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.
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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 e￿ICient 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.
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The Northern Ireland Schools and Colleges Careers Association (NISCA)
Trustees, Report
Il Sentinus
26
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io
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EXHIBITORS
"Busedon 2023 ewlut7tffon5from cOnfrren￿ ottendees asked to rate the talks ondexhibitor5frorn I
to 5,. 5 t*ing excellent
24
Main Sp)nsor- Kefflote Address- Secondary Child. Their Yhe Inspeaion of
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the yovrsion of
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"Based on 2022 evoluationsfrom confvren￿ attendees asked to mte the tolks ond exhibitorsfrom I
to 5.. 5 being ex￿lIent
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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.
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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 I￿Illen 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 f￿ed 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