West Belfast Partnershlp Board Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31 March 2024 Trustees Annual Report The Trustees, who are a150 Director5 for purposes of company law, are pleased to present their annual report together with f inanclal statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors, report and accounts for Companies Act 2006 purposes. The Trustees confirm that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities; Statement of Recommended Practice which applies to charities in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the U K and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 (effective l January 20151. Chairperson's Report Over the past year, West Belfast Partnership Board have worl(ed to ensure that we have achleved our organisational aims and objectives, as outlined in our strategic plan. The board members, senior management team and staff have delivered in innovative ways against our goals ensuring that contracts to provide services to the community and to drive regeneration have been carrled out to a very high Standard and have been of benefit both to the local community we Serve 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 community relations and peace building, I wish to acl(nowledge the worl< of our board members, in providing strategic leadership to West Belfast Partnership Board and thanlc 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; Health; Economlc Development; Education and Neishbourhood Renewal. In addition, I wish to thank our funders, sponsors and partners for their ongoing support and our staff for their work and achievements in delivering our goals for economic, socia I, physical and community renewal. Structure, Governance & Management Governlng Document West Belfast Partnership Board is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 17 February 1998 land SLtbsequently updated 16105/99 and 2319/131. West Belfast Partnership Board is a registered charity with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. West Belfast Partnership Board is a membership organisation with 20 members each ofwhom 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 new Trustees as set out in its governing document. New Trustees are recruited on the relevance of their professional skills and their potential to be able to mal(e 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 process, they are made aware of a Trustees, legal obligations and good practices under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making processes, the business plans and recent financial performance of the charity {see induction and trainingl. Trustee inductlort and training All new Board Members, servlng as Directors or Observers receive guidance from the Chief Executive Officer and/or Chairperson along with a comprehensive induction pack including guidance on good
West Belfast Partnership Board Report of the Trustees and Flnancial Statements for the Year Endlng 31 March 2024 practice in charity governance, governing document and sub-committee terms 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 and good practice. Organisation structure and how charity mal(es decision5. The Board of Trustees administers the charity. The Board normally meets quarterly. As part of its structure, the Partnership operates additional thematic sub-committees that report and recommend to the Board, covering Finance, Audit and Ris1(, Economic Development, NeiEhbourhood 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 staff team. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive Officer has delegated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for operational matters including finance, employment, and direct charitable activitie5. Relationships with related partners None of our trustees receive remuneration or other benefit from their work with the charity. Risk Management Our approach to the management of ris1( is Informed by the need to ensure that the risks inherent in the pursuit of our objectives are understood. will be manageable if 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 ris1< is carried by named individuals in our risk register. Highest level risl(s which 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 ris1< register during 2023-24, assessing the major risks to which the charity is exposed, those related to the operations and finances of the charity, and are satisf led that the systems are in place to mitigate any exposure to the major risl<s. Maintaining Hlgh Standards West Belfast Partnership Board yearly undertake the ISO 9001.. 2015 process and achieved the ISO in the reporting period. ISO is the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems IQMS) and provides a frameworl< and set of principles that ensure a common-sense approach to the management of the charity and satisfaction for service users and stal<eholders, including funders. Legal compliance. Understand how statutory and regulatory requirements impact your organisation and its customers. Principal Actlvity and Statement of Public Benefit West Belfast Partnership Board aims "To involve those who live or work in West Belfast in driving the social, economic and physical regeneration of the area foi. the benefit of those who live in West Belfast and to contribute to, and benefit from, the development of the city as a whole" The Charity's objects I"Objects"l are specifically restricted to the following: 111 To promote urban regeneration and community development in the City of Belfast Ithe'area of benefit") and the redevelopment and revitalisatlon of West Belfast and its environs by all or any of the following means:
West Belfast Partnership Board Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31 March 2024 lal design, promote, implement and evaluate strategies and develop and carry though action plans concerned with improving the economic, social, cultural, health and well-being, and environmental life of the inhabitants of the area of benefit; Ibl 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, promote co-operation among, and establish strategic partnerships between groups, organisations and agencies in the voluntary and community, statutory and private enterprise sectors. Idl provide a forum for the discussion and debate of urban regeneration, community development and related issues and raise public awareness of these matters. (el provide strategic and practical support to community and voluntary groups in the area of benefit. Ic) 121 Promote integrated services for children and young people to facilitate connectivity and the planned delivery of services and programmes. 131 Promote and facilitate the raising of educational achievement and opportunities for lifelong learning. 141 Promote good community relations, religious and racial harmony, social cohesion and equality and diversity. 151 Promote such other charitable purpose5 as may from time to time be determined. Achievements and Performance 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 objectives. For detail of our achievements and performance this year please see our annual report: La outl westbelfast- )artnershi Plans for the Future West Belfast Partnership Board was established in 1998 to act as a representative body to promote and support the regeneration of West Belfast. Overthe past 26 years the Partnership has worked with communityi Statutory, political, 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 places. As a broadly based representative regeneration body, the Partnership has delivered in the fields of economic development, tourism, job creation, education, health and wellbeing, the environment and planning and children and young people. We have responded to need and opportunity through building an innovative and creative collaborative partnership approach. Over the period 2023-24 we have delivered effectively against our priorities and the contract5 we have undertal<en from the- Departments of Communities, Department for Education, Public Health Agency and Belfast City Council and Ran1< Foundation which are detailed in our Annual Report.
West Belfast Partnership Board Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31 March 2024 As we move forward, we shall continue to deliver on our Strategic Plan 2022-30 which builds on our successful track record and ref lects the both the challenges and the ambition, skills, and creativity of the west Belfast people. West Belfast Partnership Board Strategic Plan 2022-30 sets out the Partnerships vision, purpose, value5, and priorities. While the Partnership seel<s to respond to need it is aware of the need to balance expectations with resources and has prioritised its worl< identifying those issues /areas where it leads, others where it will offer support and other areas where it will hold a watching brief. Financlal Review Reserves Policy and Ongoing Concern West Belfast Partnership Board Reserves Policy is to maintain a suff icient level of reserves to enable operating activities to be maintained for a period of at least 3-6 months in the event of major funding streams ending. The reserves policy also tal(es 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 ifaccrued should be used forthe purposes which meet the aims and objectives of WBPB. The Board should note the amount of unreserved funds quarterly and the level of reserves are monitored and reviewed by the Board quarterlv. Tru5tÈes' Responsil)ilities in relation to the Financlal Statement The charity trustees {who are also the directors of the West Belfast Partnership Board for the purposes of company lawl are responsible for preparing the trustees, annual report and the financial statement in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom 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 required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently,. observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; make judgements and accounting estimates 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 the going concern basis unSess it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for l(eeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy 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 detection of fraud and other irregularities.
West Belfast Partnershlp Board Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year Ending 31 March 2024 The trustees are responslble for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and flnanclal information included on the charitable company's website, Legislation in the United Kingdom governlng the preparation and dissemination of financlAI statements may differ from legislation in otherjurisdictions. Statement as to disclosure to our Auditors Each of the persons who is a trustee at the date of approval of this reporl conflrms that.. so far a5 each trustee is aware, there is no relevant audit Snformation of whlch the charity's auditor is unaware,, and each trustee has tal(en all steps that they ought to have tal(en as a trustee to make themselves aware of any relevant audit informatlon and to establish that the charity's audltor is aware of that information. Audltor O'Hara Shearer Ltd a re deemed to be re-appointed under Section 487121 of the Companies Act 2006 Signed by order of the Trustees Mr Jim Donnelly Chairperson 4 December 2024