2023-12-31-annual-report - Ambassadors Football (Ireland)

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AMBASSADORS FOOTBALL (IRELAND) (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) DIRECTORS’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The directors present their report and the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

Ambassadors Football (Ireland) Limited (formerly known as Ambassadors in Sport) (“the charity”) was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee (registered in Northern Ireland Company No. NI069535) on 5[th] June 2008 and was registered with the Charity Commission (Charity No. 102267) on 9[th] June 2015. The charity continued to function as per its Memorandum and Articles of Association, with a specialisation of working in and through football to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Registered Office Richhill Presbyterian Church 6 Corcreevy Road Richhill Armagh BT61 9JR

Trustees

The names of all charity trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of the Companies Act, on the date the report was approved and all individuals who served in such capacity during the year is as follows:

Matthew Dobson Christopher McCourt Adam Patton

Appointment of Trustees

As set out in the Articles of Association, trustees other than those retiring by rotation can only be appointed at a general meeting if (1) they are recommended by existing trustees or (2) the required notice has been given by a member entitled to vote of the intention to propose that person as a trustee and the required notice has been given to those entitled to receive notice of the meeting.

Organisational Structure

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Ambassadors
Ireland
Board of Trustees
Camps / Youth / Local
International
Tours / TREC Clubs
Ireland Co-Ordinator Ireland Co-Ordinator International Co-Ordinator
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The trustees meet 4-6 times per year with the Ireland Co-Ordinators, Stewart Glass and Derek Livingstone, to receive updates on the work of the charity. The Trustees also meet virtually and where possible, in person, with Oversees Project Co-ordinator Robert Cuthbert.

Related parties

Ambassadors Football worldwide consists of over 30 independent national charities. The national offices are affiliated through a shared vision and desire to cooperate together on the basis of shared values.

AMBASSADORS FOOTBALL (IRELAND) (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) DIRECTORS’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

DIRECTORS’ REPORT (CONT’D)

Objectives and Activities

The purpose of the charity is the advancement of the Christian religion, especially in and through sport and sports chaplaincy and particularly (but not exclusively) involving youth, church and school groups in such activities.

MISSION

To communicate the good news of Jesus to all people through football.

VISION

Transformation of individuals and communities through indigenous football outreach.

VALUES

Football: We participate in football at all levels with passion, excellence and respect.
Church: We uphold the long-term, transformative role of the Church in the world.
Team: We identify and collaborate with others in the pursuit of shared goals.
Service: We follow the example of Jesus by leading through service and prioritizing the marginalized.
Innovation: Visionary spirit of looking to develop something new, take risks and pioneers who step out in faith

Ambassadors Football (Ireland) exists to bring about positive change in hard to reach, vulnerable children, youth, adults and their communities, through running innovative holistic faith based football programmes, investing in churches, coaches, players and participants for their football outreach initiatives.

The Ambassadors approach is that through the bridge of football, the workers successfully overcome barriers to get alongside people in a non-judgmental way, to enable positive life-changing decisions to be made.

From this platform of trust, Ambassadors workers then develop and deliver programmes in Ambassadors branded football clubs, academies, soccer schools, tours and community projects as well as providing support and training for churches, leaders, coaches and club players.

Achievements and performance

Since its inception Ambassadors Football Ireland has

Trained over 150 coaches from home and abroad in sports ministry
Reached over 8,000 kids through our summer football camps, engaging with over 50 volunteer coaches
Sent over 300 coaches and players on tours to the USA, Congo, Senegal and Europe
Introduced the Ambassadors Men’s, Ladies’ and Youth teams, all of whom compete weekly in the MidUlster League, IFA Small Sided Games & Mid Ulster Youth Leagues
In May 2023, Ambassadors Football (Ireland) Ltd, signed a Lease with ABC Council for use of the land and football pitch known locally as “Brownlow”. This pitch will be renovated in order to be utilised as the HQ for most football and administrative activities.

Financial Review

Ambassadors is funded primarily from personal, individual contributions, with most coming from recurring monthly donations, and we are very appreciative of this local support. Income is also generated through fees charged to participants in activities, although we aim to set these at a level whereby finances does not become a barrier to participation.

Reserves Policy

Ambassadors Trustees continued the agreed strategy of holding unrestricted, undesignated reserves at a target level equal to six months’ operating costs.

AMBASSADORS FOOTBALL (IRELAND) (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) DIRECTORS’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

DIRECTORS’ REPORT (CONT’D)

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

The directors are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that year. In preparing these the directors are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business;

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015), the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

By order of the Board on 23 September 2024.

________ Christopher McCourt