CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 102764
Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the
Deaf and the Blind
Financial Statements
31 July 2023
Finegan Gibson Ltd
Chartered accountants & statutory auditor
Causeway Tower
9 James Street South
Belfast
BT2 8DN

Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the
Blind
Financial Statements
Year ended 31 July 2023
Page
Trustees, annual report
Independent auditorfs report to the members
Statement of financial activities
12
ststement of financial position
13
Notes to the financial statements
14
The following pages do not form part of the financial statements
Detailed statement of financial activities
26
Notes to the detailed statement of financial activities
28

Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the
Blind
Trustees. Annual Report
Year ended 31 July 2023
The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended
31 July 2023.
Reference and administratlve detsils
Regislered charlty name
Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind
Charity registration number
102764
Principal office
Jordanstown School
85 Jordanstown Road
Newtownabbey
The Irustees
Fr P D8vlin
Mrs D Byrne
Mr J Carberry
Mrs J Dixon
Mr P Johnston
Rev G Jordan
Mrs M Matthews
Mrs C Magowan
Ms R A Dempsey
Mr M Carson
Mr C Cahalane
Dr C Carbery
Mr C McGrady
Mrs D Roulley
Mrs K Mullan
Mrs A Magee
Mr B Symington
MrA Carey
(Resigned 21 February 2023)
(Resigned 22 February 2023)
(Appointed 23 May 2023)
(Appointed 23 May 2023)
(Appointed 23 May 2023)
(Appointed 23 May 20231
(Appointed 19 September 2023)
Auditor
Finegan Gibson Ltd
Chartered accountants & ststutory auditor
Causeway Tower
9 James Street South
Belfast
BT2 8DN
Bankers
Ulster Bank
2 Farmley Road
Glengormley
Antrim
BT36 7QU
Danske Bank
PO Box 183
Donegall Square West
Belfast
BT16JS

Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the
Blind
Trustees. Annual Report (eontInu￿)
Year ended 31 July 2023
Sollcltors
Johns Elliot
40 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BA
Structureg governance and management
The Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind Is a corporate body under
the Educational Endowments (Ireland) Act 1885.
The Board of Trustees are responsible for the strategic management of the charty. The Board of
Trustees and names of principal advisers are set out at the Trustees Report.
The Board appoints all new trustees based on selection criteria. which ensures that collectively it
maintains a broad range of relevant skills and experience.
The trustees have the overall responsibility for the system of internal control for the charity. which
includes ensuring that there are reasonable practices in place for the prevention and detection of fraud
and other irregularities. However. such a system can provide only reasonable. but not absolute.
assurance against errors and fraud.
Significant risks are highlighted for consideration and monitoring by the Board. All major risks to which
the charity is exposed, which have been identified by these procedures, are continually reviewed.
Systems have been implemented to mitigate these risks and are continually developed or enhanced.
Risk assessment is carried out regulady.
Objectives and activltles
The primary objective of the charity is to promote the education of the deaf and the blind. This is
currentty done primarily through the provision of financial support to a school based in Jordanstown
which teaches children with sen50ry loss both at primary and post-primary level. The Society owns the
land and buildings at Jordanstown School.
The Society in general and the Board of Trustees are mindful that the Society is a charity and that the
Trustees have particular responsibilities as Trustees of a charity. This includes having regard to
guidance issued by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland in relation to public benefit. The
Board of Trustees of the Society met eight times during the year.
Meetings were dominated by funding issues in relation to the development of the school and the
funding of specific projects l areas of work within the school. There was also a strong foGus on the
implementation of a Strategic Plan for the Society including the appointment of a Chief Ex8CUtive in
November 2022, who would take forward the further development of the strategic plan under the
direction of the Board of Trustees.
A Finance Subcommittee, comprising of five Trustees, met before each Board Meeting to review the
finances including the investments of the Society. At the following Board Meeting a full report of such
review was given. As and when needed the Finance Subcommittee sought professional advice. In
March 2023 a decision was taken that the full Trustee Board should have responsibility for finance
issues and the Finance Subcommittee did not meet after this decision.

Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the
Blind
Trustees. Annual Report (¢on¢lnu
Year ended 31 July 2023
Achievements and performanca
The Society as owner of the school buildings at Jordanstown continues to liaise with the School Board
to ensure that not only are the buildings fit for purpose but are maintained to the highest standard of
repair and condition for the use of the pupils teachers and staff of Jordanstown School. Insofar as
ongoing costs are not recoverable from the Education Authority. such costs are met by the Society.
The Trustees. having regard to CCNI'S public benefit requirements, continue to work closely with the
Board of Governors with the shared aim of ensuring that Jordanstown School continues to be a Centre
of excellence delivering specialist educational support to meel the unique needs of children and young
people with sensory loss. With this in mind the Society has continued to provide the additional funding
needed by the School to enable it to maintain its high standards.
In th8 year to 31 July 2023, the Society funded a range of projects within the school including..
Sign Language Assistants for the support of deaf pupi15 throughout the school
Communication Support Assislants to also promote increase use and competence in BSL for
students and staff
A full-time teacher with responsibility for Curriculum. Careers and Transition
The running costs of a 7-seater car for use in such ventures as attendance of pupils at courses in
other schools and colleges to enhance learning opportunilies.
The provision of habilitation support for visually impaired pupils by Guide Dog5 UK
The costs associated with the provision of accredited BSL qualifications for teaching and support
staff.
The provision and maintenance of specialist equipment
In January 2023, the Society changed how it supports the School and its pupils and currently provides
grants to the school rather than directly fund particular projects. This change in approach was
welcomed by the School Govemors. Principal and staff.
The original Boarding Department building continues to thrive as a nursery for pre-school children on
weekday mornings and an after-school club during week day aftemoons. The nursery is independently
operated by Sense. The National Deafolind and Rubella Association. a registered charity. The
after-school club is operated by Sense under a Joint Venture agreement led by Jordanstown School
with support from the Bright start scheme. This ensures full use of School buildings and provides a
very valuable service for children with an auditory or vision impairment and increases the reach of the
Society in terms of the number and profile of beneficiaries.
Increasing the reach of the Society is a core principle of the Gurrent strategic plan and the appointment
of the Society's first employee in November 2022 was designed to ensure the operationalisation of the
strategic plan. During this period Ihe Chief Executive has developed, with approval from Trustees a
governance and reporting framework to enable the safe and effective expansion of work, both in terms
of geographical reach and age rang8 of beneficiaries, whilst maintaining key charitable objectives.
The Trustees continue to review and update their policies and procedures. The central register of
interests was maintained and the data register updated regularly.
The Board of Trustees continues to review their plans and projects in line with their mission statement
The Ulster Society will continuously strive to empower people with sensory loss to achieve their
unique potential and optimise their independence through the provision of excellent education and
other supports in partnership with other quality service providers.,

Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the
Blind
Trustees, Annual Report (contlnued)
Year ended 31 July 2023
Financial review
The net incomelexpenditure and movement on funds for the year after charging all expenses
amounted to a loss of £276,675 (2022: £662.862).
Income is received in the form of dividends from a portfolio of investments managed by Brewin
Dolphin, Investec and also shares managed by the Department for Communities as part of the
Northern Ireland Central Investment Fund for Charities. Bank deposit interest also forms part of the
annual income for the charity.
Summary of the main income streams.,
Dividend income £320.603 {2022: 235,027)
Bank deposit interest £3,040 (2022.. £2,606)
Sensory Learning Support income £- (2022: £23.280)
Education Authority £66.732 (2022: £121,464)
Summary of the main items of expenditure;
Brewin Dolphin management fee £37,133 (2022: £39.101)
Investec management fee £6,524 {2022: £7.042)
Charitable Activities - Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind £570.110 (2022- £377,849)
Support Costs - Administration £3.122 (2022: £63,583)
Governance- Audit Fees £7,592 (2022: £6,738)
Bank interest and charges £246 (2022: £184)
Depreciation £153.054 (2022.. £169.329)
Losses on listed investments -£69,410 (2022: .£560.292)
ReseThes Pollcy
Reserves are the part of a charivs unrestricted funds that are freely available to spend on any of the
charity's purposes. This definition excludes restricted income funds and endowment funds. although
holding such funds influence5 our ￿SerVeS policy. Our General Reserves also exclude tangible fixed
assets such as land. buildings and other assets held for the Society's use. It also excludes amounts
designated for essential future spending. The Society has various types of funds for which it is is
responsible, and which are separately held to meel the charitable objectives of the Society.
The Trustees retain surplus reserves in order to be able to respond in a timely fashion to the changing
needs of Ihe School, given the limited resources made available from Ihe Education Authority. In
addition to their existing commitments, the Trustees may be required to fund additional teachers,
support staff or equipment. The reserves policy is reviewed annually by the Trustees to ensure it
meets the current requirements and circumstances of the charity.

Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the
Blind
Trustees. Annual Report fcontiTnuedJ
Year ended 31 July 2023
Plans for future periods
In line with good governance The Society has in place a strategic plan. which is operationalised on an
annual basis. The work of The Society is determined based upon the agreed plans and identified
need in line with the organisation's constitution.
Work continues on implementing, reviewing and updating these plans and The Society appointed a
Chief Executive to take foNard future development based upon this framework and under the
direction of the Board of Trustees. There will be a specific focus on extending the reach of The Society
beyond Jordanstown School and its pupils both in terms of age and geographical basis.
The Society, in the pursuit of its aim of providing excellent education and other supports for people
with a sensory loss, considers it important to build relationships with other entities having similar aims
for the purpose of sharing ideas and experiences. The Chief Executive has taken part in a number of
formal and informal partnerships representing the Society and ifs work and mission.
It is vital that the Society and the School maintain a close working ￿latIonShIp to ensure that The
Society remains responsive to the needs of beneficiaries. The processes to secure this will be kept
under continual review.
The Society considers it important to ensure that it has a high profile in the local community and will
use all endeavours to secure this by means of ne￿OrkIng with a range of Gommunity-based
organisations, informing them about the Society and its work and hosting appropriate events where
possible.
The Society will work with the school to plan for future developments relating to the unique needs of
the school and its pupils and in line with the strategic intentions of the Board of Governors and
Principal.
Trustees. responsibilities statement
The trustees 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).
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the Charity trustees to prepare financial
statements 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 the charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements. the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.,
observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP.,
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent.,
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume
that the charity will continue in business.

Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the
Blind
Trustees. Annual Report (Gonlinuedj
Year ended 31 July 2023
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sulricient to show and
explain the charity's transactions and 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 trustees, annual report was approved on 21 May 2024 and signed on behalf of the board of
trustees by..
Fr P Devlin
Trustee