## **THE INSTITUTE OF THE BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS (IN NORTHERN IRELAND) LIMITED** ## **DIRECTORS' REPORT** ## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022**_ The Directors, who are also trustees of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006 present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools In Northern Ireland for the year ended 31 December 2022. The Directors confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the Charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the Charity's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) as amended by Update Bulletin 1 (effective 1 January 2019). ## **Structure, governance and management** The charity was established on 16 March 2005 as a charitable company and is limited by guarantee, not having a share capital. The company’s registered number is NI054357 and its registered charity number is 101722. ## _Governance_ The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (In Northern Ireland) Limited is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association which were amended by special resolution on 30 August 2005. ## _Directors_ The directors, who are also the Trustees of the charity, at the date of this report and those who served during the financial year together with the dates of any changes are set out in the reference and administrative details on page 3. In accordance with the Constitution, the directors retire by rotation and, being eligible, may offer themselves for reelection. The secretary who served during the year was Brother Michael Loran. ## _Management_ The Directors are responsible for setting and implementing the charities policies. The board meets regularly in compliance with its statutory responsibilities and review the impact of the charity and its achievements. Directors are not remunerated for their services and are not reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses. ## _Principal Risks and Uncertainties_ The Directors are responsible for setting the charities internal systems and controls and for reviewing them for effectiveness. The internal systems and control system is designed to manage, rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve the charities objectives and can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatements or deficit. The Directors are not aware of any specific risks or uncertainties which would have an impact on the company. ## **Objectives and activities** The object and principal activity of The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (In Northern Ireland) Limited is that of advancing the Roman Catholic Faith in Northern Ireland and to provide or assist in the provision of education of children and young person’s attending in any school or educational establishment in which religious instruction in the doctrine, principles and precepts of the Roman Catholic Faith is given. - 2 - **THE INSTITUTE OF THE BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS (IN NORTHERN IRELAND) LIMITED** ## **DIRECTORS' REPORT** ## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022**_ Our main charitable activities are the support of Brothers and their ministries which facilitates the core activities of the Institute carried out through the management of two schools, De La Salle High School Downpatrick and St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick and the operation of two residences at Glen Road Belfast and Downpatrick. The Brothers are active members on both boards of management. The charity also provides funding to the De La Salle Pastoral Centre in Belfast and an outreach centre in Downpatrick. The Institute also acts as a trustee for the properties of the De La Salle Congregation in Northern Ireland as outlined in note 13 to the financial statements. ## **Achievements and performance** Throughout 2022 the number of schools participating in the Belfast La Salle Pastoral Centre is gradually rising again following the effects of the pandemic. Throughout the year the centre has developed a new programme, Journey to Your Heart, to senior students facilitated in school. This comprises four sessions each lasting between 40–60 minutes, the time given to a class period. Due to the heightened need for mental health support, the Pastoral Centre also offers Art Psychotherapy for young people and adults. This is offered by the Director of the Centre who has completed MA Art Psychotherapy. The De La Salle residence in Downpatrick accommodated the following groups throughout the year; Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbanus, St Vincent de Paul and Women’s Yoga. The De La Salle residence in Glen Road Belfast accommodated the Cursilio Group three nights weekly and St Vincent de Paul weekly throughout the year. ## All facilities provided by both residences were provided free of charge. The three post-primary schools in Downpatrick; De La Salle High School, St Patrick’s Grammar School, and St Mary’s High School have been supported to establish a partnership in which they worked together to create a model of co-educational 11 -19 provision for the Downpatrick area. The De La Salle Trustees and Diocesan response to the Department of Education policies and Government requirement for Area-based Planning is an all ability co-educational 11-19 school. This new school is designated a voluntary Grammar school offering pathways to a curriculum with academic and vocational choices. This one school model will maximise and ensure the accessibility of high quality 2[nd] level Lasallian Catholic education in Downpatrick into the future. The process has been evolutionary; Principals, Boards of Governments and Trustees have been working on this since 2012.Thirteen years later the Inaugural Interim Board of Governors Meeting of the New School In Downpatrick took place. An implementation plan is in process, building on a long serving and great education tradition by the Mercy and De La Salle congregations. The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (in Northern Ireland) Limited have been involved with the Historical Institution Abuse inquiry (HIA) since 2012 and supplied HIA with all its needs in relation to legal matters. At the time of approving these financial statements, voluntary contributions to the redress schemes have not yet been agreed and not estimate of future contributions, if any, have been included in the financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2022. ## _Public Benefit_ The Directors have reviewed the relevant guidance published by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland published in relation to the principles of public benefit with regard to the advancement of education and the advancement of religion. The Directors are satisfied that all of the charities activities, which are outlined in the achievement and performance section of this report, fall within its stated charitable objectives and result in a benefit to the public. Their facilities enable young persons and adults to develop their physical, mental, and spiritual capacities through the provisions of training, instructions, counselling and supervision and the provision of appropriate education and instructional facilities. - 3 - **THE INSTITUTE OF THE BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS (IN NORTHERN IRELAND) LIMITED** ## **DIRECTORS' REPORT** ## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022**_ The schools, one secondary and one grammar, have a common ethos which provides a suitable environment for the development and advancement of the Roman Catholic faith in Northern Ireland. Through the lnstitute's links, teachers have access to a range of animation programmes for on-going formation. The direct benefit following from the charitable purposes of the institute are of a pastoral, educational and spiritual nature which enables students and adults to enhance their personal development, social skills, faith, and spiritual lives. It enables them to improve their self-esteem, have a greater awareness of themselves and others. The spiritual dimension permeates daily activities, and the students are encouraged to believe in their own worth as children of God by whom they are loved unconditionally. Prior to Covid19 the De La Salle Pastoral Centre catered for an average of 39 schools each year with over 2,000 young people participating in retreat programmes each year. The benefit is demonstrated by the positive feedback received from participants. This network of relationship amongst and between teachers, students and the pastoral care policy is influential in determining the ethos of a school as the impact of the formal curriculum or the teaching skills of those who administer it. The primary beneficiaries are students at local schools in the Belfast as well as the local community who avail themselves of the pastoral facilities. Through the Institutes International Lasallian links, teachers and pastoral staff have access to professional and development programmes provided by Lasallian Education Mission Ireland for on-going formation. ## _HIA Inquiry_ In 2014 and in 2015 members of the Company attended the HIA Inquiry, made statements and gave oral evidence to it. Following the publication of the HIA report in 2017 the members of the Company continued to support the redress board set up by the HIA. Members of the Company together with members of other Congregations/Companies met with the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to discuss the question of redress. Members of the Company had a private meeting with an independent facilitator to discuss the question of a voluntary contribution to the redress scheme. At the time of approving these financial statement, voluntary contributions to the redress schemes have not yet been agreed and no estimate of future contributions, if any, have been included in the financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2022. ## **Financial review** Income increased by 12% from £266,830 in 2021 to £299,803 in 2022. Expenditure decreased by 36% from £358,911 in 2021 to £230,693 in 2022. Net income for the year amounted to £69,110 (2021: net expenditure of £92,081). ## _Reserves Policy_ Reserves are needed to retain surpluses which are not distributed or spent shortly after an accounting year end but rather retained to allow for any further reductions in income or unanticipated expenditure not provided for in annual budgets. The Charity Commission requires that Directors recognise the reserves issue, assess the needs of the entity, seek to reach an appropriate level within a reasonable timescale and report their reserves policy in the annual report accompanying the financial statements. The actual reserves at 31 December 2022 were £211,693 (2021: £142,583). The policy relating to the reserves of the charity are reviewed annually by the Directors. The Directors have reviewed the Charities future budgets and forecasts and are confident that there is sufficient funding available to ensure the charity can continue its activities for the foreseeable future, and the financial statements can be approved as a going concern. - 4 - ## **THE INSTITUTE OF THE BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS (IN NORTHERN IRELAND) LIMITED** ## **DIRECTORS' REPORT** ## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022**_ ## **Plans for the Future** The Directors have no plans to change the activities or objectives of the charity. ## **Post Balance Sheet Events** There have been no significant events affecting the company since the financial year-end. ## **Auditor** The auditors, Walsh O'Brien Harnett, (Chartered Accountants) have indicated their willingness to continue in office in accordance with the provisions of Section 485 of the Companies Act 2006. ## **Compliance with Sector-Wide Legoslation and Standards** The company engages pro-actively with legislation, standards and codes which are developed for the sector. The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (in Northern Ireland) Limited subscribes to and is compliant with the following: - The Companies Act 2006 - The Charities SORP (FRS 102) ## **Polictical Contributions** The company did not make any disclosable political donations in the current year. ## **Special provisions relating to small companies** The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. ## **Disclosure of information to auditor** Each of the Directors has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information. ## **Approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf:** **Br Christopher Thomas Patrick Collier Br Joseph Reid Director Director** **Dated: 21 April 2023** - 5 -