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Macan Trust for the Blind
Trustees report for the year ended 31 December 2025
The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out of page 11.
Constitution
Macan Trust for the Blind is a non-incorporated body and is an accepted charity by the Charity Commission Northern Ireland on the 1 April 2016 under number 104924.
Organisation
The Trustees who have served during the year are detailed out on page 3.
Public Benefit
The Trustees believe that both our purposes and the activities undertaken in this last financial year clearly satisfy elements of the public benefit requirement.
Statement of Public Benefit
Our purpose is to provide financial assistance to organisations in Armagh City and surrounding district who support the blind in their local communities. We also provide financial assistance to any recognised Charity for the Blind as the trustees, after consultation with the committee, think fit, provided that the trustees are satisfied that the recipient thereof shall apply such income or capital (as the case may be) for the benefit of the prescribed class. ("Recognised Charlites for the Blind" shall include the Royal National Institute for the Blind and such other institutions or trusts provided for the blind in Northern Ireland recognised as charitable according to the law of Northern Ireland.) The direct benefits which flow from this purpose are the enabling of the provision of comforts and special equipment to improve the quality of life and opportunities of members of the "prescribed class." (The "Prescribed Class" means blind persons in Northern Ireland, preference being given to blind persons resident in the city of Armagh and surrounding district.) These benefits are evidenced through:-
(a) Feedback from beneficiaries
(b) A survey of yearly applications including what the previous year's grant monies were spent on and what the forthcoming year's grants will be spent on
(c) Regular independent evaluation of our services
What is Macan Trust for the Blind
We liaise with local groups and organisations who provide support to the blind in their own communities, In November of each year the Secretary of the Macan Trust writes to their representatives inviting them to make application for grant monies for the following year. In late January/early February the applications are considered by the Advisory Committee and their recommendations are presented to the Trustees who decide on the merits of each application. Where grants are approved the monies are provided at a formal presentation in March. (Special applications can be submitted at any time of the year.)
During the year ended 31 December 2025 the charity donated support to 14 groups and organisations, ranging from donations of £680 to £2,000.
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Macan Trust for the Blind
Financial review and Investment Policy
During the year ended 31 December 2025, the charity received investment income of £22,472 which yielded a surplus of £3,714.
Share disposals resulted in proceeds of £32,942.19 and a capital gain of £1,308. During the year there were share additions at a cost of £44,215.
Risk Management
The Trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that the necessary steps can be taken to reduce these risks. These include quarterly reports from Evelyn Partners on the investments held and how they have performed, along with any recommendations on how to minimise the risk of those investments while yielding a good return to enable the charity to give grants to those in need.
By order of the Trustees
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+ He Kine
Archbishop John McDowell
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(2.2. ae26
Date /
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Macan Trust for the Blind
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the Financial Statements in accordance with the applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.
The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have prepared the financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in the United Kingdom (accounting standards issued by the Financial Reporting Council in the UK, including Charities SORP (FRS 102). Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statements of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and promulgated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in the United Kingdom and United Kingdom Law). Under that law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity and of the statement of financial activities of the charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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e — select suitable accounting policies and then apply the consistently;
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e observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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e make judgements and estimates that a reasonable and prudent:
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e — state whether the application of accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained the Financial Statements;
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e prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008. 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 trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charities website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Statement as to disclosure to our Independent Examiner
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In so far as the trustees are aware at the timing of approving our trustees’ annual report:
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e there is no relevant accounts information of which the charitable company's independent examiner is unaware; and
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e — the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s independent examiner is aware of that information.
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Macan Trust for the Blind
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Independent Examiner
A resolution to re-appoint the Independent Examiner, Noel Conn FCA, will be proposed at the annual general meeting.
By Order of the board
By order of the Trustees
Archbishop+ <ehe John McDowellKnock Date 13-2. do2e/