Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind Year ended 31 July 2023 Opinion We have audited the financial ststements of Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 July 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities. statement of financial position and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland {United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion the financial statements: glve a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affalrs as at 31 July 2023 and of its incoming resources and applilxtion of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended., have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice: have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. Basls for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAS (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditorfs responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK. including the FRC'S Ethical Standard, and wa have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going concem In auditing the financial ststements. we have concluded that the trustees, use of the going concern basis of accounting In the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identtfied any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively. may cast significant doubt on the charity'5 ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concem are described in the relevant section5 of this report. Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind Independent Auditorfs Report to the Members of Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind (continued) Year ended 31 July 2023 Other information The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report. we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements. our responsibility is to read the other information and. in doing so. Gonsider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements. we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other infomiation. If. based on the worf( we have performed. we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. Matters on which we are required to report by exception In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees, report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 requires us to report to you rf, in our opinion: the information given in the trustees, report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements: or adequat8 accounting records have not been k8Pt', or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and retums- or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. Rosponsibilities of trustees As explained more fully in the trustees, responsibilities statement. the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such intemal control as the trustees delermine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement. whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to Continue as a going concern, disclosing. as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concem basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to Cease operations. or have no r8alistic alternativ8 but to do so. Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind feontlnu8d) Year ended 31 July 2023 Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to inftuence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud. are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities. including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting Irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following= the nature of the industry and sector. control environment and business performance including the design of the remuneration policies. key drivers for directors, remuneration. bonus levels and performance targets: results of our enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities- any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed documentation of their policies and procedures relating to: identifying. evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether management were aware of any instances of non-compliance., detecling and responding to the risks of fraud and whether management have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud- the internal controls estsblished to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations. the matters discussed among the audit engagement team including significant component audit teams and relevant intemal specialists. including tax and valuations specialists regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud. As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud. In common with all audits under ISAS (UK), we are also required to perfomi specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks in operation, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on th8 detemiination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included ongoing compliance with the UK Companies Act and tax legislation. In addition. we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compllance with which may be fundamental for their ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind (continued) Year ended 31 July 2023 As part of an audit in accordance with ISAS (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also.. Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements. whether due to fraud or error, design and perfonn audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstaternent resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations. or the override of internal control. Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstsnces, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of Ihe intemal control. Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policias us8d and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees. Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees, use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. If we Conclude that a material Un￿rtaInty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or. rf such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtsined up to the date of our auditor's report. However. future events or conditions may cause the charity to ￿ase to continue as a going concem. Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statamants, including the disclosures, and whether the financial ststements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation. 10 Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Ulster Society for Promoting the Education of the Deaf and the Blind (contlnuedj Year ended 31 July 2023 We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters. the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings. including any significant deficiencies in ntemal control that we identfy during our audlt. Use of our report This report is made solely to the charity's members, as a body. in accordan￿ with section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditorfs report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the Charity's members as a body. for our audit work. for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Paul Dolan (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Finegan Gibson Ltd Chartered accountants & statutory auditor Causeway Tower 9 James Street South Belfast BT2 8DN 21 May 2024 11