COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: N1025861 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 102156 Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Limited by Guarantee Financial Statements 31 March 2024 Finegan Gibson Ltd Chartered accountants & statutory auditor Causeway Tower 9 James Street South Belfast BT2 8DN
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Limited by Guarantee Financial Statements Year ended 31 March 2024 Page Trustees, annual report (incorporating the directo¢s report) Independent auditoffs report to the members statement of fTnancial activities (including income and expenditure account) Statement of tinancial position Statement of cash flows 11 17 18 19 Notes to the financial statements 20
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Llmited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 The Iruslees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company taw. present their report and the financial statements of Ihe charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. Referenco and admlnlstratlV8 details Registered charity name Northern Ireland Child Mindlng A5sociabon Charity règistration number Company reglslration number N1025861 Prlncipal office and reglstered NICMA offlce Ellzabeth House 116-118 Holywood Road Belfast BT4 1NY 102156 The trustees N Shear8r (Treasurer) S Gray M Kinghan (Chairperson) L Craig A Dalzell S Gallagher B Mcconnell A Sizer R Bradley R Hamilton S Grey (Resigned 9 November 2023) (Appointed 22 November 2023) Audltor Finegan Gibson Ltd Chartered accountants & statutory auditor Causeway Tower 9 James Street South Belfast 8T2 8DN Bankers Danske Bank 35 High Street Newtownards BT23 7HS Sollcltors Worthingtons 2 Court Street Newtownards BT23 7NX
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (eontlnu Year ended 31 March 2024 Structurei governance and management Governing Document Northem Irèland Childminding Association is a company limited by guarantee governed by Its updated Memorandum and Articles of Associatlon dated 21 May 2009. Northern Ireland Chlldminding Association 15 a registered charity wilh the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Childminding Association 15 a membership organisation with currenfly 1,427 members each of whom agrees to contrlbute £1 In the event of the charity winding up. Appolntment oftrustees The Chairperson and the Trustees recruit and select new Trustees as needed. New Trustees are recrulted on Ihe relevance of their professional skills. and their potential to be able to make a helpful contribution lo the govemance of the charity. As part of tha recruitmenl process, they are made aware of a Trustees, legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association. the committee and decisioTrmaking txocesses. the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. Once the potential new Trustee has agreed to be considered for appointment to the role, the Trustees meel to review and to vote on the candidale's sullabillty for appointment. If there is unanlmous agreement, thelr names are then proposed for appointment. Trustee Induction and training New Trustees undergo Induction lo brief them on their legal obligations under charity and company law. the content of the Memorandum and Artides of Associalion. the committee and deci5ion-making process, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. An Induction Manual is provided for Trustees. Arrangements forsethng pay and rpmuneration of key managementpersonnel The charlvs dir8Ctor5 who are the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the Senior Management Team (SMT) comprise the key management personnel of the charity. The SMT are responsibl8 for direcllng, controlling, running and operating the charity on a day to day basis. All directors (BOT) give of their time freely and no director received remuneration in the year. Detalls of directors, expenses and related party transactions are disclosed in nole 26 lo the accounts. The pay of the senior staff is revlewed annually and nomially Increased In accordance with average earnings. In view of the nature of the charily. the directors benchmark against pay levels in other similar size charilies run on a voluntary basis. The remuneration bench-mark is the mid-point of the range paid for similar roles adjusted for a weighting of up to 30% for any additional responsibilities. If recruitment has proven difficult in the recent past a market addition is also paid with the pay maximum no greater than the hlghest benchmarked salary for a comparable role. Organisatlon structure and how charfty makes decisions The board of trustees, which can have up to 12 members. admlnisters the chaiily and meets quarterfy. A Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity. To facilitate effective operations, the CEO has delegated authority. within temis of delegation approved by the trustees. for operational malters includlng finance, employment and dirèct charitable activities.
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Lirnited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) feontlnyeil) Year ended 31 March 2024 Risk management The trusteès hav8 a risk management strategy which comprlses: An annual review of the principal risks and uncertainfiies that Ihe chaiity faces: The establishment of policies. systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified In the annual review,. and The implementation of procedures designed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the charity should those risks materiallse. Potential Risk Steps to miligate risk The charity lacks direction. strategy and forward planning Create a stralegic plan which sets out the key aims, objectives and pollcies Create financial plans and bud*s Use job plans and targets Monitor finances and operational performance Gel feedback from beneficiaries and funders Trustee body lacks relevant skills or commitment Revi8w and agree5 skills required Draw up competence framework and job des¢rtptions Implement trustee training and induclion Review and agree recruitment pffKesses Trustee body dominated by one or Iwo individual. or by connected indNiduals Consider the structure of the trustee body and its independence Agree mechanlsms to manage potential conflicts of interest Review and agr99 recruilment and appoinbnent process in line vAth governing document Agree procedural framework for meetings and recording decisions Conflicls of Interest Agree protocol for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest Put in place procedures for stsnding down on certain decisions Review recruilment and selection processes Ineffective organisational structure Use organlsation chart to create a clear understanding of roles and duties Delegation and monitoring should be consistent with good practice and constilulional or legal requirements Revi8w structure and the need for constitutlonal chang8 Create financial systems to identlfy restrict8d funds and their application Loss of key staff Succession planning Document systems. plans and projects Implement tralning programmes Agree notice period and handovers Review and agree recruitment processes Reporting to truslees {accuracy, timeliness and relevance) Put in place proper strategic planning. objective setting and budgeting processes Timely and accurate project reporiing
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Llmited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Directovs Report) fGontlnu•rl) Year ended 31 March 2024 Timely and accurate financial reporting Access and review projects and authorisation procedures Have regular contact beeen trustees and senior slaff and managers Objectlves and actlvltles The purposes of the charity ar8: (A) To promote In Northem Ireland (the area of benefit). the provision of facilities for the daily care, recreation and education of children under school age and the care and recreation of children of school age outside school hours. (B) To advance within the area of benefil the education and training of childminders and other persons and organisations providing day care facilities for children both of school age and under school aga and to conduct research into all aspects of Ihe care, recreation and education of such ¢hildren, and publish th8 useful results of such research. In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activitles, the truslees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. The pandemic was also taken into consideration on how we dellvered our Seice5, many of which went online and staff working from home. The slrategies employed to achieve the charity's aims and objeclives are to: STRA TEGIC AIMS I. CHILDREN & CHILDCARE l. To promole the provision of high-quality childcare and e(Jucation within regi5lered, home-based settings for children aged 0 - 14 years. 11. To encourage legal Childmlnding. 111. To work in effethive partnerships with relevant extemal bodies in order to influence end develop policy. IV. To ensure that home-based childcare is recognised and valued a5 beneficial to children. famllies, communities and government. 2. TRAINING & QUAUTY l. To provide a programme of trdlning and quality initiatives to support and enhance the quallty of home-based childcare.
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Limlted by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Dlrector's Report) (contlftue(lJ Year ended 31 March 2024 11. To deliver a high-quality training service appropriate to thè frfelong learning needs and a5piration5 of registered Childminders in Northern Ireland. 111. To maintain a highly trained. motivated workforce appropriate to the needs of th8 Childmlnding sector. IV. To provide a high-quallty learnlng environment to meet the needs of all Childmlnders. V. To provide 5UPPOrt and guidanc8 to ensure all Childminders meet minimum standard requirements. 3. SUPPORT SERVIGES l. To provide a support network to registered ChildmindeTS and approved Home Childcarers. 11. To provide a Childminding Information & Advice service to Childminders. Approved Home Childcarers. parents and those involvgd in ear years. 111. To represent the views of the Childminding sector in order to inform Ihe dgvelopm8nt of future childcare policy. 4. GENERAL l. To have in place a financial strategy which will provide sufficient resources to allow NICMA to achieve its aims. 11. To recrult, support and develop slaff and volunteers to ensure a motivated. efficient team. runnlng to its full potential, which will achieve the organisations aims and objectives.
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Llmlted by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report) (contlnuod) Year ended 31 March 2024 Achievements and performance CHILDREN & CHILDCARE AIMS ACTIVITIESIOUTCOMES The provislon of Childminding NeOrkS attached to 2 Surestart initiatives 2 Childmlnding Networks managed by Surestart operating according to local need. Support the recruitment of new chlldminding provlsion In areas of identified need Development work In communities lo promote reglstered Childminding as a profession; events held to provide information on Childminding as a care8r and promote childminding to parents especially in areas of TSN. Delivery of Pre-registralion Brtefing Sessions across Trusts. 39 sessions held with 352 prospective childmlnders invited and 258 attendlng. To create an impioved public image and profile of childminding. To conlinue to update promotional information and develop new webslt8. Respond to current fundlng initiatlves Funding applications developed and submitted. Child minding academies delivered in Mid and East Antrim and Mid Ulster council area5 deiivering 24 newly registered childminders. TRAINING & QUALITY AIMS ACTIVITIESIOUTCOMES Provide training to NICMA'S 34 Childmindlng Support groups, 49 WhatsApp groups Training delivered to groups and Surestart Networks as required with 51 groups with 1,062 member5 8 pre-registration group with 122 members. Pre-registration Briefing for prospective Childminders. Delivered Pre-registration Briefing sessions across 5 Trust areas. PRBS 39 sessions. Number of people attended - 258. Dellver Core Mandatory tralnlng to prospective childminders Deliver Core Mandatory training for prospective childminders in all 5 Trust areas, Health & Safety 15 course5. 184 learners invited and 155 attended. Saf8guarding 15 cours8S. 159 learners invited and 148 attended. Intro Paediatric First Aid 15 courses. 164 learners invited and 141 attended. Deliver Refresher Core Mandatory training lo existing Childminders Courses delivered Health & Safely 27 courses - 279 learners. Safeguarding 27 courses delivered- 291 leamers. SUPPORT SERVICES AIMS ACTIVITIESIOUTCOMES Maintain an up to date Infomation & Advi Service to all mernbers. both in Support Groups,
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Llmited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Directorfs Report) frontlnved) Year ended 31 March 2024 Childminding NeorkS. individuals. Approved Home Childcarer's and parents•Membership Services offered to 1.427 members Ihroughout Ihe year. 141 new members. Support childminders and Approved Home Childcarers with the registration and Inspection process Telephone. email and group support wtih regard to the Minimum Standards to 2,000+ chlldmindeTS. Unregistered Childminding Address tho issue of unregistered childminding. Increase the % of registered childmlnders who are NICMA members To continue to update promotional infomation to all relevant groups l indivlduals. Number SUTveys carried out 8 Complated. Promote Website Ongoing updating. Use of Social Medialcommunication Cornmunicalion with members, nomembers and general public. Regular updatlng Ezine produced bi-monthly. Started delivering trainlng and Buddy groups via Zoom. A number of Whatsapp groups set up. Deliver AGMIConference. NICMA Childminding Week Facilltating range of events to promote and raise awareness of Chli dminding including press coverage.
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) fwnrfnuedj Year ended 31 March 2024 Flnanclal review The financial performance for the year ended 31 March 2024 demonstrates the ongolng dedication of NICMA to advancing ils charitable objectives. supported by robust financial st8wardship. Flnancial Perfomiance Total income for the year was £469,215. a decrease from £509.679 in 2023. This included £248,902 in restrlcted income, which primarily supported specific grant-funded programs such as those from the Department of Health and the Health and Social Care Board. Unreslrlcled income amounted lo £220.313, predominant driven by membership subS1ptiOns {£181,866) and training incom8 (£11,720). Total expenditure stood at £537.288, down sltghtly froffl £557,173 in the prior year. Of this, £255,647 was allocated lo reStrIed programs, refiecting effective use of granl funding for targeted activitles. The charity experienc8d a net deficit of £68.073, reducing total funds carrled forward to £48.058 (2023.. £118,131). Princlpal Funding Sources NICMA'S operations rely significantly on grants from public bodies such as the Health and Social Care Board, as well as membership subscriptions. These SoUrS underpin the delivery of essential servlces. including trainlng, member support. and childminding programs. Investment powers andpollcy The trustees, having regard to the liquidity requirements of the charity, have k8Pt available funds in an interest-bearing deposit account and seek to achieve a rate on deposit which matches or exceeds inftation measured by the retail prices index. Reserves policy The trustees aim to maintain unreslricted reserves sufficient to cover six months of operating costs to ensure continuity of services. At year-end. unrestricted reserves stood al £48,058, which is below the target level due to the deficit incurred. Truslees ar& actively reviewing strategies to strengthen reserves through enhanced fundraising and cost management. Financlal Rlsks and Going Concern The trustees have reviewed the charitys financial position and confirm its ability to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future. However, they recognize the rlsks assoclated wlth reduced grant funding and are committed to diversifying income streams. The charity has no malerial conlingent liabilities and remains in cotnpliance with funding agreements. The trustees are confident thgt NICMA will continue to meet its obligattons and sustain tts Critical role in supporting childminding services across Northein Ireland. Norma Shearer- TreaSUr
Northern Ireland Child Minding Association Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) f¢ontinued) Year ended 31 March 2024 Plans forfuture periods NICMAS future plans wll focus on the following areas: Recrultment of new childminder8 Develop recruithient strategy, incorporating the use of social medla Retention of members Evaluate and enhance membership services Provide personal support to all Members Conslder the development of new Chlldmindlng Networks Quality Improvement within the sector Using the State of the Childmindlng Sector 2017 report, use evidence to develop fundlng appllcations to offer a range ol tralning and quallty assurance Underpinning all of Ihe above will be a need to contlnue to sour¢e funding for current inltlatives a5 well as new projects. Trustees. responsibillties statement The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the trustees, report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and Unlted Kingdom Accountlng Standards (United Kingdom Generally A¢pted Accountlng Practlce). Company law requlres the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year whlch give a true and falr vlew of the state of affairs of the charitable company and the Incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing thes6 financlal statements, the trustees are requlred to: select suitable accounttng policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and princlples in the applicable Charities SORP; make judgmenls and a¢¢ounting estimates that are r8asonable and prudent; prepare the financial stataments on the going concem basls unless It is Inappropriate to presume that the charlty wlll continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity'8 transactlons and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any tlme the financial posltlon of the charity and enable Ihem to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charlty and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other Irregularltles.
Northern Ireland Child Mlnding Association Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report Oncorporatlng the Directorfs Report) Year ended 31 March 2024 Auditor Each of the person5 who Is a Irustee atlh8 date pf appFovaJ of th15 Teport ¢onfjnrts th. so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the chanW5 a1]Ir is unftw8re. and they have tsken au stepsthat they oyght tr4 have trdken as a bwstee to mako IheFFwfves awar.e of any relevant audit InfortIOn and to es1abfh that the ehaffty¥ auiknr is aware of that inforrnation. The auditor is deemed lo have been Mppointad in act30rdance with seclion 487 of thg Companies Small company provlsions This report has been prepared in accordan the provisions aPpcable to MpanIeS Ènttled to the small )MpanIeS exemption. The truslees, annual report was approved on 1.8 Decen)er2f24 and signad on behalf of the board of Injstees by: hearer (r'reasurer) Trustee airperson) Tnthe 10