The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)".
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.
During the course of this year NI Lighthouse Hostel prepared to take over the Lighthouse Homeless Hostel operations in Ballymena, Northern Ireland with effect from 1 April 2025, and to move into new premises on 9 April 2025. The new premises will enable men to have their own apartment in much more pleasant surroundings than previously.
The hostel will provide support services, and signposting to other agencies, to men aged 18 to 65, many of whom have addictions and mental health issues.
The hostel will continue to 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.
The Charity is in the process of gaining accreditation with Supporting People. (This was finalised in May 2025.)
The Bank accounts for the Charity were finalised and opened and the Credit Card is awaited.
Various legal matters were completed such as agreements being signed for data sharing, heads of terms, and transfer of assets with Living Rivers Trust, registering for PAYE, and Gift Aid.
We would like to thank all involved in any way over the past year. This development would not have been able to take place without many individuals’ and organisations’ support. These include, but not limited to, Living Rivers Trust, Supporting People, NIHE, Choice Housing, Danske Bank, Lighthouse Staff, Greenmount Properties, and the residents.
The results are set out in detail on pages 6 to 13. The charity returned net incoming resources for the year of £172,804 (2024 - £Nil) leaving unrestricted funds of £62,277 (2024 - £Nil) and restricted funds of £110,527 (2024 - £Nil). The unrestricted funds are considered to be essential to provide sufficient funds to cover any unforeseen costs which may arise and fulfill legal obligations of the charity in the event that current levels of income are not maintained.
Funds totalling £185,579 were transferred from Living Rivers Trust into the NI Lighthouse Hostel Ltd, per Heads of Terms, to enable the Charity to be ready to start meeting expenses from the 1 April 2025. This includes £110,527 that is held as restricted for Supporting People. Of this a portion, £35,142, is under continued discussion to be able to transfer it from restricted to unrestricted funds.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. As the charity has not commenced operating at the year end this level of reserves has not been required however it will be built up going forward.
The bank accounts were up and running towards the end of the financial year. All staff were transferred to NI Lighthouse Hostel Ltd from 1 April 2025 and new pension arrangements were made with “The People’s pension”.
Already we can see a beneficial impact of being in the new premises in 1 George Street for residents and staff. We will be working at all aspects of the service and support we provide over the coming year. We will also be looking to recruit new staff.
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 year 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.
During the year Philip Logan resigned from the Board and Suzanne Blair joined. All six Directors have agreed vision, values, plans, and held several governance meetings. Suzanne received Trustee induction and regular Board meetings have been held.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provision applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
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 year ended 31 March 2025.
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 financial statements as required under section 65 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 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 financial statements presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, 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 that:
1. Accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; or
2. The financial statements do not accord with those accounting records; or
3. That the financial statements 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 financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); or
4. There is further information needed for a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
We have completed our examination and I 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 statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
NI Lighthouse Hostel Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is Apartment 3, 1 George Street, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT43 5FN.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Supporting People
All funding received from Supporting People is restricted to provide support to the residents of the hostel in the ways agreed with Supporting People.
During this year no funding was received directly from Supporting People however funds were transferred from Living Rivers Trust, an unincorporated charity registered in Northern Ireland, to maintain level of funds that may be recouped by the NIHE.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
On the 1 April 2025 the net assets and operations of The Lighthouse Hostel were transferred by the Living Rivers Trust to the NI Lighthouse Hostel Ltd by way of a charitable gift. This totalled £45,112.
During the year funds of £185,579 were transferred from Living Rivers Trust into NI Lighthouse Hostel Ltd. This was as per Heads of Terms agreed on 24 March 2025 between Living Rivers Trust and NI Lighthouse Hostel Ltd, to enable NI Lighthouse Hostel Ltd to operate financially as of the 1 April 2025.
The funds held under NIHE - Supporting People, restricted funds, of £110,527, detailed at note 9, represent funds that may be recouped by the NIHE. The final value and timing of the amount to be recouped is still to be determined and agreed and as such the trustees believe a contingent liability to repay funds exists. Until then under the funding letters of offer the charity must sustain a restricted fund balance of £110,527 in relation to the Supporting People project.