L.A.S.T Sure Start Company Limited by Guarantee Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of L.A.S.T Sure Start Year ended 31 March 2023 Opinion We have audited the financial statements of L.A.S.T Sure Start (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the statement of finanGial activities (including income and expenditure account), statement of financial position, statement of cash flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion the financial statements: give a Irue and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 March 2023 and of its incoming resources and application of resources: including its income and expenditure, for Ihe year then ended., have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) {ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards a further described in the auditorfs responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK. including the FRC'S Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going concern In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees, use of the going concem basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions Ihat, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue a5 a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are aulhorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
L.A.S.T Sure Start Company Limited by Guarantee Independent Auditorfs Report to the Members of L.A.S.T Sure Start (continuod) Year ended 31 March 2023 Other information The other information comprises the information included in the annual r8POrt, other than the financial statements and our auditor's r8POrt thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements do8s not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do nol express any form of assurance conclusion ther80n. In connection with our audit of the financial stalements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with Ihe financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or othemise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent materi81 misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude thal there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. Oplnlons on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 In our opinion, bas8d on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: the infomiation given in the trustees, report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements., and the trustees. report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on whlch we are required to report by exception In the light of the knowledge and underslanding of the Charity ané its environment obtained in the Course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in th8 trustees, report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Ihe Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us- or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accountlng records and r@turns' or certain disclosures of trustees. remuneration specified by law are not made., or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
L.A.S.T Sure Start Company Limited by Guarantee Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of L.A.S.T Sure Start (contlnu8dJ Year ended 31 March 2023 Responsibilities of trustees As explained more fully in the trustees, responsibilities statement, the Irustees {who are also the directors for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements thal are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concem and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the truste@s either intend to liquidate the charty or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial ststements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misslatemenl, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of user5 taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-complian with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibililies, outlined above. to detect material rnisstatements in respect of irregularities, inoluding fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irr8gularities, including fraud is detailed below: We identify and assess the risks of material misstatemenl of Ihe financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect irregularities, including fraud and non compliar)ce with laws and regulations. we considered the following.. -the ability of management to override controls -the nature of the industry and sector, together with Ihe perfomance of the entity-the use of estimates and judgements in the preparation of financial statements As a result of the above we have considered the opportunities that may exist within the entity for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud to be management override of controls. In common with all audit5 under ISAS IUKI we are required to P8rform sp8cific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. In response to the above potential risks we have responded by.. -we review minules of meetings for reference to any breaches in laws and regulations and past instsnces of fraud -we discuss risk of fraud at the audit team meeting, including fraud relating to revenue recognition, related parties, and management overrid8 and financial statement disclosures -we discuss with management as to how they access, identify and respond to fraud risk within the Company.
L.A.S.T Sure Start Company Limited by Guarantee Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of L.A.S.T Sure Start (continued) Year ended 31 March 2023 As part of an audit in accordan with ISAS (UK). we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throLJghout the audit. We also- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of Ihe financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedur85 responsive lo those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one r8sulting from 8rror, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations. or the override of internal control. Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the internal control. Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees. Conclude on the approprialeness of the trustees, use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exisls related to events or conditions that may casl significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncerlainly exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate. to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the dale of our auditorfs report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charity to cease to continue as a going concam. Evaluate the overall presentation, structur8 and content of the financial staternents, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transadions and event5 in a manner Ihat achieves fair presentation.
L.A.S.T Sure Start Company Limited by Guarantee Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of L.A.S.T Sure Start (continued) Year ended 31 March 2023 We communicate with those charged with govemance regarding, among other rnatters. the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit. Use of our report This report is made solely to the charity's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we mighl slate to the charity's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditorfs report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and th8 charity's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Gary Thompson (Senior Slatutory Auditor) For and on behalf of SP Mccaffrey & Co Chartered accountants & statutory auditor 50 Campsie Road Omagh Co Tyrone BT79 OAG 16 November 2023