Charity Registration No. NIC103563 Company Registration No. N1037588 (Northern Ireland) Ards Development Bureau & Community Network Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees. Report and Unaudited Accounts Year Ended 31 March 2024
Ards Development Bureau & Community Network Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2024 Contents Page Charty Refence and Administrative Details Trustees, Annual Report Independent Examinef s Report ststement of Financial ActiveS Balan Sheet 10 Notes to the Financial Statements 11-18
Ards Development Bureau & Community Network Charity Reference and Administrative Details Year Ended 31 March 2024 Charity registration number NIC103563 Company number N1037588 Trustees D W McAlonan K Johnston J Gill D Hawthome A Osman Secretary Cathy Polley Registered office & Business address 55-55A Frdncés street Newtownards Co. Down BT23 7DX Independent examlner Guardian Chartered Accountsnts 2 William Street Newtownards Co. Down BT23 4AH Banker8 Ulster Bank 22 Frances Street Newtownards Co. Down BT23 7DP
Ards Development Bureau & Community Network Trustees, Annual Report Year Ended 31 March 2024 The Trustees present their report and the financial ststements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice {SORP) °Accounting and Reporting by Charities. (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance wtth the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charty's governing document, the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Staternent of Recommended Practi applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). Structure, governance and management The charity is a company limited by guarantee. The trustees, who are also directors for the purpose of company law. and who have served during the year and since the year end were: D W McAlonan K Johnston J Gill D Hawthome A Osman The company actively promotes a board of trustees which includes a range of skill, experience and knowledge in keeping with the pursuance of its Objects and to this end it is entitled to advertise and interview eligible candidates to be potential trustees of the board. The Board consists of 8 members. In addition to the Board meetings there are fvrfo submMitteeS which meet regularly. The sub-committees ensure the day to day running of the project. A full briefing of these sub-committees tskes pla at the Board meeting. All feedback including recommendations and all decisions are considered and put to the full Board for approval. The finance sub<ommittee and finance administrator hold regular meetings. All cheques and BACS payments are passed for payment at monthty Board meetings and signed by at least 2 directors. The staff committee and policies and proureS committee also meet regularly ensuring that a fvll management structure is in place for this project. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up. New trustees are invited and encouraged to attend a series of short training sessions to familiarise themselves with the charity and the context within which rt operates. These sessions cover the obligations of trustees, the main documents which set out the operational framework for the charity, resourcing and the current financial position and fvture plans and objeckn'ves. New trustees are also referred to the Charity Commission's guide "The Essential Trustee.. The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Ards Development Bureau & Community Network Trustees, Annual Report Year Ended 31 March 2024 Objectives and activities The principle activity of the company continued to be setb'ng up and provision of advi, training and support in a neutral venue for community and voluntary organisations in the Ards and North Down Borough and to address issues of weak communty infrastructure by the provision of support in the form of a community development support network. Core acts'vities for the year included: Capacity Buildingrrraining Programmes Skills Training Community Development Events & Activrties Personal Development Programme Health & Well-being Programmes Community Nelwork Sessions Support Services for community and voluntsry sector Provision of facilities- conferen Facilities, Intemet Access, Office Hire, Administrab"on and Secretarial seIce$ Securing Funding & Resources Dissemination of Information Advocacy and Local Policy Development Work Pea Building Good Relations Programme The Key objectives of the Charity are: the relief of povety: the relief of unemployment,. the advanrnent of education. training or retraining, particularly among unemployed people, and providing unemployed people with job skills; the provision of financial assistance. technical assistsnce or business advi or consultancy in order to provide training and employment opportunities for unemployed people in cases of financial or other charitable need through help.. (i) in setting up their own business, or (li) to existing businesses. the provision of recreational facilities for the public at large or those who by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement. povety or social and economic circumstsnces, have need to such facilities; the development of the capacty and skills of the members of socially and economically disadvantaged communities in the area of benefit in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs to participate more fully in society; to promote any other charitable purpose at the discretion of the Directors of the Company with the object of improving the conditions of Life of the inhabitants of the area of benefit. iv vi The trustees have paid due regard to guidan issued by the Chanty Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. Financial review (including reserves policy) The accounts have been prepared for the year ended 31 March 2024. The results are set out on page 9 of the financial statements. The charity had recorded net deficit of £6,548 for the year. This was added to reserves brought forward to leave total reserves of £1.353,235 at 31 March 2024. It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six months expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity's current actNities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of resepies has been maintained throughout the year.
Ards Dèvelopment Bureau & Community Network Trustees, Annual Report Year Ended 31 March 2024 Risk Identifjcation and Management The Board of Trustees has assessed the major risks to which the Bureau and Network is exposed, in particular they have highlighted those related to the short-temi revenue funding leading to insecurity. This is a risk faced by most voluntary and community organisations. The board proactivety work towards self- sustainability by developing the income generating Servi and facilrties provided within the new premises. The Board are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Employee involvement The charity's policy is to consult and discuss with employees, through unions, staff councils and at meetings matters likely to affect employees, interests. Information on matters of concern to ernploy*s is given through information bulletins and reports which seek to achieve a common awareness on the part of all employees of the financial and economic factors affecting the charity's perforniance. Dlsabled persons Applications for employment by disabled persons are always fvlly considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant concerned. In the event of members of staff becoming disabled, every efft)rt is made to ensure that their employment within the charity continues and that appropriate training is arranged. It is the policy of the charity that the training, career development and promotion of disabled persons should, as far as possible, be identical to that of the other employees. Compliance with Public Benefft The company has given careful Conserab.0n to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland's guidance on public benefit to ensure that the activities entered into during the year have helped to achieve the charity's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit Trustees, responsibilltles The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practi}. Company law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial 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, including the income and expenditure. of the tharilable company for that year. In preparing these accounts. the trustees are required to: 4elect suitable accounting policies and then appty them consistently", -observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; -make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; -state whether applicable UK Accounting Stsndards have been followed. subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts: and -prepare the accounts on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity wil continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posits.on of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply
Ards Development Bureau & Community Network Trustees, Annual Report Year Ended 31 March 2024 with the Companies Act 2006. 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 irregularits'es. On behalf of the board of trUStS J Gill Trustee D W MGAlonan Trustee & Chair Dated: 4 December 2024 (fr/ ,,/LL*