Northern Ireland Netball Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) Year to 31 March 2024
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The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the period ended 31 March 2024.
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name Northern Ireland Netball Charity registration number 106894 Company registration number NI644713 Principal office and registered office Playball, Stormont Pavilion, Stormont Estate, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
The trustees
Mr R Bullick Mrs H Stirling Mrs J Bennett Mr S Mills Mrs L Venney Mrs J Blair Ms R Murphy Ms S McCay
Independent examiner Mr Mike Nangle FCA DNTCA Limited Chartered Accountant Ormeau House 91-97 Ormeau Road Belfast BT7 1SH
Structure, governance and management
Northern Ireland Netball has a Board of Directors/Trustees of the Charity, recruited via an application and interview process that is open to both members and non-members. The Board of Directors deal with Strategic Matters as per the Articles of Association and delegate operational matters to the Chief Executive as the Senior member of staff who also manages the 10 full and part time staff within the organisation.
Northern Ireland Netball are primarily funded by Sport Northern Ireland, with smaller grant aid from Dormant Accounts and The Start Here Programme. Funds are also raised by membership fees, sponsorship, course income and fundraising activities.
Risk Management is lead by the Chief Executive and detailed on a Risk Register, viewed by the Board at bi monthly meetings.
Recruitment of staff is completed by advertising, application and interview process and is open to both members and non-members.
Inductions are carried out with all new staff and Board members as per our induction policy.
Objectives and activities
The charity's objectives are specifically restricted to the promotion of the following purposes for the benefit of the public: " To advance, promote, manage, co-ordinate, and develop netball in all its forms and in doing so to act as the national governing body for netball in Northern Ireland; " To advance community development in Northern Ireland by way of engaging members of local communities throughout Northern Ireland of all ages and abilities with netball and related activities; Northern Ireland.
Netball is the governing body for netball within Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Netball is responsible for the development of netball across Northern Ireland and as such facilitates the delivery of netball across all levels from social participation, school, domestic competitive to international. Alongside this Netball Northern Ireland facilitate and deliver education courses for volunteers, coaches, officials and clubs to ensure delivery of safe, quality netball opportunities.
Achievements and performance
The direct benefits which flow from the organisation's purposes include greater opportunities for participation in the sport of netball. There are numerous benefits which come from this which include; fun and enjoyment, health benefits, improvement of self-esteem, development of communication skills, fitness development, meeting like-minded people, stress reduction and skill development. Throughout the 23/24 financial year we saw participation numbers steadily return to increasing having focused on the promotion and opportunities within social and minis netball.
Those new participants in netball have advised they feel much more empowered to be doing something for themselves, taking time to meet new people while exercising in a safe environment. They are also learning not only new physical skills, but also transferable skills around group/club volunteering, officiating and supporting the delivery of sessions. The rebuild of the national team and success of underage squads has created a sense of sharing achievements within the netball family and being part of something bigger. The national squad members have become role models to our domestic and social members as well as inspiring the younger age group national and regional team.
Financial review
Northern Ireland Netball are aiming to achieve 3 months worth of reserves in line with the good governance suggested by Sport Northern Ireland. To date we do not have this but have financial planning in place to gradually increase our reserves year on year to allow financial confidence and sustainability in the landscape of reducing government funding. Our reserves have increased by more than £10,000 over the last year.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
The trustees' annual report was approved on 2[nd] September and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
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Mrs H Stirling
Trustee