Page 1 Belfast Masonic Widows. Fund Annual Report of the Trustees and General Comrnittee Y•ar Ended 31 December 2023 The Trustees and General Committee have pleasure in presenting their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. The Trustees and General Committee have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accountirig and Reporting by Charities. (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charily. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies sel out in notes to the financial statements and comply with the Charit$ goveming document, the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 2013, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons (Northern Ireland) 2015, Accouniing and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practlce applicable to charilies preparfng their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable In the UK and Republic of Iraland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Tru8te88 of the charfty The trustees who have serve(I during the year were as follows: Bro M Cleland Bro H Botiomley Bro S Nicholson Bro J Morrow Charlty r•f•rnnc• and admlnlstratlve detalls Charity registration number: 102661 Reglstered office.. 49 Main Street, Ballyclare, BT39 9AA Independent examlner GMCG, Chartered Accountants & Registered Audltor, Alfred House, 19 Alfred Street. Belfast. BT2 8EQ Hewitt & Gilpin, 8 High Street. Holywood. 8T18 9AZ AIB, 11115 Donegall Square North, Belfast, BT1 SGB Evelyn Partners, The Ewart, 3 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7EP Solicitor: Bankers: Investment managers: Objectlves and actlvltles The objects of the Fund shall be deemed to afford assistancè to needy, deserving, destitute, or indigent Freemasons or their families or the dependants of deceased Ffeemasons by grants of money or other such means as the General Committee may find best sulted to the needs of the applicants. Publlc beneflts The provisions of benefits to achleving the purpose of the Trust's objectlves as follows.. To provide and afford in necessitous circumstances, financial asslstance by means of grants of monies to eligible Freemasons or their families (wives. civil partners, sons. daughters, grandchildren) to include the dependants (widow, civil partner, mother. daughter5. sons. grandchildren) of deceased Freemasons for the relief of poverty and social exclusion., What the Trust does: The Trust affords asslsiance to needy Freemasons or their families or the dependanls of deceased Freemasons by grant of money or such other means as may be best suited to the needs of the applicants. Publlc beneflt slatement The Trustees and General Committee of Belfast Masonlc Wldows, Fund confirm that they have had due regard for the guidance on Public Benefit by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland and are pleased to report that during 2023 Ihe charity has continued to provide Public Benefits Ihrough financial and olher means of assistance.
Page 2 Belfast Masonic Widows, Fund Annual Report of the Trustees and General Cornmittee (contlnu•d) Yoar Endad 31 Dacombor 2023 Achlevement8 and performance Total income for the year was £62,770 {2022.. £51.578). Investm8nts are held by Evelyn Brothers as discretionary nominees. There has been a gain of £2.514 (2022: £78.890 loss) on disposals and revaluation of investment assets. Total expenditure for the year amounted to £62.187 (2022: £65.630). The net income for the year amounted to £3.097 (2022: net expenditure £92.942). The Trustees and General Committee wlll report in (lue course on any changes to the investmenl strategy or asset structure as necessary, to contlnue their 'duty of care, and to fuSfi1 their obligations in respect of the underlying assets. Flnanclal rev1 (Includlng resorves pollcy) Raserves poll¢y It is the policy of the charity to maintain free reserves which matches the needs of the fund, both at the current time and in the foreseeable future. This provides sufficient funds to cover running costs which include management, administration and support costs. Free reserves are those unrestricled reserves not designated nor invested in fixed assets which are available for general use. As at 31 December 2023, the charity has total funds of £1.240,799 (2022.. £1,237,702) of which endowment funds are £1,071,335 {2022: £1,068,821) and unrestriGted furKls are £169,464 (2022: £168,881). Fundlng The Fund was not actively seeking subscriptions and donations, and funding was primarily from investment income. Plans for futuro perlod8 The Trustees and General Commiltee plan lo Continue to provide financial assistance and support to brethren or their families in need under the terms of the rules of the Fund. The merger of the fund with Belfast Masonic Charity Fund remains under review. Structure, governance and managomont Governin document The lund which was eslablished in 1873. Is governed by a constitution, and is registered as a charity wilh The Charity Commlssion for Northern Ireland from 1 * June 2015. Recruitment a ointment induction and trainin The present General Committee has been involve(l in the charity for a number of years and so are familiar with its work. The General Committee regularly review the requirements of the charity and the possibility of a need for additional trustees or members of the management commillee. Any new trustees or members of the Management Committee would be elected by the General Committee. Appropriate training and induction is available to all trustees and members of the Management Committee, nis tional stwcture and related arties There are 3 trustees and a Management Commlttee. Jolnt Management Committee meetings are held with the Belfast Masonic Charity Fund. Risk mana emenl The Trustees and General Committee have assessed the major risks to whlch the charity Is exposed. In particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity. and are sat15fied that systems are in place to mltigale ari exposure to major rlsks. Where approprlate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Intemal control rlsks are mlnimised by the implementation of procedures for aulhorisalion of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of officers, volunteers and applicants. These procedures are periodically reviewed at least annually to ensu that they continue to meet the needs of the charity.
Page 3 B•lfast Magonlc Vvldows. Fund Annual Report of tho Trn8t•és and General Commlttee Icofttlnued) Yèar Endèd 31 Dècember 2023 SIrtUr•. goveman¢• and mf4nag•ment (contlnued) ie Thére are 3 Iru8te8s and a Manau8rngnt Commlttee. Jolnt Management Commlttee meetlngs are held wllh the Bella81 Masonlc Charlty Fund. Rlsk m The Trustees and General Commlttee have assessed the major rlsks to whlch the charlty Is exposed. In partrcular those related to the operaiions and ljnances of the charlty, and are satisfied Ihat systamJ5 are In place lo mStlg8te an exposure to major rlsk8. VKfftere appn>prlale, systems or procedures have been establlshed to mlllgale the r18ks Ihe charlty faces. Internal control risks are mlnlmlsed by the Implemenlallon ol procedures lor author18alion of 811 Irara¢ll0n8 and pr*cts. Procedures aré in place to ensurè ¢ompllance with heallh and Safety of offK6r8. volunteers and appllcants. These procedures are perlodlcally reviewed at least annually to 8nsure that they contlnua to meei the needs ol the charlty. Trusl•es' and Gon•r•l CommlttO0'8 reopon8lbllltl6a It 18 the re8ponBlbllty ol the Honorary Trea$ui•r. at th? beh68t of the Trusteas, to preparé financlal 81aiemant8 In 8c¢ordance wlth ?pp51c9ble law and Uniled Klngdorn Afxountlng Sl8nd8rds (United Klngdom Generally Accepted Accounllng Pracllce). The law appllcable to eharltles In Northem Ireland requlres the Iru8tee8 to prepare financlal slatemenls for èach finan¢lal year whlch glve a Ifue ands falr vlew of Ihe state ol affalr8 01 Ihe charlty and of ihe In¢oming resource8 and appllcatlon of re80urc88 of Ihe charlty fu perlod. In preparlng Ihese financial stalement8, the trustees aro roqulrad to., 8eleGI 8ultable accoun(Ing poll¢les and then oppty them ¢on¥lstentty; ob8eNe the molhods and prlndpl88 In Ihe Charllles SORP 2019 {FRS 1021; make Judgements and estimate8 that are feasonablo and prudent; state whether oppllcable accounllng stsnd?S have been followed, subjecl to any material dep8rture8 disdojed and oxplalned In the financlal 8tatemen18: and prepare the finandal staiements on the golng concern basls unless 11 ts InapprOal6 to pre8um8 thal the cttarty wlll ¢ontinue In operatlon. The Truslees and General Commlttee are re8ponslble for keeplng kyoper accounling records thai dlsclosè with reasonable accura¢y al any lime ihe financlal poslllon of Ihe charlty and enable Ihem to en$ure that the finandal 8tatements ¢omWy wllh the ¢h8rwes Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. Ihe Charftle8 {Ac¢ounts and Report8) Regulatlon8 (Northem Ireland) 201 S And th8 provl8lon$ ol the trust deed. Th8y are also responslNe lor Safeguarding the a88et8 of Ihe charity and h8n¢e for taklng reasonable 8teP8 for the prevention and deleGtIDn of fraud and other Irregularltles. The Tw8tees and G¢n¢ral Committee are responslble lor tho malntenance and Inte9rlty ol Ihe charlty and flnancS8l Informatlon Included on th• chafty's web31te. Leglslatlon In Ihe United Kingdom wvwnlng the pffjparatlon d188emlnallon of financlal statemenls m8y diffor from leglslatlon In otherlurlsdltlions. On behalf of the Tw8lee8 and General Comltt H Botlomley Truste0