North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 The trust¢¢s who are also directors of the charity for the purp)ses of th¢ Companies Act 2006, presenl their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective l January 2019). oBJEIVEs AND AcfIviTIES PrineipAI Aetivities and Future DevelopmeDt The Principal activity of the company is to increase the ¢apacity of senior citizens, groups in North Belfast to influence all types of public service which impact on ihe quality of life of older people, to encourage and empower local senior citizens, organizations to develop iheir own activities and function as self help groups. Public beDefil The public benefits that flow from this purpose are decreased financial and social exclusion through our benefits outreach servic¢. 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 eommunity anti-poverty programm¢s. Improving the health and well-being of older people through facilitation of healthy ageing programmes. Reducing social isolation through promotion of social tIvItieS for older people. These benefits are evidenced through ihe numbers of older people accessing our services, f¢¢dback from Clients and the amount of money claimed by our advice service users. The benefiaries of our purpose are elderly people within the North Belfast area. There is no hami or private benefit from our purpose. FINANCIAL REVIEW Finan£lAI posltlon The company had net incoming resources for the year of £5,752 (2023: nel outgoing resources of £1.321) which reflected the completion of projects during the year. Unrestricted funds increased by £3.554. while restricted funds increased by £2,198. Fund balances at 31 Mah 2024 were: Restricted fund £12,176 and Unrestricted fund £28,154. Reserves policy The Charity is reliant on income from funding bodies. The charity raises unrestricted income from fundraising activiti¢s. The reserve policy 15 to have in pla¢¢ three months running costs. FUTURE PLANS The directors Continue to explore oiher funding opportunities. The main focus of the charity continues to be to deliver on the needs of senior citizen's in North Belfast. STRucfuRE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing do¢ument The charity is controlled by its governing durnent. a deed of trust. and Constilutes a limited company. limited by guarantee. as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
North Belfast Senior CitizeDS Forum Re ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governgnce of the Charfity During the period under review the directors met monthly. Trusleesldireclors are appointed by nominations made in writing by any existing director. At the General Meeting nominaled directors are appointed by election. Risk management The directors have assessed the major risks to which the charity is ¢xposed, 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 the major risks.The principles of good governance are embedded wilhin all aspects of North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum operations with managemenl and stsff being keenly aware of the Boards responsibility of ensuring thal the organisation protects itself from financial exposure and reputalional damage, A close working relationship is maintained between the Board and managemenl to ¢nsure that operationally slaff are aware of ihe standards required of them by the Board and the Board are always in position to provide guidance and support lo management in the discharge of their duties. This two way relationship is the key feature of North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum governance arrangements and is a key strength in the company. A conscientious approach to ensuring that contraclual project requirements are achieved has been maintained at all times both in the accounting period being rewrted on and since North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum establishment. Very tight financial controls on expenditure and all financial commilmenls are mainlained at all times and projecl staff have been trained and have becom¢ experienced in budgetary controls.In both these areas ie Project delivery and financial controls management all staff have established Close working relationships with funding organisations to ensure all mandatory standards are consistenily achieved. Board r¢pr¢sentatives also actively engage with funding bodies. The Board, management and stsff are fully aware that the nature of ih¢ work in which North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum is involved Can bring with il a high level of scrutiny to ensure that all activities are fully compliant with funding requirements and.therefore. beyond reproach.The Board of North Belfast Senior Citizens Forum is, therefore, greatly reassured of the company's compliance with the highest of standards of governance on the basis that all monitoring and evalualion of project delivery demonstrates achievement of all funders objectives and that funders, audits and vouching of financial expendsture and th¢ independent examiners report confinn compliance with both probity and regularity in the use of monies received. EVENTS SINCE THE END OF THE YEAR Inforniation relating to events since the end of the 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 Citizens Forum for th¢ purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Truste¢s and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practi¢¢) including Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland"
Nortb Belfast Senior Citizens Forum ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 STATEMEIYT OF TRUSTEES. RESPONSIBILITIES- continued Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial stalements for each financial year which give a true and fair vicw of the state of affairs of ihe ¢harilabl¢ company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure. of ihe charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements. the truslees are required to s¢le¢t suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently: observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP. make judgements and estimates 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 accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any lime the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure ihat the finaneial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. This report has been prepared in accordance wilh the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Approved by order of the board of trustees on 26 November 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Mary Kelly - TUSt¢e