Belfast City Mission Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) Year ended 28 February 2023 The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, presenl their report and the financial stalements ol the charity lor the year ended 28 February 2023. Reference and administrative details Registered chariiy name Belfast City Mission Charity regislration number 102621 Company registration number R0000079 Principal off Ice and reglstered Belfast City Mission Assembly Buildings off Sce 2-10 FisheNick place Belfast BT1 6DW Northern Ireland The trustees Mr R Armour Mr H Thompson Rev D Bannerman Mr W Logan Mr J Douglas Mr T Irwin Rev J Maddock Rev G McKeown Rev A Smyth Mr R Woods (Resigned 1 June 20231 (Resigned 1 June 20231 (Resigned 20 July 2023} Company secretary William Logan Auditor Hill Vellacolt Chartered accountants & statutory auditor 22 Great Victoria Street Bellasl BT2 7BA
Belfast City Mission Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (¢ontlnued) Year ended 28 February 2023 Structure, governance and management Belfast City Mission is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. It is legally known lor the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the City ol Belfast. Governing Body The Governing Body of Belfast City Mission is responsible for oversight of the business and the Christian ethos of our work. Governing Document The Belfast 'Town' Mission was founded in 1827. The name of the Mission changed in 1918 to Belfasl City Mission Ilncorporaledl as a Limited Company under the Companies Act 1908 - 1912. Memorandum and Articles of Association were updated on 2 May 1997. Appointmenl of Governors Eighteen governors are elected every three years at our annual board meeting in April prior lo the annual meeling of Bellasl City Mission. Managemenl Responsibility for the day to day running of Ihe Belfast City Mission lies wilh the executive secretary along with the superintendent's board. Membership or organisation A member of the British Association of City Missions. Trustees and helpers All Trustees and helpers in our 16 halls give of Iheir services wilhout payment or expenses. Objeclives and activilies The work of the Bellasl Cily Mission continues with the purpose of reaching people from all classes and creeds with the good news of the Gospel. Mission halls in various districts across Belfast hold meetings which caler for all age groups throughout the week. Special emphasis is placed on our Midweek and Sunday evening services to proclaim God's Word. Organisalions such as Sunday School, youth clubs, Boys and Girls Brigade provide much of the work done with young people. Mums and Tots, homework clubs and breakfast clubs are also popular in some dislricts as a way ol building relationships with families.
Belfast City Mission Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating Ihe Director's Report) (continuedj Year ended 28 February 2023 Slralegic report The following sections for achievements and performance and financial review form Ihe strategic report of the charity. Achlevements and performance The past twelve months saw the work of Belfast City Mission Continue to achieve its objectives by taking the good news of the gospel to the needy people of Belfast. In a number of our halls attendances have improved, with one hall seeing its attendance more than doubling in number. This was due to a Missionary being appointed fulltime to Ihe district. We had two retirements during the year and two missionaries also resigned. Thankfully we have been able to appoint two new staff members to offset this. One hall {Kilburn Street) sadly had to close due to it being deemed as a fire risk by the insurance company. This leaves BCM with 15 halls spread across the city. Our work continues to grow amongst refugees and foreign nationals who have made Belfast their home. Weekly English classes are held regularly in one of our halls. Following the Pandemic some ol our halls continued to serve food and hand out food parcels to the most disadvantaged families in Belfast. The Foodbank in our Sandy Row District was once again very busy providing food to clients from across Belfast. Our Missionafies continue to source furniture for families and offer other practical help where needed. The Annual Christmas Appeal was supported by over 100 churches allowing us to distribute food hampers, toys, chocolates and gilt cards lo many lamilies and individuals. Work amongst the children continued to flourish. Sunday Schools, after schools clubs, youth clubs and football camps attracted large numbers throughout the year. Much ol the work of BCM is personal and involves home visitation within districls as well as visits lo those in hospital and in nursing homes. The main emphasis of our work is taking the gospel message to the people of Belfast. This continues to be done through meetings in the halls, children's work and knocking on doors in the fifteen districts. In the past year God has once again provided for our financial needs with the accounts showing a surplus due mainly to legacy income. We look forward wilh great expeclancy to the year that lies ahead lo see what God will do in Belfast. Additional objectives and activities We are so thankful for the time given to our aclivilies and objectives by our Missionaries and our helpers throughout the year without payment or expenses.
Belfast City Mission Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees, Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continuedj Year ended 28 February 2023 Financial review Delails of the resulls for Ihe period are sel out in the statement ol financial activities on page 10 and the relaled notes. Investment policy and returns Belfast City Mission investments are managed by Kleinwort Hambros and Smilh & Williamson Stockbrokers and were valued at £1,410,576 as at 28 February 2022. During the past financial period, we have received dividend income from these investments totalling £26,238. The finance of Belfast City Mission is wholly dependent on voluntary contributions received from people across the Province. The generosity of these gifts allows the Mission to carry oul its work. As always we are thankful lor those who continue to support us both prayertully and practically. Our main source ol income this year has been our offerings from our Mission Halls and Churches and individual donations from across Northern Ireland. Reserves We need in Ihe region of £600,000 per annum lo keep us afloat, which up until 202112022 we had received year on year. In 202112022 we received £677,17212020121: £596,555). At 28 February 2023 Ihe charity held funds of £3,678,975. Of this £3,410,011 can only be realised by disposing of tangible fixed assels or investments. In 202112022 we are gratelul lor the bequests we have received towards our work which increased significanlly on the previous year. Plans tor future periods Our plan lor the future is to continue to reach out and work in our capita5 city among all ol our citizens regardless of class, culture or creed with the Gospel of Christ. To continue to promole our work as best as we can across Northern Ireland to bring in further voluntary donations to keep our Charity alloal. Partnership with PCI is also being looked at in order to work together on mutual projects. Tax status The company has been accepted as constituting a charity under the provisions of the Taxes Acls. Trustees. responsibilities statement The truslees, who are also direclors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the trustees, report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Belfast City Mission Trustees, Annual Report (conflnued) Year ended 28 February 2023 The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the charity trustees to prepare financial stalements for each 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 Ihe chariiy lor that period. In preparing these financial stalements, the trustees are required to: select suitable accounling policies and then apply them consislently., observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP- make judgments and accounting estimales that are reasonable and prudent. state whether applicable UK Accounling Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. prepare the financial statements on Ihe going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are suflicient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the chariiy and enable them to ensure that the financial stalements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assels of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and deteclion of fraud and olher irregularities. The trustees, annual reFX)rt was approved on 30 November 2023 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by.. Mr W Logan Trustee