West Belfast Partnershlp Board Report of the Trustees and Financlal Statements forthe Year Ending 31 March 2023 Trustees Annual Report TheTrustees, who arealso Directors for purposes of company law, are pleased to presenttheirannual report together with financial ststements of the charvtyforthe yearended 31 March 2023, which are also prepared to meetthe requirements fora directors, report and accounts for Companies Art 2006 purpose5. The Trustees confirm that the financlal statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northem Ireland) 2(N)8 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities. Statement of Recommended Practice which applies to charities in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) {effective l January 2015). Chairperson's Report Over the past year, West Belfast Partnership Board have worked to ensure that we have achieved our organisational aims and objectives a5 Outlined in our strategic plan. The board members, senior rnanagement team and staff have delivered in innovative ways against our goals ensurlng that contracts to provide sen41ces to the community and to drive regeneration have been carried out to a very high standard and have been of benefft both to the local communitywe seNe and city-wide. We continue to work in partnership with a wide range of statutory. community, public and private agencies towards our goals of social, economic. and physical regeneration in west Belfast. improving communty relations and peace building. I wlsh to acknowledge the WO of our board members. In providing strategic leadership to West Belfast Partnership Board and thank them for the voluntary effort and commitment that they have demonstrated throughout the year - particularly the Chairs of our sub-committees in Finance, Audit and Risk; Housing, Environment and Planning; He31th: Economic Developnient,. Education and Neighbourhood Renewal. In addition, I wish to thank our funders. sponsors and partners for their ongoing support and our stsff for their work anil achievements in deltvering our goals for economic, social. physical and community renewal. Structure, Governance & Managernent Governlng Document West Belfast Partnership Board is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 17 February 1998 (a1 subsequently updated 16/05/99 and 23/9113). West Belfast Partnership Board is a registered charity with the Charty Commission for Northern Ireland. West Belfast Partnership Board is a membershiporgani5ation with 20 members each of whom agrees to contribute £1 in the event of the charity winding up, and 5 consultative observers. Appointment of trustees The Chairperson and the Trustees recruit and select newTrustees as setout in its governing document. New Trustee5 are recruited on the relevance of their professional skills and their potential to be able to make a helpful contribution to the governance of the charity. The Partnership's recruitment of Board members is built around openness, transparency and ensuring that west Belfast citizens are represented. As part of the recruitment proces5, they are made aware of a Trustees, legal obligations and good practices under charity and compary law, the content of the Memorandum and Artlcles of sociation, the comrnittee and decision-making prosses. the business plans and recent financlal perfomance of the charity {see induction and trdining). Trustee induction and training All new Board Members, serving as Directors or Obserr5 re1ve guidance from the Chief ExecutNe Officer and/or Chairper50n along with a comprehensive induction pack including Buidance on good
West Belfast Partnership Board Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31 March 2023 practice in charity governance, governirg document and sub-committee tenns of reference, minutes of meetings, account, and other documents to provide the necessary information to Board members in carrying out their duties In accordance with law a1 good prdctice. Organisation structure and how tharity makes decisions. The Board of Trustees administers the charity. The Board normally meets quarterly. As part of its structure, the Partnership operates additional thematic suComMitteeS that report and recommend to the Board, covering Finance, Audit and Risk, Economic Development, Neighbourhood Renewal, Strategic Health and Well-being, Education, Housing, Environment and Planning - each with written terms of reference, A Chief Executive Officer is appointed by the trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity including management of a stsff team. To facilitate effective operatlons, the Chief Executlve Officer has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment, and dirert charitable activities. Relationships wlth related partners None of our trustees receive remuneration or other benefft from their work with the charity. Risk Management Our approach to the management of risk is informed by the need to ensure that the ris inherent in the pursuit of our objettive5 are understood, will be manageable rf realised and that appropriate mitigation measures are planned or in place. West Belfast Partnership Board maintain a risk register which is analysed and updated on a bi-monthly basis. Responsibility for the management of risk is carried by named individua15 in our risk register. Highest level risks whth have a bearing on West Belfast Partnership Board's capacity to achieve its strategic and operational objectives are managed directly by the senior management team. West Belfast Partnership Board Finance, Audit and Risk Committee have played an active role in reviewing and monitoring the risk register during 2022-23, assessing the Major risks to which the charity is exposed, those related to the operations and finances of the charity. and are satisfied that the systems are in place to mitigate any exposure to the major risks. Maintaining High Standards West Belfrdst Partnershlp Board yearly undertake the150 9001: 2015 process and achieved the ISO in the reporting perlod. ISO is the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMSI and provides a framework and set of principle5 that ensure a common-sense approach to the management of the charity and satisfaction for service users and stakeholder5, including funder5. Legal compliance. understand how statutory aTKI regulatory requirements impact your organisation and its Customers. Prlnclpal Activity and Statement of Pubfic Benefit West Belfast Partnership Board aims Yo involve those who live or work in West Belfast in driving the social, economicand physical regenerationof the area for the benefitof those who live in West Belfast and to contribute to, and benefit from, the development of the city as a whole.. The Charitvs objects ("ObjeCt) are specifically restricted to the following.. - (l) To promote urban regeneration and community development in the City of Belfast {the "area of benefft.) and the redevelopment and revitalisation of West Belfast and its environs by all or any of the following means:
West Belfast Partnershlp Board Report of the Trustees and Flnancial Statements for the Year Ending 31 March 2023 la) design, promote, implement and evaluate strategies and develop and cary though action plans concerned wtth improving the economic, social, cultural, heafth and well-bein& and environrnental life of the inhabitdnts of the area of benefit; Ib) promote study and research, set priorities, and develop and influence policy and practice in the fields of urban regeneration community development and health and well-being. engage with, pmmote c(H)peration amon& and estsblish strategic partnerships between groups. organisations and agencies in the voluntsry and community, statutory and private enterprise sectors. (d) provide a forum for the discussion and debate of urban regeneration, community development and related issues and raise public awareness of these matters; le) provide strategic and practical support to community and voluntary groups in the area of benefft. Ic) (2) Promote integrated seniices for children and young people to facilitate connectivity and the planned delivery of services and programmes. (3) Prornote and facilitate the raising of educational achievement and opportunities for lifelong learning. (4) Promote good community relations. religious and racial hamiony. social cohesion and equality and diversity. (5) Promote such other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined. Achlevements and Perfomiance During this period West Belfast Partnership Board has continued to provide a comprehensive range of Services to the West Belfast community and to other disadvantaged communities in Belfast which have had a positive impact and we have met all our charitable objectives. We have continued to implement and review our strategic plan under a range of key priorities and objective5. For detail of our achievements and perforniance this year please see our annual report: outl we5tbelfast- artnershi .com Plans for the Future West Belfast Partnership Board was e5tabli5hed in 1998 to act as a representative body to promote and support the regeneration of West Belfast. Over the past 25 years the Partnership has worked with community, statutory. polltlcal, and business interests committed to improving the lives of those living in West Belfast and to getting a better deal for West Belfast its people, and pla5. As a broadly based representatNe regeneration body, the Partnership has delivered in the fields of economic development. tourism, job creation, education, heafth and wellbeing, the envlronment and planning and children and young people. We have responded to need and opportunity throuEh building an innovative and creative collaboratNe partnership approach. Over the period 2022-23 we have delivered effectively against our priorities and the contract5 we have undertaken from the- Departments of Communities, Department for Education, Public Health Agenry and Belfast City Council, which are detsiled in ourAnnual Report.
West Belfast Partnership Board Report of the Trustees and fjnanclal Statements for the Year Ending 31 March 2023 *is we move forward, we shall continue to deliver on our Strdtegic Plan 2022-30 which builds on our successful track record and reflects the both the challenges and the ambition. skills, and creativlty of the west Belfast people. West Belfast Partnership Board Strategic Plan 2022-30 sets out the Partnerships vision, purpose, values, and priorities. While the Partnership seeks to respond to need it is aware of the need to balance expectations with resources and has prioritised its work identifying those issues /areas where it leads, others where it will offersupportand other areas where it will hold a watching brief. Financlal Review Reserves Policy and Ongoing Concem West Belfast Partnership Board Reserves Policy is to maintain a sufficient level of reseeS to enable operating activities to be maintained for a period of at least 3-6 months in the event of majorfunding streams ending. The reserves policy also takes account of covering costs in the event of closure, to cover redundancies. rents, and fees that are due including auditors. It also takes account of potential risks and contingencies that may arise from time to time. WBPB maintain unrestricted reserves if accrued should be used for the purposes which meet the aims and objectives of WBPB. The Board should note the amount of unreserved fund5 quarterly and the level of reserves are monitored and reviewed by tlE Board quarterly. Trustee< Responsibillties in relation to the Financial Statement The charity trustees (who are also the directors of the West Belfast Partnership Board for the purposes of company lawl are responsiblefor preparingthe trustees'annual report andthe financial statement in accordance with app5icable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdorn Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial Statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these accounts. the trustees are reqUId to: select suitsble accounting policies and then apply them consistently.. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP- make judgements and accounting estirnates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statement: and prepare the financial statements on thegoing conrn basis unless it is inappropriateto presume that the charvty will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient and explain the charivs transactions and disclose with reasonable accurary at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply 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 detectton of frdud and other irregularities.
West Belfast Partner5hlp Board Report of the Trustees and Flnancial Statements for the Year Ending 31 March 2023 The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable compan¢5 website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. ststement as to disdosure to our Auditor5 Each of the persons who is a trustee at the date of approval of this report confirms that". so far as each trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charivs auditor is unaware. and each trustee has taken all step5 that they ought to have taken as a trustee to make themselves aware of any relrlvant audit information and to establish that the Charis auditor is aware of that information. Auditor O'Hara shearer, Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors are deemed to be re-appointed under Section 487 {21 od the Companies Act 2006 Signed by order of the Trustees Mrjim Donnelly Chairperson 12 October 2023