mmun ort of the Trustees oi- the Yeai" End ch 202 The trustees wlio are also dii-ectors of the cliarity for tli¢ PLirposes of the Coinpaiiies Act 2006, present their i'eporl with tlie fiiiaiicial statenients of tlie charity for the year elided 31 Mai'ch 2024. Tl)e Iriistees liave adopted tlie provi.sioiis of Accoiiiitiiig aiid Repoi'ting by Cliarities., Staieimeiit of Recollimendcd Practice applicable to charities prepai'iiig their accouiits in accordance with the Financial Reporting Slandard appl icable iii Ilie U K aiid Rgpublic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l JanLiary 2019). OBJEI CTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objeclives #nd aims Blackie River Coiiitnlinity Groups is a registered cliarity which seek5 to enipower the residents of the Blackie River by facilitating and developiiig coinmunity developinenl aclivity wl)icli eiiables tlieiii to celebrate tlieii. creativity and cultLire, develop their skills, enhaiice tlieir self-esteein, play a full aiid equal role in society, aiiJ secure tlie social aiid ecoiioinic rege11eration of tlieir area. Sigiiificant activities The Blackie River Coiiimunity Gi'oLlPS aiiiis: To proinole tl)e benefit of tlie iiiliabilaiits of tlie Blackie River area aiid tlie enviroiis of ilie Greater Be Ifast rea (liereiiiafter de%cribed as Ilie 'area of benefit") with(>ut di81inction of age, gender. ra¢e. political. religi0115 or L)Il)ei' opiii ion. by assoc ialion stalutory autliorilies. voluIilary organisal ions &i)d inhabitftiits in a oniinoii cffort lo udi'&iice education, relieve poverty and lo provid¢ faci lities in Ihe interest of 50Ci41 welfare t-or I'e¢reation and leisLire liiiie occiipation, willi ihe object of inipi'oving the conditioiis of life foi. tlie said iiiliabitants. To pi'omole cooperatioii belweeii local coiniiiiinity gi'oups witli tlie object of improviiig the condiiions of l if¢ for tlie inhabilaiils iii tlie ai'ea of beiiefit. To proiiiote ftiid coord inate coiiimunily developineiii by eiiliaiiciiig tlie local social iiifi'astl'LicILire throiigli: support, traiiiiiig aiid resoui'¢e pi'ovisioii.
eRiv ni ort of the Trustees for the Yeai. E OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Public benefit Pui'pose A The direcl beiiefil" wliicli flows fi-oin purpose A iiicludes improved educatioii outcoines reduction in poverty, and to prov ide faci lities iii tlie iiit¢rest of social welfare for recredtion and leisiire tiffle OCCLipalion. witli tlie object Df iinproviiig tlie cond itioiis of life of i-e5ideiits witliiii Blackic Rivei. Area (Beeclimoiiiit ward) aiid tlie Kvider Greater Belfast ai'ea. Tliese beiiefits al'e evideiiced througli oiii. prograiiiires, iiiitiatives and sei'vices beiiig iiionitoi'iiig aiid evaluated by all participaiits. The pui'pose of Ilie cliarity may lead lo tli¢ following liarni of persoiial injury through soine of our ediicational prograinmes, daycare provisioii aiid h¢alth prograinime but we can demonslraie Ihal tliis hami is eallY reduced tliorough our risk manageineni policy aiid procedui'es aiid tlic beiiefiis to tli¢ service users OLltweigli any of tlie risks. The charities benefic iaries are the i Iihabiiaiils of the Bcechinouiit ward, Grealer Falls area and the envii'oiis of the Greater Belfast Area. Tlie only private bciiefit tlowing from tlie piirpose is tlie skill iiig up of staff aiid Ihe salary whicli 11)cy receive aiid Iliis is iiicidei)tal aiid n¢cessary io riin ali organisation wliich operates to tlie chi Idcare standards, ¢ducation skills aLiihoi'ity, fLindiiig requ ireineiits. Piirpose B 'riic dii'ect beiiefit wli ich flows fi'oiii purposc B includes proinoling coopei'atioii betweeii local commui)ity gioLlPS willi tlic object of iirpi'oving ilie Londilions of life foi. tli¢ inhabitants in tlie area of benefit These beiiefits al-e evidenced throiigh engage1e1)I willi local res idenls rliroLigh surveys, canvasses aiid queslioiinaitrcs. li 15 furiliei ¢videiic¢d ihroiigh the participalinn on local and rcgioiial forurns aiid 1)8rliiersliips. The purposc of ihe cl)arity may Icad to ih¢ following harm of niisrepreseiiiing ali ind ividual bLII was can evideiice Ihat all tlitt iiiforniation wliicli we disciiss iii foruins comes froin analysiiig the data wli icli we liave col Iccted. Tlie cliarities beneficiaries arc tlie iiihabitants of the Beeclitnount wai'd, Gi'eater Falls ai'ea and tli¢ environs of tlie Grealer Belf&st Area. Tlie Oiily pi'ivate benefit flowiiig froin tlie purpose is tlie skilling up of staff aiid the salary wliicli they receive and Ihis is iiicideiital and iiecessary to rLin an oi'gaiiisalioii wliicli operates to tlie cliildcai'e slaiidard.8. educatioii skills authoi-ity, fuiiding reqiiireinents. Purpose C The direct beiiefit wliicli flows fi'oin piirposc B iiicludes proiiioting and ¢oord iiiate cominlin ity developinent b), eiilianciii¥ Ilic local Social infi'a51¥ucture through,, support. Iraiiiii)E aiid re>ource provi%ioii. 'I'lies¢ benefits al'e evidenced Ilii'ougli ciisagenienl with local residcnls Ihrough siirvey5. Canvasses and queslionnaircs. Tjie purpose of tlie cliarity iiiay lead to tlie following harin of Inisrepi-csentiiig an iiidividiial but was can evidence that all the iiiformation wliich we disciiss in forum5 comcs from analysing the data wli icli we liave collected. The chai'ities beiieficiaries al-e the inliabitants of the Beechmount wai'd, Greater Falls area aiid Ilie environ5 of thc Gi'eater Belfast Area. Tlie oli ly private beiiefit flowiiig froiii tlie purpose is the skil liiig lip of staff aiid Ike 5318Th' whicli Iliey receivc aTid thTS is iiicidental and iiecessary lo run on organi5nlion whicli operates tc) Ihe childcare siandai'ds. eduLation %ki Ils aiithorily, funding requiremenls. Blacki¢ River Coinmuiiily Group vjoi'ks wilh local resident5 lo L'nsure Ihai quality and condilions of housing Wi111) tlie local area are up to siaiidai'd. In ilie pa51 we successfull), lobbied fr)r new hoii8tng a5 Ih¢re was a subsianlial ainoiini of hoiises with oiiiside toil¢ls and environinenlal issues. We successful gul Ilie areh vested and nev4 21st ¢eiilurv hoiising biiili. We run a variety of educational Llasse5 wliich both upskills people And also coinbat suLial isolaliuii. We liai'e successful run a level 5 Cliildcare managemenl course wliich meaiis 11)at tlicrc al'e now 14 local people wlio cali iiow Inaiiage a day-care s¢ttiiig.
River ort of the Trustees rth STRATEGIC REPORT Ach,ievemeHt and performance Chai'itable k)CtiN'Trties Oiir charity foiind itself again like ITJany otliers in difficult financial times tli 15 year due to tlie current Cost of Liviiig Ci'isis rising energy costs and iiicrease in salaries due lo Iniiiimuin wage increases. We have beeii applyiiig foi. exteriial fundiiig to alleviate finaiicial pressiires in which we were eventiially siiccessfiil iii receiviiig £20k froin Council to lielp with rulin ii)g costs. While Ilie chaFity lias iiot yet uiidei'laken aiiy publ ic fuiidrai8iiig initiatives, we liave been successful iii seekiiig aiid receiving graiit funding Bmotinting to £1,081,855 for Iliis yeaT ¢iiding Marcli 2024. Tlie breakdowii of restricted grants fuiidiiig cali be secn on Note 3 of the accoiints. 'rhe fuiidiiig received assisted Ilie cliai'ity iii ¢ontinLliI)g witli OLir aims aTtd obj¢ctives, offeriiig vilal services in our cominiiiiity SULli as: pi'oviding fii'st class affordable cliild care, siipporting child development. piovidiiig siipport to clii Idren with additioiial iieeds, proinoting Cominuiiity led edLication Ilirough lifeloiig leai'iiing, pi'ov idingy cultui'al aiid arts progi'amines, woi'kiiig on tlie regeiieratioii of tlie area and workiiig with OLII. CQllllllUlI Ity partners iii tli¢ Grealer Falls Neighbourhood Partiiei'ship Area. Reserves Policy The cliarity's policy is to retaiii a level of fl-ee reserves, wli icli Inatches tlie needs of the organisation botli at tlie curi'eiil tiine and iii tlie toreseeablc fLilui'e. The charity has developed a plan to establish and Inaintaiii Iliis agreed level of free resel'ves. Tlie charity will continuc to nionitor coinpliance with tliis pol icy oli a regii lar ba818 aiid tlie Boai'd will review tlie appi'opriateiiess of the pol icy aiinually. Financial review Tlie coiiipany liad iiet outgoing resources foi. the year of £105,613 {2023'. iiet oiitgoing resoui'ces of £54,017), which i-eflc¢ted tlie coinpletioii of a numbei. of projects during tlie year. Uiirestricted funds decreased by £85,313, wliile restricted funds deci'eased by £20,300.
Blackie River Communi Grou ort of tlie Ti'ustees fol. the 31 March 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT uture plans The biggest clialleiige for LIS is going to be sustaining ourselves tlii'ough tlii5 CLirreiit cost of liviiig crisis, iiiflalioiiaiy and eiiei'gy inci'eases. Tlie strategic priority will be sustainability, We aiin lo coiitinue to ilMpI'ove oiir bLisiness I fiiiance model and comniunity d¢velopinent outcoiiies. to contii)ue to develop a slroi)g board 811d to iiispire aiid professionalisin to oiir staff. In terins of sustainabil ity we liave: a) SecLlI-ed tlie tliii'd teiider aiid exteiisioii for the Wesi Belfast Healtli & Wellbeiiig Programme. b) Sougl)I fundiiig for ali extension. c) SecLlI'ed planiiiiig permission foi. our car park aiid are in the pi'ocess of Vesting tlie laiid and seciiriiig fuiid iiig lo I'eiiovate it. d) Woi-kiiig willi local asset liolders to secure the teiiiire of additional iiifrastriicture that will enable tlie orgaiiisatioii to expand OLir sei'vices. e) We aiin to coiitiiiue to pi-ovide fii'st class sei'vices to tlie O coiiimLin ity i n tlie fields of cliild-cai'e, education, gri and cultiire. healtli, youtli and older services and liave secui'ed the status of Ceiitr¢ of excellence. For the sti'ategic prioi'ity of iiltra5tructure'. We aiin lo improve tlie service avai lable in the Beeclimouiil area by lobbying foi. the iiiiproved facil ities. a) E,xample5 of tliis al'e. I'lie development of St Jai)ies Farin, The contaiiied lobbying for. tlie Bee¢lii)ioiiiit Triaiigle site, the car park aiid tlie extension to tl)e Blackie River Comiiiuiiity Gi'oLIP. b) Extra provis ion of alley gates. c) Working witl) tlie Davitt5 GAC to provide indoor sports provision, dl Assisliiig W illowbank FC witli a iiew 3G pitch. c} Eslablisliineiir of a Social Slipermarket, del ivering food voiichers aiid wraparouiid suppoi't to 270 fainilies. n Soiirciiig addilioiial floor 5Pdce for expansion of oui. cliarily. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT GoverTrin£ document The cliarily is coiitrolled by its goveriiing docunient, a deed of trust, and constitutes a liinited compaiiy, l iniited by guai'antee, as defined by the Coinpaiiies Act 2006. Goveriianee of the Charity Duriiig tlie period 11iider i-cview the dii'ectors met bi-lnonthly. Ti'usteesldirectoi's are appoiiited by iiomiiiations iiiade iii writiiig by any existing director. At the Gcneral Meeting noininated dii'ectors are appoii)ted by election.
Bla¢kie River Communil Gr ort of the Trustees STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Risli nianagemont Tlie pi-iiiciples of good goveriiance al-e einbedded withiii all aspects of Blackie River Coniiniinity Gi'oLIP Limiied operatioiis witli iiianagement and staff be ing keenly aware of tli¢ Boards responsibility of ensiiring that Ilie oi'gai)isatioii protects itself from finaiicial exposui-e and reputational damagc, A close workiiig relatioiisl)ip is Inainlaiiied betweeii tlie Board and manageinent to ensure Ihat operationally staff are aware of tlie standards reqiiired of ili¢in by tlie Board and tlie Board are always in a position to provide guidaiice ai)d support to Inaiiageineiit iii the dischai'ge of tlieir dulles. Tliis two way relatioiisliip is the key feature of Blackie River Coiiiinuiiity GroLlP Liinited governaiice arranEeineiits and is a key strenh in the compai)y. A coiiscieiitious approacli to eiisliriiig thal ¢oiitractual pi-oject i-eqiiii'emeiifs are ach ieved has been iiiaintaiiied al all tiines bolli in tlie accountiiig period being reported oii and since Blackie Rivei. Coinmuiiity Gi'oup Liiniled establislirneiit. Very tiglil financial controls on expenditiire and all financial coininilments at-e Inaiiitaii)ed al all tiines aiid projecl staff have beeii traiiied and liave becoille experienced in biidgetai'y coiitrols.ln both these ai'eas ie Project delivery aiid financial controls Inanageineiit all staff have establ isl)ed close working relationsliips witli fui)ding organisalioiis to eiisure all Inandatory standards are coiisistently a¢l)i¢ved. Board I'epreseiitatives also actively engage with fuiiding bodies, The Board, Inaiiag¢ment and staff are fully aware that tlie natLire of tlie work in which Blackie River Coinmunity Gi-oup Liinited is involved can briiig with it a high level of scrutiny to e115Lire that all a¢tivities dre fiilly coirjpliaiil witli fuiiding requireimLiits and,tlierefore. beyond reproach.Tlie Board of Blackie River Coniinunity Group Limited is. therefore, greatly reassured of Ilie coinpaiiy's compliaiice with tlie highesl of slaiidai-d% of govei'naiice oli the basis that all nionitoi'ing aiid evalliation of pi'oject delivcry demoi)slrates acli ieveinent of al I fLlI)dei's objectives and thar fuiiders, 8udits and VOLicliing of financial expeiiditui'e and tlie slatuloi-y audit coiifii'in coillpliaiice witli both probTty and I'egularity in the lis¢ of monies received. EVEN'fs SINCE THE END OF THF, YEAR Iiiforiiiation I'elatiiig to events siiice tlie end of the year is given in tlie iiotes to tlie financial statemciits. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPOtISlBILITIES 'rhe Iruslees (who are also the d ircctor5 of Blackie River Coiminunity Groups for the purposes of coinpany law) are I'esponsib le for prcpai-iiig tlie Report of the Trustces and tlie fiiiancial staterneiils iii accordance witli appl icable law aiid Ui)ited Kiiigdoin A¢couiitiiig Standards (U1111ed Kii)gdoni Geiierally Accepted Accouiitiiig Practice) including Finaiicial R¢poi-ling Standard 102 'Tlie Fiijaiicial Reporting Slaiidard appl icable i li Ilie U K and Republ ic of- Ii'elaiid" Coinpaiiy law i-eqLI ires tlie triistees to prepar¢ fiiiancial statements for each financial year which give a true aiid fail. view of the state of affairs of the charitable coinpany and of the incoining resources and application of I'esources, inc liidinLY tlie iiicoiiie and expenditiire, of tlie cliaritable company foi. that period. In pr¢paring tliosc finaiicial stateiiieiits, tlie ti'ustees are required to select suitable accoiinting policies and theii apply tliein consistently. obsei-ve tlie Irjethods and prii)c iples in tlie Charity SOIU). niake judge1e77tS aiid estirnates that are reasonable and prudent. state wheilier applicable accolinting staiidards have beeii followed, subject to aiiy material deparliii'es disclosed aiid explained in tlie financial stateinents. pi'epare the finaiicial statements on the going concern basis iinless it is inappropriate to pi-esuime tliat tlie cliai-itable coinpany will continue in business.
kie River om ort of the Trustee5 STATEMEI NT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES- continued The trustee8 al-e respoiisible for keeping proper accountiiig I'ecords which disclose with reasonable accuracy at ajiy tiiiie tlie financ ial positioii of Ilie cliaritable conipany and to enable tliem to ensure tlial the fiiianc ial slatei)ieiits coinply with tlie Conipanies Act 2006. They are also respoiisible for safegiiai-diiig the assets of tlie charitable coinpany aiid lience for taki lig reasonable steps for tl)e pi'eventioii and detection of fi'aud aiid other iri'cgii lai'ities. n 50 fai- as tlie tl'LlStees are aware.. tliei'e is iio relevaiit audit inforination of wliicli the charitable compaiiy's aiiditors are iinaware- aiid tlie trustee% have takeii al I steps tliat they ouglit to have takeii to Inake Iheinselves awai'e of aiiy relcvaiit aiidit iiiforiiiatioii aiid ro establisli tliat tlie audiloi's al-e awai'e of tliat iiiforinalion. AUDITORS l-lie audiloi's, Lyiiii Drake & Co Ltd, will be proposed for re-appoiiitment at the foi-thcoining Aiiiiiial Geiieral Meeiiiig. Report of tlie Irustees, incorporating a strategic repoi't, approved by order of tlie board of triistees, as the i s. on l October 2024 and sigiied oli tlic board's behalf by.. ¢oinpaiiy directo-. Seaii Qii inn - 'fi'iistee