Company number: N1058223 Friends of Belfast Botsnic Gardens Company Limlted by Guarantee Trustees. Report and financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2025
Friends of Bellast Botanit Gardens Contents Page Legal and administrdtlve Informatlon Trustees, report Independent Examiner5, reportto the members Statement of financial artivities Balance sheet Notes to the financlal ststements
Frlends of Belfast Botanic Garder Legal and admlnistrative Information Trustees Mr Adrian Walsh Miss Ann McBrien Mr Frankcaddy Miss Brigid McElhill Company Number N1058223 Charlty Number 107301 Registered Office Suite 5, Ormeau House 91-97 Ornieau Road Belfast Co. Antrim Bf7 ISH Accountsnts Cleaver Black Suite 5 Ormeau House 91-97 Ormeau Road Belfast BTr ISH Bankers Santander PO Box 1109 Bradford BDI 5ZF Solicltors Pag8 1
TrUSTEE5ANNUALREPO Fvientsot BeaSt801¢ GardÈAS la eoryanyr1m by8uaranteel The trustee5 presenttheirreportand the unaudited finanual statwTrtntsofthe tompanyforthe period ended 31 Mar24 REFEREfKEANDADMIMFThTIVE DEfAILS Referenoat)d admsnlstr8Ve det31k3reshown inthesthedule of members oftheboard and pritsslrrfjol advi5Us on page I of thetinanoal 5tatement& THETRUSTEES ThÈtrustees whoserved the companydurn)g theperiod wereasfollows.. MrAdriaA Peterwalsh MissAJ)n M(8riert Mr Frank Caddy MI Mclhlll FrieThdsoF8elf3# 8otanlc Gardwstsa thorftyand operates as a comp¥Jylmlted by8uarantee. The cornpany mAnaged bythe dirertorsof the company. OBJEcnvESANDACTMnES The Friendsuf BelfEst Botanic Garden5 IFoBBGlgraup worksto advanry the knowledge of botany. htirbculture3nd the horhcultural legacy of 8elfasr BoranicGaensforrhe publlc benefitand to promote Belfast BotsnicGardens asa centre forhorticukural excèllence, botsnical UCatIon and publicamenty. It aimstopromote the unwvatior4 Maintern¢t4nd developmentof the Gardens, buildings and monumentstherein, enhantr the stsentificvalueof the plèntcollettions an supportthe )wronmental worth ofthegarden$3s a habitatforwildlrfe in Bdfa5t aty- ACHIEVEMEiifsAND PERFORMANCE This sourfourthyearvfTeporbn8tothtChakity COMM10n10rOrtern Ireland oththeachievementof #ur charltable oblettsforptsblic bwefit. 202412025wa5another busy yearforthe Friend$8roup. IriApril 2024. atthe TropiL31 Ravine. members attended the un¥eilln8 ofon Uthr Histori£al OFde'Wue plaque,. thampioned bya long-standln8 memberto£ommemorateJohn Templeton11766-18251. JohnTempleton had adcatj1era botani£88rdenfor Belf5t formanyyeor5butunfortunately died before the tyrrert Sftevtssacquired. Wewere iwted togfve a shortspeech ot the evenl The speech hghli6htedTemplettsn'$MsionfDra boianlcgarden In BeSta5t and the Friends, resofvetokeep Tempmons VEon attheforefronr of our minds in con¥nulnE to help Beffa5t City Coun1 IBCCI promote and fvrtheT devdop the BotanicGardens in the futureand in an uncertain ofdlmate thange. Atso inApril 2024 atthe Spring Fairln Malone House. Bèmett'5 Deme5ne. we had astall promotingthe Friend5Broup and the ht5tory of the Gardenk In preparation forthwe ProdUd a membership leaftet highl¥htlngard promotin8 ouractivfti4to hand t to members ofthepublic On 20th May 2024wegave a pres*)tation inthe Cty Hallto thesourh Beast Area WOrn86T0uP of BCC. This workinggroup comprises Counrillorsfromthe Botanitand Balmoral warrt5 of 8elfa5L Weexplatned how FOBBG may be of furthersUPPOrt to 8CC in conserving and developin8 rhe BotèDicGaensftsrthefUtUr? and promobn8 the Gardens as a valuableasset. We hi8hlightedthe upcomlng2(Thh annwtaryDf the BotanicG¥dens in 2028¥nd how Importantlt tsthat itsstatus the onfy botanic8ardS in Northern Irelaftd tsreco8nlsEd and relebrale Atthemeetin8wesou8htand obtslned approvalfrom theworking8r4wp to formallse dwssion5with BCCOffir5 in the Nei8hbourhood Servlces Directorate ta rfrafta specffi<ation foran independentfeporton the Gardens. AwOrng8rtyJp comprisin8 B¢)tsnicGardeners. Counc?1 staff and FOBBG member5 ha5now been established and foojsingon the spedficarion forthe independent reportforthe 2LI)th annwer5aryof the G¥dens. lftdudedwlthin thi% preliminory work on a volunteering xhemeforthe Gardens. PaB•2
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TR1151EESANNUALAEPORT Frt¢thdsofBth8otsthk tsdeTr5 la cffjrnparylthed byBuaraThteel FUNDRAISING F$¥r¢P1n)DUtvrWknd&fr0ffl mernbwshlpsuknlptkPltS and sales0framI¢s. Durlni2024125, wehad plantand eèrnmitsk1n MAy.lfj AL%LtgttFoAntues RvwdsPwand thjtthe Me14 Festfvaland att Autumn FAif ill SeptsMbEr.ThankstotwOrk0F1 MEMbrwhoeWbjIShId link5With FtsroyPresWerbnthurch, ¥Jewertrunablettshtsld dedic&tedLYfamiu in DBEarnralld FebruJry.Anapplutb?n hasalsobeen5ubmitted to BCCforpermJssiOn tohohla numbertsf ptsp4p rèrtmic5stslls InthpTmpi•l t•tweenJulyand5eptember 2025. The Friendswoup ¢onttnLSto#etan administr¥tNeBrantof £aoofram Èolfastctycounril. Atour $tAGm ¥ heIdourmemrshlp Subscription i%£12fora sir¥ mernbershlpi £2Qforlthntmemrsh]P4nd £5for5tudentmembErship. In Marth i su&8rOupwstVptOlO0kloe•s10r IrKreonlMernbetshlp. Aswellas buslness m&tiny, J ntsmbBrofsiKwle¥ent5 lirdudiniprden talktsabtsLktS•ttts I• tordrdèhln cortlnuedluring202412S. A%prwitter{rKesIg meetings in 2024125tomparedto priofy+atsi$ 1. 2DOrn Attefidees 13 17 16 164 io 12 12 13 Year 201P/18 2018119 2019120 2020121 2021122 2022123 2023124 20241 12 i# PEANSFORAIniREPE0ts$ Wewlll continuÈtode+Elap ourweb5teand sockl medYA paysto¥dvance the knThkd#ÈofbptsnyJ ticultUreand hortwlrural lewDf BElfast 6ptsnlttEardensforthe publie bEnEfitand to prornote Betrast BonGr4•r S4yntreforhortkuttwalexttlknce, ts0tsnlraleduOna publ¥Mn. Wpwill (gntin toworkwrEh BCcwyrnSBr•u9 establtshedltsra speciftution foranlndependehtteptrrton th¢GJrdens and pknnin8forthe200EhaThvers2ry in 2028, ts>rnaintain focuscnthe PTtsmDon Dftre SJrdensasavaEblÈattr8c0Afr Visknts. In addthonwew5llw0rkcollabDratNevAth and On keypriority projectswfthlTrtheGÈtdÈnsthat will benEfitth8 pubkand promote theeonsÈrvation, mJiDtenènce and develtsprnEntofthefjardens.the bu1wlrwa monuments thwein and enhancethescientTf1c1uw oftheplartc¢lkthOn5.Thl%indvdesprorn the re&tsAtK)rt¢fthe Pjlm House, one of the mcsticonkbulldiws In aeW•sL Wllwill wntyThuetoworkwith attand Qjeen's UnNewtyonthedE¥elDpmntoftrn FoBBG'd1mBiEcrY'Vrdea$p1rtthI the UPSURGE projECtwithlnthe lowèrBotanic Sirdens. Workon bld10VrP1Ot1stsmt•d¢Q b•completed inAwrt2025 details of itsfurth¥rdevdopmertWill be provFd•l Snnextyear's r¢porL Wecontiftuè tg the postofS¥cretsryfrrtheFrfends of Bptrnl¢GardensFotLQn in 202126ar wewlUu¥•thLT opportUAitytaconfjnuetollatsevAthfEltvw Fr1er'sou•ind promote 8ewa5tootsn60rden IND£PENDENTEMMFtIER aea¥er&ackKy5 been rtr¥polnW45 wendant¢1n2rf0rthIrIyeJr. SIWCOMPAtIY PkOVLW14S Ttrtsreport h&% bEvDprepared inaLtord1ncewhhthtrpr¢Mslon5app1tOeQMYnlesenledtnthWsrn?1l£0mpèThk$exernpon. gnedon bhaWoftr*trL rfan WèL%h Dlreetor Dite..
Independenl Exarnlner's Report Friends of BelFast BotankGardens la cornpany lirnited by gu3ranteel I report on the accouftts of the tharityfor the pericd ended 31 March 20 whlth areset out on page$5 to 10. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILMESOF TrUSTEES AND EXAMINER As the charity tnjstees land a0 directors of the company forthe purkwes of company lawl you are responsible forthe preparation of accounts in accordance with the quIrements of the Companies Act 2006. Havingsatisfied rnyself that the company is notsubje¢t to audit Urer company law and 55 eli8lble for Independent examinatlon, it is my pOnSIbIlity to.. exarnlne the accounts undersecbon 65 of the Char5tie5 Act followthe produ lèid down in the general Dtrection5 sn bytF* Charlty Commlsslon for Northern Ireland undersect¢on 6519llbl of the Chartties Aa to state Wther partioJlar matters havè come to my attention. BASIS OF ThE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT I have examined your charity accounts as required under5ection 65 of the Charlties Acr and my examination was carried out in accordance wi(h the general dIrtionS ziven bythe Chèrity Commission of Northem Iland under sertlon 6519llbl of the CharitiesAcL The exaThination included a revlew of the accountin8 re¢ord5 kept by the charity and • CornpaOn of the accounts presented with those records. It also induded consideration of any unusual Itetrs disclosu in the accounts, and seeking explanationsfrom you as charity trustees conceminB any such matter5. My role is to state any rnaterlal matters have come to My attention gNing me cause to believe.. Thataccountlng records We r2 kept in aCCDrdarte with settion 386 of Companles Att That the accounts do ra¢Cord whthoSe actounting record5 31 Thatthe accourrts do not Comp wtth the a¢¢ounting requirernents of section 396 of the Cornpanies Act 2006 and with the principles of the Charities Statement of Recommended Prattice epplicable to charftles preparing their accounts in accordance with the Flnandal Reportlngstandard applic3ble in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. 41 Thatthere i4 further Informatlon needed for a proper under5tandingof thezttountsto be reached. 8ASt5 OF THE INDEpENDEENAmlNER'S REPORT I have completed my examination and have no cOreMS in respettof the rnatter5111 to141 Ilsted above and. In connettion wEth thefollowing Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I havefound no matters requlre drhvAn8to your attentlon. cteaver Black Independent examlner Suite 5 Orrneau House 91-97 Ormeau Road Belfast BT7 ISH Date.. P8w5
Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens Statement ot Flnandal Artivitses for the period ended 31 March 2025 Unrestrirted Funds Revenue Funds 2025 Total 2024 Trtal Note Inwming Resources Incoming resources from generated funds: Voluntsry Income Incoming resources from Charitsble Acitivite5 Other Incoming Resour5 Total Incomlng Resources 1,104 1.104 712 6,165 639 7.908 6.165 639 7,908 2,055 3,411 Resources Expended Costs of generating funds: Charitable Artivities Governance Costs 3,536 975 3,536 975 1,801 875 Total Resources Expended 4.511 4,511 2,676 Net incomingl {¢utgoingl resources for the year before re¥aluation5 3.397 3,397 735 Transfers between funds Net rnovement in funds 3.397 3.397 735 Totsl funds brought forward 38.187 38,187 37,451 Totsl funds carried forward 41,584 41,584 38.186 The Statement of Financial Athities indudes all gains and losses in the year and therefore a statement of total recolsed gains and losses has not been Ppared. All of the above amouTts relate to continuing èctivitie& The notes on page$ 9 to IZ form part of thesefinanaal statements.
Frlends of Belfast Botsnlc Gardens Balance Sh&t as at 31 March 2025 Notes 2025 CURRENT AsSs DebtOTS Cash at Bank & In hand 42.384 42.384 38,907 38.9D7 CREDITORS- Amounts falllng due Wff(hin one year 720 NET CURRETrif UABILtfiES 41.584 38,187 Net assets 41.584 38,187 FUNDS Unre5tritted Income Funds Restritted Revenue Funds 41.584 38.187 4L584 Forthe period ended 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 21X)6 relating to small companie& Trustees responsibilities: l The member5 have not rèqulfe(J the companyto obtsin an audit of its accounts forthe year in question in accordance with section 476- and 2 The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance wFth the provisions applicable to companies subjert to the small companies regime. These financial statements were approved bythe Board and srgned on its behalf by Adrian Walsh Dirertor Date Company number: N1058223 The notu on pages 9 to 12 forni part ofthese finantial statements Page 7
Friends of Belfast BotsnicGardens Notes to the Flnandal Statsments for the perlod ended 31 Marth 2025 Accountlng Polldes The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing wf(h items In the company'5 financial ststement 1.1 Basis of Accouniing The financial ststements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance wfch FR5102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, and Charities SORP IFRS 1021. The financial statements are prepared in pounds sterling which is the funttJon currency of the company. This entity is a Public Benefit Entity. 1.2 Fund Accounting General funds are unrestricted funds which are availablefor use at the discretion of the Trustees In furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purpose& Deslgnated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside bythe Trustees for partScular purposes. General funds may be transftrred to designate fvnds where Trustees wsh to use these funds for a specific purpose. Suth funds may be transferred back to general funds once the criteria forthe designation have been met or are no longer applicable. Restricted funds are funds which which are to be used in accordance with spectrfic restrlctions imposed by donors or which have ben ralsed by the Charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged againstthe specffic fund. The aim and use of restricted funds is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Restricted funds may only be transferred to general or designated funds once the criteria for restriction have been discharged or no longer apply. 13 Incomlng Resources All incoming resouros are included in the Statement of Financlal Actilrities when the charity is legally entttled to the income and the amourrt can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Grants, service agreemenL fee income and grants for equipment are recoEnised in the SOFA in the period in which they re receivable. 1.4 ReSourS Expended Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activtties on an accruals basls, Inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered. Charitable expendItU compri5e5 those costs irtcurred by the charlty the delivery of its activitie5 and service5 for its beneficiaries. It intludes both costs that can be allocated direcdy to such activities and those costs of an indirt nature necessary to support them.
Friends of Belfast 8otanl¢ Gardens Notes to the Finanaal Statements for the period ended 31 Marth 2025 IA Resources Expended ctd... Govemance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constltuttonal and ststutory requirements of the charltyand indude the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. All costs are all(xated beleen the expenditure categories of the Statement of Financial Activities on 8 basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular attivity are allocated directlyi others are apportioned on an approprlate basis. 1.5 Value Added Tax Friends of Belfast B¢knnlc Gardens Is not registered for VAT 1.6 Taxation The company is a charity and the charitable tax exemptions are therefore being claimed to the extent that income andlor gains are applicable and applied to charitable purposes only. These exemptions will remaln in place as long as income and expenditure is applied to charitsble purposes only. 1.7 Cash and cash equlvalents Cash consists of cash on hand and demand deposits. Cash equivalents consist of short tem) highly Ilquld investments that are readily convertible to known amounts Of cash that are subjertto an insignificant risk of change in value. Page 9
Frfends of Belfast Botsnk Garden5 Notes to the Rnanfjal StaternÈftts forthe perfod ended 31 March 2025 Restrieted Revenue Funds UnrÈstrict•d Funds 2025 Total 21)24 Totsl 2 Voluntory Income Don3tion5 & Membership Fees 1.104 1,104 712 712 Restrlcted Unrestrfthd Revenue Funds Funds 2025 Totsl 2024 Total 3 Charltable Acitlv Plant 531es Sale of cerami 2,464 3.701 6.165 2,464 3,701 6.165 1.541 514 2,055 Restricted Unrestrfcted Revenue Funds Funds 2025 Totsl 2024 Totsl 4 Other Incoming Resour$ Government Grant Deposit account interest 3C*J 339 639 300 339 339 300 344 Re5tr1cted Unrestricted Revenue Funds Fund5 2025 Totsl 2024 Totsl 5 Charitsble Aciivitses Costs Purchases Sundry expenses Global Medicine Garden expense Expensès re labelling of trees Website & E mail Costs Promotional Materfals 2,500 104 465 25 115 632 564 104 593 593 80 259 3,536 259 3,536 L801 Restrlcted Revenue Funds Unrestrlrted Funds 2025 Total 2024 Totsl 6 Governan Costs Insuran Accountancy Companies House 155 750 70 975 155 750 70 975 155 690 30 875 Page 10
Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens Notes to the Fit*naal Statements forthe perfod ended 31 Marth 2025 7 Credltors: amounts falllng due within one year 2025 2024 Accruals and deferred income 800 720 800 720 8 Unrestrirted fvnds Revaluation Loss Opening Incoming Out8dng Transfers aosing Unrestricted Fund 38.187 7.908 14,5111 41.584 38,187 7.908 14,511) 41.584 9 Company limited by8uarantee Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens is a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. The liability of each member is limited to an amount not exceeding £1. Page11