The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).
The charity maintains a B1 listed building; 5 units which are rented to local businesses and 9 rooms available for hire to the public catering for groups ranging in size from 5 - 100 people. They also run a cafeteria called The Pantry.
The objects of the company are:
1. to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Garvagh and the neighbourhood thereof by the advancement of education and the provision of facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants;
2. to preserve for the benefit of the public whatever land, buildings or other structures may exist in Garvagh and its environs of particular beauty or historical or architectural interest;
3. to provide or secure the provision of public amenities in Garvagh and its environs for the benefit of the inhabitants thereof.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Advancing education
The direct benefits which flow from this purpose are: increased access to information, increased confidence and self-esteem and increased ability to access employment opportunities. The benefits are evidenced through feedback and evaluation from the group and local community. There is no harm anticipated from this purpose. The charity's beneficiaries are people living in the rural area of Garvagh and District. A private benefit may arise from trustees accessing our ongoing programme of activities for the community. These benefits are incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries.
Providing facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreational activities designed to promote health and fitness or other leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants
The direct benefits which flow from this purpose are: the provision of a neutral venue for local people to meet and socialise, increased access to information, increased confidence and self-esteem and increased cross-community interaction. The benefits are evidenced through feedback and evaluation from the group and local community. There is no harm anticipated from this purpose. The charity's beneficiaries are people living in the rural area of Garvagh and District. A private benefit may arise from trustees accessing our ongoing programme of activities for the community. These benefits are incidental and necessary to ensure the benefit is provided to our beneficiaries.
Preserving for the benefit of the inhabitants of Garvagh and District whatever of the historical, architectural and constructed heritage may exist in and around the Village of Garvagh in the form of buildings of particular beauty or historical, architectural or constructional interest
The purpose of this charity is to provide management and administration to secure, by such means as are available, the preservation, protection and restoration of Garvagh Community Building, a listed building, for the benefit of the inhabitants of Garvagh. The benefits include the maintenance of a listed building for use by the local community, visitors and tourists. What was once a nearly derelict building is now structurally secure and being fully used by the local community, small businesses and other charitable organisations. The charity's beneficiaries are people and business living in Northern Ireland who use and visit Garvagh Community building.
Providing improved social and environmental conditions as a result of community renewal and regeneration activities leading to a better quality of life for the inhabitants
The beneficiaries are the general public. The benefits include the maintenance of current amenities and the creation of new village amenities for use by the local community, visitors and tourists. What was once neglected in terms of amenities including pathways, parks, public leisure facilities, signage and lighting is now fit for purpose and structurally secure and being fully used by the local community, small businesses and other charitable organisations. The charity's beneficiaries are the general public living in Northern Ireland who use and/or visit the village of Garvagh and its environs.
The company returned net expenditure for the year of £25,543 (2023 - £70,348 net expenditure). At 31st December 2024 the total funds of the charity amounted to £484,394 (2023 - £509,937) comprising designated funds of £459,153 (2023 - £476,317), general unrestricted funds of £25,241 (2023 - £33,620) and restricted funds of £0 (2023 - £0).
Of the total funds reported above, £19,532 is made up of cash at bank and in hand.
Reserves policy
The trustees endeavour to maintain sufficient funds to 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.
Risk Management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Garvagh Development Trust registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 11 May 2016.
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:
The management of the company is the responsibility of the trustees who are elected under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Mrs J Moore, Mrs R Topping, Mr R Hargy, and Mrs L McFetridge, being one half of the trustees for the time being, in accordance with Section 34 of the Articles of Association, retire by rotation at the Annual General Meeting. The above persons, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
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 trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 6 to 16.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Garvagh Development Trust for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
Having satisfied myself 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
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 particular matters have come to my attention.
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 2008. My 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 and Section 63 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records
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.
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 statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Garvagh Development Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 85 Main Street, Garvagh, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, BT51 5AB.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). 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 applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 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 principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
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.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The designated funds for fixed assets is that part of unrestricted funds that represents fixed assets held.
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.
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, applicable VAT and other sales related taxes.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
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.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Grants
Capital grants are included as incoming resources when receivable and categorised within designated funds. Depreciation is subsequently charged against the fund each year equivalent to the rates on the relevant assets in question.
Grants of a revenue nature are credited to income in the period to which they relate.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Forest school
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Rent receivable
Room hire
The Pantry income
Rates
Support
Insurance
Support
Light and heat
Support
Repairs and maintenance
Support
maintenance
Printing, postage and stationery
Support
and stationery
Telephone
Support
Bank charges
Support
General expenses
Support
Governance costs includes payments to the independent examiners of £3,950 (2023 - £4,040).
The Pantry purchases
The Pantry wages
The Pantry rates
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 senior management team is made up of the trustees and the manager. The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows:
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
Certain grants received and receivable may become repayable to the funder if the charity is no longer able to meet the conditions under which they were awarded. Due to the nature of these contingencies it may not be possible to quantify the potential financial effect or give an indication of the timing as to the liabilities that may arise.
Unrestricted designated
Unrestricted general
Restricted