The Verbal Arts Centre
Northern Ireland
Limited
Charitab
ecom
Limited b Guarantee
DIRECT
RS. REPORT for th
ear ended 31
arch 2024
The Direttors, who are the trustees for the purpose of charity law, have pleasure in presenting
their report and the audited financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended
31 March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of
Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" (FRS 102), United Kingdom
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and the
Companies Act 2006.
Reference and Administratlon Details
The reference and administration details of the charitable company are as shown on page 3.
The Chief Executlve was responsible for the supervision of the day-to-day operations of the
charitable company throughout the year.
Objectives and Activities
The Verbal Arts Centre (Northern Ireland) Limited, operating under the name "Verbal," is widely
recognised as a leading centre for literature, language arts, and storytelling across Ireland. The
organisation's vision, "A world where every story matters, continues to guide its activities and
strategic direction.
This vision underscores Verbal's commitment to storytelling as a fundamental means of
understanding and interpreting the world. Through its annual programme, Verbal addresses
inequalities and access barriers faced by deprived and marginalised communities, ensuring that
their stories are heard and valued. This work is central to combating poverty, inequality,
discrimination, and isolation.
Verbal's mission statement reflects its focus on mental health and emotional wellbeing: "Using
our unique multi-disciplinary approach to the art of storytelling, Verbal works in partnership to
enhance wellbeing among individuals and communities.
Central to this mission are the
principles of partnership working and the integration of literature and psychology to create
high-impact storytelling initiatives.
The organisation's activities aim to:
l. Challenge everyday assumptions and prejudices.
2. Foster critical discussions about the circumstarbces of vulnerable and marginalised
groups.
3. Encourage re-evaluation of "taken for granted" beliefs.
4. Propose innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for those in need.
Verbal's programmes integrate storytelling and bibliotherapy to."
Support participants in recognising psychological distress.
Transfer knowledge about risk fattors and self-help strategies through storytelling.
Encourage help-seeking behaviours and reflections on attitudes toward mental health.

The Verba
Arts Centre
Northern Ire
and
Limited
Charitable Com
an
Limited b Guarantee
DIRECTORS, REPORT for th
ear ended
March 2024
C ntinued
Programme Delivery
Reflecting the uniqueness of the organisation, 2023124 saw Verbal continue to refine its
programme delivery on an iterative basis, maintaining three key categories:
Prevention: Using storytelling to support participants In recognising different types of
psychological distress as simulated in the stories, transfer domain-specific knowledge
through stories in relation to beliefs about risk factors and causes, as well as
understanding self-help strategies.
Intervention: Using storytelling to reduce the progression of poor mentsl health and
enhance emotional wellbeing by fostering
connection,
self-expression, and
understanding through narrative techniques.
Recovery: Empowering individuals to self-manage their mental health through
storytelling-driven creative activities that enable particlpants to explore personal
narratives, build resilience, and foster emotional growth.
Ver-bal delivers its mission through five main programmes:
l. Verbal Wellbeing: A digital platform supporting mental health literacy for primary school
children, post-primary students (integrated into English curriculum), and adult
community mental health.
2. Storyteller Recovery: A multi-arts storytelling programme creating safe spaces for adults
in recovery, including a specialist programme tailored for ex-offenders to help them
explore their narratives and foster personal growth through creative expression.
3. Story Exchange.. Facilitating cross-community conversations in social housing areas to
build cohesion.
4. Stories of Lived Experience (SoLeX): Estsblishing service-user story libraries for
marginalised groups, involving creative writing and guided reading.
5. Events & Publishing: Supporting writers, commissioning new works and maintaining
literary archives, including quarterly publications of The Honest Ulsterman magazine.
Public Benefit statement
The Directors of The Verbal Arts Centre (Northem Ireland) Limited confirm that they have
complied with their duty under section 4(6) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to have
regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit and that the
public benefit requirement has informed the activities of the charitable company in the year
ended 31 March 2024.
Achievements and Performance
A sample of achievement highlights in the year are noted below:
Activity levels for Verbal Wellbeing continued to grow across Northern Ireland, the Republic of
Ireland and Great Britain.
This year working in close partnership with statutory bodies and public agencies, Verbal's
annual programme was delivered wlth and to:
Looked After Children
Children on the autism spectrum
Rural pre teen young people transitlonlng to post primary school
Offenders in prison
Social housing communltles experiencing community tension
Older people experiencing social isolation
Older people in care homes
Adults with mental health Issues
Communities living at interfaces

The Verbal Arts Centre
Northern Ireland
Limited
Charitable Com
Limited b Guarantee
DIRECTORS. REPORT
or the
ear en
ed 31 March 2024
Contlnued
Achievements and Performance (Continued)
Verbal continues to maintain its dlgital platform "Verbal Wellbeing" which has demonstrated a
robust stability of service throughout the year.
The level of internal Psychology and Literature expertise continues to grow with the recruitment
of post-doctoral staff who are integrated wlth the existing creative team.
Storyteller Recovery was rolled out successfully as a regional programme of creatlve recovery
based activity working right across Northem Ireland.
Story exchange worked intensively with multiple communities Ilvlng on interface areas in
Belfast.
Honest Ulsterman saw a year-on-year growth in its readership
Going concern
The charitable company made a loss of £226,503 in the year (2023: £119,518) and saw cash
resenies fall by £329,909.
The charitable company has operated in a challenging economic environment, which has
afferted its ability to obtain grant funding in line with prior periods as larger funded projects
came to an end. However, since the year end the charitable company has boosted its cashflow
with receipt of long-standing debtors and has secured funding from a large grant post year end.
Advance payment is to be requested, in line with the terms of the grant, which should further
aid the cashflow for this project.
On the basis of the above, the trustees are confident of the charitable companies, ability to
continue operating for a period of more than 12 rnonths. As a result, the financial statements
are prepared on a going concern basis.
Financial Review
Financial Performance
The financial perfomiance was in line with the Board of Director's expectations. The charitable
company remains in a sound financial position at the year end. The results for the year are set
out in detail on pages 13 to 30. The charitable company made net outgoing resources for the
year of £226,503 (2023 - net outgoing resources of £119,518).
At 31 March 2024, the total funds of the charity amounted to £1,416,673 (2023: £1,643,176)
comprising restricted funds of £79,530 (2023: £83,950), designated funds of £300,000 (2023:
£300,000) and unrestritted funds of £1,037,143 (2023: £1,259,226). Principal sources of
fundlng and how this has supported the key objectives of the charitable company are disclosed
in the notes to the financial statements.
Reserves Pollcy
The charitable company has free reserves of £135,180 (2023: £402,441) which represents 6
months (2023: 5 months) unrestricted expenditure on charitable activlties. The Directors
believe that it is prudent to work towards holding 6 months funding.
The maln reason for holding reserves is to ensure that the charity has enough resources to fund
the programmes it is supporting and to meet any emergencies that may arise. For this purpose
the charitable company is holding £300,000 in designated funds (2023: £300,000).

The Verbal Arts Centre
Northern Ireland
Limited
Charitable Com
an
Limited b Guarantee
DIRECTORS. REPORT for the
r ended 31 March 2024
Continued
Rlsk Management
The Board of Directors has conducted a review of the key risks facing the charity and has
established a strategic plan and procedures to manage those rlsks. Continuous external risks in
relation to fundlng have led to the development of a structured approach which allows for the
longer-term diversification of funding and activities. Internal risks are minimised by the
implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects and to ensure
consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the charity.
Plans for Future Periods
The Directors remain focused on the following prioritles: Create and implement the conditions
for the digital produtt to thrive and co-exist alongside the charity's programmes. specifically:
Getting Verbal ready to manage the dlfficult transition period inherent in operating both a
project led and product led organisation.
l. Develop a sustainable digital product alongside the charity's programmes, managlng the
transition to a hybrid project- and product-led organisation.
2. Diversify income sources and grow unrestrirted income through the distribution of the
Verbal Wellbeing digital delivery model.
3. Transition to a service delivery-based organlsation to enhance sustainability and
maintain quality.
4. Promote staff development and retention by reviewing delivery structures.
5. Continue building an interdisciplinary team to support evidence-based storytelling
programmes.
6. Strengthen statutory and non-statutory partnerships, leveraging storytelling and
psychology to address gaps in emotional wellbeing sep4ices.
Structure, Governance and Management
Organisational Structure
The charitable company is a company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital.
The charitable company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established
the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of
Association.
In accordance with the Articles of Association, the members to retire by rotation shall be those
who have been longest in office since their last election, and the relevant motion will be put
forward at the Annual General Meeting. A retiring member shall be eligible for re-election.
The charitable company is governed by the Board of Directors. None of the Directors have any
beneficial interest in the charitable company. Any person wishing to become a director must
apply in writing prior to the annual general meeting. A vote is then taken at the annual general
meeting as to whether that person is appointed.
Dirertors
The Directors during the year are the same as the Direttors as listed on page 3.
Taxation Status
The charitable company is recognised as a charity by HM Revenue & Customs. Accordingly, the
charitable company has availed of the exemptions contained in Chapter 3 Part 11 Corporation
Taxes Act 2010 and Section 256 Taxation of Chargeable Gains Att 1992.

The Verbal Arts Centre
Northern Ire
and
Limited
Charitab
ecom
an
Limited b Guarantee
DIRECTORS. REPORT f r the
ear ended 31 March 2024
Contlnued
Directors. Responsibilities
The Directors are ￿SpOnsible for preparing the Directors, Report and the financial statements in
accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Direttors to prepare financial statements for each financial 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
charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are
required to:
select sultable accounting policies and apply them consistentlyi
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS102)'
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any
material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable
them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are
also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
The charity holds no funds as custodian- trustees on behalf of others.
ststement of Disclosure of Information to Auditor
In so far as the Directors, who held office at the date of approval of these financial statements,
are aware:
there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditor is unaware.
and
the Directors have tsken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of
any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.
Small Companies Exemption
This report is prepared in accordance with the special provlsions relating to small companies
within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
This report was approved by the Board of Directors on 6 December 2024 and signed on its
behalf by..
Registered office:
stable Lane and Mall Wall
Bishop Street Within
Derry/Londonderry
BT48 6PU
James Kerr
Company Secretary