ort of the Trustees r the Year En ed 31 Marcli 023 Tlie tru%tees wlio al-e also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Coinpanies Act 2006, preseiit their i-eport witli tlie financial stateinents of the charity for the year ended 31 Mai'ch 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisioi)s of Accounting aiid Reporting by Cliarities.. Stateinent of Recomineiided Practice applicable to cliarities preparing tlieir accounts in accordance witli tlie Financial Reporting Standai'd appl icable iii tlie UK aiid Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019). OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims Blackie River Cointniinity Groups is a registered charity wliich seeks to etnpower the resTdcnts of the Blackie River by facilitating and developing community development activity which enables Ihein lo celebrate Iheii. creativity aiid culture, develop their skills, enliance their self-esteein, play a full and equal role in society, aiid secure the social aiid ecoiiolnic regeneratioii of their area. Significant 2Ctivitle5 I'lie B lackie River Coinmuiiity Groups aiins: To promote tlie beiiefit of tlie inhabitaiits of Ilie Blackie River ai'ea and the eiivir0115 of Ilie Greater Belfast ai-ea (liei-eiiiafter described as the 'area of beiiefit") witliout distiiiction of age, gender, racc, political, i-eligioiis or otlier opiiiioii, by associatioii stattjtory authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabilants in a coininon effoi'l to advaiice educatioii, I'el ieve poverty and to provide facilities iii the interest of soc ial welfarc foi. rccrcatioii and leisui'e time occiipation, with ihe object of improving the conditions of life foi. Ilie .said iiiliabitants. To proinote cooperatioii bctwecii local cominuniiy groups with tlic object of iinproving the conditioiis of life for Ilie inliabitaiits iii the ai'ea of beiiefit To proinote and coord iiiate conimunity developinent by eiiliaiiciiig the local social intrastrLlCture tlii'oiigh: support, traiii ing aiid resource provision.
ort of the Tru.stees OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIEI S Public benefit Purpose A Tlie dii'ect benefit wliich flows from purpose A iiicludes iinproved education outcoiiies reduction ii) povei'ty, aiid to provide faci lities in tlie interest of social welfai-e for I'ecieation and leisure tinie occupation, with ihe objecl of improviiig tlie conditions of life of resideiits within Blackie River Area (Beechmouiil ward) and tl)e widci. Greater Belfast area. Tliese benefits are evideiiced through our pi'ogi'ainmes, initiatives and serv ices being Inoiiitoring aiid evaluated by all paiticipants. Tlic pui-posc of thc chai-ity Inay lead to the following liarm of personal injury tlirough some of our educational programmes, daycar¢ provision ai)d lieallli progi'amme but we cali demoiistrate that this harin is greatly reduced thorough our risk tnanageinent policy aiid procedures aiid tlie benefits to the servicc users outweigli any of the I'isks. Tl)e ¢liarities beiieficiaries are tlie iiihabitaiits of tlie Beeclimouiit ward, Greater Falls dj'ed lind tlie enviro115 of the Greater Belfast Area. Tlie oiily private beiiefit f]owing froin the purpose is tlie skil ling up of staff and tlic salary which tliey receive aiid tliis is iiicidental aiid iiecessary to ruli ali orgaiiisatioii whicli operates to tlie cliildcare staiidards, ediicatioii skills autliority, fundiiig requiremeiits. Purpose B Tlie direct beiicfit wli icli flows from piii-pose B iiicludes pi'omoting coopei'ation betweeii local cominLlllIty groups witli tlie obje¢t of iinproving the conditions of life for tlie ii)habiiaiits iii the area of benefit The.se benefils al'e evidenced tlirougli en8ageinent witli local residents tliroiigli surveys, canvasses and questioniiaires. It is furtlier evideiiced throiigli the i)articipation oli local and regional foTuins aiid parliierships. Tlie purposL of the cliarily may lead to tlie fol lowiiig liarm of m isrepreseiiting an individiial bLIt wai cali evidence that all tlie informatioii wliicl) we di.qcuss in foruins comes froin aiialysiiig Ilie data wli i¢li we liave col lected. The chai'ilies beneficiaries al'e the inhabitants of the BeeLI)mount ward, Greater Fal Is area and tlie eiivirons of tlie Cjreaiei. Belfast Area. The only private beIiefit flowing froin the purpose is the skilling up of staff ai)d Ihe salary wliicli tliey receive and iliis is iiTrcidental and iidLessary io riin an orgaii isation wliich operates lo tlie cli i Idcai'e .standards, cdiicatioii skills autliority, fundiiig rcqiiireiT)eiits. Purpose C Tlie d irect beiiefit wliicli flows from purpose B includes promotiiig and coordiiiate cominunity developnient by enliaiicing tlie local social iiifrastructure througli: support, traiiiing and resoLirc¢ provision. Tliese benefits are evidenced tlirougli engageiiient with local residents through surveys. caiivasse5 and questioiinaires. The purpose of tlie charity Inay lead to tlie following Iiarm of ni isrepresenting an individual bul H'as cali evidence tliat all ilie information wliicli we disciiss in forums coines from analysing the data wli icli we have CDI Iccled. The cli8rities beneficiaries al'e the inhabitanls of the Beechmouiit ward, Greater Fal Is area and tlie envii'ons of Ilie Greater Belfast Area. The only private benefit flowiiig froiii tlie purpose is Ilie skilling up of statf and tlie salai'y whicli tliey receive and this is iiicidental and necessary to run an organisation which opeTat¢s to the childcai'e standards, education skills aLilhority, fundiiig requ ireiiients. Blackie River ComiMuii ity Groiip works with local residents to ensure that quality and coiiditioiis of housiiig witliin the local area al'e up to staiidard. the past we successfully lobbied for new housing as thcre was a substantial ajnouiit of liouses witli outside toilets and environinental issues. We su¢ccssful got th¢ area vested and iiew 21st ceiitury liousing built. We i-uii a variety of educational classes which both upskills people and also coinbal social isolatioii. We have succe55tul ruli a level 5 Childcare managcment course wliich means that there are now 14 local people wlio can now Inanage a day-care setting.
eRi ort of the Trustees or the Year nded 31 Marc STRATEGIC REPORT Aehievemtnt and perforrnanee Charitable activities Oui. charity fouiid it.self like inany others in difficult finaiicial tiines tliis yeai. diie to the ciii'reiit Cost of Liviiig Ci'isis. We liave been applying for exteriial fundiiig to dl levidte fiiiaiiLial pressures wh ich is ongoing. were eventually successful in lobbying for a finai)cial assistaiice package froin tlie government which has went soine way to help our situation. While the charity lias i)ot yet undertaken any public fuiidraisiiig initiatives, we have beeii successful in seekiiig ai)d receiviiig grant fiindiiig ainoLinting to £ 1,015,759 for this yeai. ei)ding March 2023. The bi-eakdowii of restricted -antS funding cali be seen on Note i of the accounts. Tlie fund ing received assisted tlie charity in contiiiiiing witli our aiiiis aiid objectives. offering vital 8ervices 111 OLlf comiiiuiiity 5ucli as= providing fii-st class affordable cliild care, supporting cliild development. providiiig support to chi Idren with additional needs, proinotiiig Coiymunity led education tl)rougli lifelong learn iiig. pi'ovid ing cultural aiid arts prograniilles, working 011 the regeneratioii of the area and working Witli our coniinuiiity partnci's iii tli¢ Gr¢atei' Falls Neighboui-hood Partiiership Area Reserves Policy The cliarity's pol loy is to rctain a level of free rescrves, wliich Inatclies tlie needs of the organisalioii botli at tlie CLirreiit tiine aiid in tlie foreseeable futui'e. The cliariiy has developed a plan to establ isli aiid iiiaiiitain tliis agi'ccd level of fl-ee I'eserves. Tlie cliarity will contlllLie to monitor coiiipl iaiic¢ witli th is po l icy on a regiilar basis aiid the Board will review the appropriateness of tlie policy annually. Financial revie Tlie coinpany had net oiitgoing I'esour¢es for tlie year of £54,017 (2022.. net outgoing resources ot £24,280). wliich I'cflected tlie ¢ompletion of a nuinber of projects dui'ing the yea].. Uiirestrirt¢d fLiiids decreased by £3 8,717, wlii Ic rcstricted fLinds decreas¢d by £24,280.
ortofl e Ti"ustces STRATEGIC REPORT Future plans The biggest clialleiige foi. lis is going to be sustainiiig ourselves througli tliis current panden)ic and the curreiit cost of living cris is. The strategic priority will be sustainabil ity. We aim to continLie to improve oui. biisiiiess / finaiice model and coinmuiiity development outcomes, to conliiiu¢ to develop a slToiig board aiid to inspire and professioiialism to our staff. Iii terms of siistaiiiabil ity we liave.. Secured the tliird tender for tl)e West Belfast Healtli & Wellbeing Prograiiiine. 2. Souglit fLinding for aji exteiision. 3. Secured plaiiiiing pei'missioii for oui. car park aiid are in the process of Vestiiig tlie laiid and secliring flinding to renovate it. 4. Developing a sustainable eiiergy plaii, poteiitial solar and battei'y energy. For tlie strategic priority of scrvicc dclivcr l. We aiin to coiitiiiue to provide first class services to tlie omniiinity iii tlie fie Ids of cliild-¢are, edLicatioii, al't aiid culture, Iiealth, youtli and older services aiid liave seciii'ed the status of Centre of excellence, For tlie sti-ategic prioi'ity of iiifi'astructure.. We aiin to impi'ove tlie service available iii tlie Beecliinouiil area by lobbying foi. tlie impi'oved faci lities. Exainples of tli is are.. l. 'I'he development of Si James Farin, Tlie contaiiied lobbyiiig for- tlie Beechmount Triangle site, tlie car pai'k aiid th¢ extens ion to the Blackic River Commiinity Gi'oup. 2. Extra piovision of al ley gates. 3. Workiiig with tlie Davills GAC to provide indoor sports provision. 4. Assistiiig Wi Ilowbank rc with a iiew 3G pitcli. 5. Establishment of a Social Superinarkct, delivciing food vouchers and wi'aparoiiiid suppoi't to 270 faiiiilies STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMEN'r Governing do¢vmeDt Tlie charity is coiitrolled by it5 goveriiiiig docuinent, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited coinpany. liinitcd by guarantee, as defiiied by the Companies Act 2006. Governance of the Charity Dui'iiig tlie period under review the directors met bi-lnoiitlily. Triist¢es/directors are appoiiited by iiomiiiatioiis made in writiiig by any existing dir¢ctor. At th¢ Genei'al Meeting nominated directors are appointed by election.
lac iv ni e ort of the Trustees for the Year End d 31 arcli 2023 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MAIYAGEMENT Risk management 'I"lie principles of good govei'nance are embedded witliiii all aspects of Blackic River Coinmunity Group Liillited operations witli Inaiiagejneiit aiid staff being keeiily aware of tlie Boards responsibility of eiisui'ing tliat the organisalion protects itself froin finaiicial exposure and reputatioiial dainage. A close workiiig relationsliip is mainlaiiied between the Board and Inaiiagement to ensui'e that opei-ational ly staff al'e aware uf tlie standards required of thein by tlie Boai'd and the Board are always in a positioii to provide giiidance and siipporl to managemeiit in Ilie dis¢liarge of their duties. Tliis iwo way relatioiiship is tlie key featur¢ of Blackie Riiier Cominuiiity Gi'oup Liimiled governance ai'raiigeinents and is a key streiigtli iii the coimpaiiy. A conscieiitious appi'oaeli to ensuriiig tliat contractual projeLt requirements are aLliieved has beei) Inaintained al all tiine5 botli in tlie accouiitiiig period being reported on aiid siiice Blackie River Coinmunity Gi'oup Liinited establishiiieiit. Very tiglil finaiicial controls on expenditure and all finaiicial commitiiients are Inaintained at all times aiid project Staff have been trained and have becoine expcrienced iii biidgetary onlrols.lii botli tliese areas ie Project delivery aiid fiiiaiicial control.% Inaiiageineiit al I staff liave establ islied close workiiig I'elatloiiships wit11 fuiiding orEani.sations to ensure all iiiaiidatory standards are consistently achieved. Board representatives also actively engage with fuiiding bodies. Tlie Board, Imanagemeiit and staff al'e fiilly aware tliat the nattir¢ of the work in which Blackie River Cominuiiity Groiip Litniled is involved can bring witli it a liigli level of sci'Liliny to ¢nsui'e tliat all activities ai'¢ fLilly coinpliant with fund iiig requiremeiits and,tliei'efoi'e, beyond reproacli.Tlie Board of Blackie River Coniinuiiity Group Liinited is, tlierefore, greatly i-eassuied of tlie compai)y's Coiiipliance with the liighesl of 5taiidards of governance oli tlic b45 is ihat al I monitoring aiid evaluation of pi'oj¢ct delivei'y deinoiistrates acliievemeiit of all fuiiders obj ectiveb aiid that fuiid¢i's' aiidits and vouch iiig of fiiiancial expeiidilure aiid tlie statutory audit confii'in compliancc witli both probity and regularity iii tlie usc of monies received. EVENTS SINCF. THE EIND OF THF. YEAR Inforinalioii relating to eveiits since tlie end of the year is given in the notes to tlie financial stateineiits. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIE.S The trustees (wlio are also tlie direcloi's of Blackie River Coinmiiiiity Groups for tlie purposes of compaiiy law) ai'¢ respoiisible for preparing tlie Report of the Trusl¢es and the fiiiancial stateirjents in accoi'daiice with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kiiigdoir Geiierally Accepted Accouiiling Practice) includiiig FinaiicipAI Reporting Standard 102 'The Fiiiancial Reporliiig Siandai'd applicable in tlie UK and Republic of Ireland Coinpany law reqliires the trustees to prepare finaiicial statements foi. each fiiiancial year whi¢li give a true aiid fair view of the slate of affairs of the Charilable company and of the iiicoming resoui'ces and applicatl0l1 of resources, includ ing the income and expenditure, of the charitable compaiiy for tliat period. li) preparing tliose fii)ancial statemeiits, the trustees are required to select suitable accouiiting policies and tlien apply tliein consistently. observe tl)e Inethods and pi'inciples in the Charity SORP. make judgements aiid estiinates that are reasonable and priident- statc wliether applicable accountiiig Standards hav¢ beeli followed, subject to any malerial departures disclosed aiid explained iii tlie fiiiancial statements- piepare Ihe finaiicial statements on the going Loncern basis uiiless it is inappropriate to presume tliat tlie liaritable compaiiy will continue in business.
Blackie River Communi Grou Re ort of tlie Truslees STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES- continued The trustees are responsible for kcepiiig proper accoiinting records whicli disclose witli reasonable accuracy at any time tlie fiiiaiicial position of the charitable compaiiy aiid to enable them to ensure tliat the financial staleiiients coinply witli tlie Coinpanies Act 2006. Tliey are algo responsible for safcguarding the assels of tlie charitable coinpaiiy diid IieiiLe for takiiig reasonable steps foi- the preventioii and detectioii of fraiid and othei- irregularities. Iii so far as the trustees are aware: there is no I'elevant aud it iiifoi'iiiation of whicli tlie cliaritable coinpany's aiiditors are unaware. and the Iruslees liavc takeii all steps that they ought to liave taken to make theiiiselves awai'e of aiiy relevant audit i nforimation aiid to establisli tliat tlie aiiditors are aware of tliat iiiforinatioii. AUDITORS Tli¢ auditors, Lyiiii Drake & Co Lld. will be proposed for re-appointment at the fortlicoiniiig Aiiiiual Genei'al Meetiiig. Report of Ilie trustees, iiicoi'poi'atiiig a slrategic report, approved by oi'dei. of tlie board of ti'uslees, &$ Ilie coinpaiiy directors, on 31 October 2023 aiid signed on ilie board's belialf by.. Sean Quiiiii Trustee