THE BALLYCLARE HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION LTD TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 30 September 2023, REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAILS The Ballyclare High School Foundation Ltd 31 Rashee Road Ballyclare BT39 9HJ Company Registered by Guarantee Northern Ireland (N1685284) Registered Charity in Northern Ireland {NIC108744) DIRECTORS The Directors who served during the year or who were directors at the date of this report were: Mr Aran Blackbourne Miss Margaret Gray Mr Wilbert Hollinger Mr Steven Lowry Mrs Emma Matebalavu Mr Michael McKinstry Dr Michelle Rainey INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Simon Hopper FCA Hopper & Co 6 Doagh Road Ballyclare BT39 9BG BANKERS Danske Bank Limited 18 The Square Ballyclare BT39 9BB THE BALLYCLARE HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION LTD TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT Icont'd) DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE The purpose of The Ballyclare High School Foundation Ltd. ("BHSF") is to advance the education of the pupils attending Ballyclare High School (BHS) through enhancing their opportunities, educational outcomes and life chances in line with the school's wider vision of 'developing lifelong learner5 in a caring creative communit¢. The BHSF aims to create an environment in which relationships with alumni and friends of BHS can be developed and cultivated on a mutually beneficial basis and in so doing engender opportunities to support and advance the education of the puplls attending BHS. BHS {'the school'l is a co-educational non-denominational grammar school located in Ballyclare, Northern Ireland. It is a controlled school operating under the management of a suitably appointed Board of Governors which includes representatives from Department for Education {Nl), the Education Authority, parents and teachers. There are cl,250 pupils attending the school and The Education Authority for Northern Ireland is the employing authority, STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT "BHSF" has been established as a company limited by guarantee {N1685284) and as a registered charity with Charity Commission for Northern Ireland (NIC108774). Whilst BHSF operates as a separate legal entity from the school, its sole object is the advancement of the education of the pupils attending BHS. BHSF has a strong governance framework in place over its purpose and operation including the appointment of a board of directors, all of whom are passionate about and have long-seated connections with BHS. Each of the directors is highly committed to the aims of the Foundation and bring a wealth of experience and professionalism to the role. VISION & STRATEGY The Board of Governors of the school has recently developed a strategy for the development of connections with alumni and friends of the school with the vision of maintaining mutually beneficial lifelong relationships with past pupils, parents and friends. The creation of the BHSF is a key aspect of this strategy establishing a vehicle to create opportunities to enhance engagement and involvement with alumni, parents and friends in both school activities and through fundraising initiatives. THE BALLYCLARE HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION LTD TRUSTEES. ANNUAL REPORT (convd) AcfiviTIES AND OBJECTIVES BHSF was registered as a company limited by guarantee on 25th January 2023 and as a charity with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 17th August 2023. The Company was dormant at the 30 September 2023 hence these accounts represent the 1st year of its operation. Launch Campaign Following on from its registration, the company was formally launched in October 2023 with the announcement of the Bright Futures Campaign as its launch fund. The Bright Futures Campaign aims to raise £300,000 by the end of 2025 to support two overarching areas of need: £150,000 towards an Opportunities Fund aimed at improving educational, physical and creative opportunities at the school through the investment in learning resources, sport and active recreation, music and the arts. £150,000 towards a Support Fund aimed at enhancing support towards health and wellbeing services and in providing spaces in which pupils can grow and thrive. Support for the Foundation The Foundation has established various ways in which support can be provided: by becoming a 'Founding Member, and making a large donation over the course of the launch period. through the making of regular or one-off donations to the launch fund or other purpose as specified; or through organising or supporting specific fundraising activities as these are developed. The Foundation was delighted to organise its inaugural alumni event in March 2023, being a Celebration of Rugby Gala Ball, commemorating the 50th anniversary of winning The Schools, Cup and the love and passion that rugby over the years has engendered within the school family. This event was a wonderful example of the benefits of the Foundation in practice, providing opportunities to celebrate, engage with friends and altjrnni and in so doing create opportunities to support the school and its pupils today through the fundraising activity which ran alongside the event. Publlc Benefit The BHSF has been established to help raise funds, encourage a culture of philanthropy in the school community and issue grants to advance the education of the pupils attending BHS. THE BALLYCLARE HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION LTD TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (conyd) The direct benefits which flow from the organisation's purpose include enhanced educational opportunities and improved life chances for pupils attending BHS. These benefits can be demonstrated through improved educational outcomes and opportunities. There is no harm arising from the Foundation'5 purpose. The beneficiaries are pupils attending BHS. There is no private benefit flowing from the Foundation's purpose. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2008 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE/FINANCIAL REVIEW th Total Income of the Foundation for the initial period since its launch until the 30 September 2023 was £202,138 with expenditure during that period amounting to £19,055. Achievements during thi5 period include securing a number of higher-level donations from supporters who will be recognised as 'Founding Members, and recurring monthly gifts from regular donors. hosting a successful Celebration of Rugby at BHS Gala Ball event in the Titanic Belfast. and securing donations from parents towards the School Fund which are now eligible for Gift Aid. Parental contributions to the School Fund have subsequently been forwarded to the school to be used to support areas of need identified by the school leadership team with any Gift Aid applicable being released in due course once the annual claim to Inland Revenue has been made. RESERVES POLICY The policy of the trustees is not to accumulate reserves but to use reserves in the promotion of the charity's objectives. With regard to the Bright Futures Campaign the trustees have targeted an initial 3- year fundraising period with funds being released once suitable applications have been received by the school in line with Award Policy agreed by the Trustees. Therefore it would be expected that reserves will build up across the initial period with awards being made level of fund5 raised is better known and therefore projects can be prioritised appropriately. With regard to other funds received such as donations to the school fund and other specific donations made by donors, these will be released to the school in a timely manner in order to serve the manner in which they were made. THE BALLYCLARE HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION LTD TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (cont'd) FUTURE PLANS The Foundation will continue to focus on development of links with alumni and friends of the school through events and other ventures in order to fulfil its purpose of advancing the education of the pupils attending BHS. In the forthcoming year it is hoped to develop new networking opportunities with alumni, embrace any specific opportunities to support the school brought forward by donors and to continue fundraising activity associated to Bright Futures Campaign and commence awarding of grants to the school in line with the aim of this campaign. STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financi31 statements of the Foundation in accordance with applicable law and generally accepted accounting practice. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Foundation's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time its financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Foundation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Approved by the directors at a meeting on 19th June 2024 and signed on i alf by: tGQLL U Nam Michelle Rainey Name: Michael McKinstry Director & Trustee Director & Trustee Date: 19th June 2024 Date." 19th June 2024