ACTION FOR COhqMUNITY TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIREcfoRS' REPORT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OECEMBER 2023 The trustees present their annual report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in fjote 1 to the financial statements and comply with the ch%ll'ity's goveming documpnL the Companies Act 2006 and 'Accounting and Reporting by Charlties: staterr.ent of Recommended Practlce applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable in the UK and Republic of Sreland IFRS 102}. (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019). Oblectlves and activltles The Belfast Agreement (1998) has necessltated eigaging in p¢)st conflict transomation Including.. prisoner release and reintegration, decommissioning, police reform and economlc imie5tment. Within this broader context Action lor Community Transformation (the Acr Initiative) emerged. Essentially, the Acr Initiative is a transformation process which supports fomer loyalist combatants on the road from conflict to peale, Since its inception in 2007, ACT Initiative has engaged hundreds of former combatants and is currently 5UFPQrtin9 8 groups across Northern Ireland, with 1 central coinmunity hub in Belfast and 1 sub-office in North Ulster. The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commi55ion in dpciding what activities the charity should undertake. Achi•v•m•nts and performanc• In broad terms, there are a number ol significant initiatives throughout this year which are strategic to the development of ACT Initiative and presented under three themes. Women in Peacebuildin Wlth havlng a main objective of increaslng the participation of women in peacebuilding, this reporting period has been significant in this respect with tle women involved within ACT Initiative embracing the challenge. Cruaal to thls ha5 been the Individual development of our female coordinator who has bn extremely motivational in recruiting other women to the programme and accepting the opportunities presented to her to imprciie her own capabilities. In doing so, she has demonstrated clear leadership skills and now designs our woinen's practice. Emamples of what the group have been involved in this year include,. A regional outreach programme to recruit other women, successful in Londonderry, Coleraine, 8allymen4 Lame and Carrickfergus; a shared historyi projett in 8elfas¢ across the 'Pea Ilne, with women from the neighbouring ccmmunity, Clonard,. playir,g a vital role in organising two festivals for the Shankill cornmunity, summer and winter, attended by over 10,000 people; educational visits to south Annagh, Loiidondery and Dublin., an after-school project with children and their carers, In collaboration with Stranmillis teacher training college., attendan at a variety of international eXchanges/conferen$ including Livp.rpool, Columbia, B05ton and Washington.
ACTION FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIREI=TORS' REPORT) {CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Conflict Transformation Repeatedly, it is reflected that this aspect of ACT'S work often goe5 unrecorded because of its sen'.>ltive and Confidential nature. DesF.ite this, the work is underpinned by mitigating tle potential rlsk to peoF4e and propety. In doing so, most of our partnership working invofves liaising with others to intervene when individualslfamilies are at risk. Whilst this tyoe of work in communities usually requi$ a rpstorative approach. our well-established collaboration with Alternatives (a rest,?rative justice project, makes it incumbent on groups such as ACT to help OUL a responsibility whicli we are happy to accepL The additional maln focus of our work In this perlo¢ ha5 been the development of our cultural madel BCN, wlierein we successfully engaged 16 cornmunities In self-regulatory cultural expresslons, relating to I lth July bonfires and the resurgence of our volunteer base with two successful training initiative5 involving over 30 neiv participants. Leadershi an Div Evidence of the project strengthening leadership 15 in our coordinatoi's and volunteers, ability to sustaln groups and individuals, in engagement with others, on issues requirinJc communty leadership. As our event5 and activities demonstrate, this is evident in engaging 'hard to reach, individuals, on issues such as, bonfire5 and cultural traditions, exploring non-violent approaches to c?nflict uslng the principles and practices of Restorative Justice, working on new interface engagemerits, communicatin9 Wlth politlcal representatives from acros5 the polltical spectrum, engaging con5i5tently b%'ith the PSNI and encouraging and su[Iporting women to engage in peace-building ini-iatives. In doing SO. OU( staff and volunleers continue to demonstrate leadership ir relation to our project proposal. For exomple, we have on-going cross- community Legacy projects being facilitated at our Vi51tor Centre and other venues, we continue with our road-safety arTd anti-drug campaign on a regional basis, and we continue to engage in meetings, when requested, with for example. the Northem Ireland Office, Foreign Commonwealth & Developmeiit Security Office and the Independent Reporting Commission. Flnanclal r•vl•w The ftnanclal statements for the financial year show total Income and endowments as £662,857, (2022: £=,99,112) total résources Xpended as £614,687, (2022: £406,496) wlth net income resources at £48,170, (2,)22.' Deficit of £7,384). As a d)arrty we are exeinpt for VAT purposes most of our restrlcted finances come from four funding Sour$, namely the Joseph Rowntree CharltablLa Trust - JRCT, the Intematlonal FLnd for Ireland - IFI, The Big Lottery Dormant Accounts Fund and The Executive Office, 'Comrnunities In Transition,. Addltional res-ricted and unrestricted nominal fees are occasionally paid by organisations we apply to for programme costs or groups who avail of our service At 31 December 2023, the charity had total funds of £155,374 12022,. £107,204). Of these funds £127,457 was held for restricted purposes and not available for general purp05e5.
ACTION FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIREcfoRS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Retherves Polky It is the policy of the charity that unrestrirted funds which have not been designated for a specific Use should be maintained at a level equivalent to one month's expenditure. The tru5tee5 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 hlIe consideration is giiien to ways in which additional funds may be raised. The charity has free reserves of £21530 (2022.. £24,24T) which reproients 7 rnonth5 of unrestritted expenditure on charitable activities. Rlsk The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed. and are satlsfied that sjstems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Plans for Futur• P•rlods This year, 2023. completes aur fifth and flnal year of programme funding fr()m Intemational Fund for Ireland Ir.1, for our ACT 'Peace Impact Programme.. Homiever, our BCN model is also funded via IFI and will be a significant feature of our piartice for 2024. We continue with the d8velopment of our central office as Community HubNisitors' Centre, with funds frorn The Big Lottery 'Domant Fund, being utilised by a broad range of seNice users and groups. and our CIT ex-prisoner project. Finally, in 2024, we hope to purchase the building via a 'Neighbi)urhood Regeneration Fund, with the 8elfast City Council, thus improving our sustainability. Structur•i governJnc• •nd mana9•m•nt ACT Initiative 15 a registered Northern Ireland Charity and J Limited Company by Guarantee. A Board of Directors and Advisors meet quarterly to oversee the governance and accountability of ACT Initiatlve Directors are nominated and seconded each year at our AGM and AdlsorS are invited based on their expertise/ experlence. In partnership with the pioject Dlrettor and a strateglc rovlew group, annual plans are developed to implement tlie aims and objectives of ACT Initiative Sn partnership and collaboration wlth all communlties we have pri)jects in. This Is dlsiiemlnated by our employed/volunteer organi*e who coordinate community projects via our Area Artion Groups. The organisers meet monthly to share practice and build cohesion. The Firoject Director manages all aspects of practice. The trustees, who are also the directors for the pui'pose of company law, and who seNed during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial 5tstements were.. Mr W Hutchinson Reii Dr G Mason Mr T Harrison Mr R Mcmurray Mr T Roberts Mr T Winstone Mrs T Pollock [RIgned 20 April 20241 (Resigned 24 April 20231 {Resigned 28 FebNary 2024)
ACTION FOR COMMUNITY TRAN,SFORMATION INITIATIVE TRusfEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIREcfoRS' REPORT) (<:ONTINUED) FIQR THE YEAR EIVDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Slatement of trust••s' responslbllltles TFie trustees, who are also -. he directors of Attion ror Community Transformation Initiative for the piJrp05e of ompany law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial statements in acccfdance with applicable law and United kn'ngdom Acccunting Stsndards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Cornpany Law requlres the trustees to prepare fin3nclJl 5tatement5 for each ftnancial year which glve a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incomiiig resources and applitstlon of resources, includlng the Income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. In pparing these financial statements, the trusteee are required to: select suitsble accounting policie5 and then apply them consistently, observe the methods and principle5 in the Charitios SORP make judgements and ertimates that are reasonable and pruden( state whether applicable UK Accounting Standarcs have been followed, subject to any material departures dii.=105ed and explained in the financial statements and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in ope'ation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accountlng records thal disclose with reasonable accuracy at aw tlme the financial position of the charity ind enable them to ensure that the financial statttnents comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also respoftsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the pretrentlon ard detectlon of traud and other irrégularities. Audftor In accordance wlth the company's articles, a resolutlon proposing that AA8 Group Accountants Liml'Led be reappointed as auditor of t.'ie company will be put at a General Meeting. Disclosure of infomiation to independent examiner Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which 15 relevant to the independent examination, but of which the independent examiner is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate Steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the independent exarniner ,s aware of such information. The trustees, report was approved by the Board of Trurtee Mr W Hutchin50n Trustee