NORTHERN IRELAND RAPE CRISISASSOCIATION TRADING AS: NEXUS DIRECTORS. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The accounts have been prepared in accordance wilh the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reportlng 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 (FRS 102). (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). Objectives and activities The charity's objects are to preserve and protect mental and physical health and relieve the distress of people who have suffered from sexual abuse and sexual Viden￿, induding sexual assault and rape, within Northern Ireland and elsewhere, and advance public educab-on about all matters related to sexual abuse and sexual violence and its consequences,. and in particular-. to provide infomation and support, counselling and therapeutic interventions to victims, survivors and those affected by sexual abuse, sexual Violen￿ and associated traumas. b. to raise awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence and its conseqLEnces amongst professionals and the general public and provide awareness. educational and professÉonal training programmes for all ages., c to raise awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence and its consequences amongst professionals and the general public and provide awareness and edutstional programmes. including programmes which aim at protecting young and vulnerable people and training for professionals working with adult survivors of sexual abuse., and d. to advance any other exclusively charitable purpose as the directors may, from time to time, decide in accordance with the law of charity. The directors have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. Achievernents and Performance Nexus has 3 core areas of service delivery to directly support people impacted by sexual abuse these are specialist 1-1 counselling, psythoeducation and training and the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline_ In 2023124 the organi5ation delivered 19073 individual counselling sessions. The organisation has in place management systems to monitor and analyse data to ensure an effective service is provided and maintained. Approximately 990/0 of Counselling Clients reported a Positive Reliable Change (up from 97010 in 22123) The main adult counselling service continues to be funded through Department of Health with a numter of additional services for bespoke groups including piisoners. veterans and students. While children's counsdling is supported by a number of grant-making trusts_ The organisation's early intervenlion and prevention team delivered psychoeducation workshops to over 5000 young people and trained over 1000 professionals in issues relating to sexual abuse and abusive relationships including.. Child sexual exploitation, rape myihs. responding to disclosures and sexual harassment_ While. the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline supported 4.875 victims and survivors of domestic abuse. The Servi￿ responded to 24,943 calls la 3.5 % increase on Q0221231. Financial review The net deficit for the year amounted to £294,962 {2023.. £28,434 surplus). This has been transferred to reserves. The accumulated reserves at 31 March 2024 were £Nil (2023.. £120,144) for restricted funds and £817,02412023. £991,842) for unreslricted funds. £530.138 (2023.. £502,277> of the unrestricted reserves are held in a designated fvnd as these are not free funds. they represent the value of the tangible fixay assets that have been funded out of unrestricted income. The general reserve at the 31 March 2024 is £286,886 (2023.. £489,565). NORTHERN IRELAND RAPE CRISIS ASSOCIATION TRADING AS: NEXUS DIRECTORS. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The directors have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. The tender with HSCB has been extended to 31 March 2026 and a tender for the provision of the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline is contracted until 31 March 2027. funded by Department of Health, Department of Justice ar)d the Department for Communities The Nexus Board and management team continue to focus M increasing the variety of funding sources accessed by the organisats-on and its long temi sustainability To that end. review and investment continues to be made in the organisational structure to ensure sustainability of the organisation_ We are continuously improving management of our appointments and reporting with the on-going aim of improving and making the services more efficient and flexible to adapt to the thanging funding environment. Structure. governance and management The charity is registered wrth the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland as Northern Ireland Rape Crisis Association (reg. no. 102558} and is recognised by HMRC as a charity {XN46002)_ The charity trades as Nexus. The charity is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee with members guaranteeing to pay a sum not exceeding £1 to the company in the event of a winding up. The registered Offi￿ and principal business address is situated at 59 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6SA. The Trustees consider the goveming document of the association to be the Memorandum and Article of Association. The directors who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statement5 were". C Cooney (Chair) Dr P Irving S Henderson {Vice Chair and Treasurer) O Macshane M Canning R Elliot H Henry K Mccamley E McGinn S Sweengy R Johnston Gorr D Cairns D Feehan C Kearney O Okibe-oga O Pollock {Resigned 1 August 2023) (Resigned 15 March 2024) (Resigned 7 September 2023) (Resigned 25 September 2024) (Resigned 25 September 2024) {Resigned 7 September 2023) (Appointed 7 September 2023 and resigned 15 March 2024) (Appointed 7 September 20231 (Appointed 25 September 2024) (Appointed 25 September 2024) (Appointed 25 September 2024) (Appointed 25 September 20241 (Appointed 25 Septernber 2024) The Board consists of a maximum of 15 trusteesldirectors who are re-elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The company shall actively promote a board of Directors which includes a range of skill, experience and knowledge in keeping with the pursuance of its Objects and to this end it is entitled to advertise and interview eligible candidates to be potential directors of the board. The Directors shall have the power at any time to appoint any person, who need not be a metnber of the company. NORTHERN IRELAND RAPE CRISIS ASSOCIATION TRADING AS: NEXUS DIRECTORS. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Asset cover for funds The net current assets represent the reserves of the company and are held for the purpose of proV￿1ng working capital. Included within net assets are buildings with a net book value of £459,739 (2023.. £469,726). Our aim is to hold 4-6 months of total costs in general reserves to ensure the financial stability and continued provision of the company's main activities. The Board can designate reserves for specific purposes such as fulfilling long- terni capital investment. modemisation and development of the company in line with the organisations strategic and business plans. Restricted reserves will used as specthed in the funders contract. NORTHERN IRELAND RAPE CRISIS ASSOCIATION TRADING AS: NEXUS DIRECTORS. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 Auditor In accordance with the company's articles. a resolution proposing that Harbinson Mulholland be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting. Taxation Under Section 485 and 486 of Corporation Taxes Act 2010, The Northern Ireland Rape Crisis Association is entitled to charity tax exemption. Disclosure of infortnation to auditor Each of the directors has confimed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have fvrther confimied that they have taken aFpropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information. The director5, report was approved by the Board of Directors. C Cooney {Chair) Trustee NORTHERN IRELAND RAPE CRISIS ASSOCIATION TRADING AS: NEXUS STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS, RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 The directors, who also act as trustees for the charitable acttvities of Northem Ireland Flape Crsis Asswiation, are responsible for preparing the Directors, Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounts"ng Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practs'cel. Company Law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year thich give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. In preparing these accounts, the directors are required to- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently., observe the methods and principles in the Chaiities SORP.. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.. stale whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts.. and prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the tharity will continue in operation. The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any titne Ihe financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hen￿ for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. C Cooney (Chair) Date.