I am pleased to present this Chair’s Statement for the financial year ended 31 March 2025, as part of NICVA’s Annual Report and Financial Statements.

It is a privilege to reflect on a year that, although has brought continued uncertainty, has also offered the opportunity for renewed sense of purpose for the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in Northern Ireland. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend sincere thanks to NICVA’s Senior Leadership Team — particularly our Chief Executive, Celine McStravick, as well as the wider NICVA staff team, whose dedication underpins everything we deliver. I also thank my fellow trustees for their leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment throughout the year.

Against a backdrop of increasing financial pressures – including rising National Insurance contributions – NICVA worked to ensure the sector’s voice was heard. We supported our members in direct engagement with funders and government departments, advocating for greater recognition of the realities facing organisations across the sector.

NICVA also played a leading role in a coordinated campaign to safeguard the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), highlighting its essential contribution to communities and individuals furthest from the labour market. This collective effort secured a one-year transition fund – a critical intervention that protected services while longer-term solutions are considered. Looking ahead, we are focused on influencing the development of the Government’s proposed Growth Fund, continuing to advocate for a fair, inclusive, and strategic approach to future investment.

A major milestone during the year was NICVA’s first-ever Future Thinking Summit. Co-designed with over 90 organisations and attended by more than 350 delegates, the event provided a bold and inspiring platform to showcase the sector’s depth of expertise, innovation, and leadership. It marked a shift in perception – positioning the VCSE sector as not only a vital service provider, but as a strategic partner in shaping a more equitable society.

NICVA also supported the Joint Forum in launching a refreshed Partnership Agreement with the Northern Ireland Executive. This renewed commitment underscores the importance of trust, equality, and collaboration between government and the sector – values that are especially vital in today’s climate.

As 2025–26 marks the final year of NICVA’s current Strategic Plan, the Board is now focused on shaping the next strategic period. We are committed to setting a clear and ambitious vision that enables NICVA to continue delivering meaningful impact for our members and fostering a strong, confident and sustainable VCSE sector. In all that lies ahead, we will remain guided by NICVA’s core values: courage, collaboration, care and a commitment to excellence.

Ms C Brooks

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 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) (effective 1 January 2019)".

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland with a membership of over 1,500 members. The Charity supports, represents, and promotes its membership and the voluntary and community sector and is committed to equality, social justice, embracing diversity and opposing discrimination.

NICVA provides support through information, training and advice including governance, charity law reform, fundraising, finance, human resources, advocacy, and management development. NICVA represents the interests of the sector across all government departments and with all stakeholders making sure the health and well-being of the sector are looked after. In addition, NICVA runs a conference facility for the use of voluntary and community organisations.

The trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. The trustees are confident that NICVA's aims, and objectives are in accordance with the regulations on public benefit.

The objects for which the charity is established are to promote, develop and support the voluntary and community sector and any purpose for the benefit of the community in Northern Ireland and in any other part of the world which are, or hereafter may be deemed by law, to be charitable and in particular:

• to act as a representative of the voluntary and community sector in relation to government policies and legislation and in so doing promote and organise co-operation in the advancement of the above purposes and to that end bring together, in Council or conference, representatives of voluntary agencies and statutory authorities engaged in the furtherance of any of the above purposes;

• to promote and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of charities, voluntary and community groups by the provision and management for such organisations of office accommodation, conference, training, information, advice and other facilities, services, or support.

This year marked the fourth in NICVA’s new five-year strategic plan for April 2021-March 2026.

Our Strategic Goals

Four strategic goals determine our programmes of work over the five-year period. Each goal is supported by a series of operational goals and a series of outcomes which specifies the changes we want to see, our priorities for the five years and how we will achieve them. The priorities identified against the goals are not exhaustive and evolve as the context changes. Our strategy is underpinned by our Vision, Mission and Values which drives all that we do.

NICVA undertook a refresh of its Values and updated them in September 2024 to reflect its new values of:

Courage:

We take action in the face of challenges, speak up for our sector and communities, and push the boundaries to find innovative solutions for positive change.

Collaboration:

We work with others across and beyond the sector, sharing expertise and embracing new ideas to help shape our work and increase our impact.

Caring:

We act with empathy and kindness, treat everyone fairly, respect the insight and diversity of others and support each other to succeed.

Committed to excellence:

We strive for the highest standards, using data and sector feedback to continually improve and innovate.

Strategic Goal 1: Support     

Helping the VCS to innovate, develop and improve to meet the needs of the communities it serves.

We do this by:

• Providing high quality, diverse, learning and development opportunities;

• Providing relevant information, guidance, advice, and resources;

• Supporting innovation and change.

Key outputs in the year included:

• Delivery of 13 Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) accredited training programmes to 104 learners and 12 learners gaining Training Qualifications UK (TQUK) accreditation;

• 316 training and advice sessions were delivered (bespoke, clinic, training and workshops, seminars, meetings) with 2,351 participants;

• 924 support cases across issues relating to Governance, Workforce Development, Fundraising, HR and Finance;

• 2,847 subscribers received weekly eNews updates;

• 1,965 subscribers received monthly member bulletins;

• 12,360 subscribers received weekly CommunityNI jobs updates;

• 1,439 subscribers received weekly Assembly Insider updates.

Strategic Goal 2: Influence

Helping the VCS to influence policy.

We do this by:

• Advocating strongly for the contribution of the VCS in NI;

• Provide the VCS with opportunities to engage with policymakers and influence policy.

Key outputs in the year included:

• Delivered over 50 policy seminars / events with 1,408 participants – events focused on a wide range of themes, they included the inaugural NICVA SUMMIT conference, the Building an Inclusive Labour Market conference, Shaping Future Relationship with Government events, DoH Core Grant Scheme events, EQIAs Budget 24/25 with DfC, DfI and DoH, the Charity Registration Threshold Consultation event and the consultation on a Gambling Code of Practice event;

• Representing the sector on over 50 influential committees including Joint Government and Voluntary Sector Forum, Department for Communities Registration Threshold Working Group, Developing Governance Group, NI Assembly All Party Group on the Voluntary and Community Sector and the Regional Labour Partnerships Board;

• Provided representation at 300 strategic forums, events and meetings including UK Shared Prosperity Fund Partnership (UKSPF) meeting, meetings with the NI Assembly Committee for the Economy, Health and Finance, House of Lords Sub Committee on the Windsor Framework, Equality Coalition and Climate NI Steering Group.

Strategic Goal 3: Develop    

Helping the VCS consolidate and develop the use of Data, Digital and Technology.

We do this by:

• Developing Digital and Data products to support VCS activities and engagement.

Key outputs in the year included:

• Nicva.org received 272,252 unique visits, accessing a wide range of news articles, advice and information guides and resources;

• CommunityNI.org website received 576,356 visits, accessing over 6,000 VCS job adverts, community events and services;

• Engagement with 13,990 NICVA followers on X (Twitter), with 6,528 people actively liking posts on Facebook, 13,145 CommunityNI followers on X (Twitter) and 6,493 people actively liking posts on Facebook.

Strategic Goal 4: Invest     

Ensuring continuous improvement to provide the best service to our members.

We will do this by:

• Support excellent governance arrangements;

• Supporting and developing a flexible workforce;

• Continuous development of digital systems and processes;

• Sustaining resources and seeking opportunities to diversify our funding mix.

Key outputs in the year included:

• Securing a Department for Communities core grant to deliver the Regional Infrastructure Programme;

• Funding secured to deliver The National Lottery Access to Resilience programme, Halifax Foundation Empowerment Programme and the Belfast City Council PEACEPLUS Community Empowerment Programme;

• 1,487 members with regular welcome / information sessions held with new members ;

• 1,017 bookings by sector members across NICVA conference and meeting facilities.

As April 2025-March 2026 represents the final year of NICVA’s five-year strategic plan period (April 2021-March 2026), the Executive Committee have commenced the development of a new strategic plan to be implemented from April 2026.

The results are set out in detail on pages 16 to 38. NICVA returned a net increase in funds for the year of £630,059 (2024 - net decrease of £108,431), of which £39,475 related to a net decrease in unrestricted funds and £669,534 related to a net increase in restricted funds. The increase in restricted funds in the year is largely due to £730,000 recognised in the year from Atlantic Philanthropies in relation to a capital project.

The net decrease in unrestricted funds includes pension provision expenditure of £9,651 (2024 - £144,240).

At 31 March 2025, the total funds of the charity amounted to £2,717,622 (2024 - £2,087,563) comprising restricted funds of £1,706,248 (2024 - £1,036,714) and unrestricted funds of £1,011,374 (2024 - £1,050,849). The unrestricted funds at the year end are after accounting for a pension provision of £170,641 (2024 - £194,120). Further details of pension provisions are provided in note 19.

NICVA receives a core grant from the Department for Communities which contributes to the delivery of its core work as described in the strategic plan. Furthermore, NICVA delivers contracts on behalf of other funders such as Belfast City Council and The Executive Office which also support the delivery of NICVA’s Mission, Vision and Values. NICVA generates earned income from a range of sources including conference facilities and training courses which also contribute to the delivery of the core business.

Reserves policy

Unrestricted funds are essential to provide sufficient funds to cover any unforeseen costs which may arise and fulfil the legal obligations of the Charity if current levels of income are not maintained.

The reserves policy has been designed to recognise NICVA’s requirements for reserves considering the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed should equate to 6 months’ total resources expended. The aim is to provide sufficient funds to cover any unforeseen costs which may arise, recognise the volatile grant environment as well as allowing for the payment of any liabilities which would arise should the company cease to operate. Any call upon the use of reserves will be at the approval of the Executive Committee which will examine the rationale for doing so and agree an amount where appropriate.

At 31 March 2025, the level of “free reserves”, excluding fixed assets and designated funds was £728,988 (2024 - £780,727) which equates to almost 5 months' expenditure.

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.

Plans for future periods

As we look to the coming year, NICVA is committed to building on our recent achievements and advancing our role as a proactive leader for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. We recognise that the landscape in which we operate is evolving rapidly, and our focus remains firmly on ensuring that both our organisation and the wider sector are equipped to thrive in this changing environment.

In the coming year, we will develop a robust new strategy to guide our work beyond 2025, ensuring that NICVA remains at the forefront of sectoral leadership and policy development. As part of the development of this new strategy, NICVA will undertake a comprehensive branding exercise, signaling not only a refreshed visual identity but a renewed commitment to our core values and strategic ambitions. This refreshed branding will be complemented by a significant upgrade to our website and membership package, ensuring greater accessibility, improved communication and functionality, and added value to enhance the experience for our members and to strengthen our operational capacity.

Investing in our people and infrastructure remains a priority. In the coming year. We will implement a comprehensive staff development programme, ensuring our team are equipped to deliver on the needs of our sector, and upgrade our physical and technological facilities to deliver higher quality support and services. The refresh and relaunch of Sector Matters, our social enterprise service, will provide a dedicated platform for shared resources, professional advice, and collaborative opportunities, further empowering our sector to address shared challenges.

We are also excited to plan for a second NICVA Future Thinking Summit, building on the success of our inaugural event and continuing to provide the sector with a unique forum for networking, innovation, and inspiration.

Our efforts will also include significant work to ensure the alignment of the UK Covenant agreement with the NI Joint Forum Partnership Agreement, and the commencement of a three-year Community Engagement Programme on behalf of Belfast City Council, working with a number of community development organisations across Belfast. Finally, the development of a dedicated data and research hub will underpin our commitment to evidence-based policy and practice, allowing us - and our members - to drive meaningful social impact.

Together, these plans reflect NICVA’s determination to be a dynamic, innovative, and supportive umbrella body, championing the needs of our members and driving the agenda for a vibrant voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland.

Governing document

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association, dated 1 August 1944, and amended as at 6 December 2024.

Appointment of Executive Committee

NICVA is governed by an Executive Committee elected by its member organisations on an annual basis through a ballot using the single transferable vote system. All NICVA members are invited to nominate to the Committee which consists of 12 people elected for a three-year period. Elected members, on completion of their three-year term, may stand for re-election if they so wish. One third (or the number nearest one third) of the Committee so elected must retire at each annual general meeting, those longest in office retiring first. For this financial year, there were five places for Executive Committee members. Following a formal process, 11 nominations were received. A formal ballot was conducted, and five nominees were duly elected at the AGM as follows:

C Brooks (Re-elected), S Dallas (Re-elected), J R Emmanuel (New), P Lynch (New) and R McLaughlin (New).

An additional Executive Committee Member was appointed by co-option by the Committee (R Venanzio).

Members of the Executive Committee act as trustees for the purpose of charity law.

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:

Committee induction and training

New Executive Committee members undergo induction training to brief them on roles and responsibilities and their legal obligations under charity and company law, the Committee and the decision-making processes, the strategic and operational planning processes, the organisational structure, and key organisational activities. Executive Committee members are provided with copies of the NICVA Governance Manual which includes the following:

• NICVA Memorandum and Articles of Association

• NICVA Vision Mission & Values

• Role Description for Executive Committee members

• Role Description for Chair of Executive Committee

• Role Description for Vice Chair of Executive Committee

• Role of the Audit & Risk Committee / People & Culture Committee

• Role Description of Company Secretary

• Chief Executive Job description

• NICVA Conflicts of Interest Policy

• NICVA organisational chart

• NICVA Finance Procedures

• NICVA’s Equal Opportunities Policy

• NICVA Complaints Procedure

• NICVA Strategy 2021-2026

• NICVA Risk Register

Organisational structure

The Executive Committee ensures the good governance of the organisation by setting its strategic objectives and policy direction through NICVA’s five-year strategic plan, and monitoring progress on this through the annual operational planning process. The Committee meets a minimum of six times per year.

A new sub-committee structure was implemented in January 2025 replacing the Resources Sub-Committee with the Audit & Risk Committee and the People & Culture Committee which deal with the human and financial resources of the organisation. Both sub-committees meet on a quarterly basis.

The Chief Executive, appointed by the Executive Committee, manages the day-to-day operations of the organisation. To facilitate effective operations, the Chief Executive has delegated authority for operational matters including the application and monitoring of strategic and operational objectives.

Related parties

NICVA is an independent organisation, and all operations are carried out in accordance with this. By the nature of the objects of the charity, NICVA works closely with its members, representing their interests to government bodies and funders as appropriate. NICVA continues to support its social economy business, Sector Matters Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of NICVA, which was established in November 2009. Sector Matters had no trading activities in the year to 31 March 2025.

Risk management

Financial risks are assessed by the organisation through the Audit & Risk Committee on a quarterly and annual basis. Core funding is provided by the Department for Communities (DfC) which periodically conducts a Risk Assessment on all funded organisations. NICVA has retained its low risk status demonstrating that robust financial systems and controls are in place. As part of the governance review process, the NICVA Risk Register was reviewed and updated during the year. NICVA continues to monitor all procedures associated with risk management.

Pay policy for senior staff

The trustees (Executive Committee) all give of their time freely and no trustee received remuneration in the year.

The organisation has adapted the National Joint Council (NJC) pay scales for its use for many years following an independent job evaluation. The result of the job evaluation was a recommendation of pay points for each grade within the organisation including the Senior Management Team. These pay scales were set based on an external benchmarking exercise against roles with similar job duties and levels of responsibility.

NICVA administers the Cheques for Charity scheme whereby they receive, claim gift aid and hold monies on behalf of donors and disburse according to their instructions. Details of these restricted funds are included within notes 20 and 28 to the accounts.

Conduit funding

NICVA is responsible for receiving and distributing funds on behalf of the Department for Communities. £213,059 (2024 - £199,316) was received and distributed during the year and no balance was held in relation to these monies at 31 March 2025.

The trustees, who are also the directors of Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action 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;

- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 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.

In preparing this report, the directors have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (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:

give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

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, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and

the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

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.

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.

We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

In identifying and assessing potential risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliances with laws and regulations, we considered the following:

• The nature of the industry and sector, control environment and business performance, including the company’s remuneration policies for directors, bonus levels and performance targets, if any;

• Results of our enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities;

• Any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed the company’s documentation of their policies and procedures relating to:

  • Identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instance of non-compliance;

  • Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and

  • The internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations;

• The matters discussed among the audit engagement team regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and potential indicators of fraud.

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the company for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in income recognition. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the company operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the Companies Act 2006, and local tax legislation.

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the company’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty.

Our procedures to respond to the risks identified included the following:

• Reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements;

• Enquiring of management concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;

• Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;

• Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and reviewing correspondence with tax authorities; and

• In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. In addition, as with any audit, there remains a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as they may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.

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 charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members 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 charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Movement in pension provision

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GB.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance 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)". 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 investment properties 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.

Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors 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.

Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.

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.

Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income is receivable.

Where funding is received and subsequently distributed to other organisations in accordance with the donor’s instructions it is treated as conduit funding and, therefore, is not recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Other income is recognised in the period in which it is receivable and to the extent the goods have been provided or on completion of the service.

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 allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.

Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Costs of generating funds are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the charity's operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

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:

Land is not depreciated.

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.

Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is initially recognised at cost, which includes the purchase cost and any directly attributable expenditure. Subsequently it is measured at fair value at the reporting end date. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in profit or loss.

Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.

A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the charity. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its 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.

In prior years the charity contributed to a multi-employer defined benefit pension scheme, NICPS, and to The Growth Plan, and the charity is committed to making payments of £2,751 per month to make good prior year deficits. The Schemes closed on 31 March 2009.

A provision is recognised for the contributions payable that arose from the agreements with NICPS and The Growth Plan to fund the prior year deficits.

NICVA operates a Qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme provided by Legal And General. Staff are auto enrolled to the scheme at the statutory minimum contribution rates. The NICVA executive have offered an opportunity for employees to increase their contributions to a higher tier whereby if an employee contributes 5% the employer will also contribute 5%. Contributions to this Scheme by the charity have therefore been accounted for by charging costs as payments accrue.

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged as an expense on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease.

Consolidation

In the opinion of the trustees, the company and its subsidiary undertaking comprise a small sized group. The company has therefore taken advantage of the exemption provided by Section 399(2A) of the Companies Act 2006 not to prepare group accounts.

This is not in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities' which requires consolidated accounts to be prepared. The trustees believe that the results of the subsidiary company are immaterial to the group as a whole and, therefore, these financial statements present information about the company as an individual undertaking and not about its group.

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.

The annual depreciation charge on fixed assets depends primarily on the estimated lives of each type of asset and estimates of residual values. The directors regularly review these asset lives and change them as necessary to reflect current thinking on remaining lives in light of prospective economic utilisation and physical condition of the assets concerned. Changes in asset lives can have a significant impact on depreciation and amortisation charges for the period. Detail of the useful lives is included in the accounting policies.

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Impairment of such debtors involves some estimation uncertainty.

The pension scheme liability is in relation to the contributions payable that have arisen from an agreement with a multi-employer plan to fund a deficit and is based on certain assumptions as detailed in note 18.

Judgements are made in relation to allocation of income and expenditure to restricted and unrestricted funds. The directors consider it appropriate to allocate these funds based on interpretation of donations received.

Department for Communities - Core Activities

Charities Aid Foundation (via NCVO)

Earned income

Cheques for Charity

Services provided under contract includes Community Foundation NI £49,286 (2024 - £175,793), IFI contracts £50,457 (2024 - £56,318), and other contracts £33,644 (2024 - £33,643).

The Board considers the Charity to have one main charitable activity, being the alleviation of disadvantage amongst communities, families and individuals through the provision of information, advice, training and development services to community and voluntary groups in Northern Ireland.

Movement in pension provision

Unwinding of the discount factor (interest expense)

Remeasurements - impact of any change in assumptions

Remeasurements - amendments to the contribution schedule

Further information in relation to the pension provision is provided in note 19.

Recruitment

Travel and subsistence

Affiliation fees, reference books and publications

Research costs

Consultancy

Training course expenses

Seminars and conferences

Printing and stationery

Telephone and postage

Cheques for charity

Third party grant expenditure

Pension scheme management costs

Printing and stationery

Telephone and postage

Rent, insurance and service charges

Cleaning, heat and light

Repairs and maintenance

Equipment rental

General expenses

Bank charges

Loss on disposal

Bad debts provision

Governance costs includes payments to the auditors of £6,500 (2024- £6,300) for audit fees.

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year, but one of them was reimbursed a total of £42 for travelling expenses (2024 - £49).

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

The charity is exempt from income tax and capital gains tax to the extent that its income and gains are applied for charitable purposes. No tax charge has arisen in the year.

Included in land and buildings is land at a cost of £67,051 (2024 - £67,051) which is not depreciated.

All fixed asset investments are held in the UK.

Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:

The deferred income arises in respect of income being received in the year which relates to a future accounting period and in respect of income received in the year where conditions for recognition have not been satisfied. The income will be released to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which it relates.

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 charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £38,566 (2024 - £38,200).

In prior years the Charity contributed to the Northern Ireland Charities Pension Scheme (‘the Scheme’), which is a funded multi-employer defined benefit scheme. The Scheme is not contracted-out of the State scheme.

The Northern Ireland Charities Pension Scheme closed to future accrual on 31 March 2009. There is currently no intention to wind-up the Scheme and it continues in paid-up form.

The Pension Trust commissions an actuarial valuation of the Scheme every three years. The main purpose of the valuation is to determine the financial position of the Scheme in order to determine the level of future contributions required so that the Scheme can meet its pension obligations as they fall due.

The actuarial valuation assesses whether the Scheme’s assets at the valuation date are likely to be sufficient to pay the pension benefits accrued by members as at the valuation date. Asset values are calculated by reference to market levels. Accrued pension benefits are valued by discounting expected future benefit payments using a discount rate calculated by reference to the expected future investment returns.

During the year NICVA paid contributions of £48,367 to cover the deficit payments and Scheme management costs.

It is not possible in the normal course of events to identify the share of underlying assets and liabilities belonging to individual participating employers. This is because the Scheme is a multi-employer scheme, where the assets are co-mingled for investment purposes, and benefits are paid out of total Scheme assets.

The last formal completed valuation of the Scheme was performed as at 30 September 2022 by a professionally qualified actuary using the ‘projected unit credit’ method. The market value of the Scheme’s assets at the valuation date was £22.8 million. The valuation revealed a shortfall of assets compared to liabilities of £3.2 million.

The results of the 2022 valuation meant that a new deficit recovery plan was required to fund the deficit of £3.2 million. This will run until 30 June 2037.

The Scheme Actuary has prepared an Actuarial Report that provides an approximate update on the funding position of the Scheme as at 30 September 2024. Such a report is required by legislation for years in which a full actuarial valuation is not carried out. The funding update revealed an increase in the assets of the Scheme to £19.6 million (from £18.6 million at 30 September 2023) and indicated an increase in the shortfall of assets compared to liabilities of approximately £4.9m (from £4.4 million at 30 September 2023), equivalent to a past service funding level of 80% (81% at 30 September 2023).

Following a change in legislation in September 2005 there is a potential debt on the employer that could be levied by the Trustee of the Scheme. The debt is due in the event of the employer ceasing to participate in the Scheme or the Scheme winding up.

The debt for the Scheme as a whole is calculated by comparing the liabilities for the Scheme (calculated on a buy-out basis i.e. the cost of securing benefits by purchasing annuity policies from an insurer, plus an allowance for expenses) with the assets of the Scheme. If the liabilities exceed assets there is a buy-out debt.

The leaving employer’s share of the buy-out debt is the proportion of the Scheme’s liability attributable to employment with the leaving employer compared to the total amount of the Scheme’s liabilities (relating to employment with all the currently participating employers). The leaving employer’s debt therefore includes a share of any ‘orphan’ liabilities in respect of previously participating employers. The amount of the debt therefore depends on many factors including total Scheme liabilities, Scheme investment performance, the liabilities in respect of current and former employees of the employer, financial conditions at the time of the cessation event and the insurance buy-out market. The amounts of debt can therefore be volatile over time.

Under FRS 102, where an entity participates in a multi-employer plan, and the entity had entered into an agreement with the multi-employer plan that determines how the entity will fund a deficit, the entity shall recognise a liability for the contributions payable that arise from the agreement and the resulting expense in the Statement of Financial Activities.

The liabilities for the Northern Ireland Charities Pension Scheme as noted above, and The Growth Plan, which is also a funded multi-employer defined benefit scheme which the Charity contributed to in prior years, are shown in the tables below.

Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations:

The total provision at the balance sheet date is £170,641 (2024 - £194,120).

The above provisions have assumed a discount rate of 5.13% per annum (2024 - 4.71% per annum) for the Northern Ireland Charities Pension Scheme, and 4.84% per annum (2024 - 5.31% per annum) for The Growth Plan, and are the equivalent single discount rates which, when used to discount the future recovery plan contributions due, would give the same results as using a full AA corporate bond yield curve to discount the same recovery plan contributions.

NICVA believes that as a responsible employer it should provide the opportunity of a pension scheme for all staff. NICVA operates a Qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme provided by Legal And General. Staff are auto enrolled to the scheme at the statutory minimum contribution rates. The NICVA executive have offered an opportunity for employees to increase their contributions to a higher tier whereby if an employee contributes 5% the employer will also contribute 5%.

Unrestricted funds

Restricted funds

Unrestricted funds

Restricted funds

Unrestricted funds

Designated Premises Reserve

This is a designated fund NICVA established to facilitate the construction and maintenance of their premises at Duncairn Gardens, Belfast.

The purpose of the fund is to ensure resources are retained for the upkeep of the conference facilities and offices to include general repair work, building maintenance and decorating, as and when required.

General Unrestricted Fund

This fund is the result of NICVA's strategic objective to establish reserves which would allow NICVA to operate for 12 months without other sources of income.

Pension reserve

The pension reserve represents contributions payable under an agreement with NICPS to fund prior year deficits. The transfer from unrestricted funds into the pension reserve relates to deficit contributions paid in the year.

The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.

The trustees have taken advantage of the exemption from disclosing related party transactions with other wholly owned group companies, in accordance with FRS 102.

There were no other transactions with related parties requiring disclosure.

Details of the charity's subsidiaries at 31 March 2025 are as follows:

The charity had no debt during the year.

NICVA administers the Cheques for Charity scheme, whereby they receive, claim gift aid and hold monies on behalf of donors and disburse according to their instructions. During the year NICVA received £37,834 (2024 - £54,351) of Cheques for Charity donations, with £65,153 (2024 - £52,523) being dispersed to charitable organisations as instructed by the donors.

NICVA is responsible for receiving and distributing funds on behalf of the Department for Communities. During the year £213,059 (2024 - £199,316) was received and distributed and no balance was held in relation to these monies at 31 March 2025.

(i) A portion of grants received may become repayable if the Charity fails to comply with the terms of the letter of offer.

(ii) During a prior year the charity received correspondence from The Pensions Trust in relation to a review the Trustee has undertaken regarding the application of changes to Northern Ireland Charities Pension Scheme benefits. The outcome of the review could give rise to an additional liability of approximately £137k.

During a prior year further correspondence was received in relation to a potential new item that has come out of the review. It relates to changes in legislation made by the Government to the measure of inflation used for increasing pensions already in payment and how this interacts with members’ pensions provided under the Rules. The Court case was heard in March 2025 and still awaiting the outcome. At this stage the amount and likelihood of any additional liability arising from this change is not known.

The Pensions Trust have indicated that it is unlikely that any further liability will arise, therefore no provision for these items has been made in the financial statements.

At the reporting end date the charity had contracted with tenants for the following minimum lease payments:

At 31 March 2025 the charity had capital commitments as follows: