The Northern Ireland Schools and Colleges Careers Association (NISCA) Trustees, Report The trustees present the annual report touether with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023. Objectives and activities Objec15 and aim5 The advancement of CEIAG professional developmeni for careers teachers in NI To support Careers Education in Schools and Regional Colleges. Public benefit NISCA has operated for a number of years providing a professional support network for careers teachers and guidance professionals across Schools and Colleges in Northern Ireland. Operating primarily through a committee comprising current and fomier Careers leachers with c(Fopted input from business and industry as required, NISCA runs two major conferences each year and in addilion disseminates relevant up to date inforn]ation relating to Careers matters and currenl issues through ils M'.ebsite. The aim of the association is to empower and enable Careers professionals to support pupils I students and their parents as they make infornied career decisions at key points of transition. provide a professional Careers Education. Infomiation. Advice and Guidance service within their Schools and Colleges to meet the statutory requirement placed on Schools and Colleges by Departrnent for Education and regularly a55essed through its ETI Inspection process The trustees confirni that they have complied with the requirements of section J of the Charities Act (Northem Ireland} 2008 to have due regard io the public benefil guidance published by the Charity Commission Northem Ireland Achievements and performanee This year marked the return to Pre-COVID activities. We were able to enhance the capability of the committee by: Having in-person committee meetings (see appendix l ), building a coherent team that has been enhanced by a promotional event that we held to explain the role of the cominittee, inforniing the roles and time commitment involved along with other aspects. Thi5 event resulted in the committee gaining 4 new members. Throughoiit the year roles have evolvel M'ith some shadow roles created, and this will lead to better succession planning in the future. We have engaged with key bodies to Strengthen the influence olNISCA to better serve our members such as: Building on relationships with ETI, IGC, UCAS Advisers Advisory Group. I. ETI- discussed 'Ith ETI concerns of teachers in temis of what should be in a CEIAG programme and how CEIAG should be evaluated. ETI are noM' alM"ays inviied to NISCA conferences to contribute or actively participate in the CPD ihat teachers are gaining. 2. UCAS AAG - two members of the committee now sit on the UCAS AAG and are able to represent the Nl teacher perspective. We are responding to the needs of our membership by: Using evaluations to respond to membership needs hence the move to a full summer conference. Page 2
The Northern Ireland Schools and Colleges Careers Association (NISCA) Trustees, Report Events The following is an outline of our two main conferences and relevant statistlC5= Our main Autumn Conference held in La Mon Hotel in Nov 2022 was sponsored by PeopleHawk {tnain sponsor) and Work + {5econdary sponsor). See Appendix 2a. Our smaller Summer Conference held in Glenavon Hotel in May 2023 was sponsored by ATU (main sponsor) and UniFrog (secondary sponsor). See Appendix 2b. Full conference conditions for both Post-COVID with no restriciions. All exhibitor stalls in La Mon (41) and Glenavon (JO) were taken. Participani engagement for Autumn Conference 202? was 200. Participant engagement for Summer Conference 202) was 170. Between main sponsors, secondary sponsors and those that look exhibitor stalls we had 71 organisation engagements across both conferences from across the UK and Ireland As an organisation we endeavour to provide the latest CPD for our member schools so that overall, we can help to enhance the CEIAG provision right across Nl. We raise the issues that pertain to our members with the relevant bodies such as ETI, DE. EA, UCAS. third level providers and apprenticeships providers including employer groups and also those that provide services that complements the CEIAG programme of our member schools such as Interview. Skills and inforniation events. Planning for 2023-24 conferences are ivell under way with sponsorship secured for the November and May conferences with a continuing focus of strengthening relationships with DE. ETI, UCAS. DtE, UCAS Membership Membership has stayed at the same level. in part due to the high levels of uptake in membership from Schools across Nl. We have maintained the membership fee. The Committee will look to engage with schoo15 that are not currently member5. Committee Our recrnitment drive at the November 2022 as part of our stated aim to refresh the committee yielded 4 new members. As stated in the introduciion they have enabled us lo plan for the future and eTJhance our capability to deliver for our membership due to the diversity they brought to the committee. The committee make-up more accurately reflects the school landscape in Nl. Website We are making some progress in revamping the website, but this siill h&s a way to go. This will continue to be a focus for this year with a look at how we utilise better social media. However, 'e need to be mindful in making adjustments that will help our members to access infonnation in a more eICient wa),. Developemnt plan 2023-24 The key largets for 202)-24 are: To grow the Summer Conference and have two large conferences to best meet the CPD and other needs of our members. To set up a sub-committee that will act on an evaluation of a questionnaire that will be sent out to member so that we can be proactive in responding to our members and the issues thes-' want us to address. To maintain and progress our relationships M'ith key organisations such as DE, EA, ETI, UCAS, MEGA, Sentinus, Universities and Colleges in UK and ROI Summary In conclusion, the period I Sept 2022 to 31 Aug 2023 saw a time when we returned to a full programme of conference after the pandemic. The committee has been enhanced by the introduction of new members and the organisation is fostering closer ties to organisaiions where we need our influence to act IT) the best interests of our members and the provision of CEIAG in schools across Nl. Page i
The Northern Ireland Schools and Colleges Careers Association (NISCA) Trustees, Report Il Sentinus 26 •ReiJ 5 •R&ed4 A&ed 3 Rted 2 Red I illiiii io ATU ETI UNIFROG swc UCAS VIA zoo EXHIBITORS "Busedon 2023 ewlut7tffon5from cOnfrren ottendees asked to rate the talks ondexhibitor5frorn I to 5,. 5 ting excellent 24 Main Sp)nsor- Kefflote Address- Secondary Child. Their Yhe Inspeaion of Scottish mbracing -Wot+ Futtr the yovrsion of Universftie5 Tour of Qnge., Dr HaY CEIAG. Nl Barry Exlwbitors L,Raedl •Raed2 •Raed3 •Raed4 ffRated5 "Based on 2022 evoluationsfrom confvren attendees asked to mte the tolks ond exhibitorsfrom I to 5.. 5 being exlIent Page 4
The Northern Ireland Schools and Colleges Careers Association (NISCA) Trustees, Report Structurej governance and management Nulure ofgoverning documen¢ The Northern Ireland Schools and Colleges Careers Association (NISCA) is an unincorporated charity and is govenred by a constitution. Reeruilmenl and appoinlmenl oflruslees The charity shall be managed by a committee of Trustees who shall be appointed by election at the Annual General Meeting of the charity. The charity. must have a minimum of six Trustees. The charity must appoint otTicers by election at the Annual General Meeting. The charity must have a minimum of the folloiying oificers . A Chairperson A Vice Chairperson A Secretary A Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer. A Conference Chairperson Officer5 shall remain in post for two years and shall be eligible lor re-election at the AGM. A minimum of 500/0 of the Trustees must be current CEIAG practitioners. All Trustee posts shall be elected on an annual basis at the AGM. They must retire at the next AGM but may stand for re-election. All Trustees must be either '. A Full Member of the charity A person who has been cfropted by the Full Member Trustees. A Trustee may not appoint anyone to act on histher behalf at a Trustee meeting. A Trustee must cease to hold oifice if he or she: is disqualified from acting as a trustee by virtue of section 86 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (or any statutory re- enactment or modification of that provision)- ceases to be a member of the charity. in the written opinion: given to other Trustees, of a registered medical practitioner treating that person, has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a charity trustee and may remain so for more than three months. resigns as a Trustee by notice to the charity. Is absent without the permission of other Trustees from all their meeting5 held within a period of 6 consecutive months and the other Trustees resolve that his or her ofFice be vacated. In order to enable them to effectively cary out the work of the charity, the Trustees may co-opt persons, not exceeding four in number, io aci as Trustees for one year. A Trustee mid-temi vacancy can be filled by a c(Foption. Page 5
The Northern Ireland Schools and Colleges Careers Association (NISCA) Trustees, Report Financial instruments Objeclives andpolicies The charity's activities expose it to a number of financial risks including credit risk. cash flow risk and liquidity risk. The use of financial derivatives is governed by the charity"s policies approved by the board of trustees, which provide IIllen principles on the use of financial derivatives to manage these risks. The charity does not use derivative financial instruments lor Speculative purpose5. Cashflow risk The charity's activities expose it primarily to the flnancial risks of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The charity uses foreign exchange forward contracts and interest Tate Swap contracts to hedge these exposures. Interest bearing assets and liabilitie5 are held at fed rate to ensure certainty of cash flows. Credit risk The charity's principal financial assets are bank balances and cash. trade and other receivables, and investments. The charity's credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivable5. The amounts presented in the balance sheet are net of allowance5 for doubtful receivable5. An alloivance for impairment is vnade where there is an identified 1055 event which, based on previous experience. is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cash flow5. The credit risk on liquid funds and derivative financial instrutnents is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit-ratings assigned by intemaiional credit-rating agencies. The charity has no significani concentrntion of credil risk. with exposure spread over a large number of counterparties and customers. Liquidity risk In order to maintain liquidity to ensure that suificient funds are available for ongoing operations and future developments, the charity uses a mixture of long-tem) and short-ierni debt finance. Further details regarding liquidity risk can be found in the Statement of accounting policies in the financial statements. The annual report was approved by the trnstees of the charity on 15 May 2024 and signed on its behalf by: Mr Edward Collins Trustee Mrs Julie Rlchardson Trustee