Page 1 Belfast Ma80nlc Charlty Fund Annual Report of the Trustees and General Committee Year Ended 31 December 2023 The Truslees and General Committee have pleasure in presenting their report and unaudited financial statemenls of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The Trustees and General Committee have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Chariti8s" (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the financial statements and comply wilh the charity's governing document, the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2013. the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Ststement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reportlng Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued In October 2019, Ihe Financlal Reportlng Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and UK Generally Accepled Accounting Practice. TrustO08 of the charlty The trustees who have served durlng the year were as follows.. Bro M Cleland Bro H Bollomley Bro S Nicholson Bro J Morrow Charfty refor•nco and admlnlstratlve detalls Charity registration number.. 102661 Reglstered office.. 49 Main Street. Ballyclare, BT39 9AA Independent examiner GMCG, Chartered Accountants & Registered Audltor, Alfred House, 19 Alfred Street, Belfast, BT2 8EQ Hewitt & Gllpin, 8 High Street, Holywood, BT18 9AZ Danske Bank, PO Box 183, Doneg811 Square West, Belf8St, BT16JS Quilter Cheviot Limited, Monlgomery House, 29-33 Montgomery Street, Belfast, BT14NX Solicitor: Bankers: Investment managers: Objectlves and actlvltles The objects of the Fund shall be deemed lo afford assistance to needy. deservlng, deslltute. or Indlgent Freemasons or their families or the dependants of deceased Freemasons by grants of money or other such means as the General Committee may find best suited to the needs of the applicants. Publlc bonlt$ The provisions of benefits to achieving the purpose of the Trust's objectives as follows: To provide and afford in necessilous circumstances, financial assistance by means of grants of monies to eliglble Freemasons or thelr famllies {wives, civll partners, sons, daughters, grandchildren) to Include the dependants (widow, civil partner, mother, daughters, sons, grandchildren) of deceased Freemasons for the relief of poverty and social exclusion; What the Trust does: The Trust affords assistance lo needy Freemasons or their families or the dependants of deceased Freemasons by grant of money or such other means as may be best suited lo Ihe needs of the applicants. Publlc beneflt statement The trustees of Belfast Masonic Charity FurKI confimi that they have had due regard for the guidance on Public Benefrt by the Charily Commission for Northern Ireland and are pleased to report that durlng 2023 the charity has coniinued to provide Public Benefits through financial and othar means of assistance.
Page 2 B•lfast Ma8onlc Charlty Fund Annual Report of the Trustees and General Commlttee (contSnued) Year Ended 31 December 2023 Achlevaments and performance Total income for the year was £68.241 (2022: £81.077). Total expenditure for the year amounted to £70,427 (2022.. £60.929). Investments are held by Quilter Cheviot as discretionary nominees. There has been a gain of £19,241 (2022: loss £30,738) on disposals and revaluation of investment assets. The net income for the year amounted to £17,055 (2022.. net experKliture £10,590). The Trustees and General Committee sincerely thank the donors for their past support and wlll report in due course on any changes to the investment strategy or asset structure as necessary, to continue Iheir 'duty of care, and to fulfil their obligations in respect of Ihe underlying assets. The Trustees and General Committee consider that the charity is in a satisfactory position lo cary on its charitable aciivities. Flnanclal r•vi•w (includlng r•s•rves policy) Reserv pollcy It Is the policy of the charity to maintain free reserves which matches the needs of the fund. both at the current time and in the foreseeable future. This provides sufficient funds to cover runnlng costs which include management, administralion and support costs. Free resenfes are those unrestricted reserves not designated nor Invested in fixed assets which are available for general use. As at 31 December 2023 the charlty has total funds of £335,230 (2022., £318,175) whlch are all unrasiricted funds. Fundlng The principal funding is from subscriptions, donations and investments. Plans for future perlods The Trustees and General Cornmittee plan to corbtinue to provide financial assistance and support to brethren or their families in need under the terms of the rules of the Fund. The merger of the fund wilh Belfast Masonic Widows Fund remains under review. Structure, governancè and managomoni Governin documenl The funcl which was established In 1862, is governed by a constilution, and is registered as a charity wllh The Charlty Commlssion for Northern Ireland from 22141 September 2015, Recruitmenl a in menl induction and inin The present General Committee has been involved in the charity for a number of years and so are familiar with its work. The General Committee regularly review the requiremenls of Ihe charity and ihe possibility of need for additional trustees or members of the management committee. Any new truslees or members of the Management Committee would be elected by the General Committee. Appropriate training and induction is available lo all truslees and members of the Management Committee. anlsational structure and rel ted artles There are 3 Irustees and a Managemenl Committee. Joint Management Commlttee meetlngs a held with the Belfast Masonic Widows, Fund.
Page 3 Belfast Masonic Charity Fund Annual Report of the Trustees and General Committee (continued) Year Endod 31 Docombor 2023 Structure, governancè and managem¢nt (¢ontlnu¢d) 'sk man ment The Trustees and General Commlttee have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate an exposure to major risks. Where appropriate, systems or procedu5 have been established to mitigate the risks the charity laces. Intemal control risks are minimised by Ihe implementation of procedures for authorisation of all Iransactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of officers, volunteers and applicants. These procedures are periodically reviewed at least annually to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity. Truste88' and General Committ80's responslbllltles The Trustees are responslble for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial statements In accordance wlth appllcable law and United KIn10M Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in Northem Ireland requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and falr view of the stste of affairs of the charity and of the Incoming resources and application of resources of the charlty for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required lo: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consislently., observe the methods and prlnciples In the Charlties SORP 2019 (FRS 102) make judgements and estimates thal are reasonable and prudent., state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explalned In the financial st8tements,' prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inapproprlate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The Trustees and General Committee are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posit40n of the charity and which enable them lo ensure that the financial staternents comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Pa9e 4 Belfast Masonlc Charlty Fund Annual Report of tho Tru8t•88 and General Commlttee (contInU1 Year Ended 31 Dacember 2023 The Trustees and General CoTrmlttee are restgIble lof the malntenanc8 and Integrity of Ihe charity and financial Informgtion Indudeé on the charity's website. Legislatlon In the Unlted Kkngdom governlng lh• preparatk)n dissemination ol financial statemgnls may dlffer from leglslalion in other jurisdktions. On behalf of th& Truste8S and G8n•ral Comm5tte8 H Bottoni•y Truslee Oale.