Royal Society of Ulster Architects known as RSUA Trustees, Report The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, pr¢sent the annual report together with the financial stat¢m¢nts of the ¢haritable company for the y¢ar ¢nd¢d 31 Mar¢h 2023. ObJe¢tives and 2CtIFities Objects aAd The principal obje¢tiv¢s of the Society are as follows: Good design matters be¢ause it briTW soci, ¢¢onomic and environEllenta] ben¢fit$. Well designed houses and neighbourhoods make our lives healthker. happier and sa£eT and ow ¢omm)miti¢s stronger. students learn better and achieve more in inspiring educational buildings, recovery times Amprove in hospitaE5 designed to rneet th¢ netds ofpatients and staff; and businesses profit from greener, well consider¢d Premises. Public benefit The public benefit may be demonstrated by the Increasing number of awards and positive publicity given to the design of buildings and th¢ built environment in North¢rn trelan These are not just awards for deswj in tenns of aesthetics but are also for constrnctxon excellence and fimctionality. Such awards recognkse sustainability, accessibility, the seTvices the building V¢S to the publi aud the effed th¢ building ha$ on the regeneration of a stre¢t or area. Articles on buildings in national as w¢ll as the local archifrctural and construction Press also demoustrates the benefit to tlle public. The beneficiaries are the users of buildings which would ¢ncon]pass all metnbers of the public. RSUA'S objectives and publio benefit statement ar¢ aecepted by The Ckwity Commission. The main strategies etnployed to achieve public b¢nefit by the Society can be broadly categorised dwing tbe year as follows: * RSUA Design Awards * Publication of th¢ So¢iety'S magazines. * RIBA Bookshop at the RSUA * Client Advisory Service, including d¢sign ConetitionS1¢0W)etltive interviews * Practice Servic¢s Scheme * CPD Seminars and courses * Liaison with govenirnent bodies particularly in relatioll to public sectOT procurem¢nt and planning These broad categorisatiotts of activities ar¢ ¢urrently catried out for the Public benefiL The tnteeS cotifirn) that th¢y have complied with th¢ requirernents of section 4 0£ th¢ Charities Act 2008 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by The a]arity Con)mission for Northern Ireland. Page 3
Royal Society of Ulster Architects known as RSUA Trustees, Report A¢hievements and performance 10 2022123 RSUA'S income increased by aTound £84k priijwily due to the following fartors. Active Trav¢1 project fimding . Study Tour . RSUA Design Awards returning as an ev¢nt . Judicial Review support from RIBA . Early Career Architects competition funding In 20223 RSUA'S expenditttye increased by around £130k Primarily du¢ to the £ollowitig factors: . Event expenditLre • Staff costs - incT¢¥tsed stsff and salary increases . AGtive Travel project funds spent . Early Career Ar¢hitects funds spent . Judicial review costs In recent years RSUA has increased its free reserves. For 2022123 RSUA budg¢t¢d to sp¢nd more than the in¢ome we brought in. We were successful in doing so. RSUA spent roughly £40k more than the income generated in 2022123. RSUA intends to Gontinue to low¢r its fro¢ reserve over the next few years atkd will budget for anrnthl ¢xp¢ndtttsre levels to be higher than mUal incoJn¢ levels. Pagc 4
Royal Society of Ulster Arehiteets known as RSUA Trustees, Report Th¢ income generated in 2022123 has enabled RSUA to carry out a wide rartge of ¢harAtable activities including". Continuous Professional Development: Provided a broad range of learning opportunities for members through online events inchillg an on-demalld option. Architecture Nlgbt: Major evellÈ attracting over 200 that celebrates architecture in a unjque way. This year the ev¢tLt was held at Riddel's W8rehouse in Belfast ckty ¢entre. Early C2r¢er Design Competition: Storylines wks the RSUAIJP Corry Early Career Design Competition in 2022. The winning proj¢ct, Yellow Box, was at]nounced at Architecture Nigbt and a cash prize was awarde4 Engagement Ivith clients.. RSUA has engaged wxth Councils, central goven]ment bodies, universities, housing associations and others to promote the benefits of investing in design quality and to provide support in obtaining RSUA peer approved Design Quality Panel: The panel menibers provRd¢d expert assistance to a number of initiatives including the Belfast Stories proiecL Professlonal Insights Programmt: RSUA menthers provided over 100 second ye&r thdents from both IinTversities in Belfast with a T8nge of practical insights to th.e work of an arcliit¢¢t in practice. ProcErem¢nt: RSUA conlinued to work with clients 2nd policy n£[S to improv¢ procurernent Thitb a view to creating ¢onditions to allow archAteets to deliver of tl]¢ir best. Engagement with Councils: RSUA met with a number of local wuncils on a wide rdng¢ of matters but with a partirular focus on platitiing. RSUA Design Award5= A robust judging process for the RSUA Design Awards 2023 took place in Spring 2023 aad the WIterS were announced at a Gala Evelling in at Parliament Buildings in May 2023. Commllnleations: A Ml-page feature by an RSUA member appeared each month in the Lrish News. The new RSUA website continued to be enhanced. Gtneral meetiIigs: Two General Meetings this year have been held in~person and have included an hit¢ct-led buildijjg tour. The other two General Meetings hav¢ been held onIine and have include a 'My Ar¢hitectur¢' presentstion by a memb¢r. Publications: Perspective and Living DeskgD rnagazines We published throughout the y. Practice Services Scheme: B¢n¢fits for practices that subscribe to the Pra¢ti¢e Services SchenJ¢ were ttl enh8n¢ed this year. Sthdy Trfip: A Study Trip to Madrid took place in June 2022. A study trip to Cork was planned for June 2023. Ask An Architect: The initiativ¢ raised £14,000 for Friends of the Cancer Centre tIM)ugh its pattnership with the JAII Todd Trust whilst raising the profile to the public of th¢ role of the architect. Loeal Groups: A range of RSUA local groups met with the lo¢d Council to s¢ek ways to improve architecture and the built cnvironment in tbe Council aretL Page 5
Royal So¢iety of Ulster Architects known as RSUA Trustees, Report Bu]Iding Inspiratlon L¢¢ture: The building inspiration le¢ttre w&$ postponed. RSUA aims to restart the le¢ftwe Series in late 2023. Wider representation: RSUA actively participated in the NI Construction Group. the Strdtegic Design Group, NI Assembly Ali Party Group on Construction and the Ewrt Pattel on Building Safety Honorary menership. In recognition of the importajjt role that non-atchitects and architects from outside Nl have on architecture in Nl, RSUA confeTT¢d Honordry M¢mbership this year on AndTew Halry. Commlttees and Groups.. During the year the Committ$ and Groups continued with an active programme of worL The Education and C&reets Committee was forD]ed. Engagement with students and younger members: RSUA continued to increase its engagement with skndents and younger Chitects this year through: • Th¢ perfectly proportioned quiz of aTcI)itectur¢ and other things ill partnership with th¢ unkversities held in the Black Box . The Storylines d¢sign competition for early career archite¢ts . Student medals . Awarded the Alan Bames travelling scholarship . Increased tbe number of practices signed up to fair pay comn]itments for Part I graduates . Prolided free or reduced price tickets foT Students at VlOuS RSUA events . Supported ATcSoc at QUB ftir a number of lectur¢s . Otganis¢d 'Pr¢paTing for Practice. a Part 3 study evelling Delivered the Professional Insights Programme for second year students in partnership with both B¢lfast llniversities . Early Car¢er Archit¢cts Fonun h¢ld 2 number of events . Held 8 special celebration for all th¢ D¢wly qualAfied architects in NI FiDantlal revieTV Pollcy on reserves The m¢mber5 of the Council have estsblished a policy whereby the unreslricted fiinds not conunitted or investsd in tangible fixed assets ethe fr¢e r¢serves? held by the charity should be between 2 and 6 llnths of the resources expended, wbich equates to between £64,626 and £l93,877 iM g¢neral fuJLds. At this leveL th¢ Council fttl tbat they would be able to continue the Current activiti¢s of the Chlty. In the event of a significant drop i fimding. it would obviously be ll¢$$ary to consider how the fimding would be repla¢¢d activities changed. At pre8ent the fr¢¢ reserves an]ount to £370,935 and exceed tbe Council's target T9ge. The Council wiIl Continue to monitor their free reserves. RSUA has delivered a financial perfonnan¢e this year in line WAth its budget. The new accounting systern and internal accouating PrO$S¢S introduc¢d in 2018119 have been refined &Bd are now providino better quality and more tymely financial infornution. RSUA Continues to undertak¢ a fornul budget review process with Council ea¢h ye. Page 6
Royal SocAety of Ulster Architects knoivn as RSUA Trustees, Report IA¢ip4lfunding sourc The main incoming resour¢¢s of the Society remain the membership SubriptiOn rebztes from RJBA, CPD incorne, PSS income, sponsorsbip, book8hop, n]missIonS and other grant funding. Th¢ Society is extremely gratefvl to all Ats grant fundffi and sponsoTS, wÉthout whose support the Society would not be able to njn a nunther of its activities. Going concern The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The tNstees asse&s whether the )Jse of going concern is appropriate i.e. wh¢th¢r there are any material ucertainties related to events or conditions that may cast sigtiificant doubt on tbe ability of the charlty to continue as a going concern. The trustees mak¢ this assessment in respect of a period of one y¢ar frotn the date of approval of the financial statetnents. Structurey governanee and Manage¢llt Nature ofg(ryÉvning doeupftértt The Royal S(i¢iety of Ulster Architscts is a company lirnsted by guarant¢¢ and as such th¢ liability of each of Éhe members is limittd. Under Section 62 of th¢ Companies Act 2006, the Society is exen¥t from using the word Limited. The Society's gov¢rning doctunent is the Metnorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of the Company being wound up members are required to Gontribute £5.00. Recrultffient dRd appoiNtmtAI oflpustees Und¢r the requirements of the Mernorandum and Articles of Asso¢Aation the membets of the Council aTe elected to serve for a period of tbr¢¢ years after which tbey need to stand for re-electÉon at tbe next Annual General Meeting if they wish to continue to serve on Council. RSUA seeks to ensure that members with a range of eXpe0c¢ from within the 8hIteCtUral prof¢$gion serve on the Council. Induction and iriuning oftrustses Most Goun¢il members ar¢ familiar with the role of the Ch]ty through their membership of the ahitectur&1 profession. New council Membe attend an orientstion meeting to brief them on their legal obligations and responsibilities as membeIs of Council. Arrangementsfor settlng key m4nugethentpersoMn¢l replluneyation The President ond $tee8 work wholly on a voluntary basis and re¢eive no remunuation, bonuses, OT ben¢fits-in4(ind or hav¢ any pension entitlements. LÈkewise, society volunteers aTe not retnunerated. The post of RSUA Director is a remunerated position. The Director's remuneration Ès set by the Honorary Officers Committee. Page 7
Royal Society of Ulster Architects knoTrvn as RSUA Trustees, Report ory0$tional structhre The So¢Aety 1$ n]allaged and directed by its Council. Vacant Council s¢ats are filled through an election process, The Council meets at least six times during the period September to June. Membership of the Society call be classified as: chartered members, honorary m¢nth¢rs, student rllembeTS, associate members #lld affiliats m¢nJbers. Ea¢h category ha8 its own collditions and temis as oudined in the Societys governing documenL The Society is iti alliance with the Royal Insiitute of British Ar¢hitect5 (RIBA). The Council of the Society shall relate to the Coullcil of the RIBA only in Tespe¢i of Enatters relative to its staS in alliance. RSUA sits on the Council of the Royal Institute of ArchittS of Ireland as an observeT. Relatlonshflps wfith related parties Tbe Society is in allian¢¢ with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The Council of the Society shall relate to the Council of tbe RIBA only in respect of matters rel&tive to its 8tth in alliance. Major risks ¢Md managémtnt ofthose nsks Personnel the risk of losing key staff or volunteers, with the assQCi0t¢d loss of exp¢rtise and expaience Reputation the Tisk that tbe so¢i¢ty might be suffer reputational damage as the result of unauthorised public statements FinanctalRisk the risk that society ¢ould nm into fiJJaa¢ial difficulties RSUA operates a risk register which fornially records th¢ key Tisks and actions taket) to minimise those risks. The register is reviewed by Council aA)nually and is a pern&3nent item on the agenda for the Honorary Officers eelings. Fin*n¢ial instruments Objeclives andpollci¢s The chity'S activities ¢xpose it to a number of finattcial risks including credit risL cash flow TÉsk and liquidity risk. The use of fmancial derivatives is governed by th¢ Charity's polk¢i¢s approved by the boord of tsvstees, which provide TItt¢ll principl¢s on the use of financial derivatives to rnanage these risks. The chlty does not use derivativ¢ financial instrum¢nts foT speculative purposes, Cashflow kysk The charity's activities ¢Kpose it primarily to th¢ financial risks of changes ij) foreign cuuency exchange rates and interest rdtrs. The charÈty uses for¢iwJ exchange fornrd contracts attd kllterest Tate swap contracts to hed8¢ these exposuTes. Interest bearing asstts and liabilities are held at fixa rate to ensur¢ c¢rtainty of cash flows. Page 8
Royal Society of Ulster Architects known as RSUA Trustses, Report Crnlit rlsk Th¢ clwity's prillcipal financia] assets are bafjk ba12nce8 and cash, trade and other receivables, and investn]ellts. The charity's ¢redxt risk IS WITll2ri1y attributable to its trade receivables. The amounts presented in the balance sheet are net of allowances for doubtfill re¢eivabl¢s, An allowance for impaim)ent is made wheTr ther¢ ts an Identified loss event whi¢ty based on previous experience, is evidence of a Tedu¢txon in the recoverability of the cash flows. The credit risk on liquid funds and derivative fin¥llcial instruments is limitsd because the coulltsIparties are banks with high credtt-tatings assigned by int¢rnational cr¢(iit-rating agencies. The charity has no significant coneelltration of credit risk, with exposure spread over a large of counteiparties and customers. Liquidity risk In order to nmintsin liquidity to ensure tha£ sufficÈ¢nt fimds are avail8bl¢ for ongoing operations and future developments, the ¢harity uses a mixture of long-tem short-terni debt finallce. Further detsils regarding liquidity risk can be found ID the Statement of accoullting policies in the financial statements. Creditor p2yineut policy The society support prompt and targets payment for goods and $¢Tvi¢es to be n]ade within agreed p4ym¢nt terni$ or witbiu 10 days of receipt of invoices not in dispute. Small companies provislon statement This report has been prepared xn accordance with the small cimipanies regttne under the Companies Act 2006. Page 9
Royal Society of Ulster Architects Iinown as RSUA Trustees, Report Statement of trustees, responsiblliti¢s The InteeS (who are also the directors of Royal Society of Ulster Architects for the pury)oses of company law) are responsible for Preparing the ttustees, Teport and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standallls Iunited Kirlgdom Generally Accept¢d Awounting Practice). in¢luding FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" The report and accouttts have been prepared in a¢cord&nce with the provK8ions in the Companies Act 2006 Telating to small cornpanies. Company law requires the trusfres to prepare finaD¢iak statements for each financial yeaT. Under company law the trustees must not approve tbe fjnancial statsmenrs unless they 8r¢ satisfied that tbey give a true and fair view of the slate of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of res0C¢s, including its income and expenditure, of tb¢ ciwitable ¢omp8ny for that p¢rio¢£ In preparing thes¢ fmoncial statements, the trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies aod apply them consAstently' observe the methods and piinciples in the chltieS SORP. make judgem¢nts and estAmat¢s that reasonable alld prud¢llt" state whether applicable accounting standards, Colln8]ng FRS 102 have b¢en folLowed. subject to any material depathwes disclosed and explained in the financial stat¢ments' and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the chaTitable company will continue in business. The trustees are respottsible for keeping proper a¢¢ounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuwy at any time the fu1claI position of the cknitable compiiny and ¢nable them to ettstwe that tbe financi21 statements omply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarditig tbe assets of the charitable company and hence for tslang reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and oth¢r iTregularities. Th¢ trustees are reSInSible for the maintenan¢e and integrity of the corporate and financiat infornrntion included on the charitsble company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of fiDancial Statenrtts may differ from legislation in oth¢r jurisdictions. The ann)Jal report was apptoved by the trustees of the chaTity on 26 May 2023 alld SAgt)¢d on its behalf by. McAlister Tntstee Page 10