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2023-08-31-annual-report

Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens

Annual Report & Statement of Accounts

For the year to August 31[st] , 2023

Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens – Registered Charity in N.I. No: 104814 Friends of Antrim Gardens NIC No.: 104814

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The Trustees’ Annual Report

Year Ended 31st August 2023

The trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31st August 2023.

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a voluntary association. It is governed by a constitution. The trustees have had regard to guidance issued by the Charities Commission of Northern Ireland on public benefit in carrying out their statutory duties in the governance of the charity.

The charity is governed and managed by the Committee, who are also the charity’s trustees. The trustees who served the charity throughout the period are shown below.

The Committee carry out their governance role throughout the year by way of meetings on a regular basis to review the performance of the charity and to make decisions regarding the charity’s financial and operational matters. The trustees govern the activities of the charity in line with the objectives set out in the governing documents of the charity, namely the charity’s constitution.

Objectives and activities

The Objectives are to advance education in horticulture and gardening and to promote conservation and protection of the environment of Antrim Castle gardens and Clotworthy House for the public benefit in Antrim and surrounding districts (the “area of benefit”). The charity carries out its activities on a "not for profit" basis.

The strategies employed to assist the charity to meet these objectives include the following:

  1. Encouraging, fostering and creating an interest in horticulture, good gardening, horticulture heritage, conservation and other related areas through maintenance of a gardening space in Antrim Castle Gardens and Clotworthy House;

  2. Providing an opportunity for members of the Society and the public to participate in organised visits to other gardens enhancing their knowledge of horticulture and providing an opportunity to foster friendships.

The main achievements of the charity during the year are as follows:

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The trustees are satisfied that the performance of the charity during the year, in terms of both financial and operational results, is in line with the charity’s constitution and key objectives.

Financial review

The net income for the year was £11751.95. The surplus for the year will be added to capital reserves brought forward.

Future plans

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The committee will continue to govern the company in line with the constitution in order to achieve the objectives noted above.

Trustees

The trustees, who are also the Committee, who served the charity during the period, together with those who have served since are as follows:

Mr Subhash Treon - Chairperson Mr Rodney Gillen - Secretary Mrs Diane Greenwood - Treasurer Mrs Eileen Black Mrs Pat McQuillan Mr. Chris Hodkinson Mrs Anne McAuley

Trustees' responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the Committee) are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Trustees are required to:

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The accounts have been prepared on an Income and Expenditure basis. Signed by order of the Committee on their behalf

Diane Greenwood Treasurer Dated 2nd October 2023

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Address

Independent examiner ’s report to the charity trustees of Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 August 2023, which are set out on pages X1 and X2.

Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.

My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.

My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe:

  1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act

  2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records

  3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the

Charities Act

  1. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the

accounts to be reached.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.

Name: Ian Lindsay retired Chartered Accountant

Address: 5 Marmont Park, Belfast, BT4 2GR.

Dat e : 2nd October 2023

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