Friends of Maine
Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2026
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC108371)
Table of Contents
Trustees Annual Report Independent Examiners Report Accounts and Financial Statements
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Trustees’ Annual Report
The Trustees present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2026 including a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at that date.
Reference and Administrative Information
Charity Name: Friends of Maine
Charity Registration Number: NIC108371
Principal Address: Maine Integrated Primary School, 93 Portglenone Road, Randalstown, Antrim, BT41 3EH
Trustees
The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of approval of this report were:
Stephen O’Hagan, Caron Hamill, Jessica Golden ~~-A~~ lexander, David Crowe, Colin Alexander, Edel Woodin, Ciara Ferguson, Jenny Murray, Jill Graffin and Fiona Goodrich.
During 2026 Jenny Murray, Jill Graffin and Fiona Goodrich stood down as trustees after a considerable number of years’ service and the trustees thank them for their efforts.
Principal Office Bearers
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e Mr Stephen O’Hagan, Chairperson
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e Mrs Caron Hamill, Vice ~~-~~ Chair
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e Mrs Jessica Golden ~~-A~~ lexander, Vice ~~-~~ Chair
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e Mr David Crowe, Treasurer
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e Mr Colin Alexander, Secretary
Independent Examiner
Wendy Kerr, Impact NI, Unit 6/7 Arches House, 38 ~~-~~ 40 Main Street, Randalstown, BT41 3AB
Bankers
Danske Bank, Ballymena Branch, 1 ~~-~~ 2 Broadway Avenue, Ballymena, BT43 7PE
Structure, Governance and Management
Friends of Maine is a voluntary, unincorporated association governed by a constitution. The charity is managed by a committee of trustees who are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity. All trustees serve in a voluntary capacity and receive no remuneration or benefits from the charity. Any trustee induction is carried out informally by existing committee members and includes guidance on trustee responsibilities and charity governance.
AGM
The AGM was held on 15 January 2026 in Maine Integrated Primary School, Randalstown.
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Objectives and Public Benefit
The trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s guidance on public benefit and confirm that Friends of Maine has carried out its charitable purposes for the public benefit throughout the year.
Friends of Maine exists to advance education by supporting Maine Integrated Primary School and its pupils and staff. During the year funds raised were applied directly to activities, resources and equipment that enhanced the educational experience and wellbeing of all pupils. These benefits were available to the whole school community, with particular consideration given to inclusion and to supporting children who may face disadvantage or additional needs.
The trustees believe that the activities undertaken and expenditure incurred during the year have clearly furthered the charity’s aims and delivered tangible public benefit in line with its governing document.
Activities and Achievements
During the year, the charity undertook a programme of fundraising activities to generate income in support of its objectives. These activities included organizing a Valentines disco, an Easter Egg hunt, a very successful Colour Run, a Halloween disco, the provision of Selection Boxes at Christmas and the running of a monthly tuck shop for school pupils. Members of the school teaching staff ran the Belfast Festive 5K, and a trustee ran the Belfast Marathon, both in aid of Friends of Maine.
Funds raised were used to support the school by providing additional resources and opportunities that are not normally funded through statutory provision. This included contributions towards purchasing equipment for the school playground, tablets for use in the classroom to support reading, a contribution towards the cost of leavers hoodies for Primary 7 pupils, the purchase of a set of core texts to support literacy provision within the school, purchasing sports day medals and trophies to recognize pupils who exemplified the School’s core values. All of these directly benefitted the pupils of the school.
During the year 2 successful grant applications were achieved. The trustees are extremely grateful to the Enkalon Foundation for a grant of £500 that was used towards the cost of purchasing a laptop trolley to safely store and transport laptop computers around the school premises. Sincere gratitude is also expressed to the Honourable Irish Society for a generous grant of £1,500 to purchase core texts which will enhance literacy provision within the school.
The trustees wish to thank parents, carers, school staff, volunteers and all supporters whose time, effort and generosity contributed to the success of the charity’s activities throughout the year.
Financial Review
Total income for the year amounted to £8,834 (2025: £7,540) with total expenditure of £8,215 (2025: £7,918) resulting in a net surplus of £619 for the year (2025: (£378)). At the financial year end, the charity held total funds of £3,641 (2025: £3,022). Of this £3,168 was unrestricted
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and £473 was restricted, being the unspent balance of the grant from the Honourable Irish Society not yet spent on core texts but to be spent in the next financial year.
The trustees consider the financial position of the charity to be satisfactory and sufficient to support planned activities.
Reserves Policy
The trustees aim to maintain reserves equivalent to approximately 6 months of planned expenditure to ensure the charity can meet its ongoing commitments and manage any unforeseen expenditure. The level of reserves is reviewed annually in light of planned future activities and anticipated Income,
Plans for Future Periods
The trustees plan to continue fundraising activities to support priorities identified in consultation with the school. The charity will also seek to maintain and strengthen engagement with parents, carers and the wider school community to support its objectives, Further opportunities to avail of grant funding will be explored and pursued where possible,
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements In accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (FRS 102) and the Charities SORP,
Approved by the trustees on 30" April 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Sop OHagen 30 04-26 Stephen O'Hagan Chairperson
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