HMRC Charities Reference No. XR75454 AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN SUPPORT ORGANISATION NORTHERN IRELAND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Reglstered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC105267 AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN SUPPORT ORGANISATION NORTHERN IRELAND REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 The management committee presents their annual report together with the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. Structure, governance and management Governin docu ent African and Caribbean Support Organisalion Northem Ireland has been granted charitable status by HM Revenue & Customs, under reference XR75454 and is registered with The Charily Commission for Northern Ireland under charity number 105267. ana ement Comm ttee The charity is controlled by the management committee. The committee meets a minimum of six limes per year, with additional meetings being held whenever deemed necessary, to oversee the day lo day running of the charily. The committee meetings are required to be attended by a minimum of three elected committee members. Principal activities The organisation is eslablished to advance education, relieve poverty, protect and promote public health and to promote the benefit of the inhabitants and in particular the communities of African and Caribbean descent living in Northern Ireland. This assistance is primarily aimed at individuals and community groups of African, Mixed Heritage andlor West Indian origin and descent and their dependents {hereinafter called the 'beneficiaries"I living in Northern Ireland {hereinafter called the "area of benefit"). Help and assistance is provided regardless of age, gender, disability. sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion. This is done by liasing with the slatutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the beneficiaries in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure-time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the said beneficiaries. In particular the charity aims in the area of benefit to assist individuals=_ (a) in need, hardship or distress within the Caribbean, African, Mixed Heritage andlor West Indian communities, in particular through advocacy and the provision of advice and support.. (b) advance education in all matters relating to Caribbean, African, Mixed Heritage andlor West Indian arts, history. traditions, language and culture, thereby promoting good race relations in an effort to foster a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity and thereby endeavouring to eliminate racial discrimination., (c) preserve and prolect good health, particularly but not exclusively through the provision of forums, projects, seminars and workshops- (d) in particular those of Caribbean, African, Mixed Heritage andlor West Indian origin with their education and training who through their social and economic conditions are in need and unable to gain employment. This is achieved by assisting in the provision of facilities, forums. projects, classes and seminars necessary for such training and education so as to enable them to acquire and develop vocational skills-, (e) advance any other exclusively charitable purpose which the management committee may from time to time decide in accordance with the objectives of the charity. Achievements and performance The committee are pleased to report that they have continued to make progress with their aims in the current period of operation. AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN SUPPORT ORGANISATION NORTHERN IRELAND REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE {CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Financial review The financial stalements show net incoming resources of £22,434 which have been transferred to reseNes. The principal Source of income in the year under review is funding income. eserv The unrestricted reserves of the charity at 31 March 2023 amounted to £5,160. The restricted reseNes of the charity at 31 March 2023 amounted to £28,450 Our policy is to increase our general reserves to ideal levels by means of accumulating the net annual income surplus. Management Committee The following management committee members have held office during the period to 31 March 2023: Dr Livingstone Thompson (Chairperson) Lorraine Gatsi-Barnett (Treasurer) Simon Barr Michael Gibbs Lilian Vellem Clover Watts David Johnston Anurag Deb (Resigned May 2022) (Resigned August 2022) None of the members of the management committee held a beneficial interest in the assets of the charity. Each year the retiring office bearing committee members shall be eligible for re-election for up to three consecutive years, thereafter a member shall take a compulsory break of at least one year. The management committee will have the power to co-opt up lo three additional members and also invite staff to attend meetings whenever appropriate but they shall nol have the power to vote. Statement of management committe responsibilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in Northern Ireland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the in￿ming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently., observe the melhods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 {FRS 1021., make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent.. Stale whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.. prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy al any time the financial posilion of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assels of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. AFRICAN AND CARIBBEAN SUPPORT ORGANISATION NORTHERN IRELAND REPORT OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 Auditor A resolution proposing that Johnston Kennedy DFK be reappointed as auditor of the charity will be put to the Annual General Meeting. ststement of disclosure to audltor So far as the management committee at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the charity's auditor is unaware. Additionally, the managemenl committee have taken all the necessary sleps that they ought to have laken as a management committee in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the charily's auditor is aware of that information. Political and charitable donations During the year the charity made no political or charitable contributions. On behalf of the board Lorraine Gatsi-Barnett Treasurer Date..