MONKSTOWN COIVIMUNITY FORUM
Reportof the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their
report witli the financial st3tenients of the chartty for the year ended 30 September 2023. The trustees have
adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable
to charities preparing theii. accounts in accordance witli the Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable in the UK
and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective I lanuaiy 2019).
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing docun)ent
The charity is conh'olled by its governing document a deed of trusL and con5titute5 a limited company, limited by
guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 29 June 1995 and registered as a
charity in O¢tobei' 1995. The company was established undei. a Memorandum of Association which established
the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Ai'ticles of Association. In the event of
the charity beingwound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.
Recruitment and appointment of Trustees
Unless otherwise determined by the charity in general meeting, tlie number of Trustees shall not be more than 10
or less than 3. One Trustee elects to retire from office each year at the Annual Geiieral Meeting. The Trustee to
retire sliall be the person who has been longest in office since his/her last election, but as between persons who
became Trustees on tlie same day the person to retire shall be determined by lot No person otl)er than a Ti'ustee
retiring by i-otation shall be appointed or reappointed a Trustee at any general meeting unless:
he/she is recommended by the Trustee
not less than 14 nor Inore than 35 clear days before tlie date appointed for the meeting, notice executed by a
member qualified to vote at the meeting has been given to the cliai-ity of the intention to propose that person for
appointment or reappointment together with notice executed by that person of his/hei' willingness to be
appoiiited or i'eappointed.
Subject to Article 35, the Trustees have the power atanytime to appointany pei-son to be a Trustee, eitherto fill a
casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Trustees, Any Trustee so appointed sh211 hold office only until the
next Annual General Meeting and shall then be eligible for re-election, but shall not be tsken into account in
determining the Trustee wlio is to retire by rotation at such meeting.
All Triistees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the
charity are set out in tlie notes of the accounts.
Ti'ustee induction and training
MostTrustees are already familiarwith the work of the charity and the community. Any newTrustees are advised
ofthe obligations of Trustees, the Memorandum 2nd Ai-ticles of the charity, resourcing and the current financial
position as set out in the latest published accounts, and any future pla115 and objectives.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
N1029711 (Northern Ireland)
Registered Charity number
102033

MONKSTOWN COMMUNITY FORUM
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEIVIBER 2023
Registered office
18 Monkstown Village Centre
Monkstown Road
Newtownabbey
Co. Antrim
BT37 OHS
Trustees
Mr Stephen lames Acheson
Mrs Gina Marion Baxtei.
Mr Brian Hunter
Mr Clifford William Lyons
Mr lohn Gault Mc Conaghie
MrAlan RobertTaylor
Company Secretary
Mr Alan David lohnston
Auditors
M.B.McGrady& Co
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditoi's
Suite 2B
Cadogan House
322 Lisburn Road
Belfast
Co. AT]trim
BT9 6GH

MONKSTOWN COMMUNITY FORUM
Repoi't of the Trustees
FOR THEYEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
RISK MANAGEMENT
The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Trustees, liave been reviewed.
Organisational structure
Tlie charity has a Board of 6 Trustees who meet regularly and 2re responsible for the strategic direction and
policy of the charity. All major decisions are undertaken by tlie Board, while day to day responsibility for tlie
provision of services rests with the Company Secretary. The Company Secretary is responsible for ensuring that
the charity delivers the services specified and that key perfoi-mance indicators are meL
Objectives and activities
Our charity's purposes, as set out in the objects contained in the charity's Memorandurn, are to promote the
public benefit of urban regeneration in the Monkstown area and its environs. The aims of oui. chai'ity al-e to
develop and maintain a multi-purpose facility which will be 2 focal point for residents and will aim to provide
sustainable opportunities, facilities and services to groups and individuals in the Monkstown area. Our aims fully
reflect the purposes that the charity was set up to further.
We review our aims, objectives and activities each yeai-. This review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes
of our work Tn the previous 12 months and helps us eiisure our aims, objectives and activities remain focused on
oui. stated pui-poses.
Our main objectives for the yeai- continued to be job creation, provision of training and the development OF
entrepreneurial activity. The strategies we used to meet these objectives included..
providing and maintsining a multi-purpose facility in the community: and
providing funds generated from the above to local organisations to help thetn with urban regeneration.
The Trustees confLrm that they have referred to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when
reviewing the companies aims and objectives.
Principal activities
Our main activity this year involved the provision and maintenance of a multi-purpose facility which provides a
variety of services and resources to the COTnmunity. This in turn generated funds which we were able to donate to
local organisations ifthe opportunity or need arose.
Achievements and performance
As a project promoter of the Areas at Risk programme, Monkstown Community Forum made contributions
totslling £17,600 (See Note I I to the Financial Statements) to Monkstown Village Initiatives for the delivery of..
youth work, cognitive behavioural tlierapy and gardening programmes for the benefit of the Monkstown
Community. This was funded by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council and the Department of Communities.
These programmes have botli prevention and intervention at their core. They have enabled trained staff to engage
at a significant level with various local "at risk" and "vulnerable" Eroups and individuals.
Financial review
Against the backdrop of the current economic climate, the charity incurred net outgoing resources of £60,214
(2022.. net outgoing resoui-ces of £30,849J. An amount of £25,700 was ti'ansferred from the capital ￿'allt reserve
to the geiieral reserve which is in line with the depreciation rate used for Land and Buildings.
Prinapal funding sources
The main income generated by the charity is from rental and service cl)arge income arising from the letting of
units at the multi-purpose facility. In addition, a totsl of £1,285,000 was received and held in capital grant
reserves from Newtownabbey Loc21 Strategy Partnership, International Fund for Ireland, Groulldwork Nl and
Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council for the purposes of the charity. This fund is reduced over the useful
economic life of Land and Buildings in line with depreciation.

MONKSTOWN COMMUNITY FORUM
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2023
Reserves policy
The Trustees liave examined the charity's requirements For reserves in light of the main risks to the orgaiiisation.
It has established a policy whereby tlie unrestricted funds not committed to planned maintenance or purchase of
fixed assets should be between 3 and 6 months of expenditure. Budgeted expenditure for 2023/24 is £210,121
while closing general reserves as at 30 Septembei. 2023 are £523,419. These reserves are required to meet the
working capital requirements of the cliarity and the Trustees are confident that at this level they would be able to
continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in fulldiiig or tenaiits.
Plans for futui'e periods
The charity plans to continue the activities outlined above in the fortlicoming years. The Trustees will continue to
review and asse55 any opportunities that may arise which will further the charity's purpose of promoting tlie
pub5ic benefit of urban regeneration in Monkstown.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES
The h'ustees (who al'e also the directors of Monkstown Community Foruin for the purposes ofcompany law) are
responsible foi. pi'eparing the Report of the Trustees 2nd the financial ststements in accordaiice with applicable
law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and
fair vtew of the state of affairs of the charitable coinpany and of the incoming resources and application of
resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitsble conipany for that period. lii preparing those
financial statements, the trustees are requii-ed to
select suitable accounting policies and then apply tliem consistently,.
observe the methods and principles in the Cliarity SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unles5 it is inappropriate to presume that the
chai'itable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at
any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the finaiicial
statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguardTiig the assets of the
charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other
irregularities.
In so frdr as the trustees are aware:
thei'e is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; 2nd
the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit
information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
AUDITORS
The auditors, M.B.McGI'ady & Co, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annu31 General
Meeting.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on..
and signed on its behalf by..
4otrt •
Mr Johii Gault Mc Conaghie- Trustee