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 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).
Since the company qualifies as small under section 382 of the Companies Act 2006, the Strategic report required of the medium and large companies under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors Repot) Regulations 2013 has been omitted.
Policies and objectives
The objectives of the company have been to continue to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of primarily North and West Belfast and elsewhere and in particular to advance education by providing life skills training and personal development programmes for young people and adults to promote the development of individual capabilities, competences, skills, self esteem and understanding so as to prepare them for employment and life challenges.
Other Outcomes
The project engages with all statutory partners in our area of need, from PSNI, Housing Executive, Belfast City Council Departments and other government bodies. We currently sit on the Greater Shankill Community Safety Partnership, E3 Interagency Group, BCC Tension Monitoring which would include all statutory partners in the Greater Shankill Area.
The project is working pro-actively with the PSNI to reduce community tensions in the Greater Shankill Area, in this project year the Respect outreach team has been on the streets at nights and weekends working with the PSNI to reduce the risk of community tensions around parades and organised fights at interface communities. The project focused its work in the Twaddell/Oldpark/Woodvale and Springfield Road areas of North and West Belfast over this period and worked with a range of stakeholders including the PSNI, Orange Order, Parades Commission, NIO, Churches and Community to deliver on the ground conflict resolution during times of unrest in the Greater Shankill area.
Activities for achieving objectives
The Employment Intensive Training Programme
Community Relations Programme.
Adult Listening/Coaching Life Workshops.
Parenting Workshops.
Young people attending the CRIP Programme or the Employment Programme were given the opportunity to participate in one to one mentoring follow up programs, also facilitated by the Staff & Trainers.
The company had 2 main projects during the year as follows:
Community Outreach
Farset continues to provide support and advice to local community groups throughout the Greater Shankill area, including the Farset Hostel and has 1 employee.
Respect Project
The Respect Project - Re-Engaging and Supporting People to Enable Community Transformation. The Project is managed by Farset Youth and Community Development Limited, with the main office located in Springfield Road, Belfast.
It employs 4 workers, three full time and one part time, and is based in part on extensive research into the lives of people in North and West Belfast. Research was carried out by the Institute for Conflict Research, commissioned by the Belfast City Council. The aim of the project, to reveal and release the potential of individuals, families and key stakeholders to develop a culture of trust and respect, increase individual responsibility and community ownership, and raise aspirations and achievement. RESEPCT uses a proven transformational method which integrates personal and community development through the delivery of intensive training, coaching and community-based activity.
They have been working with Transient youth, Suicide programs and engaging young adults’ programs as well as interface meeting and ongoing meetings/discussions with the PSNI. At present all their outcomes have been completed.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Project delivery:-
Greater Shankill Action Plan – Quality of Life
A healthy community – people in the Greater Shankill will have enhanced emotional resilience.
Increase in community capacity / capital / cohesion
Sustain / increase the % of residents involved in volunteering activities
Improvement in community relations
Demographic stability
Community development and capacity skills training included:
Life Coaching training
Listening skills training
Personal development training
1 x life coach training x 13 adults x 2 set up meetings x 2 days training and aftercare telephone support.
1 x life coach training x 6 adults x 1 set up meetings x 3 days training and aftercare telephone support.
1 x capacity building (listening skills) training x 6 adults x 2 set up meetings x 1 day training and aftercare telephone support.
Greater Shankill Action Plan: Employability and Employment
Employability and employment – People in the Greater Shankill (particularly young people) will have developed relevant technical and personal skills and knowledge leading to meaningful employment
Reducetion in the gap in employment rate – between residents in NRS’s and rest of NI
Reduction 0% of population economically inactive
Increase in the % of the working age population qualified to level 2+
At least 4 x 8-week non-job specific employment programme
2 day intensive personal development training
7 week follow up sessions
One to one coaching with participants around their employment and personal development goals
The project has teamed up with a local training for employment agency who are having problems with the retention of at-risk young people who may be on the verge of dropping out and unable to get placements due to their behaviour.
The project engaged these young people in a non-specific job training and coaching programme over 7 weeks and have partnered with our sister charity Farset Development Ltd to give them placements experience. The project delivered a personal development intensive, followed by intense coaching for 7 weeks to enable these young people to continue with their education and training and not be removed from the training for employment agency course. This was a very challenging set of training and coaching as the young people had various behaviour issues and disabilities including quite a number of neurodiverse young people with ADHS and autism.
The project delivered the 4 non-job specific trainings and coaching: -
The project delivered Non-Specific job training to 20 young people and provided them with job placements in our sister company to enable them to complete their job specific qualifications. During the programme participants worked on their self-confidence / self-esteem, examined behaviours and self-defeating conversations, which can be barriers to employment, set and completed personal / employment goals over the period of the programme. Post evaluations showed participants had raised confidence / self-esteem and are now job ready.
The project delivered Non-Specific job training to 19 young people and provided them with job placements in our sister company to enable them to complete their job specific qualifications. During the programme participants worked on their self-confidence / self-esteem, examined behaviours and self-defeating conversations, which can be barriers to employment, set and completed personal / employment goals over the period of the programme. Post evaluations showed participants had raised confidence / self-esteem and are now job ready.
The project delivered Non-Specific job training to 14 young people and provided them with job placements in our sister company to enable them to complete their job specific qualifications. During the programme participants worked on their self-confidence / self-esteem, examined behaviours and self-defeating conversations, which can be barriers to employment, set and completed personal / employment goals over the period of the programme. Post evaluations showed participants had raised confidence / self-esteem and are now job ready.
The project delivered Non-Specific job training to 6 young people and provided them with job placements in our sister company to enable them to complete their job specific qualifications. During the programme participants worked on their self-confidence / self-esteem, examined behaviours and self-defeating conversations, which can be barriers to employment, set and completed personal / employment goals over the period of the programme. Post evaluations showed participants had raised confidence / self-esteem and are now job ready.
In total 59 young people completed the 7-week Non-Job Specific training ang coaching.
Project delivery:
1 x life coach training x 13 adults x 2 setup meetings x 2 days training and aftercare telephone support
1 x life coach training x 6 adults x 1 set up meetings x 3 days training and aftercare telephone support.
1 x capacity building (listening skills) training x 6 adults x 2 set up meetings x 1 day training and aftercare telephone support.
Greater Shankill Action Plan – Quality of Life
Community to feel safer and there will be a reduction in crime particularly amongst older people, vulnerable people and children
Reduction in overall recorded crime rate
Reduction in violent crime rate
Reduction in burglary crime rate
Reduction in theft crime rate
Increased community pride
Reduction in antisocial behaviour
Community safety initiatives will include
Weekly meetings with PSNI Neighbourhood team to address and plan for community safety initiatives to address emerging issues.
Centre based community safety events
Safe talk training (mental health suicide and self-harm first aid training)
The project has met fortnightly with PSNI Neighbourhood teams from North Belfast to address emerging community safety issues. These meetings are invaluable as they can stop emerging community safety issues from spiraling out of control and with early interventions address community safety issues effectively in partnership with the PSNI. The RESPECT team has worked with the PSNI to address community safety issues on a daily basis, ranging from anti-social behaviour to interface violence, bonfires, parades, crime prevention, incidents of crime, criminal damage, arson, housing (problem tenants) and suicide and self-harm incidents. Resulting on average more than 5 calls per week.
The project delivered a Listening Skills Training to adults from the Greater Shankill Area who are interested in volunteering. Listening skills is one of the most important skills for a community volunteer to have, especially when working with people who present in crisis. It delivered a 1-day intensive listening skills training to participants and offered up telephone support for when they start volunteering within their various community organisations. All participants reported back through evaluation and follow up calls that they had gained new listening skills that they could use as a volunteer to help people who are in crisis.
Project delivery so far:
1 x life coach training x 4 adults x 2 setup meetings x 2 day’s training and aftercare telephone support.
1 x personal development training x 15 adults x 1 setup meetings x 3 day’s intensive training and follow up telephone support.
1 x listening skills training x 7 adults x 2 setup meetings x 1 days intensive training and follow up telephone support.
1 x listening skills training x 10 adults x 2 setup meetings x 1 day entensive training and follow-up support
Outcome:
Reduction in the gap in employment rate – between those residents in NRAs and rest of NI
Reduction in % of population economically inactive
Increase in the % of the working age population qualified to level 2+
The project has delivered two non-specific employment training to 21 and 10 young people from the Greater Shankill Area. All participants who are not currently in employment or training participated in a 7 week non-job specific training. During the programme participants worked on their self-confidence/self-esteem, examined behaviors and self-defeating conversations, which can be barriers to employment, set and completed personal/employment goals over the period of the programme. Post evaluations showed participants had raised confidence and self-esteem and are now job ready.
All young people completed the 7-week intensive non-job specific training has given them a good foundation and placed them in the right mindset to be able to take up employment opportunities.
4 enrolments meeting with 13 participants x 1 day personal development intensive x 7-week follow-up with their coaches
4 enrolment meetings with 21 participants x 1 day personal development intensive x 7-week follow-up with their coaches
4 enrolment meetings with 10 participants x 1 day personal development intensive x 7 week follow-up with their coaches.
Outcome:
Reduction in overall recorded crime rate
Reduction in violent crime rate
Reduction in burglary crime rate
Reduction in theft crime rate
Strategies for achieving objectives.
To advance peace and good community relations through the establishment and management of education and personal development programmes, devising and printing of literature, attending conflict interfaces and engaging with young people involved, to help resolve present conflict issues and conflict issues arising from the legacy of the Troubles in NI in an effort to promote knowledge and understanding of the nature and causes of conflict and a means of managing them for the purposes of peaceful resolution.
To promote religious or racial harmony, equality and diversity, lessen conflict and eliminate discrimination the establishment and management of exchange programmes between people from different communities, cultures and countries.
To promote and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of charities, voluntary organisation, community groups and not-for-profit organisation by the provision of advice, training, guidance and support in relation to book keeping.
The Respect Project targets hard-to-reach young people, parents and adults working with young people in disadvantaged communities. The Project is funded from April 2015 till April 2026 by the Department Of Communities, Belfast Regeneration Office (North). The Project had submitted an application to Department Of Social Development for a further year which will run from April 2025 – March 2026, due to budget restraints the department will only be funding groups on a year by year basis.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Factors relevant to achieve objectives
The Project has contributed to reducing, sectarianism, anti-social and high-risk behaviors of young people; provide young people with decision making skills, employability skills and the information and mechanisms to empower them to take responsibility for their own life and make life choices; and programs for parents and those working with young people to promote good parenting and listening skills. The Respect Project does not duplicate existing provision but provides a steppingstone from which participants can move on.
At its most powerful, the Respect Project has changed the lives of young people who were (or were likely to) engaging in criminal behaviors or behaviors that put themselves and others at risk; and those who had ‘given up’ on training or employment opportunities. Young people worked towards goals and have increased respect for their own community. Through education and training young people are moving on from what can be a downward spiral of generational unemployment and poverty.
In delivering personal development programs to adults/parents increases community capacity and gives participants new skill sets to draw upon when supporting their own children and other young people within the community. With adults/parents using the project methodology to enable them to address issues that affect young people, listen to their needs and put in place mechanisms of support in place so young people can fulfill their potential in life.
By harnessing the talents of young people by engaging them in Youth Leadership programs, the Project has been able to give young people the skill and abilities which would enable them to become peer leaders within their community. These young people who participated and completed the Youth Leadership Programme this project year have all worked towards and achieved qualifications in youth work, they have also been volunteering at local youth clubs, giving up their spare time to work as pier leaders and provide young people with positive role models of which young people in the Greater Shankill can aspire too.
The Respect Project has completed all its outputs/targets set by Department of Communities for the project year April 2024-2025.
The Projects has benefited the community of need by providing innovative personal development programs which not only challenge negative behaviors/conditioning of the past but also delivers sustained life coaching to enable change and transformation in individual’s lives. By using this method of transformational personal development trainings and life coaching, the Project has been able to support young people and adults from the Greater Shankill Area to transform their lives beyond their perceived expectations prior to participating in the project
Springfield Dam
This project is now up and running and called the Forth Meadow Community Greenway in conjunction with Springfield Dam. Key improvements include:
improved access to and around the site
entrance points around the park, including a signature pedestrian access point to the north of the site
car parking, including accessible parking spaces
a pedestrian bridge crossing the dam will help to integrate the site by providing access to the new pathway and recreational facilities along the east bank
Recreational facilities
viewing platforms along the east bank of the dam
a circular pathway will provide quiet and scenic places for walking, jogging and exercising
a modular classroom will provide a year-round meeting place for schools and community groups
dedicated outdoor event space will enable fairs and community events to take place
Environmental enhancements
floating islands and wildflower planting will provide additional habitat for birds and wildlife
the existing ecological richness of the area will be enhanced through additional planting throughout the site
Overall site enhancements
by reconnecting the dam and park we will create a new signature civic space with improved access, recreational facilities, and environmental enhancements.
a viewing area will provide a place to take in the vista while information panels will outline the history of the dam.
lighting and fencing throughout the park will ensure an attractive and uniform look throughout the site.
Funding
The project is part of the first phase of the Forth Meadow Community Greenway project.
We delivered the project thanks to funding from the EU’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match funding was provided by the Department for Communities
Forth Meadow Community Greenway – OPENED DECEMBER 2020
Forth Meadow Community Greenway is a new £5.1 million EU PEACE IV-funded project to connect existing open spaces in north and west Belfast along a 12 km route from Clarendon Playing Fields to the new Transport Hub in the city centre.
The capital works will create paths and cycle ways along the route, with additional planting, new pathway surfaces, new street furniture, signage, wayfinding and public art. There will also be enhancements to sites along the route including Springfield Dam, which has now been completed.
In parallel with the capital project, they are developing an exciting community activity and events programme at key sections along the greenway to help bring communities together and promote use of the shared space.
Greenway sections
There are five distinct sections to the capital works.
Section 1 - Glencairn to Ballygomartin
Glencairn Park will see improvements including a new entrance at Forthriver Road and a new 3m wide path linking Glencairn Park to Glencairn Road. There will also be improvements to Forthriver Linear Park’s existing path, replacement of fencing at Clarendon Playing Fields and the refurbishment of the footbridge at Forthriver Way. Work is underway on this section and it is expected to be completed by winter 2021-2022.
Section 2 – shared space between Forth River and Springfield Road
A new shared space including walking and cycling paths will be created on the land between the lower Forth River and Springfield Road. New paths will also connect the space to Paisley Park and Woodvale Park. If planning is approved.
Principle funding
FYCD receives management fees and operational costs from RESPECT and management fees from Farset Development Limited.
RESPECT received funding from the Department of Communities for the period September 2012 to March 2025.
Community Think Tanks has previously received grants from the Community Relations Council and Belfast City Council for various pamphlets.
Plans for future periods
Future Developments
The amount of funding received during the year continued to decrease; however, the directors are researching new sources of funding. The Respect project had success with a further year’s funding taking them to the end of March 2025, and Think Tanks published some new pamphlets during the year, but pamphlet this year were funded by community groups directly to publishers and Mr Hall.
Neighbourhood Renewal
Jobs and Business
To increase the self-esteem and self-belief of the participants to enable them to take full advantage of eh employment and entrepreneurial opportunities available to them.
To encourage and promote the participants of the area to have greater self-esteem, confidence and belief and enabling them to take advantage of employment opportunities available
Provide full time community-based mentoring and drop in service
Young people and families
Develop a culture in the whole community values, education and learning, so everyone has the opportunity and desire to more fully develop their quality of life.
Improve the quality and availability of youth provision on the area
Promote cohesion both amongst youth work providers and young people
Endure that every young person experiences a nurturing a family environment in the area
Every young person will live in a community that is safe and supportive, providing opportunities for them to more fully realise their potential.
Endure adequate provision for young adults to pursue leisure activities
Mental health issue of young adults are addressed
Ensure young adults are adequately supported if they move into parenthood
Ensure adequate provision of relevant and quality accommodation locally for young adults setting up home
Ensure the development of a high-quality environment
Health and well being
Promote health and well being in the area and thereby enable local people to address issues of mental health and well being and to make healthier life choices
To address health inequalities so that people of the are live longer, happier lives and have adequate access to necessary and appropriate services.
Address issues of poor mental health including high levels of suicide locally by building on programme that focus on prevention of onset and promote coping mechanisms to mage health
Promote a positive influence on families.
Arts and Culture
To develop a vibrant year-round programme of cultural and artistic activity involving all communities in the Greater Shankill area. To create a culturally confident community at ese with itself.
The people for the area will benefit from a varied programme of cultural an artistic activity, engendering a sense of pride in there are and culture.
Delivery of a safer bonfire initiative in May, June, July this year with residents and young people around the Highfield / Springmartin bonfire. In past years there has been anti-social behaviour and interface incidents around=d that time of year associated with the young people who collect for the bonfire. Previous years we asked 10 Adult volunteers / residents who live facing the bonfire to engage and watch over the young people. 10 residents were supported by RESPECT and the PSNI, to great success with no incidents of anti-social behaviour being reported, interface incidents, or theft of wood from businesses down on previous years. Even though the bonfire was burnt the young people didn’t engage in interface violence after the arson.
Crime and Community Safety
Reduce the fear of crime, particularly amongst elder people, vulnerable people, victims and children
To tackle anti-social behavior and low-level neighborhood disorder
Address drug, substance and alcohol abuse and their causes
Reduce offending and criminality
Reduce interface violence
Reduce offences motivated by prejudice and hatred
Delivered cross community safety initiative to young people with learning difficulties from Greater Shankill / Falls / Springfield Area around the dangers of interface violence, online bullying and online safety. The connection with interfaces issues and social media organised fights have long been known.
The training was delivered over a 1 day intensive with three different sessions:
1 Interface violence / organised fights
2 Online bullying
3 online safety
The young people reported though feedback and evaluation that they got a lot out of the training, especially the training around online bullying and online safety.
Cross community safety initiative with young people from Greater Shankill / Falls / Springfield over a 1 day intensive with 2 different sessions:
community safety, anti-social behaviour, interface violence
online safety
Project delivery:
1 x community safety initiative x 33 adults
1x community safety initiative x 29 adults
1 x consequences programme x 5-week programme x 34 participants
1 x outreach community safety programme (bonfire safety) x 10 adults
Sports and Leisure
To emphasise the importance of lifelong physical activity as a factor in increasing the quality of life in the Greaer Shankill community.
To have children and parents be informed of the benefits of healthy choices
The provision of and access to sport and leisure activities aimed at enhancing young adults.
The project sits on the management committee of Paisley Park Sports Complex and has been instrumental in it gaining over 105 million pounds worth of funding for a new 5G pitch with lights and a new sports changing room. The pitch is open to local schools and the wider community. The Michael Morrison Foundation Cup brings football teams from across the divide and held the biggest youth cross community tournament in Paisley Park, to great success. They hope is to run this each year.
The under 19 European Football Federation International teams will be using these facilities for training this year.
The facilities host boxers, football, bowling and athletic clubs and will officially be open in mid-April 2024.
RESPECT - also advance peace and good community relations through the establishment and management of education and personal development programmes, devising and printing of literature, attending conflict interfaces and engaging with young people involved, to help resolve present conflict issues and conflict issues arising from the legacy of the Troubles in NI in an effort to promote knowledge and understanding of the nature and causes of conflict and a means of managing them for the purposes of peaceful resolution.
To promote religious or racial harmony, equality and diversity, lessen conflict and eliminate discrimination the establishment and management of exchange programmes between people from different communities, cultures and countries.
To promote and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of charities, voluntary organisation, community groups and not-for-profit organisation by the provision of advice, training, guidance and support in relation to book keeping.
The Respect Project targets hard-to-reach young people, parents and adults working with young people in disadvantaged communities. The Project is funded from April 2015 till April 2025 by the Department Of Communities, Belfast Regeneration Office (North). The Project had submitted an application to Department Of Social Development for a further year which will run from April 2025 – March 2026, due to budget restraints the department will only be funding groups on a year by year basis.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
By harnessing the talents of young people by engaging them in Youth Leadership programs, the Project has been able to give young people the skill and abilities which would enable them to become peer leaders within their community. These young people who participated and completed the Youth Leadership Programme this project year have all worked towards and achieved qualifications in youth work, they have also been volunteering at local youth clubs, giving up their spare time to work as pier leaders and provide young people with positive role models of which young people in the Greater Shankill can aspire too.
The Respect Project has completed all its outputs/targets set by Department of Communities for the project year April 2024-2025.
The Projects has benefited the community of need by providing innovative personal development programs which not only challenge negative behaviors/conditioning of the past but also delivers sustained life coaching to enable change and transformation in individual’s lives. By using this method of transformational personal development trainings and life coaching, the Project has been able to support young people and adults from the Greater Shankill Area to transform their lives beyond their perceived expectations prior to participating in the project.
FYCD receives management fees and operational costs from RESPECT and management fees from Farset Development Limited.
RESPECT received funding from the Department of Communities for the period September 2012 to March 2025.
Going Concern
After making appropriate enquires, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
Reserves Policy
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. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The trustees have set a reserves policy that reserves be built up and maintained at a level which ensures that Farset Youth and Community Development Ltd core activity could continue during a period of unforeseen difficulty (maximum 6 months) and a portion of reserves be built up and maintained in a readily realisable form.
Risk Management
The exposure of the company to risk is not material for the assessment of the financial position and profit and loss of the company.
The company was incorporated on 30 March 1997 and is limited by Guarantee. The company is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association. In November 2014 the company was officially registered with the Charities Commission for Northern Ireland.
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:
Appointment of Trustees
Directors are to retire by rotation at the annual general meeting but are eligible for reappointment. Additional directors can be appointed by the existing board; any director so appointed shall only hold office until the next annual general meeting and shall not be taken into account in determining the directors who are to retire. The directors shall not be entitled to remuneration from the company but shall be paid all travelling and other expenses incurred by them in attending meetings, or in any other connection with the business of the company.
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 company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:
settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction;
ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and
pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations.
Trade creditors of the company at the year end were equivalent to 0.00 day's purchases, based on the average daily amount invoiced by suppliers during the year
Structure of the Charity
The business of the company shall be managed by the directors who authorise all expenses, cheques, drafts, bills of exchange and other negotiable instruments. The directors shall accept all receipts for monies paid to the company, Project leaders have been employed to manage each project under the guidance of the directors.
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
The trustees, who are also the directors of Farset Youth and Community Development Limited for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities
The trustees, who are also the directors of Farset Youth and Community Development Limited for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Miscampbell & Co be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Farset Youth and Community Development Limited (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities Accounts and Reports Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees' report; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
We have been appointed as auditor under section 65(2) of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those charged with governance of the Company and management. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
· obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the Company and determined that the most significant are those that relate to the reporting framework (FRS 102 and the Companies Act 2006) and the relevant tax compliance regulation in the United Kingdom;
· understood how the Company is complying with those frameworks by making enquiries of management to understand how the Company maintains and communicates its policies and procedures in these areas;
· assessed the vulnerability of the Company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur by considering the risk of management override and by assuming revenue recognition to be a fraud risk; and
· based on this understanding our audit procedures were designed to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations
We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by;
· Identification of related parties;
· Making enquiries of management regarding where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud;
· Considering the internal controls in place within the company to mitigate the risk of fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations;
To address the risk of fraud, override of controls and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected related party relationships, tested journal entries to identity unusual transactions, investigated any significant or unusual transactions and assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were suggestive of potential bias.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities Accounts and Reports Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Miscampbell & Co is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Farset Youth and Community Development Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 466 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7DW. The principal activity of the company continued to be promoting the benefit of the inhabitants of North and West Belfast, and elsewhere. In particular, to advance education by providing life skills training and personal development programmes for young people and adults, to promote the development of individual capabilities, competences, skills, self-esteem and understanding so as to prepare them for employment and life changes.
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 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, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. 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.
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.
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 the statement of financial activities.
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).
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.
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.
DSD - Respect Project
Bank fees
Telephone
Insurance
Meetings & conferences
Legal & professional fees
Printing, postage & stationery
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
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.
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.
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.
The Trusees in Farset Youth and Community Development Limited (FYCDL) are also trustees in Farset Development Limited (FDL).
Included in debtors is a loan balance of £20,459 (2024: £37,459 ) due from FDL.
During the year, the company invoiced FDL £24,000 (2024: £24,000) for management charges.
FYCDL also paid FDL a total of £3,865 (2024: £2,000) for room hiring.
The charity had no material debt during the year.