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ANNUAL REPORT and Financial Statements YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Charity Registration Number NIC102422 Generously supported by
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ROSIE’S
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ROSIE’S TRUST, THE ONLY CHARITY IN NORTHERN IRELAND THAT CARES FOR PEOPLE BY CARING FOR THEIR PETS
Contents
| Message from the Chair | 03 |
|---|---|
| Information About Rosie’s Trust | 09 |
| Who We Are and What We Do | 10 |
| Public Benefit | 11 |
| Highlights of the Year 2024 – 2025 | 12 |
| Thank You To All Our Wonderful Volunteers | 30 |
| And Thank You Again To Our Most Generous Supporters | 37 |
| Financial Position and Reserves | 38 |
| Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities | 38 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 39 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 40 |
| Balance Sheet | 41 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 42 |
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
Our increasing social media following has succeeded in motivating many more wonderful people around Northern Ireland to support Rosie’s Trust, either through individual donations or by fundraising on our behalf. We are indebted to each and every one of them for their support. They are the backbone of our charity and rightly take centre stage in the ‘Highlights’ section on pages 12 to 29.
Rosie’s Trust marked a milestone year in more ways than one during 2024-2025. Not only did we celebrate our 10th birthday, but we also achieved record financial growth enabling us to support more beneficiaries and companion pets than ever before. We also forged new partnerships, got ready to roll out new branding, and began work to transform our volunteer management processes to help secure our ongoing sustainability.
The generous support from our core funder, the National Lottery Community Fund, enabled us to continue to help cancer patients, people receiving end of life care and elderly people with mobility issues to hold on to their companion pets at a time when they need them the most.
We are also so very grateful to the Kingsbridge Foundation, part of the Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, and the John Atcheson Foundation for their continued support this year. This additional income allowed us to employ a second Development Officer and thereby support a record number of beneficiaries across the four HSC Trust areas in which we operate.
Our birthday celebrations got off to an unexpected but heartwarming start on 20 January. Danielle from The Doggie Pawtisserie made a very special dog cake especially for the occasion. Margo the whippet was so excited at the photo shoot that she could not wait for the photo to be taken before eating the ‘R’ out of the Rosie’s Trust biscuit letters. The missing letter served only to highlight the unique character of our wonderful charity in the subsequent flurry of social media posts!
We were delighted to enter into a new partnership with Belfast City Sightseeing. One of their buses is now sporting a large poster promoting Rosie’s Trust around central Belfast every day of the week. We are very grateful to them for the many different | fundraising activities they have undertaken on our behalf.
These are, of course, just three of the many organisations who provided invaluable financial support to us during the period under review. The full list of our generous supporters – both large and small - is provided on page 37 with our huge thanks. Every donation, whatever its size, means so very much to us and can make the difference between being able to take on a new beneficiary or having to turn them away.
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 03
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR CONTINUED...
Increasing the efficiency of our messaging and our management processes
Excitement is mounting as our new automated volunteer management tool nears completion…
Building relations across all sectors
I was very pleased to meet in January with Gordon Lyons MLA, Minister for Communities, to introduce him to Rosie’s Trust. Mr Lyons subsequently sent our introductory PowerPoint presentation to the Minister for Health, Mike Nesbitt MLA, for his information. We are continuing our efforts to build relations in the Public Health Agency in a bid to secure funding in the future.
The increased income we received this year enabled us to provide services to a record number of beneficiaries. Rosie’s Trust helped 79 cancer patients, people receiving end of life care and/or elderly people with mobility issues to hold on to a total of 97 companion pets. In so doing, we provided an invaluable check-in service for sick and/or elderly people living alone as well as much-needed social contact. We also liaised with social services and other agencies on our beneficiaries’ behalf, as and when needed, and helped them navigate the myriad supports available.
We are also hoping to develop further partnerships in the private sector through our membership of the NI Chamber of Commerce, which we joined this year.
Another fundraising development was taking our first steps into online sales with the introduction of a retail page with a check out facility on our website. So far, we have used it to sell Christmas cards as well as the merchandise we normally sell at events, such as bandannas, pens, and pin badges. However, we are planning to build on this over time; for example, with pet bereavement cards and other Rosie’s Trust branded products.
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Rosie’s Trust helped 79 cancer patients, people receiving end of life care and/or elderly people with mobility issues to hold on to a total of 97 companion pets.
The critical role that Rosie’s Trust plays in improving the emotional and physical wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable people in our community is not always understood. Sometimes it is the charity’s promotion of animal welfare that draws most attention. We were very pleased therefore to receive funds specifically to help us refine our message and highlight the dual role we play in supporting both people and their pets. We have done this by introducing a new strap line to better encapsulate our mission: ‘Caring for people by caring for their pets.’ The strap line is the centrepiece of new branding that we are confident will increase our reach to new audiences and, ideally, more supporters (launch June 2025).
Another exciting development this year has been the award of funding from Ulster Garden Villages to help us build an automated volunteer management tool. This will essentially be a self-service portal for the provision of information relating to volunteers, beneficiaries and their companion pets. It will make for a much more efficient, less labour-intensive system than the processes we currently have in place. It will also be hugely beneficial for us when we achieve our long-held ambition to offer services in the more isolated rural areas of the Western Trust. The automated system is due to be completed in May 2025.
The new management processes cannot be introduced soon enough as the number of volunteers who give their time and skills to support Rosie’s Trust continues to increase. During the period, we recruited and trained
81 new volunteers bringing the total to 233 active volunteers during the period. This included Wendy Hawe, who is deaf. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Molly Finlay, our Volunteer Support Officer, and Nuala Muldoon, our Fundraising Lead and experienced British Sign Language communicator, for their efforts in ensuring that all the necessary adjustments were made to accommodate Wendy’s needs as a new volunteer.
“Our charity could not operate without our volunteers.”
We do not take our good fortune with volunteers for granted. We know that our charity could not operate without our volunteers; they go above and beyond to support our beneficiaries and their companion pets. We are indebted to so many volunteers – far more than I could list here – that we publish on pages 30 to 36 the names of each and every one of them with our enormous gratitude. We are truly blessed to have them in our Rosie’s Trust family!
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR CONTINUED...
Expanding our networks
In addition to building relationships with potential funding partners, we have continued this year to engage with a wide range of organisations in the voluntary and community sector as well as the private and public sectors. Such collaborations are essential to increase our reach and impact.
Rosie’s Trust participated at an event in Stormont
calling for regulations to ensure cruelty-free breeding and a public register of legitimate breeders. The event was organised by the NI Companion Animal Welfare Group in September.
This year we significantly expanded our network to include organisations such as Belfast Central Mission, Red Cross, St Vincent de Paul, AGEnda, Radius Housing, NI Hospice, Caring for Communities Safe and Well (South Eastern Trust), the Trauma and Orthopaedics Research Charity, the Loneliness Network (Northern and Southern Trust), the Rural Community Network, and the Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership. These connections are hugely important in terms of promoting awareness of our services and facilitating two-way referrals.
Jayne McStay, Operations Manager with Rosie’s Trust,
is pictured here (far left) with other members of the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group, who met with Andrew Muir, MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs, to encourage people to think carefully before getting a pet for Christmas. Hundreds of animals in NI end up in rescue organisations every year following the festive season.
My team was also very pleased to meet with the Office of the Commissioner for Older People, who subsequently promoted the services Rosie’s Trust offers among their extensive membership.
Rosie’s Trust is represented at all the HSC Trust locality meetings. Our main partners at present, apart from the social workers and care teams with whom we are in daily contact, are organisations such as Macmillan and Marie Curie who are among our principal referral agencies. We also work closely with Volunteer Now.
We are indebted to our Celebrity Ambassadors, Ibe Sesay (presenter of the Drive programme on Q Radio) and Lisa McGee (creator of ‘Derry Girls’) who have continued to promote our work among their followers throughout the year.
Meeting our resourcing challenges
The price of our success in raising awareness of Rosie’s Trust has necessarily been increased demand for our services, which has in turn placed increased pressure on our small staff team.
An ongoing challenge we face is demonstrating how labour intensive our services are. We have made some progress in this regard, having undertaken a comprehensive review this year of our monthly reporting data. This now includes the number of hours spent dealing with calls from people who need support in areas that fall well outside the scope of Rosie’s Trust. We always give these callers the time they need to explain their issues and then advise them as to where they can obtain the necessary support. The several hundred hours spent moving pets between foster carers are also now recorded.
Our resourcing challenge was compounded this year when two staff (out of a team of 4 full-time and 3 part-time staff) resigned to take up higher paid positions. This led us to engage an external HR consultancy to review our terms and conditions against similar organisations. We were reassured to learn that the majority of our salaries were in line with those offered elsewhere in the sector; we immediately adjusted those that were not.
The demand for foster care – particularly during the summer months – once again placed considerable pressure on staff as demand outstripped our supply of foster carers. As always, our volunteers – and staff – pulled out all the stops and managed to provide foster care for each and every pet requiring it. However, we are now asking all new beneficiaries to try to identify or source alternative arrangements for their pets in the event they require hospital care.
We welcomed two new staff during the period to fill the vacancies created by the two resignations: Molly Finlay, Volunteer Support Officer, and Robyn McMurray, Communications and Marketing Lead. Both individuals have already proved to be huge assets to Rosie’s Trust.
We continued to invest in our staff through personal and professional development. The Board was delighted this year when our Operations Manager, Jayne McStay, was awarded the ILM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management, which was run by NICVA. Our Development Officer, Laura Quinn, was accepted in March onto the ILM Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management, and our new Communications and Marketing Lead, Robyn McMurray, started a Level 3 Management Course run by Global Horizon Skills.
We are also hoping to free up capacity by moving to third party referrals and have developed a new, more succinct online referral form for that purpose. While the form still allows for self-referrals, we include a notice on our website advising that we particularly encourage third party referrals.
“An ongoing challenge we face is demonstrating how labour intensive our services are.”
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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR CONTINUED...
INFORMATION ABOUT ROSIE’S TRUST
Charity established under Trust Deed on 20 January 2015.
Contact details
Guided by best practice governance
Following the successful introduction last year of a performance appraisal system for our staff, this year I introduced a similar process for the Board of Trustees. This has proved very effective in identifying the training and other needs of the individuals who are responsible for ensuring the efficient and effective daily operation of our charity in accordance with the requirements of the NI Charity Commission.
We were very sad to say farewell in May to Emer Rice who had served as our wonderful Treasurer for three years. Emer very kindly stayed on for several months so that she could hand over to her successor, Lesley Coey. Regrettably, Lesley had to stand down shortly thereafter due to a change in her work commitments. Fortunately, we did not have to wait too long before we welcomed Karen Steele, a long-standing volunteer with Rosie’s Trust, to the role in September.
We also farewelled Jill Hawthorne and Louise Heatley as Trustees this year. I take this opportunity to thank them both so very much for the contributions they made to Rosie’s Trust and for their ongoing support of the charity.
In order to ensure a good mix of skills on the Board, we sought to fill the gaps arising from these two departures by advertising for Trustees with legal experience. We were delighted to welcome Fiona Holloway-Stone, who brings extensive experience in commercial law, to the Board in March.
The Board continued to follow our annual governance schedule, including reviewing and updating our risk register and operational policies as required. We also updated our Trust Deed, written in 2015, to reflect the more complex charity we govern today. In addition, we updated our comprehensive safeguarding policy and produced an easy-to-read poster highlighting the 5 ‘Rs’ of safeguarding. Thanks to Halifax, we were able to send two staff members to participate in a ‘train the trainer’ safeguarding course. They then developed a bespoke safeguarding training programme for Rosie’s Trust’s staff, volunteers, and Trustees.
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7you are worried about a beneficiaryaor would like to
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Our new poster for staff and volunteers highlighting the 5 ‘Rs’ of safeguarding.
Halifax also provided funding to enable us to produce a range of other training videos for new volunteers. These are a fantastic addition to Rosie’s Trust’s resources.
I was pleased to be able to thank the Trustees and staff in person at the end of the calendar year with Christmas drinks at the Europa Hotel. I only wish I had the opportunity to meet all our volunteers and supporters so that I could thank them in person, too, for everything they do to make Rosie’s Trust such a wonderful and impactful charity!
I am enormously privileged to lead a charity that is so beloved by all who know it. I look forward very much, in the year ahead, to building upon the many achievements secured in the past year and to support even more people in need to keep their companion pets by their side during difficult times.
The future is indeed Rosie, thanks to our dedicated volunteers, staff, Trustees and, of course, the National Lottery Community Fund.
Board of Trustees (at the date of approval of the accounts)
Aileen Martin, Chair
Karen Steele, Treasurer Josephine Mallon, Secretary Clare Jess
Fiona Holloway-Stone Appointed to the Board March 2025 Gail Lavery Tim Leonard
Joyce Savage
The Trustees who resigned between the commencement date of these financial statements and the approval date are listed below: ~~ee~~
Emer Rice Resigned May 2024 Jill Hawthorne Resigned August 2024
Louise Heatley Resigned October 2024
Staff
CEO, Dr Catriona Mac Arthur (O.4 FTE) Operations Manager, Jayne McStay
Development Officer, Laura Quinn Development Officer, Aisling Fitzmaurice Volunteer Support Officer, Molly Finlay
Marketing and Communications Lead, Robyn McMurray (O.8 FTE)
Community Engagement and Fundraising Lead, Nuala Muldoon
Telephone: 0289 1641340 Mobile: 07721 204 061 Email: mail@rosiestrust.org Postal address: The Fountain Centre, 2 Queen’s Parade, Bangor BT20 3BJ
Independent Examiner
MTS Chartered Accountants Lanyon Quay, 1 Belfast BT1 3LG
Bankers
Co-op Bank Ltd Santander UK plc 1, Balloon Street Bridle Road Manchester Bootle M60 4EP Merseyside L30 4GB
Registration
Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC102422
Taxation Status
As a registered charity, Rosie’s Trust has claimed exemption from tax.
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Finance Manager, Grainne Evans (Consultant - 0.2 FTE)
Aileen Martin, Chair
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WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Rosie’s Trust is unique. We are the only charity in Northern Ireland that helps those undergoing cancer treatment, receiving end of life care, and/or older people with mobility issues to keep their pets by their side in the most challenging times.
When someone is faced with a cancer diagnosis, disability or terminal illness, their whole world changes. They have so much to worry about, so much to deal with and the one thing they need - especially those living alone – is the emotional support that their companion pet provides.
They are no longer able to provide their dog or cat with the same level of care they once could and their anxiety about the welfare of their beloved companion only serves to compound their distress.
At the most stressful time of their lives, they may be forced to give up their companion pet and, in so doing, experience tremendous loss, isolation and feelings of guilt.
Some people have reported that they considered delaying or even refusing treatment because they had no one to look after their pet.
Rosie’s Trust cares for our beneficiaries’ companion dogs and/or cats in their homes when they are no longer able to look after them independently.
We provide fostering services when our beneficiaries need to spend a period of time in hospital or in hospice care. Subject always to our beneficiaries’ wishes, we also find new homes for their pets when they are no longer able to care for them, including when they die.
Rosie’s Trust also offers a pet bereavement service, providing emotional support to beneficiaries when their companion pet predeceases them.
We provide our services free of charge, 365 days of the year. We depend on donations to cover our service costs, and every penny gifted to us is carefully used.
Our services offer peace of mind for our beneficiaries as they know Rosie’s Trust will support them in the care of their companion pet for as long as they need us and our resources permit.
Our team of 200+ committed volunteers are the life force of Rosie’s Trust and provide help and support in all aspects of pet care, including feeding, grooming, exercising, play and stimulation, and vet visits.
Our volunteers are our eyes and ears, ensuring when they visit that our beneficiaries are as well as can be and providing welcome social contact for many. Our volunteers work in teams, with each member making two visits a week.
An average of three volunteers is allocated to each beneficiary.
Our volunteers receive intense training before being matched to a beneficiary. This ensures they all have a sound understanding Rosie’s Trust’s policies and procedures to promote the health and wellbeing of our beneficiaries, their pets, and the volunteers themselves. They are also trained to signpost to partner organisations, wherever necessary.
Since our establishment in 2015, we have served 251 people and 313 pets (as at January 2025). They are located in four of the five Health and Social Care Trusts (Belfast, Northern, Southern and South Eastern).
We undertake a very thorough assessment process of each of our beneficiaries and their pets. This enables us to develop tailored action plans, which take into account and address all the risks we have identified and ensure the best match for the beneficiary with our volunteers. We also have robust safeguarding policies in place to protect our beneficiaries and our volunteers.
Social workers from the Health and Social Care Trusts refer potential beneficiaries to us as do organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support (NI). Although we particularly encourage third party referrals, we do accept self-referrals.
Our work has been made possible thanks to core funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Trustees of Rosie’s Trust believe the purpose of the charity satisfies both elements of the public benefit requirement. Rosie’s Trust provides a range of benefits to people in Northern Ireland, including:
1) The advancement of health or the saving of lives
We maintain the health and wellbeing of both the beneficiary and their companion animal by alleviating the stresses and anxiety felt when they are no longer able to care for their pet independently. We also provide much-needed social contact for people who live alone and regular check-in service.
2) The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Rosie’s Trust supports cancer patients, people receiving end of life care, and elderly people with mobility issues to maintain their relationship with their companion animal. We also work with partner organisations to help beneficiaries overcome other challenges.
3) The advancement of animal welfare
Our work to keep people and their pets together supports our beneficiaries in ensuring the care they provide their animal meets the five welfare needs as detailed in the Welfare of Animal Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
Rosie’s Trust services not only help to address loneliness and social exclusion in Northern Ireland, but also to promote animal welfare, in accordance with the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR 2024 – 2025
“Rosie’s Trust has been a complete godsend. I would be alone in the house and completely lost without you.”
The impact that Rosie’s Trust has on the lives of so many vulnerable people in Northern Ireland is encapsulated in the heartrending comments we receive in our annual surveys. We contact our beneficiaries every year to obtain feedback on our services so that we can continually improve these and address any issues arising.
We always ask what difference Rosie’s Trust has made to their lives as well as the impact it has had on their mental health. In 2024-2025:
When asked to explain why the charity had made a big difference to their lives, many of the respondents referred to the “peace of mind” and “comfort” our services have given them; others said that our services have been “life changing” and a “godsend” . To cite just some of the many positive comments:
90% of our beneficiaries reported that Rosie’s Trust had made a “big difference” to their lives. The remaining 10% said that the charity had made “quite a lot of difference” to their lives.
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“(Rosie’s Trust) has enabled me to focus on cancer surgery and treatment.”
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“The two lovely ladies that I have volunteering really take their time when they visit, and they are sometimes the only people I see in a week.”
95% believed our services had reduced their stress/anxiety levels.
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“I thought I was going to have to give (my dog) up, leaving me with no company in the house.”
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“Meeting volunteers and chatting with them has helped me.”
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“It makes my day to have the volunteers coming in.”
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“It is good for me to see somebody and talk to them.”
82.5% believed that Rosie’s Trust had reduced their sense of loneliness and isolation.
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“Rosie’s Trust are always available and there to support me, so I am not on my own.”
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“(Rosie’s Trust has) opened up our lives. I used to just go back to bed and so did the dogs.”
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“I couldn’t survive without RT.”
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“I would be lost without Rosie’s Trust.”
“Every £1 invested in Rosie’s Trust returns £4.36 in social and economic value.”
Source: Year 2 Social Value Report, Rose Regeneration Economic Development Agency
Click to watch: World Cancer Day 2025
More beneficiaries and companion pets supported in 2024 – 2025
Total number of beneficiaries supported: 79
Total number Total number of companion of active pets supported: volunteers: 97 233
New New beneficiaries companion supported: pets: 33 42
Positive impact on our volunteers too!
- “I love meeting new people, seeing the smile on the beneficiary’s face, knowing I've helped a person in need.”
Our volunteers also reported that Rosie’s Trust had had a very positive impact on their lives, with one volunteer encapsulating the responses received in three short words, describing volunteering with us as a “hugely rewarding experience” . Other comments included:
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“Great for the dogs, great for the volunteers and great for the dog owners.”
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“It ticks all the boxes”.
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“I love what I do and the impact it has on the beneficiary and her dog. It is more than walking the dog; it is being a friend to someone who does not have a family.”
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“I really feel like I am making a big difference to my beneficiary's life in that they are able to keep their beloved dog without worrying about them not getting exercised.”
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“I love doing this. It makes me feel good. Not only do I enjoy the walks with an adorable dog, but I enjoy the chat with the beneficiary each day I am there. I feel I am also helping with the loneliness aspect for her as she looks forward to our wee chats.”
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“I have built up such a lovely relationship with both my human and pet beneficiary and I can tell how much of a difference Rosie’s Trust is making to both their lives.”
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR CONTINUED...
Busiest year yet for staff and volunteers
No. of new No. of match ups No. of days No. of volunteers (beneficiaries and of foster care pets trained: volunteers): provided: rehomed: 81 92 761 8
No. of referrals managed:
No. of No. of hours No. of hours signposting given by canine given by all calls: support volunteers: volunteers:
Rosie’s Trust is so grateful to all the volunteers across NI who respond to our calls!
So many fundraisers to mention this year!
We are indebted to all the wonderful people around Northern Ireland who supported our work during the year – there are simply too many of them to mention in these short pages. However, we have shouted out to them across our social media on every possible occasion! A full list is provided on page 37.
chose us as her Charity of the Year. She had no end of wonderful fundraising ideas in aid of Rosie’s Trust, from quiz nights to raffles and tray bakes.
As highlighted in these photos, Rosie’s Trust supporters are an imaginative bunch, holding a wide range of events in aid of Rosie’s Trust, from coffee mornings to dog agility competitions to marathon running!
They include the indefatigable Debbie Thompson, Ladies Captain of Shandon Park Golf Club, who
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Our heartfelt thanks to Debbie Thompson, Ladies Captain of Shandon Park Golf Club, who undertook several fantastic fundraising events for Rosie’s Trust during the year.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR CONTINUED...
The team at the Clare Vet Clinic in Ballyclare generously (and energetically!) ran in the Belfast City Marathon in aid of Rosie’s Trust. Watch their interview with the BBC as they geared up for the challenge:
Click to watch:
Huge thanks to the staff of Harbinson Mulholland for their kind donation. Patrick Leonard, Partner at HM Chartered Accountants, is pictured here presenting Ruth Pinkerton, Rosie’s Trust volunteer, with their most generous cheque!
Clare Vet Group take on the Belfast City Marathon for Rosie’s Trust
Hastings Hotels kindly allowed us to hold some 20 raffles over Christmas/New Year at their Party and Tribute nights. These were a huge success thanks, above all, to our volunteers who shook the tins on our behalf. Pictured here are Robyn McMurray (Communications and Marketing Lead with Rosie’s Trust), Ann McGrady and Donna Morton.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR CONTINUED...
We had a great turnout for our first Rosie’s Ramble, which we held during Volunteers’ Week. Dogs took their owners 3km along the Bangor coastal path.
Sharon Howe, Caroline Forsythe, Linda Storey, Debbie McMurran, Rebecca Rogan, and Lorraine Nesbitt were just some of the many wonderful volunteers who gave their time over Christmas/ New Year to hold raffles for Rosie’s Trust at the Europa and Stormont Hotels.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR CONTINUED...
Our fabulous volunteers Clare Cowan, Gabi Kerr, Lynda Crozier and wee Harvey did a collection for Rosie’s Trust at Torgrange Spar in August.
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Many thanks to Barbara Wilson, Bangor Branch Manager, who presented a cheque from John Gray and Co to our Trustee Joyce Savage.
We are using these funds to develop a ‘memorial wall’ on our website. When a pet passes, people will be able to upload a photo and/or message of condolence and make a donation to us in lieu of a card.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR CONTINUED...
The true spirit of Christmas! Many thanks to the team at the Integrated Education Fund for having a collection in aid of Rosie’s Trust instead of a Secret Santa!
A truly magical fundraising event was held at Stormont in November. ‘Songs of Love and Hope’ was organised by the Lindsay Chorale, who were joined by the Priests and MC Julian Simmons. Lisa McGee and Ibe Sesay also spoke at the event. Photo courtesy of Rachel Cooke Photography
Sealed with a … paw print!
- For Valentine’s Day small business First Impression hosted a special 'puppy love' event and raised funds for Rosie’s Trust.
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Together with other charities in Northern Ireland,
to ask our supporters to continue their kindness
by leaving a gift in their Will.
Rosie’s Trust took the opportunity
during Will to Give Week
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR CONTINUED...
Increasing our engagement with communities around Northern Ireland
Thanks again to our wonderful volunteers, we have been able to set up stalls at community events all around Northern Ireland and to present to community groups as and when requested.
We are indebted to our Volunteer Ambassadors who made this possible. Previously, these events were undertaken by a small team of staff who were necessarily limited in the number they could attend.
We show here just some of the many Rosie’s Trust stalls that were mounted for a wide range of events across Northern Ireland, including community presentations.
Staffing the stall at the Lindsay Chorale’s ‘Songs of Love and Hope’ were (l-r) Nicola Brown, Susan McKibbon, Anne Baker Catriona Mac Arthur, Lorraine Nesbitt and Robyn McMurray.
Volunteers Denise Davies and Lynda Crozier enjoyed some festive fun at the Dog’s Trust’s Christmas Fair in Ballymena.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR CONTINUED...
Time out for our wonderful volunteers!
Given the many hours that our volunteers give not only to supporting our beneficiaries and their companion pets, but also to staffing stalls, fundraising and giving presentations to community groups,
the least we can do is buy them a cuppa! Thanks to the Halifax Foundation we were able to organise a few catch ups over the year. We show a selection of them enjoying some well-earned time out.
Team Honey get to sit down at last! (L-R) Fiona Coulter, Joan Curren, Laura Hamilton, Lynda Crozier, Beatrice Major and Rosi Armstrong.
Communications reaching new audiences across Northern Ireland
Thanks to support from the Halifax Foundation, we were able to arrange meet ups for the volunteers in all the different regions where we work. Team meet-ups are an important part of the Rosie's Trust volunteer journey; they're an opportunity for volunteers to get to know the other members of their team, share experiences and provide support to each other. Pictured here are Team Amber: Russell Scott, Jane Campbell, Ruth Pinkerton and Debbie McMurran who got together for a well-deserved cuppa!
Our communications and messaging – through all forms of media - improved significantly during the year. We were very pleased to attract the
attention of the mainstream broadcasting and print media, a selection of which is provided here.
Laura Quinn, our very compassionate Development Officer, spoke to BBC Radio Ulster’s William Crawley about how we support our beneficiaries in dealing with pet bereavement.
Click to listen:
Is the loss of a pet comparable with the death of a family member? Is it ok to grieve the passing of a pet?
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR CONTINUED...
Social and digital media following continues to increase
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particularly enjoyed reading this
article about Rosie’s Trust!
Betty the cat
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| April 2024 | March 2025 | New Followers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,453 | 9,041 | +588 | |
| 996 | 1,160 | +164 | |
| X | 760 | 736 | -241 |
| 152 | 250 | +98 | |
| Mailing List | 691 | 761 | +70 |
| Website | 850 active users | 1.4k active users | +550 |
- This decrease reflects the overall fall in users of X. Rosie’s Trust will be moving to Bluesky in due course.
Belfast Telegraph, 13 December 2024
We published two regular newsletters during the year: one specifically for our volunteers, and the other for our supporters.
County Down Spectator 19 December 2024 and Down Recorder 19 December 2024
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County Down Spectator,
13 March 2025
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We were delighted to assist Volunteer Now in the filming of a video for their campaign to show that age is no barrier to volunteering. We introduced them to Niamh Nixon our youngest volunteer, aged 20, and Beatrice Major, aged 80, who has been with Rosie’s Trust for seven years.
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Irish News, 1 January 2025
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28 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 29
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!
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r
ROSIE’S
TRUS
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“Our volunteers are at the heart of everything
we do, we simply couldn’t operate without them,”
Molly Finlay, Volunteer Support Officer, pictured
with her beautiful pups Aggie and Mavis!
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| Active Volunteers – 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 |
Role 1 | Role 2 | Role 3 | Role 4 | Role 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrienne Perry | Canine Support | ||||
| Aileen Martin | Trustee | ||||
| Aisling Fitzgerald | Canine Support | ||||
| Alex Elliot | Canine Support | ||||
| Alison McIlroy | Canine Support | Foster | |||
| Allen Thurston | Canine Support | ||||
| Andy Gorringe | Canine Support | ||||
| Ann Payne | Canine Support | ||||
| Ann Quigley | Canine Support | ||||
| Anne Baker | Fundraiser | Ambassador | Canine Support | ||
| Anne Finlay | Ambassador | Canine Support | |||
| Anne Reid | Canine Support | ||||
| Anne Tweed | Fundraiser | Phone Support | Canine Support | ||
| Annie Watson | Canine Support | ||||
| Antoinette Hagan | Canine Support | Foster | |||
| Arlene McEvoy | Canine Support | ||||
| Asia Haraburda | Canine Support | ||||
| Beatrice Major | Canine Support |
| Active Volunteers – 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 |
Role 1 | Role 2 | Role 3 | Role 4 | Role 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beatriz Garcia-Torresano | Canine Support | ||||
| Benjamin Williamson | Canine Support | ||||
| Bernie Smyth | Canine Support | ||||
| Beverly Huddleston | Foster | Canine Support | |||
| Brigitte Bartholome | Canine Support | ||||
| Carol Noble | Canine Support | ||||
| Caroline Forsyth | Fundraiser | Ambassador | Canine Support | ||
| Carolyn McGinnell | Canine Support | ||||
| Carolyn Tweed | Canine Support | ||||
| Catherine Kelly | Canine Support | Foster | |||
| Catherine McConville | Foster | ||||
| Cathy McBride | Canine Support | ||||
| Cathy Wilcock | Canine Support | ||||
| Chris Idzikowska | Foster | ||||
| Chris McGarry | Canine Support | ||||
| Cilla Sherman | Phone Support | Canine Support | |||
| Claire Guyer | Canine Support | ||||
| Claire McKeown | Canine Support | ||||
| Clare Cowan | Fundraiser | Canine Support | |||
| Clare Jess | Trustee | ||||
| Colette Roe | Canine Support | ||||
| Courtney Rea | Canine Support | ||||
| Danielle Ingram | Canine Support | ||||
| Dawn Steveson | Canine Support | ||||
| Dean Lee | Canine Support | ||||
| Debbie Millar | Canine Support | ||||
| Deborah Frost | Canine Support | ||||
| Deborah McMurran | Canine Support | ||||
| Deidre Moody | Canine Support | ||||
| Denise Davies | Ambassador | Canine Support | |||
| Denise Durnien | Canine Support | ||||
| Diane Dickson | Foster | ||||
| Diane Forsythe | Canine Support | ||||
| Diane Torrens | Canine Support | ||||
| Edna Wills | Canine Support | Foster | |||
| Ellen Ferris | Canine Support |
30 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 31
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!
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Active Volunteers – Role 1 Role 2 Role 3 Role 4 Role 5
1 April 2024 to 31
March 2025
Emer Rice Trustee
Emily Graham Fundraiser Ambassador Canine Support
Emma Clarke Canine Support
Emma White Canine Support
Emma-Kate McClay Canine Support
Erin Galbraith Canine Support
Evie Gardner Canine Support
Felicia Chan Canine Support
Fiona Coulter Canine Support
Fiona Hollowaystone Trustee
Fiona Hutchinson Canine Support
Fionnuala Fearon Canine Support
Frances Steele Canine Support
Gail Spiers Canine Support
Garielle (Gabi) Kerr Fundraiser Ambassador Phone Support
Gary Craig Canine Support
Gayle Lavery Trustee
Geoff Aiken Canine Support
Geoffrey Parks Canine Support Foster
Geraldine McKinley Canine Support Foster
Gill Williams Canine Support
Gillian Mills Canine Support
Glenda Burns Canine Support
Grianne Evans Transport Admin
Guy Irwin Smith Canine Support
Harry Morrow Foster
Hazel Cameron Canine Support
Helen Kerr Canine Support
Helen McLaughlin Canine Support
Helene Sloan Canine Support
Hilary Idzikowska Foster Dog Listener
Hilary Neil Canine Support
Ian Brown Canine Support
Imelda McConnell Canine Support
Ivan Noble Canine Support
Jackie Morgan Foster Dog Listener
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Active Volunteers – Role 1 Role 2 Role 3 Role 4 Role 5
1 April 2024 to 31
March 2025
Jane Bell Canine Support
Jane Campbell Canine Support
Janet Armstrong Co-ordinator Phone Support
Janet Neil Canine Support
Janet White Canine Support
Janice McBriar Canine Support
Jen McVeigh Canine Support
Jill Aiken Foster Canine Support
Jill Hawthorne Trustee
Jill Kerry Foster
Jill McLean Transport
Jill Truesdale Canine Support Foster
Joan Curran Canine Support
Joanna Rea Canine Support
Joanne Parks Phone Support Ambassador Canine Support Foster
Joesphine Mallon Trustee
John Binns Canine Support
John Cassells Canine Support
John McGarrigle Canine Support Admin Foster
Johnathan Hoey Canine Support
Jo-Jo McLaughlin Canine Support
Jonathan Twinem Canine Support
Joyce Savage Trustee
Judith McCormack Fundraiser Canine Support
Judith Ragg Canine Support
Judith Watt Foster Canine Support
Julia Heggarty Canine Support
June Carberry Canine Support
Justine McIntyre Canine Support
Karen Boutros Fundraiser Transport Canine Support
Karen Smyth Canine Support
Karen Steele Canine Support
Karla Gordon Canine Support
Kate Daly Canine Support
Kate McNeill Canine Support
Keith Scott Canine Support
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32 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 33
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!
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Active Volunteers – Role 1 Role 2 Role 3 Role 4 Role 5
1 April 2024 to 31
March 2025
Kerrie Flack Canine Support
Kim Hamilton Fundraiser Ambassador Canine Support
Kimberley Newell Canine Support
Kirsty Davidson-O’Neill Canine Support
Kirsty Shields Canine Support
Kristina Clyde Canine Support
Lara Carlin Canine Support
Laragh O’Grady Canine Support
Laura Hamilton Canine Support
Liana Wylie Canine Support
Lianne Mullholland Canine Support
Linda Brown Canine Support
Linda Marks Transport Canine Support
Linda McDonald Canine Support Foster
Lisa Clydesdale Canine Support
Lisa Curtis Canine Support
Lisa McEneaney Canine Support
Lisa Mehigan Canine Support
Liz Brown Canine Support
Lorraine Majury Canine Support
Lorraine Nesbitt Fundraiser Phone Support Ambassador Canine Support
Louise Heatley Trustee
Lucia Flanagan Canine Support
Lyn Cummings Canine Support
Lynda Crozier Fundraiser Co-ordinator Transport Ambassador Canine Support
Lynda Graham Foster
Lynn Magill Canine Support
Lynn Watson Foster
Lynne Hamilton Ambassador Canine Support
Lynsay Wright Canine Support
Lynsey Grant Canine Support Foster
Madhavi Pasapula Canine Support
Magdalena Mielcarek Canine Support
Maggie Kelly Canine Support
Maia Magee Foster
Malcom McKibbon Foster
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Active Volunteers – Role 1 Role 2 Role 3 Role 4 Role 5
1 April 2024 to 31
March 2025
Margaret Fulford Canine Support
Marie Caffola Canine Support
Mark Lamont Canine Support
Mark McConville Foster
Mary McNeilly Ambassador
Mary O’Hara Canine Support
Matthew McBride Canine Support
Maura Mason Foster
Maureen Brown Canine Support
Maureen McCartney Canine Support
Melanie Patton Canine Support
Michael Kelly Canine Support
Michael McDowell Canine Support
Monique Kritzinger Canine Support
Morris Cameron Canine Support
Muire Creed Canine Support
Muriel Gillespie Canine Support
Nancy Henry Foster
Naomi Holmans Canine Support
Natasha Walker Canine Support
Neil Baird Canine Support
Neil Currie Canine Support
Niall McInerney Canine Support
Niamh Nixon Canine Support
Nicola Brown Fundraiser Ambassador Canine Support
Noeleen Brennan Canine Support
Norman Totten Canine Support
Olivia Crookes Fundraiser Phone Support Ambassador Canine Support
Oonagh Lynch Canine Support
Orla McGarry Canine Support
Patricia McCann Canine Support
Paul Hart Foster
Paula Sawyer Canine Support
Pauline Hughes Canine Support
Peter Crozier Canine Support
Rachel Coulter Canine Support
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34 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 35
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!
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|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Active Volunteers –|Role 1|Role 2|Role 3|Role 4|Role 5|
|1 April 2024 to 31|
|March 2025|
|Rachel McGuiness-Brown|Canine Support|
|Rachel Miskimmin|Fundraiser|Canine Support|
|Rebecca Neilson|Canine Support|
|Rhiannon Jones|Canine Support|
|Richard Gapper|Canine Support|
|Richard Graham|Foster|
|Rita Tucker|Canine Support|
|Robin Stevenson|Canine Support|
|Rosaleen Mullan|Canine Support|
|Rosi Armstrong|Canine Support|
|Russell Scott|Canine Support|
|Ruth Pinkerton|Fundraiser|Co-ordinator|Phone Support|Ambassador|Canine Support|
|Sandra Armstrong|Canine Support|
|Sandra Starr|Canine Support|
|Sara Wilson|Canine Support|
|Sharon Hart|Foster|
|Sharon Magorrian|Canine Support|
|Sharon McAleenan|Canine Support|
|Simon Simpson|Canine Support|
|Sophie Stephenson|Canine Support|Ambassador|
|Stefanie Morrow|Transport|Foster|
|Stephen Aiken|Canine Support|
|Susan Mckibbin|Fundraiser|Ambassador|Canine Support|
|Susan Piggot|Canine Support|
|Susan Winch|Foster|
|Suzanne O’Hara|Canine Support|
|Suzie Ferris|Foster|
|Terri Mayne|Canine Support|
|Thomas Duncan|Canine Support|
|Tim Leonard|Trustee|
|Tracey Rylance|Canine Support|
|Trina O’Callaghan|Ambassador|Canine Support|
|Trish Cameron|Canine Support|
|Wallace Henry|Foster|
|Wayne Watson|Foster|
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AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO OUR MOST GENEROUS SUPPORTERS!
AE Trust
Ann Ryland / SirJules Thorn Charitable Trust Ardbarron Trust Ballyclare Primary School Belfast City Sightseeing Black Santa Buzz Warner City Vets Claire Vets County Hardware DWF NI Dundonald Women’s Institute
Enkalon
Executive Golf and Leisure Glandore Dog Training Club Halifax Foundation Harbinson Mulholland Irish Whiskey Auctions John Atcheson Foundation
John Gray and Co
John McGrillan birthday fundraiser on Facebook
Killyleagh Shop
Kingsbridge Foundation, part of the Kingsbridge Healthcare Group Lindsay Chorale Macmillan Cancer Support Magheramourne Dancers McLaughlin Harvey MuchLoved NorthernTrust – Peer Support Funding PhotoLease PowerNI Shandon Park Golf Club Spar Community Cashback Suresh Tharma The National Lottery Community Fund Torgrange Collection Ulster Garden Villages
36 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 37
FINANCIAL POSITION AND RESERVES
In the 2024-25 financial year the majority of core costs including salaries were covered from a grant from National Lottery Community Fund and other restricted funds to cover the costs associated with particular activities or projects. We also received a level of unrestricted funding, mainly from donations, which was directed to other costs as required.
At 31st March 2025 Rosie’s Trust held restricted reserves of £14,976 and unrestricted reserves of £112,738. Rosie’s Trust aims to hold at least one month’s running costs on reserves (approximately £55,000) to deal with any unforeseen circumstances including, but not limited to the winding up of the charity in the event of being unable to raise any further substantial funding to allow the payment of staff salaries and running costs. The Trustees and operations staff will consider on a regular basis the levels of funding that it holds and how this funding can be used to benefit the charity and the services that it provides and to best meet the needs of its beneficiaries and volunteers.
We were very fortunate to receive a three-year grant from the National Lottery Community Fund in April 2023. This followed a five-year grant generously provided by the National Lottery Community Fund in 2018. We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank the National Lottery Community Fund for their support for making our work possible.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. 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.
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to:
Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the examination, but of which the examiner is is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the examiner is aware of such information.
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
By order of the Board of Trustees
-
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
Aileen Martin (Chair)
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in operation.
Karen Steele (Treasurer)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE CHARITY TRUSTEES OF ROSIE’S TRUST
Independent examiner’s statement
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on the accounts pages.
I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Richard McClay FCA
For and on behalf of McCreery Turkington Stockman LTD
1 Lanyon Quay Belfast BT1 3LG
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;
17 August 2025
-
follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act; and
-
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.
My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.
My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:
-
That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act
-
That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records
-
That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
-
That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
3 September 2025
38 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 39
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Year | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Total | Total | |
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Income from: | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Income from charitable activities | 119,190 | 183,683 | 302,873 | 291,184 |
| Total income | 119,190 | 183,683 | 302,873 | 291,184 |
| Expenditure on: | ||||
| Charitable activities | (96,446) | (202,555) | (299,001) | (204,004) |
| Raising funds | (3,678) | - | (3,678) | (1,696) |
| Total expenditure | (100,124) | (202,555) | (302,679) | (205,700) |
| Net income before transfers | 19,066 | (18,872) | 194 | 85,484 |
| Transfer between funds | (3,432) | 3,432 | - | - |
| Net incoming resources | 15,634 | (15,440) | 194 | 85,484 |
| Fund balances brought forward | 97,106 | 30,416 | 127,522 | 42,038 |
| Fund balances carried forward | 112,740 | 14,976 | 127,716 | 127,522 |
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. All gains and losses recognised in the year are included above. The notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
BALANCE SHEET
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 4 | 15,821 | 21,881 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors | 3,263 | 2,016 | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 174,573 | 139,963 | |||
| 177,836 | 141,979 | ||||
| Creditors: amounts falling | (65,941) | (36,338) | |||
| due within one year | |||||
| Net current assets | 111,895 | 105,641 | |||
| Net assets | 127,716 | 127,522 | |||
| Capital and reserves | |||||
| Unrestricted funds | 5 | 112,740 | 97,106 | ||
| Restricted funds | 5 | 14,976 | 30,416 | ||
| General funds | 127,716 | 127,522 |
The notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
Signed for and on behalf of the Board of Trustees
Aileen Martin CHAIR Karen Steele TREASURER
40 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 41
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Accounting policies
1.1. Basis of preparation
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in October 2019"
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.
1.2. Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
1.3. Fund Accounting
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the objectives of thecharity.
Restricted funds are those donated for use in a particular area for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
1.4. Resources
Incoming resources
Income includes subscriptions, donations and other cash received and receivable. Donations are recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis. Income was attributable to the one principal activity of the company carried on within the United Kingdom and Europe.
2. Employees
| Period ended | Year ended | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Number of employees | ||
| The average monthly numbers of employees | ||
| during the year were: | ||
| Service Delivery | 6 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Employment costs | £ | £ |
| Wages and salaries | 208,823 | 131,575 |
| Social security costs | 6,680 | 6,681 |
| Other pension costs | 9,861 | 6,579 |
| 225,364 | 144,835 |
There were no employees earning over £60,000 in the year ended 31 March 2025.
Rosie’s Trust’s work would not have been as extensive as it has been without the dedicated services of our volunteers, as noted in the Trustees’ Report.
We are very grateful for their gift of time to the charity.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
Straight Line
Equipment, furniture and fittings 25% Van 20%
42 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 43
3. Income & Expenditure Account
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Year | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Income | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| General income, donations etc | 119,190 | 183,683 | 302,873 | 291,184 |
| Operating expenses | ||||
| Wages and salaries | 58,569 | 156,934 | 215,503 | 138,256 |
| Staff pension costs | 2,702 | 7,159 | 9,861 | 6,579 |
| Rent | - | 1,338 | 1,338 | 480 |
| Sundry fundraising costs | 3,678 | - | 3,678 | 1,696 |
| Direct expenditure on | 3,239 | 462 | 3,701 | 4,716 |
| beneficiary support | ||||
| Insurance | - | 2,286 | 2,286 | 2,504 |
| Adverts, postage | 31 | 1,321 | 1,352 | 674 |
| and stationery | ||||
| Promotional materials | 13,199 | 15,000 | 28,199 | 8,439 |
| Telephone and IT | 5,603 | 705 | 6,308 | 3,428 |
| Travelling and motor | 776 | 7,437 | 8,213 | 8,296 |
| Consultancy fees | 8,420 | 1,000 | 9,420 | 21,955 |
| Training | - | 2,436 | 2,436 | 180 |
| General expenses | 1,020 | 2,100 | 3,120 | 6,502 |
| Subscriptions | 1,204 | - | 1,204 | 471 |
| Depreciation | 1,683 | 4,377 | 6,060 | 2,024 |
| Profits/losses on assets | - | - | - | 500 |
| 100,124 | 202,555 | 302,679 | 205,700 | |
| (Deficit) / Surplus for year | ||||
| Normal activites | 19,066 | 18,872 | 194 | 85,484 |
| Transfer between funds | (3,432) | 3,432 | ||
| 15,634 | 15,440 | 194 | 85,484 |
4. Tangible fixed assets
| General | Restricted | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | Fund Assets | ||
| Cost | £ | £ | £ |
| At 1 April 2024 | 5,260 | 24,495 | 29,755 |
| Disposals | - | (4,519) | (4,519) |
| At 31 March 2025 | 5,260 | 19,976 | 25,236 |
| Depreciation | |||
| At 1 April 2024 | 848 | 7,026 | 7,874 |
| Charge for the year | 1,683 | 4,377 | 6,060 |
| Disposals | - | (4,519) | (4,519) |
| At 31 March 2025 | 2,531 | 6,884 | 9,415 |
| Net book values | |||
| At 31 March 2025 | 2,729 | 13,092 | 15,821 |
| At 31 March 2024 | 4,412 | 17,469 | 21,881 |
44 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025 | 45
5. Statement of funds
| Balance | Incoming | Outgoing | Transfers | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April 2024 | Resources | Resources | 31 March 2025 | ||
| Restricted funds | |||||
| Sundry Grants | 30,416 | 12,363 | 27,803 | - | 14,976 |
| Dormant Accounts Fund NI | - | 45,204 | (45,204) | - | - |
| National Lottery | - | 126,116 | (129,548) | 3,432 | - |
| Community Fund | |||||
| 30,416 | 183,683 | (202,555) | 3,432 | 14,976 |
Revenue reserves include grants that have preconditions attached. These grants are separated as shown above and relevant expenditure is allocated against them.
Any funds unspent at the end of the year are carried forward if the charity has received them outright, and they are shown as income in the year received. Any funds received that are repayable to the granting body if unspent are shown as income to the extent that expenditure has been incurred and a deferred income liability is included for the amount not yet spent.
6. Charity information
The organisation was formed by Trust deed. It is registered with HMRC and The Regulator for Charities in Northern Ireland as a charity. It operates within Northern Ireland and its registered address is The Fountain Centre, 2 Queens Parade, Bangor, BT20 3BJ.
The nature of the entity’s operations and a description of the principal activities is included in the Trustees’ report.
7. Accounts approval
These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 3 September 2025.
46 | Annual Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
&—— ROSIE’S TRUS
We’d love to talk to you about Rosie’s Trust so please call us on 02891 641340 or visit rosiestrust.org for more information. f@xX
Rosie’s Trust is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC102422. Registered office 2 Queen’s Parade, Bangor BT20 3BJ