Btytlmvood Ireland Limited Trustees, Report The trnstees, wbo are directors for the purposes of conwany lawl preseni the annuaI report togetber with the financlal statements and auditors, report of the charitable company for the year ended 31 Decemb¢r 2023. Trnstees Mr JM Campbell Mr JA Campbell Mr AH Swanson Mr N Hawthorne Mr J Ross General illformation Blythswood Ireland Lijnited is a CbTistian charity which seeks to shar¢ the GospeL to help those in need, to fither educate and alleviate diSt$S and poverty at home aud abroa(L The principal place of business and the registered office is situated at 93 Templepatri¢k Road, BallyCla, Co Antrim. Th¢ charity's operations include one warehouse and eight charity shops located in different areas of Northern Ireland which receive and sell donat¢d goo(ts in order to fimd its charitable activities. A description of the ¢harity"s operations and its principal activities a]E included in 'activities in the year. on page 3. The trustees who served during the period and other reference and administratioll infom]ation Can be found on page l. ObjectiV¢s and actfvities Objects ond aln The eharitsble objects of the charity are the advancement of the Christian religion. the relief of povety by the sale and distrjbution of donated goods and the advancemeJJt of education for the publi¢ benefo particularly for poor aud disadvautaged childre The charity's principal activities ¢ontinue to be ministering to people's spiritual and physical needs by providing relief supplies and supporting projects in Northern Trelan<l Eastern European and other countries. Page 2
Blythswood Ireland Limited Trustees, Report Aellvldes in IheyeaT The traditr activities of the ret1 opeJ7tion continucd to grow dwing 2023, alloThing us to continue to work with our existing partners, Blythswood Romani4 Blythswood Serbia and our ]0r parther Blsthswood Care During the financial year 2023, the charity financed ar&d sent out 10,893 filled Shoeboxes, which were delivered via the Blythswood Care Shoe Box Appeal. to project partners in Romania for distribution to groups of poor and needy children and adults. These boxes were coll¢¢ted froD] individual SUprterS, Khools, chur¢hes, and other groups in th¢ Province. They were coll¢rt and delivered to Baltyclare Hub, our main sorting centre, wh¢r¢ each box was checked and repacked by our excellent gTOUP of voluoteers and staff who recorded over many hours of voIuntsry time. The value of goods in these shoeboxes was appToxirnately £271325. Twelve Ix)xes of blankets were a]so sent out wÈth Shoebox loads to Ukraine. Cash donations collected for the Shoe Box Appeal and f(arded to BIythswood Care in Stland from Northern Ireland ¢ontnlltoIs amounted to £39,125 during this financial year. The charity also donated goods to local good Causes whicb included the B1}SWOOd treland HollCare ProjecL through which we were able to assist with a number of requests to supply furniture and other household goods to needy families referred to us by social services, Iu's. local councillors and CAP (Christians against poverty). The valve of these goods was £4,384. Three local ChltIeS receAved donations as follows - Yeljow Ribbon Suicide Prevention £2,000. Doc Café Belfast £l,OOO' and The CÉthrdh Foundatiojj £2,CrfKI. A¢tiviti¢s of our Parthership Fund - siwrting Blythswood Care projects - with donatiODS of £142.634 £14,200 to World Outreach Initiativ4 BundI to support their Christian Radio Ststion. £34,159 for Con)erstone Ministries, in Mumbai, Indi4 £8,400 to Life Through Swts in Pakistan. £25,000 to Blyihswood Serbia; £10,875 to Sargy, Kenya. and, £50,000 for the Uknaine Appeal. We continue to improve aDd develop our shop operatAon and eight shops continue to opeTat¢ in the Province. A dedicated body of volunteets wntAnue to be a vital part of our organisation at the Ballyclare Hub sorting shoeboxes, and in the shops thToughout the Provine¢. The approxiDth vue of their contril)ution for the year is estimated to be more than £99,924. The value of charitable contributions to various activities can be summarised a5 follows: Shoebox appeal £39,125 Lwal gift boxes distr1 uted to five charities - £5,0(K) Overseas donations from our Partuership Accoillit- £142,634 Gift in kind donations va]ues at - £272,325 Page 3
Blythswood Ireland Limited Trustees, Report Public benefit We help to provide food and clothing to allevia* hunger and px)vety suffered by those who live in or near to the project partners that we support in Eastern Europe. We also help to give life skilIs to those people and this in ttnn helps them as they seek to move out beyond their current envromnent and seek fi]rth¢r education and employmerJL therefore Émprovino their wellbeing and quality of lif¢. We ty to alleviate wverty at home by providing fillTrltie and IUSehold iten to broken families who are then able to us¢ their limited finances to better effecL These benefrts caD be demonstrated by testimonials from recipients that are published in Blsthswood News and by the regular attendances at the centres operated by the project parthers that we supporL Children and young people are cl<)thed and fed at many of our supported facilities. Some of the faeilities have benefitted from building teams who have made improvements to th¢ fabric of the buildings, but all of this work is undertaken to improve the faciliti¢s so that all those who attend will benefit from the improvements and have better Conditions in whi¢h to learn, eat and mix socially with otbers, thereby improving their quality of lift. The trustees confjrni that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2008 to have due regard to the public benefit guidan¢¢ published by The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. Financial review The results for the period ar¢ detailed on page l? of the finaneial statements. The net inconling resources for 12 months to 31 December 2023 is £32,420 (12 months to 31 December 2022 net intoming resources of £158,857). Our traditig income from l January to 31st DeceD]ber 2023 w&8 £1.062,162. (£1,019,057 in l January to 31 December 2022). Policy on rcserves The charity is founded on the basis of ChTiStiaD beliefs. The Intee5 do not nSIder it appropriate to retain St11f1callt slUSe5 but have faith that the needs of the charity will be met as they arise. On a day-to-day basis, the charity h&$ established a policy whereby the charity maintains sufficient levels of cash to ¢ontinue current activities for 2 to 3 months before utiljsing the retuaining u[eStriCted reserves to fund the organisation for up to 6 months based on the CWTent year's total extKnditure. Th¢ trustees Consider that reserves maintained at this level will ensure that in the event of a significant drop in income they will be able to continue the clwity's cuttent activities while considerntion is given to ways in which addttional funds may be raise4L This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the y¢ar. Goin2 coneern The fmancial statemeats have been prepared on a going concern basis. The tsustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e.. whether there are any mateiial uncertainties related to ev¢nts or conditioDS that may cast significant doubt on the ability of th¢ charity to contÈrfr.ue as a going Concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the fmancial statem¢nts. Page 4
Blythswood Ireland Limited Trustees, Report Structureg goyernanee and management Recruilmehk llndappointine Of1rfIe<S Trustees (who are tbe directOTS of Blythswood lttland Limlted) are appointed by th¢ members and hold office for an indefinite tern). IndUcon ond lrnlning oltrusiees All trustees receive inforniation outlining the responsibilities of trUsed1rtors thd ar¢ invited to take part in external governance trainin& Decisions regarding strategic developmenÈ and organisational outputs and outcomes are decided by the trustees, on advtce of senior staff. All expenditur¢ is onItored by the trteeS/dire¢tOrS and in line with and documented financial pnxedures. Org4ntsatlonalslrnclure The organisation is a thariiable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 13 May 2004. registered with the Charity Comrnission of Nortbern Ireland and with HM Revenue ar Customs. The objects and powers of the company are governed by its Articles of As%)ciation. For many years the conipany has worked in p2rtDership with Blythswood Care (a company registered In Scotland number SC583493 with Scottish Charity number SC048001). Blythswood Care is the sole member of the company. Future Plaos tn 2024 and beyond, Bl)thswood Ireland Limited will continue to raise funds througb trading in charity Sbops to support the projects of Blythswood Care. cuentlY there are eigbt charity shops in Northern treland and we aim to iJ]cre&8e the number of sllops over th¢ next few years. There are key towns in Northern Ireland wbere we are investigating premises. Over the past two years the surylus in the organisation has been aLkninistered more generou51y to support the work of Blythswood Care. We anticipate we will continue to reduce that surplws to a managed l¢vel which could be used to se¢ the organisation through any more difficult cashflow issues which may arise in the futtjre. Page 5
Btythswood Ireland Limited Trustees, Report Major nsks andmanago11 oflhose riskw skmanagement Blythswood Ireland Limited nthintains a risk llwlagement systero which seeks ts identify and prioritise any risks to its activities and the delivery of its objectives aud puts in place measures proportionate to the management of those rAsk8. Tbe main rxsks are categorised as: GÉnéYating sufficienL in¢onie EnsurFng the income of the charity exceeds the costs of tho cbarity and continuing financial support of ongoing ¢haritable projects. Repulation risk Ensuring that the organisation is associat¢(ViJAvolved with reputable charitable projects. Key managemenl andpersonnel Retention of key management and experienced personnel. Failure lo respondio CAl81ng em?ironmepX The risk that the organisation does not tske a proactive approach to chang¢. Reappolntment of auditor The auditors TB Millar & Co are deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006. The annual report vrts approved by the trustees of the charity on 4 June 2024 and signed on its behalf by., Mr JM Campbell TTUStee Pe 6
Btytbswood Ireland Limited Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities The trustees (who are also the directors of Bl)¢k8wood Ireland Limited for the purposes of company law) are Tesponsible for preparing the tn]stees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and Unit¢d Kkngdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Genernlly Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" The report and ac¢ounts have been prepared in accordance with tbe provisioDS in the Conwanies Act 2006 relating to small ¢ompanies. Company law requiTes the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, Under company law the tte¢S must not approve the financial statements unless thev are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of th¢ stste of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expendittwe, of the charitable wmpany for that period. Ill preparing these financial statements, the tteeS are requAred to: select suitable aco)untiDg policies and apply them conslstently. observe the llthOdS and principles in the Charities SORP" make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prndenL state whether applicable accounting standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements" and prepare the financTal statements on the going conc¢rn basis unless it is inappropriate to preswne that the charitable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper a¢counting ordS that can disc105e with reasonable accuwy at any time tbe financial POSAtion of the charitsble ¢ompany and enable them ro ensure that the fman¢ial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also Tesponsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsAble for the maiD*nallrE and integrity of the colporate and fjnancial iDfonnation Anclud¢d on the charitsble companys w¢bsite. Legislation goverDing tbe preparation and disseminatxon of financial statements may differ from legisjation in other jurisdictions. Approved by the trustees of the charity on 4 June 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Mr JM Catnpbell Trustee Page 7