## **ACTION FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and “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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019) ## **Objectives and activities** The Belfast Agreement (1998) has necessitated engaging in post conflict transformation including; prisoner release and reintegration, decommissioning, police reform and economic investment. Within this broader context Action for Community Transformation (the ACT Initiative) emerged. Essentially, the ACT Initiative is a transformation process which supports former loyalist combatants on the road from conflict to peace. Since its inception in 2007, ACT has engaged hundreds of former combatants and is currently supporting 9 groups across the province, 1 central office in Belfast and 1 sub-office in Mid-Ulster. The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. ## **Achievements and performance** Due to the restrictive nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, our proposed programme of conventional activities and events has been disrupted. With the easing of some restrictions during some quarters, we were able to recommence some of our original proposed programmes. The securing of additional funding to employ personnel and to finance events and activities has been crucial to the development of ACT as a model of ‘civilianisation’ for those categorised as former combatants. This has increased the potential to maximise the nurturing of meaningful partnerships across all the sectors within communities. Integral to this has been the increased capacity of ACT members, managed by the project director and coordinated by the project workers. This has been key to implementing the work with more expedience, creating a greater awareness of the work and disseminating it across a wider geographical area, given that it was formerly reliant on the project director to work alone. In doing so, a greater regional cohort of voluntary ACT members has been developed which makes the implementation of existing and new objectives more realistic. Of the original objectives, a vibrant programme of work with women has materialised successfully. This originated within our Belfast office but has now developed across a number of other communities. The importance of the development of women is significant to the conflict transformation of their male counterparts and has been instrumental in furthering the role of men. This was one of the findings of an external evaluation we conducted and the findings of that is attached as an appendix. - 1 - **ACTION FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021** ## **Financial review** The financial statements for the financial period show total income as £359,333, total resources expended as £311,864 with net income resources at £47,469, along with £67,119 carried over from previous year. As a charity we are exempt for VAT purposes and most of our restricted finances come from two funding sources, namely the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust – JRCT and the International Fund for Ireland - IFI. Additional restricted and unrestricted nominal fees are occasionally paid by organisations we apply to for programme costs or groups who avail of our conflict transformation exhibition space. ## **Reserves Policy** It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to one month’s expenditure. The trustees considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. ## **Risk** The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. ## **Plans for Future Periods** This completes our third year of programme funding from International Fund for Ireland – IFI, our future plans will be developed under the three themes outlined in previous reports. We have secured new funding for two further years from July 2021 onwards. In addition, funds from JRCT ensures our Project director is in place to manage the work. Crucial to this will be the development of our central office as a Community Hub/Visitors’ Centre, with new funds from The Big lottery ‘Dormant Fund’ being utilised by a broad range of service users and groups. ## **Structure, governance and management** The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Mr W Hutchinson Mr P Hamilton Rev Dr G Mason Mr T Harrison Mr R McMurray Mr T Roberts Mr T Winstone Mrs T Pollock Mrs J Davidson - 2 - ACTION FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE TRUSTEES. REPORT {INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 Disclosure of Informatlon to Independ•nt •Mmlner Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which 15 relevdnt io the independent examination, but of which the independent e¥arniner is unawa￿. They have further confirmed that they have tsk•n appropriate stèps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the independent eyamirner 15 aware ol such infofmalion. The trLl%t e5, repart was approvèd by the Board ol Trusttos. Mi T Rtsb8rt5 Trustee Dated..