North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statcments of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounling and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance wilh the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019). OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Principal Activilies and Future Development The Principal activity of the company is to increase the capacity of senior citizens, groups in North Belfasl to influence all types of public service which impact on the quality of life of older people, lo encourage and empower local senior citizens, organiLqtions to develop their own activities and function as self help groups. Public benefil The public benefits thai flow from this purpose are decreased financial and social exclusion ihrough our benefits outreach service. Increased access to educational services through provision of classes, especially IT, which lessens the digital divide. Reducing the risk of poverty through increasing older people's access to statutory and community anli-poverty programmes. Improving the health and well-being of older people through facilitation of healthy ageing programmes. Reducing social isolation through promotion of social activities for older people. These benefits are evidenced through the numbers of older people accessing our services, feedback from clients and the amount of money claimed by our advice service users. The benefiaries of our purpose are elderly people within ihe North Belfast area. There is no harm or private benefii from our purpose. FINANCIAL REVIEW Financi81 position The company had net outgoing resources for the year of £1,321 (2022: nel ouigoing resources of £1,484 which reflected the completion of projects during the year. Unrestricted funds increased by £5,784, while restricted funds decreased by £7,105. Fund balances at 31 March 2023 were: Restricted fund £9,978 and Unrestricled fund £24,600. Reseryes policy Th¢ Charity is reliant on income from funding bodies. The charity raises unrestricted income from fundraising aclivities. The reserve policy is to have in place ihree months running costs. FUTURE PLANS The directors continue to explore other funding opportunities. The main focus of the charity continues to be to deliver on the need5 of senior citizen's in North Belfast. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document The charity is controlled by its governing documenL a de¢d of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limtted by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Acl 2006.
North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum Re ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governance of the Charity During the period under review the direclors met monthly. Trustees/direciors are appointed by nominations made in WTlting by any existing director. At the General Meeting nominated directors are appointed by election. Risk management The directors have assessed the major Tisks to which the charity is exposed. in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity, and are satisfied that the systems are in place to mitigate any exposure to ihe major risks.The principles of good governance are embedded within all aspects of North Belfast Senior Cilizens Forum operalions with Tnanagement and staff being keenly aware of the Boards responsibility of ensuring that the organisation prolecls itself from financial exposure and reputational damage, A close working relationship is maintained between the Board and management to ensure that operationally staff are aware of the standards Tequired of them by the Board and the Board are always in position to provide guidance and support lo managemenl in the discharge of their duties. This two way relationship is the key feature of North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum governance arrangemenls and is a key strength in the company. A conscientious approach to ensuring that contractual project requirements are achieved has been maintained at all times both in the accounting period being reported on and since North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum establishment. Very tight financial controls on expendilure and all financial commitments are maintained at all times and project slaff have been Irained and have become experienced in budgelary ¢ontrols.In boih these areas ie Project delivery and financial controls managemenl all staff have eslablished close working relationships with funding organisations to ensure all mandalory standards are consistenily achieved. Board representalives also actively engage wilh funding bodies. The Board, managemenl and staff are fully aware thai the nature of the work in which North Belfast Senior Cilizens Forum is involved can bring with it a high level of scrutiny to ensure that all activities are fully compliant wilh funding requirements and,therefore, beyond reproach.The Board of North Belfasi Senior Cilizens Forum is, therefore, greatly reassured of the company's compliance with the highesl of slandards of governance on the basis that all monitoring and evaluation of project delivery demonstrates achievement of all funders objectives and that funders, audits and vouching of financial expenditure and ihe independent examiners report confimi compliance wilh boih probity and regularity in ihe use of monies received. EVENTS SINCE THE END OF THE YEAR Inforniation relating to events since the end of ihe year is given in the notes to the financial statements. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES The trustees (who are also the directors of North Belfast Senior Cttizens Forum for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Slandards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) including Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland"
North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum ort of the Trustees ror the Year Ended 31 March 2023 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES- Continued Company law requires the trustees to prepare fjnancial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial slalements. lh¢ trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently" observe ihe methods and principles in the Charity SORP. make judgements and eslimates that are reasonable and prudent: prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper a¢¢ounling records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable ihem to ensure that the financial statements comply wilh ihe Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable Company and hence for taking reasonable sleps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Approved by order of ihe board of trustees on 21 November 2023 and signed on its behalf by: Mary Kelly - Trustee