BELFAST STREET PASTORS Director / Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31st May 2023
The directors/trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31st May 202 3.
Principal Aims
The principal aims of the organisation are:
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To advance education in accordance with Christian principles by such means as the Directors may consider appropriate in Belfast and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Directors may from time to time think fit and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of Northern Ireland and are connected with the charitable work of the Charity.
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To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods or services of any kind including through the provision of counselling and support in Belfast and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Directors may from time to time think fit.
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To advance the Christian Faith in accordance with the License Agreement executed with Ascension Trust and the Core Values and Mission Statement in Belfast and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Directors may from time to time think fit particularly but not exclusively by means of caring, listening and helping people on the streets and at various venues day a nd night.
Statement of director/trustees’s responsibilities and corporate governance
The Directors/Trustees are responsible for their annual report and for the preparation of financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Organisation and of the net movement in funds of the Organisation for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Directors/Trustees are required to:-
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Organisation will continue in business.
The Directors/Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the Organisation keeps proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Organisation and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 (insofar as this legislation applies to the organisation). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Organisation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that:
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The Organisation is operating efficiently and effectively;
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All assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition and are properly applied;
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Proper records are maintained and financial information used within the Organisation, or for publication, is reliable; and
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The Organisation complies with relevant laws and regulations.
Statement as disclosure to our independent examiners
In so far as the directors/trustees are aware at the time of approving our trustees’ annual report:
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there is no relevant information, being information needed by the independent examiner in connection with preparing their report, of which the Organisation’s independent examiner is unaware; and
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the directors/trustees, having made enquiries of fellow directors/trustees and the Organisation’s independent examiner that they ought to have individually taken, have each taken all steps that he/she is obliged to take as a director/trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information.
Internal Control
The director/trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that Belfast Street Pastors has a system of internal control. Such a system of control can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance against errors or fraud. Controls are concerned with safeguarding the organisation’s assets and maintaining the integrity of accounting controls.
Independent Examiners
Diamond & Skillen were appointed as the organisation’s independent examiners during the year and are deemed to be re-appointed in accordance with Section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
These financial statements and this report have been prepared in accordance with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Ireland (FRS102) (effective from 1st January 2015) and in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime (insofar as these provisions apply to the organisation).
This report was approved by the board of director / trustees on 7th December 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
Kenneth Maxwell Patterson for and on behalf of the Board
Diamond & Skillen Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditor Sinclair House, 89/101 Royal Avenue Belfast BT1 1FE
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