pivotal
Annual Report & Financial Statements
2026

02 

The big issue: Addressing the long problem of economic inactivity in Northern Ireland. 



**Annual report and financial statements 2025-26** 

## **Contents** 

|Vision, mission, context||
|---|---|
|and strategic priorities|**04**|
|Charitable purpose|**08**|
|Governance and staff|**10**|
|Values|**12**|
|Chair’s report|**14**|
|Financial Statements|**20**|



## **The Public Policy Forum N.I. Ltd** 

Company No. NI656627 N.I. Charity No. 108659 

## **Registered Office** 

61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GB, Northern Ireland. 



04 

# Vision, mission, context and strategic priorities 



05 

Pivotal is an independent public policy think tank for Northern Ireland. Launched in September 2019, Pivotal aims to be a future-focused, ambitious and innovative voice, promoting the use of evidence and research in order to improve policy decisions in Northern Ireland. Pivotal is independent of government and has no political alignment. 

## Vision 

## Mission 

Better policy making and improved economic and social outcomes in Northern Ireland. 

Use research, evidence and engagement to inform and influence policy making in Northern Ireland. 

## Strategic priorities 

## 1. 

Inform, enhance and influence policy decision-making in Northern Ireland through promoting research and evidence of what works. 

## 2. 

Encourage and enable discussion about public policy issues, including involving more marginalised individuals and groups. 

## 4. 

Create a reputation for being authoritative, influential, independent and relevant. 

## 5. 

Be a sustainable, effective and efficient organisation which is an excellent place to work and with whom others want to engage. 

## 3. 

Use our work to make convincing arguments for policy change. 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



06 

## Strategic context 

Northern Ireland faces many long-standing economic and social challenges, for example educational inequality, low productivity, ongoing tensions between communities, poor health and social care provision, persistent poverty, and crumbling wastewater infrastructure. In the past, the political system here has tended not to be focussed on finding effective solutions for these longer term problems. Decisions are often made for political reasons rather than being based on research or evidence. Tough but necessary decisions are frequently avoided, because of the political difficulties involved. 

Pivotal wants to help improve policy making by promoting evidence-based solutions to Northern Ireland’s policy problems. As part of increasing the use of evidence in policy making, Pivotal seeks to involve more people in talking about the public policy issues that matter to them. We aim to enable more people to give their views on issues and influence policy decisions, particularly young people and others who might not have had a voice in the past. Our research involves engaging with a wide range of people including users of public services, researchers, public service providers, politicians, policy makers and members of the general public. In the past year we have also begun a more active engagement with a younger cohort through a new Policy Leadership Development Programme which has provided a weekly programme to inform and inspire people aged 18-25 about policy issues and influence. 

The social and economic challenges facing Northern Ireland are severe: by far the longest health waiting lists in the UK; low average skill levels; inequality in educational outcomes; low productivity and innovation; persistent poverty and deprivation; divisions between communities; and a lack of focus on climate change. There is an urgent need for improved policy decision-making in all of these areas. 

## Policy context in 2025-26 

In March 2025, the Executive published its final Programme for Government (PfG), confirming the nine priorities which reflect some of Northern Ireland’s biggest policy challenges: the economy, childcare, health waiting times, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), Special Educational Needs (SEN), housing, Lough Neagh and the environment, safer communities, and public service transformation. While publication of the PfG was welcome, Pivotal raised concerns about the lack of measurable targets and specific details on many of these issues. 

There has been some progress against these priorities since the Executive’s return two years ago: some of the longest health waiting lists are being tackled, parents received support for childcare costs, and the VAWG Strategic Framework received a lot of publicity and support. The first round of transformation funding was allocated, investing in primary care, SEN, speeding up justice and more. However, on many other issues, progress has been lacking. The Executive is unlikely to meet its housing targets, productivity remains low, economic inactivity is high, and despite progress on the longest waits, hospital waiting lists continue to grow. 

Action on some longer-term issues also remains insufficient. There is no agreed plan to tackle poverty, after campaigners strongly opposed the proposed strategy, there is no shared way forward to tackle our ageing wastewater infrastructure, which is stalling or blocking developments across Northern Ireland, and key infrastructure projects such as the A5 and Casement Park remain unbuilt. The Executive still has not published its Investment Strategy, four years after the draft emerged in January 2022. 

Last year saw some progress on stabilising the public finances, through the Budget Sustainability Plan and Interim Fiscal Framework, which added a needs-based element to 



07 

the Barnett Formula. These reforms, along with the certainty of a multi-year settlement from the Treasury, should have paved the way for Northern Ireland’s first multi-year budget in a decade, allowing ministers to plan, invest and transform. However, the Finance Minister’s proposed draft multi-year budget was rejected by his Executive colleagues and now, in the early months of the new financial year, a budget is yet to emerge. Ministers are now faced with uncertainty about their funding allocation, weak budgetary management, and an inability to plan. All the while, public services continue to deteriorate, making it even harder for transformation to be undertaken. 

The Executive claims that a budget cannot be agreed until more money is provided from the UK Government, but many questions can be asked of ministers about financial decisions they are making themselves. The Fiscal Council made clear that savings could be made through tough choices about the size of the public sector, pay parity and local revenue raising, which could go some way to stabilising the public finances here. Public services, as currently configured, are not affordable. The Executive should take the difficult decisions needed to reduce overspends, invest in public services, and put the public finances on a more stable footing. 

With an Assembly Election in May 2027, Ministers and MLAs need to focus on policy challenges rather than solely the election, so citizens can see a meaningful difference in our public services and public finances before they cast their vote. The process of transformation must be a wholeof-government mission, rather than a project confined to a single pot of money. A relentless drive to improve outcomes is needed from the Executive. Looking to additional funding from Westminster is unlikely to yield much given the fiscal constraints that the UK Government faces. 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



08
Charitable
purpose

09 

## Pivotal’s organisational purposes as set out in our objects in the Company’s Memorandum of Association are: 

To advance citizenship by encouraging and equipping the public on a non-partisan basis to engage in the process of public policymaking, and by promoting the inclusion of sections of the community who are underrepresented in public policy debate. 

To advance the education of the public by providing opportunities to learn about the processes and effects of public policymaking; and by undertaking, publishing and disseminating independent research on the potential implications and benefits of varied social and economic policy options. 

## How our activities deliver public benefit 

The Trustees pay due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. The Trustees are confident that Pivotal’s vision, mission and strategic objectives are in accordance with the regulations on public benefit. 

The Trustees believe that our purpose satisfies both elements of the public benefit requirement. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include: 

These benefits will be evidenced through the collation of statistical information around participation in events and projects organised by the charity, and the range and numbers of sectors engaging. We will also provide qualitative information in the form of case studies and feedback from participants, politicians and policymakers. We will assess the extent to which public policymaking reflects the outputs from the charity’s work. 

- **More people, and particularly those from disengaged sections of the community, will become actively engaged as citizens in the public policy-making process and in shaping the policies that directly and indirectly affect them.** 

- **Elected representatives and public officials will be better informed and equipped to devise public policy.** 

- **More people will understand how public policy is made and how it affects their lives, and public policy debate and implementation are informed by both expert evidence and public views.** 

## **The purposes of our charity will not lead to any harm.** 

The charity’s beneficiaries are the general public. The only private benefit that may arise would be to Trustees and staff who undertake skills training in good governance, finance, IT, event management, etc in order to enhance the charity’s ability to deliver its services, but which may also be transferable to other settings. These skills are incidental and necessary to ensure the described benefit is provided to its public beneficiaries, the general public. 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



10
Governance
and staff

11 

## Board 

## **David Gavaghan (Chair)** 

Advisor, consultant, and director 

## **Barry Byrne** 

Chief Executive Officer of Mount Charles; joined December 2025 

## **Sarah Creighton** 

Housing Advisor and lawyer 

## **Judith Gillespie** 

Former Deputy Chief Constable, PSNI 

## **Jarlath Kearney** 

Strategy Advisor and media contributor; resigned June 2025 

## **Seamus McAleavey** 

Retired Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action 

## **Andrew McCormick** 

Retired Northern Ireland Civil Service Permanent Secretary 

## **Sinéad McSweeney** 

Former Global Head of Public Policy, Twitter; resigned June 2025 

## **Rosalind Skillen** 

## Staff 

## **Ann Watt** 

Ann was appointed as Pivotal’s Director in September 2019. Ann is a former senior civil servant, with 15 years’ experience working in London in HM Treasury, Home Office and Cabinet Office. From 2014, Ann was the Head of the Electoral Commission in Northern Ireland for five years. Ann is now well-established, trusted and valued across policy debate in providing a clear, authoritative and independent voice. 

## **Dr James Greer** 

James joined Pivotal in February 2023 as Senior Researcher. James is an experienced academic and researcher. He has researched, taught and published widely on issues regarding politics and society in Northern Ireland, devolution and public policy across the UK, and the political history of Ireland. James has led many of our research projects, including commissioned work for other organisations, as well as our regular Pivotal Platform series. 

## **Tom Burns** 

Tom joined Pivotal in September 2024 as a Researcher. Tom is a Law with Politics graduate, with a Master’s in Global Security and Borders from Queen’s University Belfast. His focus has been on the politics and policies of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. Tom has led the development of our Policy Leadership Development Programme, as well as several research projects about the operation of the NI Assembly and Executive. 

Climate activist and columnist; resigned March 2026 

## **Alan Whysall** 

Honorary Senior Research Associate, University College London 

Pivotal also uses research associates, research assistants, interns and placement students to work on particular projects. Each year we host two QUB undergraduate interns for a 12 week placement. 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



12
Ourvalues

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## In all our work we adhere to the following values: 

## Independent and objective Inclusive and accessible 

- **We act only in the public interest** 

   - **We will make all our work accessible to the public** 

- **We will not be associated with a single individual, organisation, political party, or ideology** 

   - **We will seek to engage and involve the widest spectrum of people in our work** 

- **We will remain free to think radically and objectively, promoting policies based on evidence, not opinion** 

- **We will provide a platform for new voices, particularly from those parts of the community under-represented in public debate** 

## Authoritative, effective and influential 

## Open and transparent 

- **Our research, analysis and advice will be accurate, credible and authoritative** 

   - **We will be transparent about how we are funded, who we are working with and what we are doing** 

- **We will have the expertise to communicate and influence in order to make an impact** 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



14
Chair's report
for 2025-26

15 

Pivotal has had a strong year building upon the valuable contribution it makes as an independent voice on public policy in Northern Ireland, further establishing itself as a leading contributor to policy debate and discussion. We produce relevant and timely research reports, and provide valuable independent analysis and commentary. 

Pivotal is today recognised as an important and trusted voice on current issues, with much greater opportunity to contribute to discussions and decision-making since the Assembly and Executive returned in February 2024. 

Main outputs during 2025-26 

## 1. 

Research Report on policy delivery in Northern Ireland 

## 2. 

Two Tracker Reports reviewing the actions of the Executive and making recommendations for change 

## 5. 

Comment and analysis day-to-day on government and policy issues, appearing frequently on local media and providing regular comment on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky. 

## 3. 

Briefing Report on the challenges and opportunities of a multi-year budget 

## 4. 

Evidence to a number of Committees and consultation responses 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



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## Tracker reports 

During 2025-26, Pivotal published two tracker reports, looking at the actions of the Executive departments, progress against PfG priorities, analysis of the key issues and recommendations for the future. 

## **18 months of the Northern Ireland Executive: a review (September 25)** 

**Two years of the restored Northern Ireland Executive (January 26)** 

## Research reports 

## Evidence and consultations 

We have provided submissions of evidence to Committees and consultations: 

## **Written evidence to the Department of Infrastructure’s Developer Contributions for wastewater infrastructure consultation** 

## **Written and oral evidence to the Assembly and Executive Review Committee’s consultation on reform of the Assembly and Executive** 

## **Oral evidence to the Finance Committee about the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill** 

**Oral and written evidence to the Finance Committee on the multi-year budget** 

We published one major research report this year, based on interviews with 30 leaders from the Civil Service, politics, business, the voluntary sector and beyond. 

**Response to Department of Finance consultation on draft multi-year budget** 

## **Policy delivery in Northern Ireland (June 25)** 

## Briefing reports 

We published a briefing report which provided background and analysis of Northern Ireland’s public finances. 

**Northern Ireland’s multi-year budget: challenges and opportunities (December 25)** 

## Commissioned work 

We completed commissioned work on behalf of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) on the role of the community and voluntary sector in tackling Economic Inactivity (November 2025). We supported Carnegie UK’s roundtable discussion in Belfast about deliberative democracy. 



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## Pivotal Platform 

Each week, Pivotal Platform allows us to engage with people and sectors across Northern Irish society, sharing their experiences and challenges, with a solution-oriented focus about how government can work better. Pivotal Platform offers an insightful contribution to greater evidence-based policy discussion. We are grateful to all those who have written articles. 

We have published 34 Pivotal Platform articles in 2025-26, totalling 83 articles since its launch, on a range of topics including: economic inactivity, housing, supporting carers, AI, Violence Against Women and Girls, apprenticeships, clean energy, GP funding, integrated education, health transformation, infrastructure investment, active travel and many more. 

## Policy Leadership Development Programme 

In September 2025, we launched our new Policy Leadership Development Programme (PLDP), bringing together young people aged 18-25 with an interest in public policy and a desire to contribute to making Northern Ireland better. 

Since its launch, we have run two cohorts, reaching a total of 47 young people from across Northern Ireland, with strong representation of women, ethnic and religious minorities, and the “traditional communities”. We have had participants from Further and Higher Education institutions and different employment backgrounds including teaching, the civil service, public affairs, environmental preservation, 

law, economics, community engagement and many more. We are pleased to have had participants from all 11 council districts in Northern Ireland, as well as students from GB and US who are studying here. 

Over an eight-week course, participants engage in policy skills workshops delivered by the Pivotal team, learn about important policy debates and government functions, and hear from current policy leaders about their careers and how they shape policy. Guest speakers have included Jonny Currie and Celine McStravick (NICVA), Suzanne Wylie (NI Chamber), Jayne Brady (Head of the NI Civil Service), Máirtín MacGabhann (Donate4Dáithí) and Stephen Farry (Ulster University). 

In working groups of 2-4 people, participants researched and wrote a future-focused, solution-oriented briefing paper on an issue that mattered to them. Topics included: youth mental health, housing, political education, Violence Against Women and Girls, green skills and the Just Transition, AI in education and many more. One report was cited in a community regeneration project, and another has formed the basis of a mental health campaign in the participants’ university, showing the value of the work they have done. 

We also launched the PLDP Alumni network, allowing participants to join and deepen their connections and learn more about policy in Northern Ireland. We have organised a number of events for the alumni, including a visit to the US Consulate and Q&A with the Consul General, attending the Belfast Summit and Leadership and Governance Conference. Upcoming events in Spring/Summer 2026 include a meeting with the Finance Minister, a visit to the NI Assembly, and a Q&A with NICS Permanent Secretaries. 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



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## Events 

We were pleased to contribute to events hosted by other organisations throughout the year, including: 

- **British Irish Association conference in Oxford** 

## Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University 

We are grateful to Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) for providing Pivotal with an office and IT support from October 2023. Having our own office space has been very beneficial to the team. 

- **NI Fiscal Council report launches and discussions** 

- **NI Economic Conference (AgendaNI)** 

- **NICVA events including a visit to Cardiff as part of the Civic Threads project** 

- **Presentations on the multi-year budget at NICVA and CO3 webinars** 

In the spring term we hosted two QUB politics undergraduates for 12-week placements as part of their degrees. 

We contributed again this year to the Ulster University (UU) public policy challenge for economics undergraduates. 

- **NICON’s Leadership and Governance Conference** 

- **Public Sector Chairs’ Forum on policy delivery in Northern Ireland** 

- **Funders’ Forum NI event for visiting GB funders** 

## Staff team 

- **FDA conference on the NICS and delivery** 

We hosted a webinar with Dr Michelle Clement, author of ‘The Art of Delivery’. 

Pivotal currently has a staff team of three – Ann Watt (Director), Dr James Greer (Senior Researcher) and Tom Burns (Researcher). 

Our aim is to grow the team , but this depends on raising additional income. There is a renewed emphasis across Pivotal to do this. 

## Media and social media 

We have contributed frequently to local radio and TV, including BBC Sunday Politics, BBC Radio Ulster, UTV News, UTV View from Stormont, U105, Q Radio and Cool FM. We have also had significant coverage of reports and other outputs in print media in Northern Ireland and beyond, including the Belfast Telegraph (where we have also had a number of opinion pieces published), the Irish News and the Irish Times. We continue to use X, LinkedIn and Bluesky for day-to-day comment and analysis. Since early 2026, we have made greater use of LinkedIn articles, which allow for quick and insightful analysis which is longer-form and detailed. So far, we have published nine articles, with plans for more in future. 

## Income generation 

We are very grateful to our donors who between them cover most of Pivotal’s core costs. 

We remain committed to growing our base of supporters from different sources, including individual donors, grant-making organisations and commissioned projects. 



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## Future plans 

The Pivotal team has just completed a new research report (published June 2026) looking at suggestions for reforming the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement institutions, short of what has become known as the ‘single-party veto’. An in-depth research project on disengagement from education is well underway. Another tracker report will be published in September 2026. We also have a number of commissioned projects, including for NICVA and IntrinsicAI. Other future projects will be subject to securing necessary funding. The team, along with Board members, are planning ahead of the upcoming Assembly Election in 2027. We hope to start the third PLDP cohort in September 2026, and Alumni events will continue. 

We will continue to respond to consultations and inquiries as appropriate, and engage with issues day-to-day on social media and on TV, radio and print media. 

## Thanks 

I am grateful to my fellow Trustees for giving their time and expertise to Pivotal. A particular note of thanks to Jarlath Kearney, Sinéad McSweeney and Rosalind Skillen, who stepped down from the Board during the year, for all their contributions – each of them have played an important part in helping Pivotal in its journey since its establishment in 2019. We recognise that in each case the individuals have weighed up their need to also cope with other responsibilities and fully understand that after a number of years of contributing to Pivotal they have decided to move on. I am delighted that Barry Byrne joined as a Trustee this year, and for the energy he has brought to the role work so far. We will be looking to add more new Trustees in the coming year. 

Finally on behalf of my fellow Trustees, I would like to record our sincere thanks to the staff team for their dedication and hard work throughout the year. Pivotal’s reputation and impact grows each year, and this is due to the team’s energy, talent and commitment. We recognise that each of the team have played a critical part in Pivotal’s outputs against a very challenging backdrop, and the Trustees cannot thank them enough for the passion and perspicacity that each of them brings to the organisation’s vision and mission. 

Our sincere thanks to those who have funded Pivotal throughout this year, particularly our main donors. 

We are also grateful for all those individuals and organisations with whom we have worked in partnership and who have supported Pivotal in other ways including: 

- **QUB for generous provision of office space and IT support** 

- **Thought Collective, particularly for their work on the website and the design of our reports** 

- **Ryan Miller for his support for our comms and media work** 



**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
David Gavaghan<br>23 June 2026<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



20 

Public Policy Forum NI Limited (Pivotal) Financial Statements for The Period Ended 31 March 2026 

Registered Charity No: NIC108659 



21 


## Independent examiner’s report 

I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2026. 

## **Respective responsibilities of charity Trustees and examiner** 

As the charity Trustees (and the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law as the charity is a small company charity, it is exempt from audit in accordance with section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to: 

- examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act 

- follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act 

- state whether matters have come to my attention. 

## **Basis of independent examiner’s report** 

I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act. The examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as charity Trustees concerning any such matters. 

My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe: 

1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006 

2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records provided 

3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland 

4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention. 

The accounts have been prepared using the accrual method. This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, and work has been undertaken to that I might state to the charitable company’s members those matters which are required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company’s members and the charitable company’s members as a body, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed. 

**Karen Drennan,** Karen Drennan Business Management Services Chartered Accountant, 101 Killinchy Road, Comber BT23 5NE 18 June 2026 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



22 

## 1: Accounting policies 

## **General Information and basis of preparation** 

The Public Policy Forum NI Ltd is a charitable company not having share capital and is registered in Northern Ireland. 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. 

## **Statement of Compliance** 

The financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the 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 United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008, Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2013, Charities (Accounts and reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, the Companies Act 2006 and UK Generally Accepted Practice. 

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charitable company and rounded to the nearest £1. 

## **Fund accounting – unrestricted funds** 

The charitable company’s unrestricted funds consist of a general fund which is expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the charitable objects of the organisation. The Trustees may at their discretion designate funds for specific purposes but the designations do not legally restrict the Trustees’ discretion to apply the funds. 

## **Fund accounting – restricted funds** 

The charitable company’s restricted funds consist of funds where the donor has imposed restrictions on the use of the funds. 

## **Income recognition** 

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charitable company is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received. For donations to be recognised the charitable company will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charitable company and it is probable that they will be fulfilled. 

Voluntary income received by way of donations and gifts is credited to revenue on a receivable basis. 

For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. At this point income is recognised. On occasion legacies will be notified to the charitable company however it is not possible to measure the amount expected to be distributed. On these occasions, the legacy is treated as contingent asset and disclosed. 

Income from grants are recognised at fair value when the charitable company has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met, then these amounts are deferred. Revenue grants are credited to incoming resources on the earlier date of when they are received or when they are 



23 

receivable, unless they relate to a specified future period. Grants which contribute towards specific expenditure on fixed assets are credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in full upon receipt. 

## **Accrued Income** 

Income from certain events has been accrued as the concerned event occurred before the year end. 

They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objectives of the charitable company. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed to headings, they have been allocated to cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources. 

The analysis of these costs is included in note 7. 

## **Taxation** 

## **Value Added Tax** 

The charitable company is not registered for VAT purposes; therefore, expenditure is shown gross of VAT. 

## **Expenditure Recognition** 

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings: 

As a charitable company, the company benefits from various exemptions afforded by tax legislation. It is therefore not liable to corporation tax on income or gains falling due within those exemptions. Recovery is made of tax deducted from receipts under gift aid. 

## **Going Concern** 

The financial statement has been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and expected level of income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charitable company to be able to continue as a going concern. 

- Costs of raising funds comprises of direct costs; and 

- Expenditure on charitable activities comprises those costs incurred by the charitable company in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries and includes direct costs for example, salary costs, consultancy costs, travel and subsistence and an apportionment of support costs 

## 2: Status 

The company is a company limited by guarantee (NI656627). 

## **Support costs allocation** 

Support costs are those that assist the work of the charitable company but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs and administrative payroll costs. 

The company is accepted as a charity by H M Revenue & Customs within the definition of Section 506(1) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1998. The company has been registered by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland since March 2022 (charity number NIC108659). 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



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## Statement of financial activities 

|||||TOTAL|||TOTAL|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||NOTE|UNRESTRICTED|RESTRICTED|FUNDS ‘26|UNRESTRICTED|RESTRICTED|FUNDS ‘25|
|||£|£|£|£|£|£|
|**Income from:**||||||||
|Donations and legacies|3|**134,750**|-|**134,750**|105,000|-|**105,000**|
|Other trading activities|4|**58,749**|-|**58,749**|8,809|-|**8,809**|
|Investments|5|**-**|-|**-**|-|-|-|
|**Total income**||**193,499**|-|**193,499**|113,809|-|113,809|
|**Expenditure on:**||||||||
|Raising funds||**-**|-|**-**|-|-|-|
|Other trading activities|6|**174,791**|-|**174,791**|140,494|-|**140,494**|
|**Total expenditure**||**174,791**|-|**174,791**|140,494|-|140,494|
|**Net (expenditure)/income**||**18,708**|-|**18,708**|(26,685)||(26,685)|
|||||||~~-~~||
|**Reconciliation of funds:**||||||||
|Total funds brought forward||**24,881**|-|**24,881**|51,566|-|51,566|
|**Total funds carried forward**||**43,589**|-|**43,589**|24,881|-|24,881|



## Income and Expenditure Account 

||TOTAL 2026|TOTAL 2025|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Income|**193,499**|113,809|
|Interest and investment income|**-**|-|
|**Gross income**|**193,499**|113,809|
|Expenditure|**174,791**|140,494|
|**Total expenditure**|**174,791**|140,494|
|**Net income**|**18,708**|(26,685)|





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## Balance Sheet 

||NOTE|2026||2025||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|£|£|
|**Fixed assets**||||||
|Tangible assets||-|-|-|-|
|**Current assets**||||||
|Other debtors|15|**41,033**||20,053||
|Cash at bank and in hand||**7,767**||11,802||
|||**48,800**||31,855||
|**Creditors:**||||||
|Amounts falling due within one year|16|**(5,211)**||(6,974)||
|Net current assets|||**43,589**||24,881|
|**Creditors**||||||
|Amounts falling due after|17|-|||-|
|More than oneyear||||||
|Net assets|||**43,589**||24,881|
|**Charity funds**||||||
|Restricted funds|19||**43,589**||24,881|
|Unrestricted funds|19||-||-|
||||**43,589**||24,881|



These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. 

These financial statements and the following pages were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue on 23 June 2026. 

David Gavaghan, Chair 

Seamus McAleavey, Treasurer 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



26 

## Statement of Cash Flows 

||NOTE|TOTAL 2026|TOTAL 2025|
|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|
|**Cash fow from operating activities**|21|**18,708**|**(26,685)**|
|**Net cash fow from operating activities**||**18,708**|**(26,685)**|
|**Changes in:**||||
|Trade and other debtors||**(28,033)**|**(13,000)**|
|Trade and other creditors||**388**|**4,823**|
|**Net cash fow from operating activities**||**(27,645)**|**(8,177)**|
|**Cash fow from fnancing activities**||||
|Proceeds from bank loan||**-**|**-**|
|Repayment of bank loan||**-**|**-**|
|**Net cash fow from fnancing activities**||**-**|**-**|
|**Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents**||**(8,937)**|**(34,862)**|
|**Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year**||**11,802**|**46,664**|
|**Cash and cash equivalents at end of year**||**2,865**|**11,802**|





27 

## Notes to the Financial Statements 

## **3. Income from donations and legacies** 

||UNRESTRICTED FUNDS|RESTRICTED FUNDS|TOTAL FUNDS 2026|TOTAL FUNDS 2025|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|£|
|Programme sponsorship|**46,261**|-|**46,261**|-|
|Fundraising & donations|**134,750**|-|**134,750**|100,000|
|Other income|**2,988**|-|**2,988**|5,000|
||**183,999**|-|**183,999**|105,000|



## **4. Income from other trading activities** 

||UNRESTRICTED FUNDS|RESTRICTED FUNDS|TOTAL FUNDS 2026|TOTAL FUNDS 2025|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|£|
|Commissioned research &|||||
|other income. (Detailed as|||||
|training in previous years)|**9,500**|-|**9,500**|8,809|
||**9,500**|-|**9,500**|8,809|



## **5. Income from investments** 

||UNRESTRICTED FUNDS|RESTRICTED FUNDS|TOTAL FUNDS|2026|TOTAL FUNDS|2025|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£||£||£|
|Interest|-|-||-||-|
||-|-||-||-|



Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



28 

## Notes to the Financial Statements 

|**6. Analysis of expenditure ‘26**|ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN|GRANT FUNDING OF|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||DIRECTLY|ACTIVITIES|SUPPORT COSTS|TOTAL 2026|
||£|£|£|£|
|Research & publications|97,490|-|1,823|**99,313**|
|Communication & engagement|45,574|-|1,823|**47,397**|
|Governance & administration|12,825|-|2,126|**14,951**|
|Fundraising|12,825|-|305|**13,130**|
||168,714|-|6,077|**174,791**|
|**6.Analysis of expenditure ‘25**|ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN|GRANT FUNDING OF|||
||DIRECTLY|ACTIVITIES|SUPPORT COSTS|TOTAL 2025|
||£|£|£|£|
|Research & publications|70,013|-|3,360|**73,373**|
|Communication & engagement|41,776|-|1,120|**42,896**|
|Governance & administration|11,807|-|305|**12,112**|
|Fundraising|11,807|-|305|**12,112**|
||135,403|-|5,091|**140,494**|
|**7. Allocation of support costs ‘26**||RAISING FUNDS|CHARITABLE ACTIVITY|TOTAL 2026|
|||£|£|£|
|Governance & administration||-|600|**600**|
|Finance||-|99|**99**|
|Depreciation||-|-|-|
|||-|699|**699**|
|**7.Allocation of support costs ‘25**||RAISING FUNDS|CHARITABLE ACTIVITY|TOTAL 2025|
|||£|£|£|
|Governance & administration||-|600|**600**|
|Finance||-|108|**108**|
|Depreciation||-|-|-|
|||-|708|**708**|





29 

|**8. Governance costs**|2026|2025|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Independent examiners costs|**600**|600|
|Trustees remuneration|-|-|
|Trustee expenses|-|-|
|Legal and professional fees|**411**|542|
|Other|**-**|-|
||**1,011**|1,142|



Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



30 

## Notes to the Financial Statements 

|**9. Analysis of expenditure**||OTHER|||TOTAL 2026.<br>ANALYSED AS|TOTAL 2026.<br>ANALYSED AS||TOTAL 2025.<br>ANALYSED AS|TOTAL 2025.<br>ANALYSED AS|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||RAISING|TRADING||TOTAL|UNRESTRICTED|RESTRICTED|TOTAL|UNRESTRICTED|RESTRICTED|
||FUNDS|ACTIVITIES|OTHER|2026|FUNDS|FUNDS|2026|FUNDS|FUNDS|
||£|£|£|£|£|£|£||£|
|**Direct costs**||||||||||
|Research & publications|-|5,200|-|5,200|5,200|-|5,200|6,720|-|
|Communications & engagement|-|8,140|-|8,140|8,140|-|8,140|3,405|-|
|Design & print|-|17,502|-|17,502|17,502|-|17,502|5,520|-|
|Fundraising|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
|Salaries and NICs|-|125,823|-|125,823|125,823|-|125,823|109,419|-|
|Pension contributions|-|12,050|-|12,050|12,050|-|12,050|10,339|-|
|Selection and recruitment|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
|Travelling and subsistence|-|632|-|632|632|-|632|1,495|-|
|Membership & subscriptions|-|715|-|715|715|-|715|319|-|
|Bank charges and interest|-|108|-|108|108|-|108|108|-|
|General expenses|-|2,654|-|2,654|2,654|-|2,654|1,347|-|
|Insurance|-|956|-|956|956|-|956|922|-|
|**Support costs**||||||||||
|Governance:||||||||||
|Independent examiner's report|-|600|-|600|600|-|600|600|-|
|Trustees remuneration|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
|Trustees expenses|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
|Legal and professional fees|-|411|-|411|411|-|411|300|-|
|Other|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
|Ofce costs|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
||-|174,791|-|174,791|174,791|-|174,791|140,494|-|



## **10. Net income for the year** 

||||
|---|---|---|
|**0. Net income for the year**|2026|2025|
|This is stated after charging:|£|£|
|Independent examiners fee|600|600|
|Depreciation of fxed assets|-|-|
|Operating lease payments|-|-|





31 

## **11. Independent Examiner’s remuneration** 

## **12. Trustees and key management personnel** 

The independent examiner’s remuneration amounts to **remuneration and expenses** £600 and other services of £325 for payroll provision. 

The Trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration during the year. The total amount of employee benefits received by key management personnel is £51,750. 

## **13. Staff costs and employee benefits** 

The average number of employees employed by the company during the period April 2025 - March 2026 is 3. 

|**13. Staff costs and employee benefits**<br>The average number of employees employed by the<br>|||
|---|---|---|
|company during the period April 2025 - March 2026 is 3.|2026|2025|
||£|£|
|Raising funds|-|-|
|Charitable activities|3.0|2.5|
|Governance|-|-|
||3.0|2.5|



|The total staff costs and employee benefits incurred during|2026|2025|
|---|---|---|
|the year was as follows:|||
||£|£|
|Wages and salaries|120,500|103,395|
|Social security costs|5,323|6,025|
|Defned contribution pension costs|12,050|10,338|
||137,873|119,758|
|No employee received total employee benefits (excluding|||
|employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 during the|2026|2025|
|period April 2025 - March 2026.|||
||£|£|
|Allocated to:|||
|Raising funds|-|-|
|Charitable activity|137,873|119,758|
||137,873|119,758|



Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



32 

## Notes to the Financial Statements 

## **14. Taxation** 

The charitable company is a registered charity and as such, is entitled to certain tax exemptions on income and profits from investments and surpluses on any trading activities carried out in the furtherance of the charitable company’s 

primary objectives, if these profits and surpluses are applied solely for charitable purposes. The charity is not registered for VAT and accordingly, all their expenditure is inclusive of VAT incurred. 

## **15. Debtors** 

|**15. Debtors**|2026|2025|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Prepayments and accrued income|41,093|20,053|
|Amounts owed by related party|-|-|
||41,093|20,053|



## **16. Creditors: -amounts falling due within one year** 

|**16. Creditors: -amounts falling due within one year**|2026|2025|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Bank loans and overdrafts|-|-|
|Other tax and social security|1,270|2,860|
|Other creditors|3,941|4,114|
|Amounts owed to related party|-|-|
|Accruals|-|-|
|Deferred income|-|-|
||5,211|6,974|
|**17. Creditors: -amounts falling due after more than one year**|2026|2025|
||£|£|
|Bank loans and overdrafts|-|-|
||-|-|





33 

## **18. Pensions** 

The company operates a money purchase pension scheme for its employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. The pension costs 

charge represents contributions payable by the company to the fund and amounted to £11,607 (2024-2025 £10,339) The amount of pension costs accrued at the year end amounted to £2,812.00 (2024-2025 - £3,941.00). 

## **19. Analysis of net assets between funds** 

||TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS|NET CURRENT ASSETS|LONG TERM LIABILITIES|2026|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|£|
|Unrestricted|-|43,589|-|43,589|
|Restricted|-|-|-|-|
||-|43,589|-|43,589|



Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



34 

## Notes to the Financial Statements 

## **20. Fund reconciliations: Unrestricted funds** 

## **Unrestricted funds** 

Unrestricted funds consist of funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Charity in furtherance of its objectives. 

In addition to expenditure on activities such funds may be held in order to finance capital investment and working capital. 

||BALANCE AT||||BALANCE AT|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||31/03/25|INCOME|EXPENDITURE|TRANSFERS|31/03/26|
||£|£|£|£|£|
|General|24,881|193,499|(174,791)|-|**43,589**|
|Designated|-|-|-|-|-|
||24,881|193,499|(174,791)|-|**43,589**|



## **21. Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities** 

||||
|---|---|---|
|**21. Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities**|2026|2025|
||£|£|
|Net income for the year|18,708|26,685|
|Depreciation and impairment of tangible fxed assets|-|-|
|Interest from investments|-|-|
|Increase in debtors|5,217|(13,000)|
|Increase in creditors|388|4,823|
|Net cash fow from operating activities|13,879|(34,862)|





35 

## **22. Financial commitments** 

No contracts had been placed for future capital expenditure at the balance sheet date. 

## **23. Contingent liabilities** 

The company has a contingent liability to repay grants received if the company fails to comply with certain conditions stipulated in the letters of offer under which the grants were paid. The directors do not expect any claims to be made in this respect. 

## **24. Company limited by guarantee** 

The Public Policy Forum NI Ltd is a company limited by guarantee having no share capital. It is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association and the liability of the members is limited to an amount not exceeding £1. 

## **25. Ethical standards** 

In common with many other organisations of our size and nature, we use our independent examiner to prepare and assist with the preparation of the financial statements. 

Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



36 

## Detailed Income and Expenditure Account 

||2026||2025||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||£|£|£|£|
|**INCOME**|||||
|**Grants**|||||
|Department of Foreign Afairs|46,261||-||
|||46,261||-|
|**Other income**|||||
|Research income|9,500||7,250||
|Other income|2,988||1,559||
|Donations|120,000||100,000||
|Gift aid|14,750||5,000||
|||147,238||113,809|
|**Total income**||193,499||113,809|
|**Expenditure**|||||
|_Central costs:_|||||
|Salaries and NICs|125,823||109,419||
|Pension contributions|12,050||10,339||
|Staf travel and subsistence|632||1,495||
|Staf training and conferences|1,153||557||
|Administration and ofce costs (Note 1)|4,291||3,039||
|Selection and recruitment costs|-||-||
|||143,949||124,849|
|_Communication & engagement:_|||||
|Research & publications|5,200||6,720||
|Communications & engagement|8,140||3,405||
|Design & print|17,502||5,520||
|||30,842||15,645|
|**Total expenditure**||174,791||140,494|
|**Total income**||193,499||113,809|
|**Surplus for the year**||18,708||(26,685)|





37 

## **Note 1: Administration and Office Costs** 

||2026|2025|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Insurance|956|922|
|Payroll fees|325|300|
|Independent examiners fee|600|600|
|Professional & legal fees|86|-|
|Memberships and subscriptions|715|319|
|Bank charges|108|108|
|General expenses|1,501|790|
|**Total Administration and Ofce Costs**|**4,291**|**3,039**|



Annual report and financial statements 2025-26 



Pivotal is well established as the independent public policy think tank for Northern Ireland. We help to develop public policy that leads to a positive societal impact for citizens across Northern Ireland, led by evidence and the experiences of people across the community. 

To find our more about who we are, to get in touch or to see more of our work visit pivotalpolicy.org. 

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Annual roportand financial statements
2025-26