BELFAST LOUGH SAILABILITY Year ended 31 December 2024 CHARITY REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAIIS Reglstered charlty name Belfast Lough Sailability Charlty reglstratlon number NIC101461 Prlnclpal offlce Marlna Bulldlng, 3 Quayslde, Carrlckfergus, BT38 8BE The trustees Mr D Todd Chalrperson Mr A Blsp Vice Chalrperson Ms A Blalr Honorary Secretary Mr J Klnner Honorary Treasurer Bankers Danske Bank Donegal Sq West Belfast Co Antrlm BTI 6JS The Co-operatlve Bank- Buslness Buslness Customer Servlces PO Box 4931 Swlndon SN4 4PL Independent examlner Slmon Hopper F.C.A, Hopper & Co 6 Doa8h Road Ballycla re BT39 9BG
BELFAST LOUGH SAILABILITY TRUSTEES REPORT Year ended 31 December 2024 TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present thelr report and the unaudited financial statements of the charlty for the year ended 315t December 2024. The trustees have adopted the provislons of the Statement of Recommended Practlce ISORPI Accounting and Reportlng by Charltles ' (FRS102 Sectlon IA) In preparlng the annual report and financlal statements of the charity, The flnancial staternents have been prepared In accordance with the accountlng pollcles set out In notes to the flnanclal statements and appllcable accountlng standards, Accountlng and Reportlng bv Charities . Statement of Recommended Practice appllcable to charities preparlng thelr accounts In accordance wlth the Flnanclal Reportlng Standard appllcable In the UK and Republic of Ireland Issued In October 2019, the Flnanclal Reportlng Standard applicable In the Unlted Klngdom and Republlc of Ireland IFRS 102 Settion IA), the charity's governlng document, the Charltles Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, Charltles Act (Northern Ireland) 2013, The Charlties {Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons (Northern Ireland) 2015 and UK Generally Accepted Practlce. TRUSTEES OF THE CHARITY The trustees who have served durlng the year were as follows: Mr DTodd Mr A Blsp Ms A Blair Mrj Klnner Chalrperson Vice Chairperson Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS The registered name of the charltyls Belfast Lough Sallabilityty charlty registration number.. NIC101461 Princlpal off Ice Marlna Building, 3 Quayside, Carrickfergus, BT38 8BE The trustees Mr D Todd Mr A Blsp Ms A Blalr Mrj Kinner Chalrperson Vice Chairperson Honorary Secretary Honorary Treasurer
BELFAST LOUGH SAILABILITY TRUSTEES REPORT Year ended 31 December 2024 Bankers Danske Bank Donegal Sq West Belfast Co Antrim BTI 6JS The Co-operatlve Bank- Business 8uslness Customer Services PO Box 4931 Swlndon SN4 4PL Independent examlner Slmon Hopper F.C.A, Hopper & Co 6 Doagh Road Ba Ilyclare BT39 9BG STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT Governlng Document Belfast Lough Sallabillty IBLSI Is a charlty reglstered wlth the Charlty Commlsslon for Northern Ireland. Its operatlons are governed by a Trust Deed. There are 4 Trustees named above who oversee the charitvs activltles and finances and declde how It wlll achleve Its objectlves. DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE BLS recognlses sailing as a therapeutlc exerclse benefitlng those wlth physlcal, mental and learnlng dlfflcultles, Its activities Include tralnlngi recreatlon and competitlon; and the protectlon and preservatlon of health and safety. As s RYA RecoÉnlsed Tralnlng Centre {RTC), BLS provldes Instruction In salllngl powerboating and other skllls. BLS supports the local communlty by provldlng safety boats & tralned crews at open sea water events. ACTIVITIES AND OBJEcfivES BLS has a fleet of 17 saillpower boats and 4 kayaks. Worklng from Carrickfergus Marina and Harbour, BLS provides salling & boatln8 Opportunities to People with disabllitles and from dlsadvantaged background5.(partlcipants). Participants can choose to enjoy recreational or leisure boatingi undertake tralnlng & educatlon or compete In competitions. BLS has a team of quallfied Instructors to provlde RYA Internationally recognised quallflcatlons In salllng/powerboating, flrst ald, VHF radio, navigation & dlsability awareness. BLS also proactlvely promotes volunteering opportunlties to enhance a sense of
BELFAST LOUGH SAILABILITY TRUSTEES REPORT (congd) Year ended 31 December 2024 Inclusion and self-worth in Its members. BLS travels throughout the island of Ireland to provlde opportunlties to those i n need of our facilities. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Our actlvities promote 50clal Incluslon, Increase confldence and self-e5teem and promote communlty values along wlth many added health benefits. Our RYA RTC provldes educatlon and trainlng to people of all abilitles and background5, BLS organlses an annual programme of activlty to develop members, skllls, host and partlclpate In competltlons and support communlty events. Durlng 2024, BLS'S maln actlvlties Included but was not Ilmlted to:. Malntenance of Fleet The 2024 season started well with essentlal maintenance belng carried out on Saturday mornings over the wlnter months to ensure all craft and equlpment were fully operatlonal for the commencement of on the water actlvltles. The BLS motor launch Rosy had slgniflcant refurbishment repalrs carrled out to make the boat fullv operatlonal for the 2024 season. October- December. Wlnterlsatlon of fleet and essentlal maintenance commenced to make ready the fleet for the 2025 season. The BLS drop bow motor launch Searover was Ilfted out of the water for a full refurblshment, Purchase of 'Barnab Followlng a bequest from Ellzabeth Black, a long standing BLS member, a funding campalgn was launched to secure fundlng to purchase a new safety boat 'Barnaby', named after Elizabeth's asslstance dog. Additional fundlng was secured from the Ulster Garden Village, Awards for All, LFT Charltable Trust, Belfast Harbour and the Halifax Foundation. Barnaby was purchased and named and launched on 22 June 2024, nd Bes oke Trainin Pro ramme From May- July, BLS volunteers devised and delivered a 12 week tralning programme on shore to develop members, skills in allgnment with the RYA Sailability & Powerability logbook Scheme. 61 Pi¢
BELFAST LOUGH SAILA8ILITY TRUSTEES REPORT (convd) Year ended 31 December 2024 May- September. Bespoke training sessions were provided In the Hansa 3035 & Hawk 205 to develop sallors, skills to compete in regattas organised by the three Sallablllty Centres In N l. Thls trainlng has Increased our members, confldence slgnificantlyi Increaslng thelr ablllty to compete In racingi and Increaslng their deslre to develop thelr skills further. Grou Vlslts BLS continued to provlde 'out of the norm, activities to speclal needs schools and adult centres over the summer months: enabling each Indlvldual to participate In an actlve, healthy actlvltV• Improvlng theSr quality of Ilfe and bulldlng a stronger communlty splrlt amongst BLS members and visltlng group members. Sallln & Power boatln actlvitles April- September. Saturday mornlng & Wednesday evening weekly sessions were dellvered whlch Included open sesslons, tra inlng and bullding sklll5. st On l June, BLS dellvered a RYANI Dlscover Salllng Taster event for people wlth dlsabillties from other Sailing Clubs on Belfast Lough; to ralse awareness of BLS & increase partlclpatlon by dlsabled people. In June, BLS members and boats travelled to Lough Erne Yacht Club to compete agalnst Lough Erne Sailablllty and Lough Foyle Sallablllty members, earnlng a credltable 2nd place overall In the flrst of three Sallablllty Regatta5, In Julyi BLS Hosted the Belfast Lough Sallablllty Regatta wlth competitors from l Lough Erne and Lough Foyle Sailabllity centres competlng at Carrickfergus. BLS was delighted to wln the event. In September, BLS members and boats travelled to Greencastle In Donegal to compete in the Lough Foyle Sallabllity Regatta and was again dellghted to win the event. Communi Su ort BLS provides safety cover and volunteer support a5 a number of events across Belfast Lough to support the local community. Thes Include: Carrickfergus Trlathlon- 2nd June ILCA Ulsters @ CAYC 22nd & 23rd June Cross the Lough Swim- 20th July
BELFAST LOUGH SAILABILITY TRUSTEES REPORT (convd) Year ended 310ecember 2024 CSC RS Champlonships-9th_ Iiih August CSC Regatta - 17th August st GP14 Champlonshlps @ CSC- 31 August & 1st September Annual Reco nitlon Event On 12th October BLS held it Annual Recognltlon Event, to recognise the fantastlc achlevements and commltment of Its members (volunteers and particlpantsl. 7 x Trophies and 7 x Certlflcates were awarded. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT The Trustees and Management Commlttee of BLS conflrm that they have had due regard for the guldance produced on publlc beneflt by the Charity Commlsslon for Northern Ireland and are pleased to report that durlng the year the charity has continued to provide publlc benefits through the programme5, actlvlties and services offered. In particular, the Trustees conslder how planned activities wlll contrlbute to the aims and objectives they have set out. FINANCIAL REVIEW The charlty returned a surplus of £11,955 (2023: surplus £15,492) for the year. As at 31 December 2024, the charity has funds carrled forward of £180,623 {2023: £168,668). GOING CONCERN The actlvltles of the charity is dependent on ongolng fundraising actlvlties. The Trustees are of the opinion that the charity has sufflcient resources at the date of approval of these flnanclal statements to meet commitments which will arise in the year from the date of signing th15 report. RESERVES POLICY The charitv alms to retaln unrestricted reserves at minimum one year's expenditure. The trustees consider that this ensures that In the event of a signiflcant drop In fundlng they will be able to continue actlvlties while working to source alternative funding. The charity has maintained this level of funding throughout the year.
BELFAST LOUGH SAILABILITY TRUSTEES AEPORT (cont'd) Year ended 31 December 2024 RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The trustees are responslble for preparing the Trustees ' Report and the flnanclal statements In accordance with applicable law and Unlted Kingdom Accountlng Standards (Unlted Klngdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Charlty law requlres the trustees to prepare flnancial statements for each flnanclal year which glve a true and falr vlew of the state of affalrs of the charlty and of the Incornlng resources and applicatlon of resources, Includlng the income and expendlture, of the charlty for that perlod. In preparlng these flnancial statements, the trustees are requlred to.. select sultable accountlng pollcles and then apply them consistentlv; observe the methods and prlnciples In the Charltles SORP 2019 IFRS1021; make Judgements and accountlng estlmates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether appllcable UK Accountlng Standards have been followed, subject to any materlal departures disclosed and explalned In the financlal statements,. and prepare the flnanclal statements on the golng concern basis unless It Is Inapproprlate to presume that the charity wlll contlnue to operate. The trustees are responslble for keeplng adequate accountlng records that dlsclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the flnanclal posltion of the charlty and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply wlth the Charltles Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and Charities Act {Nolthern Ireland) 2013 and Charltles (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taklng reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other Irregularlties. The trustees are responsible for the malntenance and Integrity of the charlty and financial information Included on the charity's webslte. Legislatlon In the Unlted Kingdom governlng the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislatlon In other jurlsdictions. RISK REVIEW A review of major rlsks has been undertaken by the Trustees and systems and procedures implemented to manage Identified rlsks. Thé principal risks are in relatlon to the likellhood of reputational damage and financial risks associated wlth the expectation of ongoing financial support from funders. These
BELFAST LOUGH SAILABILITY TRUSTEES REPORT (convd) Year ended 31 December 2024 risks are mitigated by the Trustees regularly monitoring the various activltles of the charity at stated meetings and by reviewing available fundlng streams. FUTURE PLANS It is the Trustees, intentlon to develop the present actlvltles of the charity wlth a focus on;. Increase the number of people wlth disabi lities participatlng in BLS actlvities. Increase the number of volunteers supporting people wlth dlsabllities. Continue a programme of bespoke trainlng alignlng wlth a RYA Sallabllity & Powerability Logbook Scheme. Provlde RYA accredlted courses to all members. Complete funding to refurbish SeaRover. Provlde community support to other organlsatlons. Dlsclosure of Informatlon to Independent Examlner So far as each of the trustees In office at the date of approval of these flnanclal statements Is aware: there Is no relevant audit Information of whlch the charlty's Independent examlner Is unaware; and they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as trustees In order to make themselves aware of any relevant Information for the independent examination and to establish that the charlty's Independent examiner Is aware of that informatlon. Independent Examlner Hopper & Co., have Indlcated thelr wllllngness to remain In offlce and a resolutlon for thelr re-electlon wlll be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Approved by the trustees at a meetlng on 26 March 2025 and slgned on its behalf bv: Ms A Blair Trustee Mr D Todd Trustee 10 I Pagp