The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note to the financial statements and comply with the charity's [governing document], the Companies Act 2006 and "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 UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The objects of the charity are:
(a) The provision of facilities for support or in the interests of social welfare, for recreation, and other leisure time occupation of people who are in need as a result of their youth, age, infirmity of social and economic circumstances
(b) The relief of poverty, and
(c) The advancement of education.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Since incorporation on 14 July 2023 the charity has been working towards establishing itself with a view to taking over the activities of the Living Rivers Lighthouse Hostel, Ballymena.
Living Rivers Lighthouse Hostel is part of the Living Rivers Trust, an unincorporated charity based in Ballymena.
Once the agreed transfer of activities has taken place the charity will then endeavour to continue and develop the current services being offered by the Living Rivers Lighthouse Hostel.
The charity will provide support services to men aged 18 to 65, (many of whom have addictions and mental health issues), and also be able to signpost these individuals to other agencies for additional support and services. This will be done from premises that the charity will occupy in Ballymena.
It will work closely with other agencies in the sector and advocate on behalf of residents and their issues. The support provided includes support for men to live in accommodation, help with getting food and services, and supporting them to work towards independent living. Through all of this public benefit will be provided.
Post year end the Charity is in process of opening bank accounts and gaining accreditation with Supporting People, (this programme is run by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on behalf of the Department for Communities).
The charity is also in the process of discussions to move the current Living Rivers Lighthouse Hostel to a new building, which we anticipate will be under the auspices of the company.
All legal, accounting, funders requirements, employment law, and pension requirements are currently being considered.
The charity is in the process of establishing policies and procedures and support processes that need to be offered to any residents that come to seek refuge at the new hostel.
The new building which will house the hostel enables each resident to have an apartment and cook for themselves. This will require support for the residents in learning how to cook, how to plan meals, and how to budget for themselves. It will be much better grounds for supporting men to prepare for independent living.
Stakeholders, funders, and relevant professional services have been involved in the development of the new charity and hostel.
The charity has not been active during the current period. During this time it received no income and incurred no expenditure, and therefore made neither surplus nor deficit. Therefore no statement of financial activities is presented in these financial statements.
As the charity was not active during the current period no policy for reserves was required. This will be considered once the charity is active and receiving income and incurring expenditure.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 14 July 2023 and governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The charity was registered with the Charities Commission for Northern Ireland on 29 January 2024.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the period and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The new directors have undertaken induction and training in areas such as governance, safeguarding, legal requirements and due diligence.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
We report to the trustees on our examination of the financial statements of NI Lighthouse Hostel Ltd (the charity) for the period ended 31 March 2024.
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied ourselves that the charity is not subject to audit under company law, and is eligible for independent examination, it is our responsibility to:
• examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;
• 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; and
• state whether particular matters have come to our attentions.
We have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and our 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 includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters.
Our role is to state whether any material matters have come to our attention giving us cause to believe:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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
that there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
We have completed our 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, we have found no matters that require drawing to your attention.
The charity has not been active during the current period. During this time it received no income and incurred no expenditure, and therefore made neither surplus nor deficit. Therefore no statement of financial activities is presented in these financial statements.