THE LINK FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEIVIBER 2023 The Trusleos present their annual dlrectors. report and Independently Oxamlned financial statements for the year ending 31 D&cember2023 which are also prepared to meet the reqinrem&nts for a dlre¢tors' rfjporl and accounls under Ilie Companles Act purposes. The ffftanclBI statements comply wlh the Charilles Acl (Northem Ireland} 2008, the Compantes Act 2006 and the company's ATticle8 of Assoclation and Iho Accounling and Reportlng by Charle5. statemenl of Recommended Pracllce ISORP) applicable to charllies preparin9 Ihelr account$ In accordance with the Finandal Reportlng Standard appllcable in the Unlled Klngdom and R8publlc of Ireland (FRS 102) {elfecUva l January 20151. Chair's report As I r¢fleGI on the year 2023.1 am filled wth gialllLKle for God's Conttnued provtslon for the work of Tha Llnk Famlly and Communlty Cenlre. Our varlou8 prdects and progiammes have gone from 8lrenglh (o strength under the leadership ol our Direclor, Mark Houslon. As V have always trled lo do, we fry and meet people'6 n86ds in 8 very pracllcal way In an ever more challenging soclety. Thè MARC programme regularly provldes Floallng Siipport to iliose facing Ihe challenges of substanG8 dep8nd6ncy. Thé Slalf and Volunteers provlde hot tneal$ and acllvllles for over lorly people four days a weok wllh iwenty-one ¢llents belng glven supporl wllh thelr ongolng Issues. The work of the team has been so essenllal lo so many, bul Ihls means Ihal the demand for our 8ervl¢g8 result8 In us having a waftlng118t of clients wlshing to mako use of the seNIcg. Our Enollsh language dasses conllnue lo provlde a muChneeded servic8 for the wlder Comrnunlty a¢ros8 Ard8 and Nortli Down. 11 Is heartwarnilng lo hear ol Ihe difference that the staff and volunteer8 are making In the lives of folk who now call Newtownards and th8 Penii)sula home. From helpin9 wllh job appllcatlons lo helplno provlde for drivlng tests Ihe woik i¥ maklng a huge dlfference In people's Ilves. One of the highllghls of my year wa8 belng able lo lake part Iii Ihe Carol Seivlce organlsed by the cllents and staff of the ESOL programme. 11 was exlromely movlng lo hear carols and songs b8lng Sung Iii thelr native languages and to sÈnse IN)w much they m5ssed Ihelr honielands. The Ards Chiirahes Chrlsllans Agalnst Poverty Debt Centre contIn8 to go from jlrenglh to strength and it Is Nially pleaslng to see how well Ihe churches In tlie towa arè worklng logether to make this 5ervlce posslble. The Centre Is working at full capa¢lly and17as engaged wlth forty-four families 81nce b8glnnlng work In January 2022. In fattl, 11 has been so successful that Ihe Bangtsr Cenlre has helped out by laklng SOTne of our cllents to take the Immedlale pressure of the Contre manager. W8 relolce wllh Ihe $9v8n famllles who have become debt free In the past 24 months. Our LYFE yovlh work has been gradually moving In a different direci(01) and tho team have adapted lo meet the chaliulrig needs and demands. The work Is now more about pro¥ldlng much n&eded SUPPDrt for young parents and Ihls has been really appreciated by tho8e maklng use of the servlce. A drop-in Sbrvlce Is stlll provlded wth a minimum of fifteen young people aitending each sesslon. 2023 has been a challenglng year for oui Llnk Ch*tty sp. We experlenced a general reducdon In footfall. bul we are aware Ihat Ihls Is something that Is being experlenced by the widar rètall seGtor. In early June, we had io suspend our Shop Manager pending an investigation into allogations of sexual assaiill agalnst one of our volunteers. The employ80 remained suspeiided on full pay throughout the remalnder of 2023 lIst criminal pro¢eedlng8 were progiessed. Oi)¢e agaln It Is ry pleasing to b8 able to report that our Ilnances remain In a heallhy stale, alld we are grattsful to God for hls conllnued provision through lunder8 and througli those who donale. We Continually Strive lo bo good slewards of his provision and to make sure that the mot)ey Is used wisely. As ever I would wlsh lo thank the indmdual Board Inembers for Ihelr ¢onlinued support and wlsdom throughout tho year. We are truly blessed lo have a Board that15 fully committed to Ihe work of the Link and as we look tr) the future, we are exdled lo see where God 11 tAke us 7n th8 year ahead.
THE LINK FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS? REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Our Alms and Objectives The puiposes ol the Chattly ale- To ailvance communlty development and, In parti¢ular. the promution of the communlly and voluntary sector for the benefit of the public by provldlng support, infomiation, servlces and facllllies lo Ghurches and Gommunity and voluntary gfOUPS 8nd 6ncour8glng such organlsauons to co-operate to achieve their aims,. To siipport those In need by reason of youth, age. Ilkh6allh, disabilily, substance d8pendency, flnanclal hardship or olhor dlsadvantage- To advance 8du¢atlon and tralnlng and promote the physlcal. Inlelle¢lual and soc181 developin8nl ol chlklren; To piomole good communlty relali0rn8. Tellglous and r8cI81 hamony and equallly and dtversity. To promote voluiileerlng and recrult. selecl and traln volunteers for $erviGe8 wllhln Ihe areas of bonofil., To PTomots Ihe social economy ond social enwrt883 wllhln Ne0Wnardts and it onvlrons lor the benefit of the general publi¢; and To provide facllllles k) the iiiteres15 of 80cial welfare for rettreauoh and other lelgur8 Ilme o¢cupallons wlth Ihe obleclof Improvlng th8 ¢ondlllon8 ofiiie tor the Inhabllanls of Newtownards and its envlrons. The aspiration Ihal shapes our annual acllvltles remalns lo enable chlldr6n, young pèop18, adults and senior clllzens to reach their full polentlal. In partnorshlp wlh others, wo also provld& practical lielp and care for 80m6 of the mosl dlsadvanlaged groups and Indlvkluals Sn the Atd8 and North Down Gouncll aa. Our wojects address a numbei. of key con¢ems: LYFE Youth Project woik8 Wtth 'at rf$k' young people; MARC Proleol 5eekg lo support adults wllh substance addkllons; ESOL provlding tulllon for speakers of olher languages Church Engagement ProleGt 8ims lo bulld relallon8hlps between chur¢he$ and the So¢al communlty., and Ards Churches Chrlstian8 Agalnst Poverty Debl Cenlre whlch partner8 vrilh local Chvrch8s Io enab people to Itnd a way out of debt; Volunteer-16d Proiecls work th vulnerable senbjr duzens and mhorlly elhnlc communltles. Our premises are also a resoui'ce for other organlsallons baged outslde NevAownard8 to offer sorvices to local people In thelr loeal area. These Include Gowselling and youth seivic&B. We have groiind 44 ¢ommilled volunteers who Work across the organlsallon along wli h 11 full and parl-lline staff. statement of Public Beneffit In determlning our ot4ecllvas for Ihe year and plannlng our actfvllles. the Trustees have consid8red the Charity Commtsslon's auidar¢ce'The public benefll requlrement (PBRI), and a1go'Th6 Trustee's ANnual Rvporl and public benefit reporling {ARR08)'. The chaTily relies on gtanls from trusts and foundatlons, local govÈrnmont, and slalutory bodes. 11 also g&nerate8 incorne through Its SOCHI economy retall shop and general fundralslng ac111188.
THE LINK FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEIIABER 2023 Achlevements and performance AddiGtion Su ort SèNlc&s- MARC Pro ect Floating Support Allhough the impact of the Covtd pandamlc was greally dmin18hed as 2023 began, Ihe MARC slaff team conlinued to ensure all re16vanl Covid guldance was adhered to. The MARC slaff were delighled lo bo able to provide a full In person Ftoallng Support servlce lo all clients. In addlllon lo provldlng Ihe usual range of support (È.g.. houslng support, benefrt advice, as81818n¢è lo address Substance u861, staff provlded additional supports SUGh as colleclion of preÈ¢rlplions and food dellveries to Floatlng Support and Drop-ln Centre cllenls. The MARC Project played a slgnifi¢anl ro18 in addressing mcnlal healtli ond subst4n¢e iise problen)s whSch h&d often been exacerbated by the pail(l¥in Ihrough the loss of fomial and informal 5UPPOrt netsorks. Staff were highly professlonal and commllled in asslsllng ¢llent lo aGGess health support througl)out thlts perlod,. often having to provlde Iranspoit and accompany dlents to appoinlments. The Eervlce provlslon contlnued lo exceed the ¢onlrathd acllvlty figure of 18 Gfienl8,' Ihe Floatlng Support sérvlee was dellvei'ed to 36 Indivlduals. The Servlce conllnuod lo aehl¢va ex¢ellenl outcome8 d8spS10 the Immense challenges of Ihe ¢osl-of-llvln9 Grisis which impacted on many of our already 81ruggllng seivlco users. Many were asslsled In maklng slgnlllcanl ¢hange8 In Ihelr Uves - reduclng alcohol and drug u8e, maliilalnlng t6ndeS, recelvlng bespoke beii81(t advlce and accessing approwlate heallh arKI social caie. Drop-ln Centre The 'Drop In faclllty fUtioned fully throughout 2023 and 81aff ware aNe to provlde 8 full rang8 of supporl service8 and acllvllles. PopLFlar aGINltieg included pool compellllons, cookory dasse8 and qulzz6s. The MARC staff conllnued wilh Its agreemenlwlth the Ioc81 Benofils Office wherfjby thelr $lalf provlded b8spoke benell advlGe on slle al our Drop In. Uptake of thls servlce remalned hlgh throughoul 2023. A6 well as Uie Drop In, MARC staff malntained regular telephone contaGt. which helped rediice soclal Isolallon and provided asslslance wllh houslng. benefits. and other issue8. They p&rformed other tasks SUGh as shopplng, payment of gas and ele¢lri¢lly 'top-ups' and collecllon of pre8crlplloiis elc. Staff 885isled 8ervfce users to acG8ss support Bervkes in relation lo heallli, soclal care. and addiction. Hoinelgssness Prevontlo Tho Homelessness Prevenllon Project conlknued Ihri)ughoul Ihe firsl quarter of 2023. This proje¢l providttd an Invaluablo support with cllents regularty commenting on how beneflctBI they had found the seivi¢e lo be, partlcularly al a Ilme when they had often slruggled to access olher servlces. MARC stdff liaised closely with Iho Communlty Addlctlon Team and provided Support for a number ol thelr seNlce users, wllh hoLislng and bonefil problems. Thls was an Invaluable assol, parllculgrfy for clienls who had difficulty ongaglng with agendes or processing online appllcalions. Unfortunately. thls seFviGe had lo bo thdrawn al 31 st March a8 NIHL deckled to no longar provlde Homelessness prevenllon fundlng due to Nl budgelary pressures. Furidlng Funding from Th8 Northern Ireland Houslng Executive's Suppotting P&ople has supported much of the Floatlng Support seNtce. Successful funding appllcatsons wero also made to the NIHE for lunding from Ih8lr' Houslng Centre. and 'Homelessnoss PTeventlon Prolecv. Youth Pro rammg-LYFE Young Parent Support Throughout 2D23, our LYFE staff were able lo mainialn a full. meanlnoful, and effective servicB, Th6y have conltnued to be flexible in Ihelr approach to service deliveiy in tha mvjst ol very challenging ¢lrcumslances. This ha8 pfovmjed an essentlal connectlon with the LYFE seIc8 U88rs who partlcularly struggled wilh isolatlon and lonellnes8.
THE LINK FAMILY AND COtthMUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Our staff provlded 8UPPOrt and guidance for 25 families thls year and conllnued to support young parents through face-lo-face conlacl and telephone calls. Young parenls have nothad Ihe opportunllles to Complete OCNS or other courses face to face, bul we have Govered budgeting, slow cooker, sexual lieallh, and healthy eallng group guidanGe online. Fundlng from The Public Health Agency ha6 b86n ug6d lo cover Ihe salary and operatlng cos15 of our LYFE Prd6ct. Youtli Drop4n The ylaff team Gonllnued lo operato our Drop In 8pace in order to engage fh 18-24 year-olds. W8 targeled Ihls 8pecifiG age group becau¥e many ol Ihese young people feel IncreasSngly soclal Isolated and flnd il very dlfll¢ult to engage wlth other youih servlcès. An average of 8 young people attended each sesslon and the team provided essential support around sem-esleem, personal growth, and resilience. Thrj now volunteer8 came on board lo h61p lead on a weeY basls. Sènlor Clti èns, Luneh Glub and Dro -In Our Senlor Clllzen8 Lunch Club and Warm Space Drop In conllnued weekly throughout 2023. Approximately 12 10 15 older peopl8 atlend6d each Monday and our votunteer team fully operated Ihl8 8eivlce. The Lunch Club provlded g safe, vAcomlng and wami space for many older peopl8 who have been Impacted by tho ¢osl-of-Ilvlng Crlslg. ESOL Ilsh for S eakors of Other LarIllgJ ua Our Engllsh Glasses for speakers of other languages ran al full ¢apadly Ihrouohoul 2023. Our staff and voliinteers taughl an averago of 12 face lo face hours per wÈok and ctasses Included Pre-Enlry LèveVESOL Lltèracy. Entry Lovel I, Entry Level 2 and Entry Level 3. Alongslde the seivice we provided lo people from Syiia, Bangladesh, Bengal, Poland, Lalvla aiid Afghanlslan, 2023 saw a signlllcanl demand for oiir seNi¢e8 ffom refugees floelng the war In Ukraliie. a hLtge Influx ol p6op16 fleelng tlie war In Ukralne. By the end of 2023, Inore than 70 Ukrwnlan women, chlldr8n and young people had attended our Engllsh classes In porson. Our staff and volunteers W0ed tErelessly to algo provldo a broader range of support based on the trauma and complex needs thetse refugees presented tIl. 2023 saw most students complete a full course and progregs to the nexl level. Classes provlded ESOL 188sons for molhery wtli small Infanis, partlcularly Syrian womon who requlred partlcular oullural senslllvlt166. Our volunteer tutor8 have kept In touch with Vulneble stud&nt6 and conllnue lo go ovor and beyond Iii thelr altempts to provide essenllal support. 'Engllsh loi'Drivlng' contlnues to be a popular weekty course facllltated by one of the volunteer tutors. Our iutors al80 work dlllgenuy to enable those who need il to traln for and pass tnelr 'Llfe In the Ulc course, W8 conllnue lo Ilaise wilh other ESOL F)rovlders and Sla1 support agen¢le¥ in the 8r8a. We also conllnue to asBlsl famlllos wth eduGaUon. housing. health and olhtsr enqulrl85 where required. Fundlng Irom The Execullve OffiGe's MinoTity EthnlG Development Fund has been used lo pay for an ESOL class Coordinator and Ihe Nationa5 Lottery and JOI Moore Foundatlon have provlded fundlng for our ESOL tuillon. We are very grateful to our leam of 10 volunteer lulors, who have continued to make 6very effort to keep In tou¢h with students and prtiwde high quallty luition. Churc En ement One of our key strategtc alms is to develop and grow our regular engagement with fallh-based organi5ation8 in the Nevrtownards and surrounding area.. 2023 has seen us put slgnthcant time and effort Into community-vAde engagement wikn lo¢al Churches. The Llnk Famity and Community Centre
THE LINK FAMILY AND COMIVIUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 has re-pslablished and leads the 'ATds Churche5 Together Forum, aimed al greater oohe$ion and ¢ommunity engagement by Ihe churches in the aroa. Our staff and volunteers conllnued lo contr1116 lo the slgnlflcanl support and emergency Inlervenllon provld8d through local churchos. The suppori olfered included slgnposling to k)¢al 8etViC85, provislon of rne$ and other essential supplks lo those In need and pastoral support. Ards Churches Chrlstlans Agalnst Poverty D&bt Centro In partncrship wllli 13 local ¢hurches. Th6 Llnk Famlly and ComiwnEiy Centre ¢c)nllnues lo be the lead partncr In op&raltng thg'Ards Churches Chrlsuans Agalnst Povcrty Debt Centre. based In our premlses. The Debt Cenlre operaled fully throughoul 2023 and the Debl Centre Manager Is omployed, and lin6 man8gad by us. We are ex¢lled to See the Centre asslsl focal people of all failhs or iione, to havB Ihe'no Strings atlached, opportunlty and support to face slgnificgnt financlal challenges and begln the Journey toward becomlng debt free. By the end of 2023, 7 k)cal famllie8 have now becom8 dobl free. and we are ¢ontldent th18 number wlll be added lo Mi 2024. Charlt Slio As wilh most ralall oullels. our 7th year In the shop premises In Regenl Slreel proved a challenglng one. Tl)Is wag due to the general reduction In foolfall belng experienced by Ihe relall sector. Tradlng was conslstent in the flrsl half of the year but we encountered a crt81s not of our maklng In June. The Shop Manager w45 Gharged with a 8erloug assault alleged to hav8 taken plaG8 in thg Shop. The Manager remaln8d suspended on full pay Ihroughoulthe remalnder of 2023 whllst crimlnal proceedlng8 were progres8ed. Our volunteer team led by our Volunteer Coordinaior dld an atnazlng job In keeplng the shop open and Ir8dlng on as many days as possible. This has presented a signrfiGant flnanttial challenge but our Board In conlunGtEon vllh the Dlieclor now hav& a full millg211on plan In place. We ciiiiently have 10 volunteers, some helplng In Ihe Ghop and other8 dellverlng and eo118cllng donallons In Ihé van. A few of ourvolui)teers had illnesse5 durlng Ihe year but the remfilnlng volunleers proved amazing In the way Ihey stepped up to help when needed. W8 eontlnue to stock a great range of good quality 8écond-h8nd fumlture at reasonable prlees and are so Ihaiikful for the support from the local Gommunlty for the w¢xk ol The Unk. Financlal revlew In 2023, th@ Gharity r6corded a deficlt of Income again81 expenditurè of £35,341. Al 3181 December 2023. Ihe oharlly's funds were £J43,464 of 1¢h £37.490 were ie81ricted funds and £505,974 unreslilcled. The Link's ¢harllable activllles are Supported by fundlng and donations from a wid6 range ol organisatlons, Gharitablè tsusts, Indlvlduals and churches. Appli&glions for funding from statutory and other bodies seek lo secure lull w$ts for the programmes and seTvices provkled. Thls is ne¢essary for the sustaliiablllty of our work and for the dellvery of Ihe quality and standards whiGh are approprlate for those we seNe. The furKling environment has been challenglng for many year5 and the flnancial ¢risis of the past few years, we have along with others had to face increased costs and continuln9 compelilive processes for even more Ilm51ed TesourGes. This has had substantial impact wlhin the voluntary and Gommiinlty sector. During 2023, the orgaiiisalion had to draw substantially on Its fund reseyves to meet rlslng staff Gosts and other oper8ling costs In order to suslaln and consolidate our $ervices. Operational diffiGullies within the Organallon'S charity shop also iinpaGted negauvely on levels of Income. The organisation worked hard to overcome these challenges and It continues to reflno
THE LINK FAMILY AND COPJJMUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECENIBER 2023 operallons and organisalk)nal structure to ensure Ihat it can continu8 lo deliver Its woikwithin resources available. Re88Nes polity and golng concem Reserves are needad lo brldge the gap belween the spendlng and recewiiag of incoine. lo cover unplanned emergency costs and other oxpendlture. The Truste88 revlew Ihe general reserve policy In Ilght of ri.8ks asso¢lated th income str8am8 and expenditure, plarnned actfvily level and organlsational commllmenls. The larget for 2023 was Ihal the level vf fr66 reseNes would equatè to three monlhs, 8XP8ndllure, whiGh is around £85,800. Total funds sland al E543,464 of whlch £506,974 are unrestrlGted funds. Of th8s8 unrestricted funds, thè avallable free reservB for the Gharlly. after excludlng langlble assets and liabllllles, amounted to £79.874 al 31 Decemb&r 2023. Thbs equaled to almosl 2.8 m[*h8 expendlluro. The cash oulllgw from operallng aclivitles In 2023 was f 32,638. The Trustees arc awafe that efforts 11 ne8d lo oonllnue to generate sufficlenl Income lo rneet C08tg and Malnlaln an appropriate level of free re8èrv88. The oi'ganlsallon 1[ conlinu8 lo r8vlew Inlllallv&s lo secure Its suslainabilily and flnanclal poslllon. The Trustees 11 rolaln the tar9el forfree reserves to cover at18asl three months. expendllLire In 2024. Plans for future p8rlods Tha report of The Llnk Famlly and Community Centre'8 progr8mine8, adtvltle8 and aohievem8nt8 durlng 2023 has lilghlighted Ihe rang6 of valuable work being provid8d to many people In Ihe ¢ommunlty, and In partlcular those WIK) are most vulnerable and In need of support and InleNenllon. 2023 has se8n us faoe signillcanl challenges and Ihl6 requlred our staff and volunteers to constantly adapl our practices lo ensiire we provldod a full seivice. The resSllenGe of Ilio organisallon was lesl8d, and w¢ are dellghted t1181 we paB$ed Ihls test wllh flylng ¢olour81 The organlsalon Is Well-a¢ed lo ¢onlinue Ils range of servtces across (he communlly ofArds and North Dovm. Thiougliout 2023. we continued lo f881 prlv118ged lo gel to do what we do, The organlsalSon has been 8n aclfve and muGh needed provlder and has faced many challenges In recent ye8rs. Desplle the challenges. we remaln focused on leamlng and developmenl, baBed our oxperlenttes, good and bad. We sevk lo use Ihis learning as we seek to plan our fltlure SerVe provlslon In a way whlch Is tt'l lor PLirpose. Whlle almlng to malntaln servlce delivery lo 8 hlgh slandard and meet the requlrèments of cllenls, Bervlco u5er5, funders and other slakehoklern, the Board, Staff and Volunteers at ThB Llnk ar8 commlllt)d to.. ensure we secure a broad rawe of fundlng In order to sustaln our programmes and serviGes Ihe need lo ¢onlinuaMy review our 2023-2026 strategy the need lo continually revlew our sfruGlures and assets lo ensure that we mainlain dellvery of servlees whlch meet the needs of our communlty. consolidatlng our work th ywn9 pBDple. supporting people vAlh addlctlon8 and delivering our progTammes' and ontinuing to acllvely engage wh k)Gal thurchos and retevanl OTganisallons to bulld construotive and supportive relationships. Rèference and gdministratlvè d&talls Company regtstralion number: Nl 44326
THE LINK FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Charity reulslration number= HMRC reference: NIC 101921 XR 60197 Reglstered Office- Lamont Bulldlng 10 West Stre8t Newtownards BT23 4EN Our Advlsers Independent &xaminer Adilan Hall & Co 1s1 Floor 100 Maln Stt 13angor BT20 4AG Bankers.. Tho Cooperative Bank PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6wr Sanlander Commerclal Bank Brtdle Road Bootle Merseyskle GIR OA4 Soll¢llor6'. HewStl & Gllpln 72 Holywood Road Belfast BT4 3BA Dlrectors and trustees Yho dlrectors of the oharltable company (the charity) are Ils trusiees forthe purpose of ¢harily law. The Iru81oes and officers seiving durlng Ihe year and slnce the year end wgr8 as follows: Kgy managgment personnèl Llnk Famlly and Communlty Centro: Tru8tg0$ and Directors Elécted Tru8t805 Paul Black Sarah Calrnduff Gerardlne Cunningham {SeGfelary) Jonny Cuirle Robert Hamilton Mark McFeeter8 Jatlles Moore Davld Murdie (freasure¢ Mlchael-faylor (Chairl Key inanagemènt personnel Llnk F4mlly and Communlty Celltre: Sgnlor Managers Dlrector.. Mark Houslon
THE LINK FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEDABER 2023 struGture, Governance and Managèment GoveYt)ing Docuill8llt The Link Famlty and Community Centre15 a MpanY Ilmiled by guarantee. Incorporated on 7th October 2002. In Aprll 201511 becamo a reglslered charity wth The Charlly Commlsslon for Ngrthem Irelai)d. The coinpaiiy was eslahllshed und&r a Memorandum of AssociaUon and governed by ils Memorandum and Artlcles of Assodalion dated 18th May 2011. It is 8180 reglstered as a Gharlly wlh HM Revenue and Custonis. In Ihe event of the charlly vlndlng up members agr88 lo contrlbule an 8mount not oxceedlng £1. Appolntmeilt ol lYusto03 As sel out In Ihe Arll¢les of Assodallon the m&mbers present af the Anniial G8neral Meetlng vlll elect Ihe trustees. The number of the tru3tees shall not be rnore ihan fifteen and not le83 Ihah slx al any one Ilme. Tho Trustees shall have the power at any Ilme and from lime to Ilme to appolnt any person lo be a Irusle8, ellher lo 1111 a casiial vacancy or ag an addlllon lo the exlsllng Irustees. Any Iruslees 80 appolnted shall liold offl¢e only unlll the xI year followng Ihe Annual General Meeting and shall then b8 ellglble for re-elec160n. When conslderlng CO<Jpllng trustees. the Board has regard to the requirement for any 8peclalist skllls needed. Trustee Indu¢tlon and trainlng New trustee3 undergo Orientation to brief them on their legal obligations under charfiy and company law. th6 Charlly Commtsslon guldanc8 on publlc benefit. and Inform them ol the ¢onlBnt of the Meinorandum and Artl¢les ofA8socialloii, Ilie commlllee and de¢lslon-maklng proce85e8, Ihe busliie89 plon and recent finanGlal performance of Ihe chartty. our Inducuon they meet key 6mployees and olh8r staff. Trust8es are Èncouraged to atlend approprfal8 ext8mal Iralnlng evenls whèr6 these wlll facllllale the undertaking of thelr rol8.7 Organlsatlon Th& Managemont Cornmlltee admlnlslers tho charlty. The Board meets al least slx times ea¢h yoar. A Dlretylor has been appoliiled by the Board lo manag6 the day-1041ay operallons of th& chaiily. To facilitato offecllve operations, the Director hasdelegaled aulhotity. wilhin tenms of de8igiiullon 8ppmved by the Commlttee, for operational mallers. Related partles and co-opgratlon with other organlsatlons None of our Trustees received remuneration for SeIce5 provKltsd lo the cl)arity durfng the year. Any contracliial relalionship vAlh a related party behveen a ttuslee or senior manager or the charfty musl be dl&GI(ssed lo th8 full Board of Tnigtees. In the current year no such relatod party Iransacllons wer8 reported. The Link Famlty and Communlly Centre has cbse relatlonshw)s with a number of slatuiory, voluntary and Gommunlty bodi¢s. We have representatives MIKI serve on a nutnber of commlllees and groups. Local agenGieÈ wlth whlch the organisation engages Indude. EducaUon Aulhoylty, Ards and Norih Down Street Pastors, Houslng EXecute. Probation Board. SoGlal serViS, Public Heallh Agency and local churches. Other bodles wllh which we engage 5nclude C03. Ncbrth Down YMCA, Ards and North Down Borough Councll, Police Communily Safety Parhwshlp. The organi8allon Is a150 grateful to Ihose Individuals and organlsatbons off8r finanGlal support lo the work of the FKojecL
THE LINK FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEIVIBER 2023 The Link Family and Community Cenlre re¢ognlses the necessity and benelil of connectlng peopl8 to other commuiiity servlces that offer-support and encoiiragem8nl al limes of need, We believe that partnershlp worklng Is essei)lial if we afe to build a stronger, healthler and vibrant Gommunlly. Rlsk Managgmont Th8 Board regularly revlews risk In the organlsauoi) through an annual ravlew of th8 rfsks the charity may face. establlshment of systems and procedures to mlllgate and manage rl$ks idei)lified. Implemen181Eon and regular iev18w of yoGedures designed to mlnimise ary potanlial impact on the oharity Should tho88 risks malerlalise. The work idenlllied a number of rlsks bul has also resulted In beller management procodur85 2nd contingf>nGy plans. Partlcular attention has f(ed on nfInancIal risks from Individual prograinmes and flnanclal rlsks arlslng from securing lund7 for the range of programmes provided by the orgaiiSsallon. A key element in the managemenl of financlal rlsk Is the revlew of Ihe organi8aUon's resorves pollGy, cash-llow foreGa$ts. inconie and expèndilure and oper8llng budgets.
THE LINK FAMILY AND COMIVIUNITY CENTRE DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 statement of Trustees, Responslbilltles The Tru$te8s <811d a180 lh8 dlre¢tots of lh8 company for the purposes olcompany law) are r05ponsSble fur prep8ring 11)e Truslee9' report and financlal statements Irb gce4Ndanex wilh appllcable law and requlall(Jns. ChaTily law réquires Ihe InAslees to prepar8 thnan¢ial yly18m8nls for e8ch fln8nclal year. Und8r Ihal law lh& Tru8loe8 have alectod to prt)pare Ihe financlal slalemenls In accordance wlth Unilad langdom Gpnerally AcLeplod AcCl11n0 Pratsllce (Unlted Kkd0M Accounling 8iandards ilnfl appllcable lawl. Urid8r Iho relevaiil leolslallon Iho Trustees musl nol approve thè flnandal stalefflents unl68s they aro salknfied that th8y give a Iruo and fairview ol Ihe sthte of affalrs of the cJiFJrlly and of tlie n61 movcment tn funds for th81 perlod. In proparlng Ihose flnandol stolemenls, the Tru31888 are r8qulred to; $8ler.I sullabl8 8ceL4Jnllnu polld8s and then 8pply Ihem c(Wls18n11y. mak8 iiidaemonls and esllmales thal aro reasonabla and prudenl. And pr8paro Ihé Iln8n¢ial slatemenls on Ihe golng concern basls unlegs 11 Is Inapproprlale to presume Ihal Ihe char51y wlll conllnu8 on Ihal b8sIs. The Trustees are r8spon8lble for keeplng adequat8 accounling records Ihal are sufficl6nl 10 8how and gxplaln the charlty's 1rans8cilonB and d18cIos8 wllh reasonable aGGuracy at any tImè Iha Ilnanclal poslllnn of the Charlly and enab18 thém lo ensure Ihal Ihe financlal slgtemei)Is cAimpSy wllh ihe appltcable law and reoulrtilons. Thèy are a180 rospon81bl8 for safeguarding the a8801s ol the charity 8nd l)en¢é for laklng reasonable slep8 for ihe pr6venllon and detecllon of fraud and othor irregularllles. Small company exèmptlon - Companlo$ Aet 2008 This reporl has been prepared In 8cciird8nce wllli the speclal FwowILW rdallng to small oompBnl8s wllhln Part 15 of the CompanlaE Ad 2006 Mlchael Taylor {Chalr 8th May 2024 10