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).
ORJEcT￿Es 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 pr0￿mmeS
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 pU￿oseS 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