Belfast Activity Centre Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective l January 2019). ORJEcTEs AND ACTIvrrIEs Objectives and aims The Objects of the Charity are the advancement of amateur sport and adventure learning through outdoor activities and the advancement of citizenship and community development for the benefit of the public and in furtherance of those objects: to be a personal development charity that aims to engage people from all backgrounds in programmes of activity that encourage them to reach their full potential and explore their personal and social development. to work mainly through the medium of adventure learning and outdoor activities delivering a range of short and long tenn programmes and awards. and to provide an holistic approach to the needs and aspirations of individuals, ensuring safe, inclusive, but challenging opportunities that are "Changing lives and building futures Centre Accreditations and Professional Memberships Gold Standard and Adventure Mark accreditation from the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC) Investors in People Silver Award Institute of Outdoor Learning (IOL) Membership Institute of Outdoor Learning (IOL) Approved Continuing Personal Development (CPD) Provider Open College Network (OCN) Qualifying and Programme Centre Lcaming Outside the Classroom (LOC} Quality Badge Duke of Edinburgh Award (DOE) Licensed Centre Duke of Edinburgh Award (DOE) Approved activity provider for Award Expedition Section NationaI indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS) Approved Centre for delivery to Level l and Level 2. ASDAN Education Awarding Centre John Muir Award Group Member Britlsh Heart Foundation Affiliated Heart Start Training Provider HSE Approved Rescue Emergency Care (REQ First Aid Training Provider Page I
Belfast Activity Centre Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 ORJECTIVES AND ACTIvrriES Revenue Fundraising (Short and Longer term project and programmes) Demand for short terni outdoor adventure activities and longer tenn learning outside the classroom programmes increased during the 12 months operating period from April 2022 to March 2023. This demand was driven from the formal schools sector with primary schools reflecting almost 90% of the total school programmes delivered alongside an increased demand from the wider voluntary and community sectors. Work with the youth and community recognised a return to pre-covid levels as voluntary and statutory organisations and leaders emerged from their respective restrictive operations to contract a rartge of programmes that addressed issues of rebuilding confidence, peer to peer and social communications. problem solving, motivation and prolonged physical inactivity under over-arching themes of health and well-being particularly amongst primary more than post primary aged groups of children. Grant funded support was generously received from a number of independent and statutory organisations including: Department for Communities- BAC Youth Build Programme Belfast City Council - Support towards Centre operating costs Department of Justice- BAC Adventure Investigators Progrdmme Arnold Clarke Foundation- Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Greystone (IOM) - Youth intervention and diversionary pr0mmeS FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial Belfast Activity Centre seeks to comply with Best Practice in managing the finances of the Centre and as outlined in the Reserves policy should hold adequate reserves to cover up to 6 months full running costs of the centre. The charity finances at 31 March 2023 show cash at bank and tn hand of £76.467 which includes £0 restricted fiinds. The net current assets at 31 March 2023 were £92,783 with unrestricted reserves of £591,734 equating to more than 6 months full running costs of the centre. Risk Policy Risk Management is a high priority in the work of the centre. Physical Risk is monitored daily due to the nature of outdoor activities. All staff are provided with training in risk management and the Centre has a Health and Safety Advisory Committee of independent advisors who meet quarterly. The BAC Board are tasked with the Gov¢mance of the Centre. The Board carries out regular management analysis on all aspects of the Centre's work. Reserves policy The Board of Directors l Trustees, of Belfast Activity Centre will endeavour to accumulate reserves which amount to up to six months full running costs of the centre. The Board believe this to be an acceptablc reserve and contingency. If the Charity was fortunate enough to reach this amount of reserve. the Board would table a discussion as to how funds could be expended or invested, in-line with the work of the charity. Page 2
Belfast Activity Centre Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND IkL4NAGEMENT Governing document The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trusL and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. Organisation and Principal Activity Based upon the Memorandum and Articles of Association accepted by Companies House, Belfast on 17 September 2010 for the incorporation of Belfast Activlty Centre as a Private Company Limited by Guarantee (Company No. N1604474). First registered as a charity for purposes with HM Revenue and Customs in 1990, Charity Registration No. XN82053 and reaffThed at 17 September 2010. Registered as a charity with the Northern Ireland Charity Commissioner, registration on 12 January 2015. Charity Registration No. NIC101347. BAC would like to take this opportunity to thank all its funders and supporters over the past year. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATtVE DETAILS Registered Company number N1604474 (Northern Ireland) Registered Charity number 101347 Registered office Barnett's Stable Yard Barnett Demesne Malone Road Belfast Co. Antrim BT9 5PB Trustees Mr Thomas Scott Retired Civil Servant Mr Ian Douglas Consulting Engineer Mr John Harold Baird Chartered Management Accountant Ms Sarah Pamela Ballantine Reporter Ms Clare Maria M¢Nicholl Education Manager Mr Lewis William Graham Glven Business Consultant Mr Scott Hamilton Retail Store Manager Auditors Mccleary & Company Ltd Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors Quaker Buildings High Street Lurgan Craigavon Co. Annagh BT66 8BB Page 3
Belfast Activity Centre Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILrrIES The trustees (who are also the directors of Belfast Activity Centrc for the pUoseS of company law) ar¢ responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each fmancial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitsble company for that period. In preparing those fman¢ial statements, the trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP. make judgements and cstimates that are reasonable and prudent" prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financiaI statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are aIso responsible for safeguarding th¢ assets of the charitable company and hence for taktng reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far as the trustees are aware.. there is no relevant audit infomation of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware. and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit infomiation and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information. AUDITORS The auditors, McCl¢ary & Company Ltd, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Approved by order of the Board of Trustees on 20 November 2023 and signed on its behalf by: r Thomas,Scott- Trustee Page 4