BELFAST BIBLE COLLEGE LIMITED DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 The dlrectors Present thalr report and financial statements for the y8ar ended 31 August 2023. The directors have adopted the provisions of the Statèmenl of Recommended Practice (SORPI Accounting and reporting by Charities IFRS102) in preparing the Annual R6POrt and financial statements of the company. STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS. RESPONSIBILITIES The directors. who also act as Tnjstees. are responsible for preparing the Annu81 Report and financial statemènls in accordance with applicable law and regulation. Company law requires the directors to prepare financlal 5tatemenls for each financial year. Under that law, the directors have prepared the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards comprising FRS102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Under company law the directors must not approve the financlal statements unle55 they are satisfied thal they give a true and fair view of the stale of the affairs of the company and ot Ihe incoming re$our¢es and application of resources. induding the income and expenditure account, of the company that year. In preparing these financial statements the directors are required to.. - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them CDnsistently.' * observe the methods and principles in the Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS1021: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (2015)., 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 company will contsnue in business: and slate whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial Statements. The directors are responsible for maintaining proper accountFng records that are sufficient to show and explain the companVs transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial posttion of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial slalements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hen¢e for taking reasonable sleps for the preventlon and detection of fraud and other irregularities. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Belfasl Bible College Limited is a Gompany limited by guarantee not havtng a share capital and is Incorporated under the Cofflpantes Ad 2006. The cornpany Is govemed by its memorandum and artides of association. The Colleg8 Is fomially recognised by HM Revenue and Customs as a charttable body under reference XN47242, and is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC104482. The statutory reliefs under s505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 are admissible on income subject to compliance with the terms of s505 of the Act. Board of Dlrectors The Board of Directors is responsible for the VIeW of all activilies, approval of budgets and implementslion of future strategy. The Board meet5 five times per annum. There are three Board sulFcommittees namely Education Commtttee, Human Resources Committee and Finance, Risk and Audlt Committee,. each subcommlttee meet on 8 regular basis and report to the Board of Directors, The Senior Managèment Team is made up of three staff under the leadership of the Principal and is responsible for all operatlonal and day to day matters. It recommends key decisions to the Board for approval and will also provide information arKI reGommendations lo Ihe Board sub-corrtmittees for consideration and approval in the relevant operalional areas. This Group meets monthly.
BELFAST BIBLE COLLEGE LIMITED DIRECTORS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 The dlrectors who served durlng the year and up lo the date of signature of the financlal statements, unless otherwise noted, were". Dr N C Morrow (Chair) Prof N D Black (resigned 15 June 2023) Ms S Graham Mr P S Hendron Mr N Jennings MrMHPitt Mrs J Smyth Mr P Fleming (resigned 5 September 2022) Mrs Lisette Watson (appointed 8 December 2022) Ms Anne Moorehead (appointed 9 Febwary 2024) MrAndrew Robinson (appoinled 19 March 2024) Appointment of Dlre¢tors Those serving as directors are invited by the existing Board of Directors on the ground of their proven ability. relovant experience, and personal interest in Ihe work of the College. Prior to joining Ihe Board each prospective member meets with the Chaimian. The meeting provides an overview of the College avKI the role and responslbilities of each member of the Board. An induclion process for new Board members has been developed and is used to ensure they are familiar with the objectNes. activities, public benefit and risks facing the College. A Directors Pack for the College is given to each new member when they join and ongoing training is provided as required. Each member of the Company is also appointed as a director, seryes for a specific term, retires by rotation, and upon retirement is eligible for re-appointment. As Ihe College receives only limited financial a5SlStance from public funds. retying upon fees charged to students and upon gifts received from supporters there are no directors nominatsd by any public body or outside agency. None ofthe dlrectors has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the dir&ctors are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £10 each in the event of a winding up. The College employs a principal and other full time and part time teaching staff. and the day to day operation of the College as a place of Christian education 1$ delegaled to the principal and his stsff. However. the Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for the activtties of the CoNege. and are govemed by the doctrinal ststement set OLrt in paragraph 3 of Ihe Artides of Association as well as the original objecls expressed in the Declaration of Trust of 8th February 2003. The CoNege is an independent body and has no constitutional connectlon with any other colleg8 or education estsblishrnent. The professional advlsors to th8 College are set out on the first page of the Annual Report. During the year the College undertook an organisalional reyiew with external assistance with a view to ensuring the College remains fft for purpose to deliver its charitable objectives and secure its financial future in the post- pandemic academic environrnent. The oulcome of this review is being worked Ihrough with staff and the transformation process will take a couple of years to fully implement, particulady changes to academic courses in consuttation with our accrediting university. This is an exciting opportunity for the College to meet our slakeholders. needs in an innovative and relevant way in acKordance wtlh God's will.
BELFAST BIBLE COLLEGE LIMITED DIRECTORS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES The purpose of the College is: To equip 21st century followers of Jesus through theological education that fosters the abilty to communlcats the Christian faith intelligently and with conviction in word and action. The main activty of the College continued to be in the area of delivering educational programmes in keeping with that purpose. Through this year, V successfully continued to provide courses leading to.. Internal 3 month. 1 year Certificate & graduate Dtrploma courses. 3 month Certificate, 1 year Certrficate, 2 year Diploma and 3 year BA in Theology {Universily of Cumbria IUOC] validated courses). Postgraduale 2 year Part Time MA in Theology (University of Cumbria [UOC] validated course). EMPLOYEES All departments wilhin College have regular slaff meetings whereby information is disseminated to and obtained from slaff by senior management. There are regular meetings to facililate the exchange of Ihls informallon and also on the agenda for d1U5$[0n at these meettng$ is the current statistical, quality and budgetary information for the College. RISK MANAGEMENT Risk management is consided by the Board annualty but operational oversight rests wllh the Board Flnance, Risk and Audit Committee who consider risk at each meeling. The College has developed a College Strategic Risk Register supported by a subsidiary Register of more minor risks and the risk management process will continue to develop in the incoming year. The Board has considered the financial and operational risks associated with running the College and considers that it has in place the procedures to manage any such on90ing risks. The following is a summary of the key actiwties in place to rnrtigate exposure to risk.. ongoing review of the Strategic Plan and anatysis of the market for students who wish to obtain fonnal bible based training and accreditstion: monitoring of financial infomiation on a monthty basis wilh adequate planning and financial controls In place: an established ELlucation Committee together with robust reporttng and independent quality review procedures through our accrediting sponsor5- extensive range of policies and procedures to COV8r all aspects of the College aclivities., organisational structure which Indudes provision for deputies to Lxjver key roles and an effective succession planning process., robust governance controls with sufficient management and reporting structures in place,. and frequent assessment of risk to ensure all possible consequen5 are considered and controls implemented.
BELFAST BIBLE COLLEGE LIMITED DIRECTORS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST2023 The key risks facing th8 Collage are set out in the Corporate Rlsk Register but the focu$ of attentlon surrounded th6 followlng rlsks: M8intenanca of a hlgh standard of educational qualty and excellence to support academic achievement and Christian service development among the student population. Sustainabilty of funding to support all College activity. Maintenance of an appropriate physical environment for both staff and students These risks are managed and mitigated through various management operated policies and procedures and overseen by specific Board Committees In these key areas- Education Commtttee, Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and Human Resources Committee. These stsnding committees are supplemented by ad hoc ommlttees as and when required to oversee other risks and opportunities as they arise. The Finance. Risk and Audit Committee also look at emerging risks such as the General Data Protection Regulation to ensure the College Is aware of the impact and is planning to mitigate the risk if and when il arises. PUBLIC BENEFIT The Board belleves that the public benefits from its aclivitles in the areas of the advancement of religion and the advancemenl of education through: The training of knll and part Ime ministers of religion. lay associates and pastoral ministry workers Spiritual formation of laity Teaching and spreading the principles of the Christian religion iv. Raising awareness and understandlng of Christmn bellefs and practlces The carrying out of missionary and outreach work The areas in whlch the collegè seeks to achieve this are:. Through college and higher education Community education Rellgious education iv. Vocational training and life-long learnlng v. The development of individual capabilities, competencies, skills and understanding The key beneficiaries are the students who have the opportunity to attend full or part time courses provided by the college. In addition, the public at large may attend public lectures and part tlme college courses. The directors confirm they have had regard to thé slatutory guidance in respect of the Public Benellt Requirement published by thè Charity Commission for Northem Ireland. FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF OTHERS The charity does not hold any funds as custodian for any other trustee body.
BELFAST BIBLE COLLEGE LIMITED DIRECTORS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2023 DISCLOSURES OF INFORMATION TO AUDrroRS To the knowledge and belief of th8 dlrectors, the dtrectors confimi thal there is no relevant infomiation that the company's auditors are not aware of. They further confirm that they have taken all the steps necessary to ensure the director5 are aware of any such relevant information, and to establish that the cornpany's audltors are aware of such infom)ation. AUDITORS Harbinson Mulholland have indtcated their willingness to continue in office and a resolution concerning their r appointrnenl wlll be proposed at the Annual General Meeting and to aulhorise the directors lo fix the remuneration of the auditors ft)r the year ended 31 August 2023. Approved by the Board on S& 'Ai'dri and slgnod on Its behalf by Dr N C Morrow (Chalr) Director 10-