Blythswood Ireland Limited Trustees, Report The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, pr¢sent the annual i-eport together with the fIn7ClaI ststements and auditors, report of the charitable coinpany for the year ended ) l December 2022. Trustees Mr JM Campbell Mr JA Campbell Mr AH Swansoii Mr N Hawthorne General iiiformation Blythswood Irelaiid Limited is a Christian charity which seeks to share the Gosp¢l, to help those in need, to further education and alleviate distress and poverty at home and abroad. The principal place of business and the registered office is situated at 9J Templepatrick Road, Ballyclare, Co Antrim. The ¢harity's operations include one w-ehOuse ]d eight charity shops located in different areas of Northern Ireland which receive and sell donated goods in order to fuiid its charitable activities. A description o'f the charity's operations and its principal activities are included in activities in the y¢ar on paoe 3. Tht trustses who served during the period and other reference and adtninistration information can be found on page l. Objectives #nd 2¢tivities Objecl.F ancl ttints The charitable objects of tlie charity are th¢ advancement of the Christian religion, the relief of poverty by the sale and distribution of donated (soods aiid the advancement of education for the public benefit, particularly foi- poor and disadvanatatsed children. The charity's principal activities continue to be IninisterTng to people s spiritual and physical needs, in the provision of relief supplies and in assisting the development ot PTOjéCts in Northern Ireland, Eastem ELirope and other countries. Page 2
Blythswood Irelii nd Limlted Trustees, Report Aclivilies in theyear 2022 was an encouraoin(y year with tradin(7 returning to some for of nonnality aftei- two years of disruption throuqh the Global Pai)demic. W¢ continue to work with our existing partne, Bljthswood Romania, Blythswood Serbia and our major partner Blythswood C&Te (UK). In September we celebrated 25 years of Blythswood's work in Ireland with an Afternooii Tea in Banbrid(re. The following day a Buffet Supper was held in Ballyclare, where almost one hundred fi-iends, supporters and stsff gathered to giwe thanks for all that has been achieved ID Bli¢hswood Care throuJq the faithful involveinent of many from around the Province. Blytliswood Care responded to the war in Ulcraine by launching an Emergency Appeal. Supporters froin Northern Jreland donated £29,0)2 to this appeal and customers in our shops donated a further £1 0,156 during the y¢ar. Durintr the financial year 2022 the charity financed and sent out l 0,9)8 filled Shoeboxes, which were delivered via the Blytliswood Cal'e Shoe Box Appeal to project partners in Roinania for distribution to tsi-oups of poor and iieedy cliildi-eii and adults iii those countries. Tliese boxes were collected from iiidividual supporters, schools, chui'ches, and other (yroups iii tlie Province. They were collected and delivered to Ballyclare Hub, our main soi'lin¢Tr Cenire, where eacli box was checked arid repacked by our excellent group of volunteei's and sta'ff who recoTded ovei- 1,101 hours of voluntary tiime. The value of lJoods in these slioeboxes was approximately £27J,450. J50 blankets were also sellt out with Shoebox loads to Ul<raine. Cash donations collected for the Shoe Box Appeal and forwarded to Blythswood Care in Scotland from Northern Ireland contributors ainounted to £41,i49 duTing this financial year. Tlie charity also donated troods to local iyood causes which iiiclLtded the BIW)swood Ii'eland Hoinecare Project, thi-ouyl whicli we were able to assist witli a number of requests to supply furniture and other liousehold £yoods to needy tainilies i-eferred to us by social servlces, MLA'S, local councillors and CAP {Chiistians attainst poverty). The value of these (Foods is £8,386. Five local charities i'eceived donations of £ 1,000 each - Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention- Doc Café Belfast- Belfast Siyeet Pastors. Monkstown Villaoe Initiatives- and The Cithrah FoLtndation. Activities of our Partnei'sli ip Group SLipporlinty Blythswood Care projects with donations of £59,93 5 £ l ),000 to Woi'ld Outi-each Initiative: Burundi to support their Christian Radio Station,. £27,935 for Cornerstoiie Ministries, in Mumbai, India. £7,700 to Life Throu(Fh Sports in Pakistan. £8,000 to Solid Roc1< Foundation, Pakistan. and £3,JOO for pastoral support in Pakistsn We continue to iinprove and develop our shop operation and eight shops continue to operate in d)e Pi'ovince. We closed the Antriin shop in August 2021, bLIt we hope to identify an alternative retail outlet in Antrim or elsewliere in 2022.
Blythswood Ireland Limited Trustees, Report A dedicated body of volui)teers continue to be a vital part of our orgaT)isation at (he Ballyclare Hub sorting shoeboxes, and in the sliops throughout the Province. Tlie approximate value of their contribution for the year is estimattd to be more that £108, 609. The value of charitable contributions to various activities can be suminarised as follow's: Shoebox appeal £41,J49 Local gift boxes disti-ibuted to five ¢liarities £5,000 Overseas donations froin our Partnership Account - £59,9J5 Gift in kind donations values at - £273.450 "Give praise to tAcJ LORD, ppoclaim his name,. make known among the nations Myhat he kas d017e, andp¥oclai thai kis k7ame is exaltL)d Sing to the LORD, for he kas done glorious things. let this be known to all ihe world. ' Isaiah 12,. 4 & i Public benefit We help to pi'ovide food and clothints io alleviate hunoei. and poverty suffered by those who live in or near to the project partnei's that we support in Eastem Eiii-ope. We also help to oive lifeskills to those people and this ITr turn will lielp thein as they seek to move out beyond Iheii. curr¢nt environznent and seek fuither education and einployinent therefore iinproving tlieir wellbeino and quality of life. We try to alleviate poverty at home by providino furniture and household iteins to brokeii fainilies who are then able to use their liinited finances to better effect. These beiiefits cali be demonstrated by testiinonials from i-ecipients that are published in Bl5rtliswood News aiid by the i-euular attendanGes at tlie centres operated by the project paitneFS tliat we support. ChildrerTr aiid youn4Tr people are clothed and fed at many of OUT SUPPOrted facilit?es. Some of the facilities have benefitted froin buildin(Y teams who hav¢ made impToveinents to the fabric of the buildings, but all of this work is undertaken to iinprove the facilities so tliat all those who attend will benefit froin the improvements and have better conditions in which to learn, ear and MTX socially with others thereby improving their quality of life. The ti-ustees confImi that thev have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2008 to have due regard to Èhe public benefit guidance publislied by The Charity Cominis5ion for Northern Ii'eland. Fina ncial review The resulis for the pei'iod are detailed on patre 12 of the financial stateirents. The nei incomiii(r resources foi. 12 montlis to 31 Deceinber 2022 is £158,857 (12 inonths to 31 Decei)7ber 2021 net incomin¢y resoLirces of £168,971). Our tiadino incoime from l January to ) 1st December 2022 was £1,019,057. (£654,068 in l January to J I DeCeiber 2021). Page 4
Blythswood Ireland Limited Trustees, Report Policy on rLpserves The cliarity is founded on the bagis of Christian beliefs. The tivstees do not consider it appropriate to retain surpluses, but have faitli that the needs of the charity will be met as they arise. On a day to day basis, the charity has established a PDlicy whereby the charity maintains sufficient levels of ¢ash to continue CUTrent activities for 2 to 3 months befoTe utilising the remainRng UllTestricted reserves to fund the organisation foT UP to 6 months based on the CUlTent years total expenditure. The trLlStees consider that reserves maintained at this level will ensuTe that, in the event of a sitsiiifica7]t drop in income, they will be able to Coiitinue the charity's ¢LTtTent activities while consideration is tsiven to ways in hicli additional funds may be 17ised. Thi8 level of i'eserves has beeii maintained throughout the year. Going concern The fiiiancial stateiTrents have beeii prepared on a <rointr concern basis. The trustees assess whetlier the use of goino concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties i-elated to eveiits or conditions that may cast sifjnificaiit doubt on tlie ability of the charity to continue as a goints concern. The tritee$ make this assessinent in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. Structure, governanct and managemeiit Recruikment Imd llJJpiiin.Im£nt ollrusfees Trnstees (who are the directors of Bljthswood Irelalld Limited) are appointed by the In¢mbers and hold office for ar) indefinite term. Jnducliijn éiNd truining iyfiru&leés All trustees receive infoi'mation outliiiing the r¢sponsibilities of tTUStees/directors and are invited to lake part in external ooveniance trainiiio Decisioiis regai'diiig strateoic developi]Rent and organisational outputs and outcoines are decided by the trustees, on advic¢ of senior staff. All expenditLCTe is monitored by the trusteesldirectors and in line with and documented financial procedures. Orguni.suÉionÉi/,SlrHcluTL Tlie or¢yanisatioEI is a charitable ¢oinpaiiy limited by uarantee, incorporated on l J May 2004, retsistered with tlie Charity Coininission of Northern Ireland and with HM Revenue and Customs. The objects and powers of the company ar¢ ooverned by its Articles of Association. For many years the company has worked in partnership with Blythswood Care (a company registered in Scotlajid number SC.fj8)493 wilh Scottish Charity number SC048001). Bl)Qhswood Care is the sole member of the company. Page 5
Blythswood Irelalld Limited Trustees, Repoit MfiTjor riskn and pnanogehignl (IfthosÈ ltisk Alanu8iemenl Blytliswood IIEland Liinited Inaintains a risk managenienl systen?, i¥hicli seeks to identify and priori.tise any risks to its activities and tlie delivery of its objectives, and puts iii place measures proportionate to dle manag¢iMent of Iliose risks. The niain risks al'e Categorised as.. Geheralifvg suflici¢>nt incotne Ensuring the income of the cl)arity exce¢ds the costs of th¢ Charity and ¢ontinuirAg finaticiol support of ongoing charitable projects. Repiilatiort risk Ensuring tliat ihe organisation is asSO¢lated/involved witli repthable charttsbll¢ projects. I*L7nagemeI andpei'soniiel Reteiitioii ot kev manag¢m¢iit aiid ¢xperienced personn¢l. r(uliiTL' lo respopld io chu17ging ei7vii'oAFpenl The I'isk that tlie organisation does not tske a proactive approach change. ReMppoontment tsf audDtor The auditors TB Millai. & Co are de¢med to be reappoiiited und¢T sectioii 487(2) of tlie Coinpanies Act 2006. The aniiual repoitt was approved by the ts'ustees of the charity on 23 May 2023 aiid $itsJ3ed on its behslf by.. MI. JM Canipbell Ti'iistee Pag¢ 6
Jythswood Ireland Limited Statemellt of Trusteos, Res OIISllbilities The trustees (Ivlio al'e aIso the diw¢¢toi's of Blythswood IIEland LimiteLI for the purposes of ¥ompany law} are respoijsible foi- pr¢paring the tnastees, repoit and 8he financial stat¢Jnents in accordance Thiih applt¢able law anif United L<ingdoitt Accoiinting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accountin¥ Practiee).. inclLiding FRS I02 'Tlie Financial Repoitino Stsnaaifj applicable in the and Republi¢ of Ireland" The report and a¢coutits have been prepared in accordance ivFtlI the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to SIall companies. Coiiipany law requires the tnist¢¢s to pi'epare fin7claI stateiiients foj. each financial year. Under company law the trLlStees must not approve tlie fntwicial st*ements iin1¢55 they are satisfJ¢d that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs ot the cliaritsble Company and of the incorning iEsources and application of resouices iiicluding its inroiiie and eipendithTe, of the charitable company for that period. In prepaiing these fin)Cta1 statemaits, ¢lJe trustees are Y¢quired to: -lect suitable accountAng poli¢p.es and apply them consistently. observe the n?ethods and pffinciple$ in the Charities SORP. )ake judg¢in¢nts and estimates thal a. reasonable and prudent,. state whethei. applicable accounting stand81'ds. comprising FRS 102 h£ve been followed, subject to anv nialeriEnl departui'es disclosed attd ex'plained In the financial sEatemei?ts' and pr¢pare the fin2n¢ial stitements on th¢ going concern basis unless it is ifiappropriate to pl'es1)1¢ that tlie chai'itable CQ&Yipany will ¢ontiDue in business. The Irkjslees are respoi)sible for keepiiig proper accoUntig records that can disc105e wttli reasonable accuracy a, any liiije tlie fiiiancial position of tlie cl)2ri1abl¢ COFnpany &t)d cnal)le theiii to tnsui'e tliat the f117aiicial .qtatements coiimply with tlie Coinpanies Act 2006. Tliey are also responsible for S<ife<yuarding the assets of tli¢ chailltsbl¢ coinpan! and hence for taking I'easonable .qteps the preventFon and d¢teciion of fraud &]id other irregularities. The trLlStees aTe responsible for the maint¢naJi¢e and iiilegrity of the eorpoTate and financial li)fOntatio]i iiicluded on tlie ¢lJaritable eompall) s wi'bsite. IegISlatIon tsoverning tl)e preparation and di55emination of financial slatetjietjts n)ay differ froJYE legisliltion in other jurisdictions. Approved by the tnistees of th¢ charity on 23 May 2023 and signed on its behalf by: MI. JIW, Campbell 1 ruste¢ Page 7