## **THE FRIENDS OF BANGOR ABBEY** **Trustees' Annual Report** **for the year ending 31[st] December 2023** Charities Number: **NIC 102518** ## **References and administrative details** Charity Name: The Friends of Bangor Abbey > Charity Registration Number: NIC 102518 Contact Address: c/o Gifford Savage 8 Chester Park BANGOR BT20 3JE ## **Trustees and Office Bearers** > Rev Ronnie Nesbitt - Chairperson Mrs Stella Robinson – Hon Secretary Mr Gifford Savage – Committee Member ## **Independent Examiner:** Roy Kelly **Bankers** : Santander 64 Main Street Bangor BT20 5AQ ## **Trustees' Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023** The trustees present the annual report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 ## **Objectives and Activities** The Charity's objectives are (i) the advancement of religion, and (ii) the advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science. The purposes of the Friends of Bangor Abbey are: All of our activities flow directly from our charity’s purposes, are capable of being demonstrated and are beneficial and not harmful. We meet the Public Benefit in the following ways: Public Element: our activities are for the purpose of raising awareness and understanding of Christian religious beliefs and practices, assisting in the maintenance and fabric of Bangor Abbey church and environs in order to preserve, protect and promote it as a place of Christian worship. We also seek to promote the conservation and protection of the historical site at Bangor Abbey and all architectural structures and environment features within the site including the adjacent graveyard for the benefit of the general public. Studying and encouraging the study of history relating to Bangor Abbey. Raising awareness among the general public in the area of benefit and beyond and encouraging appreciation of and knowledge of the historical and cultural heritage of the site and its environs in the area of benefit. The activities we run enable the wider public in Ards and North Down, and Northern Ireland and beyond, to gain an appreciation of, and understanding of the Christian religion, in particular the historical contribution to cultural heritage arising from (1) the importance of Bangor Abbey throughout Western Europe in early mediaeval times, and the contribution that Irish monks who travelled to continental Europe made to the foundations of Christendom that continues to influence the lives of all Europeans to this day; and (2) the influence of the Plantation of Ulster on the religious and cultural life of Bangor and Northern Ireland, in particular the settlement of James Hamilton, arguably the founder of modern Bangor, who restored the Abbey Church in 1617; (3) promote awareness of Christian belief and practices in the present day. All our activities are open to the general public without discrimination of any kind. ## **Achievements, Performance & Public Benefit** ## **Activities in 2023** The organization was adversely affected by the Covid pandemic. The events programme was cancelled and the Friends did not meet during 2023. A relaunch of The Friends of Bangor Abbey is planned for 2024. ## **Benefits Provided** The Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the organization's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit. Financial Review The Friends own no assets, employ no staff and have no ongoing liabilities to cover and are therefore satisfied that there are adequate funds in place to ensure that the organization can continue its activities. Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the statement of receipts and payments and statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland with Income of less than £250,000 requires the trustees to prepare a statement of receipts and payments and a statement of assets and liabilities for each financial year. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the organization's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its assets and liabilities. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the organization and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Signed on Behalf of the Trustees Trustee I Trustee 2 . Date: Zz