financial and soclal contribution lo the charity. Recent UK Government Budget announcement5 relating to National Minimum Wage and Employer National Insurance contributions will have an impact on the Charity. Reserves Pollcy And Going Concern At 31 July 2024 the Charity held £433,456 in untestrict¢d reserves and £nil in restricted r¢serves. The current unrestricted ServeS of £433.456 include an amount of £147,546 which can only be realised by disposing of tangibl¢ fixed assels. The Charity therefore has free res¢rves of £285,91 O. It is the current policy of the Charity to seek to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the Charity, at a level which equates to between three and six months of resource5 expended on activities outsid¢ of funded prOJt5 costs. During the year 31 July 2024 this equated from £219,314 to £438,628. The Directors consider that adequate resources continue to be available to fund the activities of the Charty for the foreseeabl¢ future and are of thc view that the Charity is a going ¢oncern.
ACCESS EMPLOYMENT LTD DIRECTORS, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR EI¥4DED 31 JULY 2024 Pl*n$ for future ptriodj AEL has a three-year Strategic Plan and a Risk Regist¢r to guide it5 activities. The Board and Senior Management Team continu¢ to focus on strengthening and developing busine55 growth. We continue to seek business activities which offer inclusion and experience for our service users. Although AEL were fortunate to secure funding through UKSPF. following the end of ESF, the new funding is for a short 2-ye8r period to 3 l March 2025 and funding continues to bc a major concern for AEL and the community and voluntary sector as a whole. We are working closely with our colleagues across the sector to lobby for support to maintain vital programmes as well as seeking funds where p)ssible to bridge any gaps in service (working with statutory agenci¢s and sources of grant fundin8). Structure, Governaoce & Manydgement Access Employment Limited is a company limited by 8uarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 21 December 1998 and amended to allow for current gov¢rnan¢e arrangement on 25th September 2014 and the liability of ¢ach member is lirnited to an amount not exceeding £ l. It has been ted haritable status by HM Revenue and Customs and is regi.prtered with the Charity Commission of Northern Ireland. The Directors who also act as Charity trustees are under Charity law legally responsible for the control, tll8nagem¢nt and administration of the Charity. At 31 July 2024 the Board of Directors consisted of eight members being a Chair, Vico Chair and six other members. Three of the Members ar¢ male and five are female. The Board of Directors meet regularly, at interrfals not exceeding thr months. During the year 2 Directors retld and 3 new Directors were appointed. A new thr¢e year plan (2024-2027) was adopt¢d as part of our Vision 2030. this has three key obje¢tive5 - Sustainable Financial Growth and Busin¢ss Success, New Business and D¢velopment Opportunities. and Develop P¢ople And Organisation. Annual Operational Plans and Budgets are set to enable the Board io monitor progress against key perforniance indicators. The Board continualty monitors the financial perforniancc (and net contributions) of ull the social enterprise activities. A¢c¢ss Employment Limited has forty six employees as 31° July 2024 and in fvifilment of the strategic plan and in lin¢ with the Charity's objectives has delegated to the Chief Executive. assisted by Colleagues on th¢ Senior Mana8erneni Team, responsibility for the day to day operation and management of the Charity Tenn5 and Conditions of the contracts of employment of employees of the Charity are determined by ihe Dir¢rtors. The pay of all stsff including senior mana8emenl is reviewed annually and nom)ally increased in accordance with average earningg. Th¢ NJC pay leS are used a5 th¢ remuneration benchmark for Senior Manag¢ment. Appointment of Dlrectors The Board has adopted a protocol for th¢ appointment of new Directors based on a framework of desired skills and experience and seeking to meet skills gaps or address priority areas. The Board has carried out an external process to identify and recruit Directors to rcplace those due to retire as well as filling vacancies to ensure continuity and the availability of appropriat¢ skills.
ACCESS EMPLOYMENT LTD DIRECTORS? ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 Director Indllctlon *nd trAinlng New Diredors are provided with a tailored induction which includes background on the Charity, its current aGtivities {includiDg visits to operations), strategic and annual business plans, policies and financial position as well as roles and re5ponsibiliti¢s of the Board. Ongoing training is provided for all Board members as required as part of annual business plan activiti¢s. Related PArtie8 None of the Dir¢ctors reLrivc remuneration or other benefit from their work within the Charity. Rijk MaDagemenl The Directors identify the major risks to which th¢ Charity is exposed each finan¢i&l year when preparing the annual business plan, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Charity. The Directors then review any major risks which have been identified and establish systems to mitigate those risks. The Charity is satisfied that th¢ systems are in place to Tnitigate their exposure to the major risks which have been 30 identified and reviewed. The Board has examined the major risks whi¢h the Charity faces and confirms that policies and procedures have been e5tsbli8h¢d so that the necessary Steps can be taken to lessen thes¢ risks. Environmental M8tte The Charity recognises its corporate responsibility to carry out its operations while minimisin8 environmentaj impacts. The Board's continued aim is to comply with all applicable environmental legislation, prevent pollution and reduce waste wherever possible. The Charity WAII actively pursue methods of redu¢ing its carbon fttyrint.
ACCESS EMPLOYMEF4T LTD DIRECTORS? ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 Reference & Administrative Details NIC100987 N100152 N1035373 32-34 Pound Street, Larnq Co Antrim, BT40 1 SQ ChArity number: HMRC ¢bArity Dumber: Company Jumber Registered Office: Ollr Advisors Audltors: Harbinson Mulholland Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors, 6th Floor. East Tower, LYort Plaz4 8 Lanyon Plac¢, Belfast. BTI 3LP Dan5k¢ Bank. Donegal Square WesL Belfast, BTI 6JS BLM, S l Ad¢laid¢ Street, Belfas( BI2 8FE Bankers: Soliehors: Directors The Directors of the charitable company ar¢ its trustees for th¢ purpose of Charity Law. The Dire¢tors serving during the year and since the year end were as follows: Hazel Bell (Chair) Grace Nesbitt (Vice Chair) (relired 25101124) Alison Allen (appointed 28111124) Maureen Hanvey (retired 25101124) Audrey Murray (Vic¢ Chair from 25101124) Christine Barnhill (ftppointed 25104124) Joanne Liddle (appointed 25101124) Clara Van Es (appointed 25104124) Andrew Clen&ghan lan Mcmaster (resigned 16112124 Tr¢vor Ringland Senior Management Personoel Chief Ex¢cutive Laura Steele Head of S¢rvic¢s Lorraine Black Head of Business Jackie Reid A¢knowledgementS The Board would like to thank all those bodies which have provided financial assistance in the last year. Their SUPPOrt has been essential to maintaining a varied prowme of developm¢nt and training for our b¢neficiaries which we would otherwise be unable to provide. Grants and donations that were received are set out in note 2 of th¢ financial statements. The Director5 also acknowledge, with gratitude, the dedication and professionalism of its staff upon which it is wholly dependent for the Charity's success. This report has been pr¢pared in accordance with the special provisions relatin8 to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. By order of the Board Mn Dlr¢ctor 16th January 2025
ACCESS EMPLOYMENT LTD STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS? RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 Dir¢ctorJ' Respon8lbiliti¢S fin relation to the financiY418tatsments The C¢)mpany Directors (who are also charity truslees of Access Employment Ltd) are responsibl¢ for preparing a Directors, annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Genernlly Acwted Accounting Practice). Company law requires tbe Directors to prepare the financial statements for each year which 8iv¢ a tnie and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources including the incom¢ and expenditure of the organisation for that pericMJ. In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are rquired to: select suitsble accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SOIIP. make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and pruden( state wh¢ther applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. prepare the financial ststements on the going conG¢rn basis unless it is inappropriate to presum¢ that the organisation will contillue in business. The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that dI10$e with reasonable accuracy at any tirne the financial position of the or8anisation and to enable them to en5ur¢ that the financial statem¢nts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for saf¢suarding the assets of th¢ or8anisation and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and det¢¢tion of fraud and other irregularities. The Directors ar¢ responsible for the maintenanc¢ and int¢grity of the corporat¢ and finaneial infomiation included on the charitable company's website. Lcgislation in the United Kingdom governing the prcparation and dissemination of th¢ financial statements may diffcr from legislation in oth¢r jurisdictions. StAtement of di¥closur¢ to auditors So far as the Directors are aware at th¢ time of approving the Directors annual report: there is no relevant infonnation, being infomiation needed by the auditor in connection with preparing their r¢port. of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware, and the Directors, having made enquiries of fellow Directors and the charitable company's auditor that they ought to have individually taken, have each tsken all steps that h¢lshe is obliged to take as a director in order to make themselves awa of all relevant audit information and to cstablish that the auditor is aware of that tnforniation. By order of Ihe Board Mnll Director 16th January 2025 10