HOME-START DOWN DISTRICT
Report of the Tru51ees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with
the fman¢ial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of
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 RepublÉc of Ireland (FRS 102)
(effective l January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when
reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. The objects of the chartty are:
to safeguard. protect and preserve the good health both mental and physical of children and parents of children.
to prevent cruelty to or maltreatment of children.
to relieve sickness, poverty and need amongst children and parents of children.
to promote the education of the public in better standards of childcare.
within the area of the Down Distiict and its environs.
Signifieant activilies
This has been another record breaking year in Home Start Down District. Over 300 families were supported by
Home-start. En 1990 the figure was 147 famllies supported and this gives a clear indication of the growth over this
period, even despite the funding crisis and the austerity climate in which we now live.
Home-start activities fit very well with the agenda of the Governmenl focusing on preventativ¢ work with families. Our
comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system allows us to demonstrate the many beneftts of Home-start 5UPPOrt.
The figures and other dala collected in this way have been given to the GovernmenL allowing them to see the type of
support we give to families across Down District, as well as the needs identified.
Although it is over 40 years since the very f￿$t Home-siart opened its doors, it is clear that it is every bit as relevant
today as it was then. A detailed review of our achievements and perfonnance can be found within our Annual Report.
Public benefit
The trustees are confident that the charitable aims of Home-siart Down District sat15fy the principles of public benefit as
defmed in the Charities Act. They have refe￿ed to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance
on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives and in pla]]ning its future activities.
How the charity activities deliver public benefit
The charitable activities focus on meeting the needs of children and parents of children, and are undertaken to further the
charitable purposes for the public benefit.
Social isolation, parental low self-esteem, families coping with Enental health problems and children's behavioural
problems are issues identified in families of all ages, regions. countries and societies. Equal access to services is an
important issue. Horne-start Down District has an equal opportunity policy and diversity statement. which ensures that it
has a Culture, which 15 reinforced via a robust training program, which ensures equality of access to its services by
gender, disability and sexual orientatÈon. The trustees believe equal access to its services is vital to its success, and that
successful outcomes must be shared by all communities that use its services.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Principal funding souree5
The principal ￿ndIng sources for the charity are currently by way of grant and contract income as set out in notes 2 to 6
in the accounts. As a result of increasing constraints on central governments and local authority expenditure, the charity
has to seek funding from a much broader group of agencies.

HOME-START DOWN DISTRicr
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Investment policy and objectives
A clear objective is to put operating Surpluses into reserves each year, however this has proved impossible in the past
few years for the reason expressed above. Having considered the options available, the Trustees have decided that any
reserves should be invested in secure bank deposits. The Trustees consider the overall return on deposit accounts to be
disappointing, but are not willing to place valuable resources in riskier investments.
Reserves policy
The Trustees have examlned the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organi5ation. It has
established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity
should be between 6 and 9 months of the expendittwe.
It is hoped that budgeted expenditure will not exceed that of 20223r24, which was approximately £272,000 A5 at 31
March 2024 the unrestricted Teserves of the Charity incre&sed to £91,395 (2023.. £71,078). This is below the policy
target of 6-9 months.
The Management Committee has been conscious of the major reductions in fmancial support from Government sources
for some years now and has been keeping it under conslant review. The Charity has been actively engaged with other
sources of fvnding, with some success - so that the Committee has reasonable grounds for optimism that funds will be
secured in sufficient amount to enable the work to continue next year.
To reiterate the matter is of paramount concern to the Committee and is kept under constant review. The Committee also
wkshes to emphasis again that the Charity provides its services to its client group on a notably cost effective basis and
will continue to do so.
FUTURE PLANS
Service Development- To continue to provide services that meets the needs of families in Down District
Campaigning - To influence public polkcy to respoDd to the needs and aspTrrations of families
Public profile-To make the public aware of Home-start and the work that it does
Finance -To ensure that Home-start has the income it needs and resources are effectively and accountably managed
Physical resources -To ensure Home-start Down District has the premises and other physical resources it needs and
these are effectively managed
Staff and volunteers -To ensure that Home-start Down District has the volunteers and staff it needs and these volunteers
and staff receive the appropriate supporl supervision, feedbacL training and recognition
Governance -To ensure that the governance of Home-start Down District by the management committee meets the
requirements of the law and good practKce.
The charity plans Continuing the activities outlined above in the forthcoming years subject to satisfactory funding
arrangetnents.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing documenL a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by
guarantee, as defll)ed by the Companies Act 2006.

HOME-START DOWN DISTRICT
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
The charity is controlled by it5 governing documenl a deed of trnsL and constitutes a limited company, limited by
guarantee, as defmed by the Companies Act 2006. .
The organtsation is a charitable company limited by guarantee. inco￿orated on 6 April 2005 and registered as a charity
on 6 April 2005. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and
powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being
wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.
Home-start Down District an unincorporated association transferred its charitable purposes set out in its Constitution to
Home-start Down District a company limited by guarantee registered in Nortbern Ireland under number N1054548 on
the 8th September 2005.
Recruitment and appointment ofnew trustees
The directors of the company are also charity Trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the requirements of the
Memorandum and Articles of Association one third (or the number nearest one third) of the Tn￿teeS must retire at each
AGM, those longest in office retiTing first and the choice between any of equal service being made by drawing lots.
A broad mix of business, professional and other skills are well Tepresented on the Management Committee and all
Trustees are chosen on the basis of their willingness to serve. ability, governance experience and support of the ethos,
mission and philosophy of the organisation.
Organisational structure
The senior staff of the charity are:
Dorothy Mcmullan (Senior Organiser)
Imelda Hynds (Ballynahinch Organiser)
Sharon Robson (Newcastle Organiser)
Induction and training of new trustees
New Trustees are briefed on their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and
Articles of Association, the committee and decision making processes, the business plan and recent financial
perfornjance of the charity. They meet key employees and other Trustees. The Trustees and managetnent committee ale
encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
Risk management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity ts exposed and to ensure appropriate
controls are in place.to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and ern)r.
The Trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:
an annual review of the risks the charity may face"
the establishment of systems and procedijres to mitigate those risks identified in the plan. and
the implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential iEnpact on the charity should those risks
aterialise.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAllS
Registered Company number
N1054548 (Northern Ireland)
Registered Charity number
XR87094

HOME-START DOWN DISTIUCT
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
Registered o￿Ace
14-15 Innovation House
Down Business Park
46 Belfast Road
Downpatrick
Co. Down
BT30 9UP
Trustees
Mrs M Kearney Director
R P Smith Retired
Mrs F I Crory Retired
D Mcgregor Legal Advisor
Ms B Owens Retired teacher
M Walls Charity Manager (resigned 181512023)
Company Secretary
Ms B Owens
Auditors
M.B.Mc Grady & Co
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditors
Rathmore House
52 St Patricks Avenue
Downpatrick
Co. Down
BT30 6DS
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also the directors of Home-start Down District for the purposes of company law) are responsible
for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the fmancial statements in accordance with applicable law and United
Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a irne and fair view
of the state of affair5 of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including
the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those fmancial statements, the
trustees are required to
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistentty.
observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP.
make judgeiTiènts and estimates that are reasonable and prudenL
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable
company will continue in business.
The t￿SteeS are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time
the fmancial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the fmancial statement5 comply with
the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsÈble for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for
taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other i￿egular1t￿es.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware. and
the trustees have tsken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit
tnfomiation and to estsblish that the auditors ate aware olthat inforniation.

HOME-START DOWN DISTRICT
Report of the Trustees
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
AUDITORS
The auditors, M.B.Mc Grady & Co, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
Thks report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating
to small companies.
Approved by order of the board of tnjstees on 15 NovemEKr 2024 and signed on its behalf by..
Mrs F I Crory - Trustee