CARING BREAKS LIMITED
Directors, Report
for the year ended 31 March 2024
The Direciors present their report with the audited financial statements for the year ¢nded 31 March 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with ihe accounting policies sei out in noie I to the accounts
and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association. the Companies Act 2006 and
"Accounting and Reporting by Charilies.. Siaiement of Recommended Pracrice applicable to charities
preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and
Republic of Ireland published in October 2019"
Reference and Admlnistrative Informatlon
Charity Name:
Caring Breaks Limited
Charity Registraiion number:
NIC103342
Company Registration number: Nl 37804
Registered Offjce.. 6c Wildflower Way, Apollo Road, Belfast, BTI 2 6TA
Business Address: 6c Wildflower Way. Apollo Road, Belf&st, B T12 6TA
Directors
S O'Brien (Chairperson)
J Donaghy (Treasurer)
M Devlin
P Crossin
L Quinn
B Mongan
M Mitchell
Secretary
Vivienne Thompson
Auditors
Mccreery Turkington Stockman LTD, l Lanyon Quay. Belfast, B TI 3LG
Bankers
Bank of Ireland, 364 Lisburn Road , Belfasl. BT9 6GL
Dansk¢ Bank, Finaghy, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BTIO OBD
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CARING BREAKS LIMITED
Directors, Report
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Structure, Governance and Management
Caring Breaks Limiied whAch was incorporated on 26 January 2000 (company registration number N137804)
is a chariiable company limited by guarantee, (registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
NIC103342) and is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association. It is managed by the Board of
Trustees. The trustees. who served during the period, and up to the dale of signing are listed on page 3.
During the year under review the Trustees met quarterly. The chairperson of the board is Stephen O'Brien.
One third of the Trustees retire each year and Can make themselves available for re-election. New members of
the board are selected by a panel comprising of exisling Trustees. The Financc Committee and th¢
Fund-raising Commiltee are made up of Trustees and other individuals. Both committees operaie under
specific terms of reference which delegaie certain functions from the board. Each committee has its decisions
raiified by the full board. The Trustees have also established a Carer Cornmiiiee for this specific area of the
Charity's operations.
Objectives and Aelivities
The primary objeclive of the charity, as stated in its governing document. is to provide short respite break5 for
the family carers of adults with learning disabilities. Trained and paid staff support and supervise
activily-ba5ed recreaiional opportunilies for adults with learning disabilities.
Mission
To provide regular respiie breaks for family carers and at the same time. provide social and recreational
aclivilies for their relaiive wilh a learning disability.
Values
We are people-centred.
We collaborate.
We are open and honest.
We work in partnership.
We provide a high-quality service.
Strategic Objectives for Caring Breaks 2024-2025
Develop a recruitmenl and relention plan.
Develop a fundraising plan.
Step up engagement with Trusts and rebuild relationships.
Glow powerful, strategic alliances.
Develop expansion and communication strategies.
Expansion of our core service.
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CARING BREAKS LIMITED
Directors, Report
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Public Benefjt Ststement
The public benefit requiremenr is defined in the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and states that
Purposes must be for the public benefit to be charitable. The trustees ronfirm thai they hav¢ complied with ihe
duty to have regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission for Northern treland under section 4(b)
of the Chariries Act (the public benefit requirement statutory guidance). The trustees are confident thal the
aciivities have helped to achiev¢ the Charity's purposes and provide a benefit to th¢ ben¢ficiaries.
Achlevements and Performance
Over ihe pasr year. Carlng Breaks provided re5Plte sessions on a weekly basis for 170 family carers combined
with social and recreational activitie5 for l 00 adults with a learning disability. In addition. 83 adults with
learning disability were provided with support to enable them to parlicipaie in a weekend break and 128
family carers also benefited from these short breaks. In lolal 16 weekend breaks and an additional 7-day Irips
which also provided carers with a full day's respile from caring were provided between April 2023 and March
2024. These weekend breaks and additional respite support were made possible with funding secured from the
Carers Support Fund along with smaller grants from granr-making charitable trusrs.
Caring Breaks is fortunate ro have a committed, professional team of staff dedicated to ensuring the best
possible service is provided for family carers and adults with a learning disability. Over the past year, the
team helped lo facilitaie a variety of educational and fun activilies which enabled our clients wi(h a learning
disability to develop new interests and build friendships in a safe and welcoming environmenl. Staff members
also participated in a range of training courses ro enhance and further develop the skills r4uired to provide
support for adults with a learning disability.
The siatement of financial activities for the year is sel out on page 10 of the financial statements. A summary
of the financial results and the work of Ihe charity is set oui below.
Flnanclal Revlew
The charity's income increased to £396,125 when compared to £331,148 in 2023. During the year the chariry
has a deficit nel of costs of £10.636 (2023: £130.302). The total funds of the charity- 31 March 2024 were
£43,796 (2023- £54,432). Of these total funds, £5,600 (2023- £8,558) made up of a series of small grants, are
held for restricted purposes and are not available for general puq)oses of the charity.
Funding received includes recurrent funding received from the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust and from
the South-Eastern Health & Social Care Trust totalling £229,039 to provide respite break5 for carers and
S¢xial and recreational activities for adults with a leaming disability, The remaining payrnent £33,100 of the
grant awarded in 2021 from the Carers Support Fund was also received during the year. This funding was
used to provide a series of weekend breaks and carer events. Granis towards running costs were secured from
the Garfield Weston Foundation £20.000 and Foundaiion £7,500. Donaiions from individuals and
through fundraising activities decreased from £32,008 to 19.349 when compared to 2023.
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CARING BREAKS LIMITED
Dlrectors, Report
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Reserves Policy
The total funds of th¢ charity as at 31 March 2024 were £45,796 (2023: £54,432). Of these loial funds,
£5,600 (2023.. £8,558) are held for restricted purposes and are nol available for general purposes of ihe
charity. The charity's policy is to relatn a level of free reserves which matches the needs of (he Charify both at
the current lime and in the foreseeable fvture. Free reserves are those unrestricted reserves. excluding fixed
assets. The charity aims to retain sufficient reserves equivalent io approximately six months, annual
expenditure. Free reserves at 31 March 2024 were £38,196 (2023.. £45,874 (general funds minus fixed assets
and designated funds). equivalent lo roughly Iwo month's forward expenditure based on 2023124 expenditure.
Progress on fundraising is reviewed by the finance sub-group and Board of Trustees on a quarterly basis.
Service payments received from service users who access Ihc scrvice via Direct Payments or Self-Direcled
Support increased throughout the year and amounted 10 £59,714 (2023- £37.803). In June 2023 Caring
Breaks was awarded a funher grant £74.397 from the Carers Support Fund. This grant will fund weekend
breaks. day trips and well-being events for carers between April 2024 and March 2025.
Plans for future developments
The board has taken sieps and will conlinue to take steps to improve financial perforniance in 2024 and
beyond. to ensure thal the charity can continue to provide its unique services for the family carers of adults
with a leaming disability.
The organisation's stralegy is 10 grow and develop the service to reach more people and expand ihe service
into other health trust areas whilst maintaining the service for existing clients in Belfast. Bangor and Lisbum.
Plans beyond 2024 include extending the service io more families wishing to purchase respite breaks via
Direci PaymentslSelf-Directed Suppon.
Golng concern
Engagement with an external fundraiser has been renewed to assist in seeking funds from grant making trusts
and corporate sponsors. Applications to 8rant-makin8 trusts are ongoing and will continue throughout the
year. A review of the Tates paid under the contracis Caring Breaks holds with Ihe Belfast Health & Social Care
Trnst and South-Easiern Healih & Social Care Tnjsts are ongoing and we are hopeful Ihat (he value of ihese
contracts will increase following negoiiations.
To support the going concern basis of preparation. the trustees have prepared cash flow forecasts. which
include the use of reasonable downside scenarios for 5¢nsitivily analysis. These cash flow forecasts show that
the charity has sufficient resources to meet obligalions as they fall due and as such lh¢ charity has the ability
to continue as a going concern for the 12 months from date of signing.
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CARING BREAKS LIMITED
Directors, Report
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
The charity holds no funds as custodian trustees on behalf of others.
Risk management
The Trustees hav¢ assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed. in particular those related to th¢
operations and finances of the charity. The Trustees are Salisfied that systems are in place 10 mitigate any
exposure to major risks.
Trustees, indemnities
As permitted by the Articles of Association, Ihe Trustees have the benefit of an indcrnnity which is a
qualifying rhird party indemnity provision as defined by Section 234 of the Companies Acl 2006. The
indemnity was in force (hroughoui the lasr financial year and is currently in force.
Page S

CARING BREAKS LIMITED
Directors, Report
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Staternent of Directors, Responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the Directors Report and the financial stalcmcnls in accordance
with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (Uniied Kingdom Generally Accepted
Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true
and fair view of the stale of affairs of the company and of the incoming Tesources and application of
resouices. including the income and expenditure. of the charitable company for the year. In preparing those
financial staiements the directors are required lo:
select suitable accouniing policles and then apply them consislenlly.
observe (he methods and principles in the Charities SORP.
make judgments and esrimaies that are reasonable and prudent;
slate whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures
disclosed and explained in the financial sralements-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriaie to presume that ihe
company will coniinue in operation.
The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy
at any time the financial position of the company and to enable Ihem to ensure (hat Ihe financial statements
comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding Ihe assets of the company
and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other I￿egUlaTI(1e$.
Audiiors
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposlng that Mccreery Turkington Stockman Lrd be
reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeling.
Each of the trustees has confirnied that there is no inforniaiion of which they are aware which is relevant to
the audit. but of which the auditor is is unaware. They have further confirnied that they have taken appropriate
steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the audiloi is aware of such infonnalion.
This report
as appro
byt
don
Director
0￿￿1terN7.
Page 6