The establishment of a Ministerial Taskforce in September 2024 marked a watershed moment for the controlled sector. CSSC Chief Executive, Mark Baker, was asked to chair this critical initiative and working alongside senior representatives from the Education Authority (EA) and the Department of Education (DE), he ensured that the voice of controlled schools remained at the heart of these vital discussions.
The Taskforce's work has delivered a clear roadmap for change. In February 2025, the Minister accepted the recommendation of a two-phase approach to reshape how controlled schools are supported: firstly, the establishment of an Interim Controlled Schools Unit (CSU) within the EA by September 2025, followed by legislation to create a dedicated Managing Authority for Controlled Schools (MACS).
This work represents years of CSSC advocacy coming to fruition. It aims to address longstanding challenges whilst strengthening the sector's ability to serve diverse communities through an inclusive, non-denominational Christian ethos. An open to all ethos defines the origins of Controlled schools, and these developments are intended to deliver even better outcomes for the pupils and families and the communities they serve.
As we look ahead, I want to thank our Council members and staff for their unwavering dedication during this pivotal period. I would like to extend our gratitude to Kenneth Twyble who resigned in 2024 after 8 years of committed service to Council. I also want to welcome our new member Alan Strong who joined us in 2024.
The foundations are now in place for a stronger, more sustainable future for the controlled sector.
The 2024-25 year has been defined by one overriding priority: securing equitable support and management arrangements for controlled schools. When the Independent Review of Education published "Investing in a Better Future" in December 2023, it crystallised concerns previously raised by CSSC and others that support arrangements for controlled schools needed urgent action.
Being asked to chair the Ministerial Taskforce represented both an immense responsibility and an unprecedented opportunity. Working alongside senior representatives from the Department of Education (DE) and the Education Authority (EA), comprehensive stakeholder engagement was undertaken throughout autumn 2024. The message from controlled school leaders was consistent: they needed more strategic, proactive support tailored to the unique needs of the controlled sector.
The Taskforce delivered its final report to the Minister on 20 December 2024, proposing a phased transformation. The Minister’s acceptance of these recommendations on 3 February 2025 marked a historic moment. For the first time since the establishment of CSSC, a clear route has been identified to achieve equitable support structures for controlled schools. The collaboration between EA and CSSC, through the CSU, in the short term is intended to facilitate the delivery of tangible improvements for controlled schools whilst concurrently commencing preparations for MACS which is intended to bring more equitable and consistent support.
Throughout this period, CSSC maintained its commitment to excellence in operational delivery. Our annual conference ‘Controlled Schools – an equitable future. What next?’ was held on 20 February 2025 and witnessed the unanimous endorsement of the Taskforce recommendations by member schools.
We continued delivering the CSSC Ethos and Leadership Programme supporting an increasing number of controlled schools. The Building Capacity Programme's study visit to Shanghai with controlled schools exemplified our ongoing commitment to global best practice and evidence-informed school improvement. During intensive Taskforce preparations, we continued strategic representation across key education forums.
Shane McCurdy, CSSC Head of Corporate Services, retired on 31 March 2025 after 6.5 years of dedicated service to CSSC and the education sector. I extend our gratitude to Shane and wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement.
The year ahead will require continued collaboration as we see the implementation of these changes. The Taskforce will continue meeting to oversee progress, ensuring that the voice of controlled school leaders remains central throughout.
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 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).
Strategic objectives and activities of CSSC in 2024-25
Strategic context: A new era of support for Northern Ireland's largest education sector
In June 2024, Council approved a strategy to prioritise working towards equitable support and management of controlled schools, specifically addressing the lack of efficient and effective support for controlled schools by their managing authority, the Education Authority (EA), and the misrepresentation and misunderstanding of the sector. This strategic focus culminated in the Minister establishing a Taskforce in September 2024, chaired by CSSC's Chief Executive, which significantly impacted the year's activities and outcomes.
CSSC simultaneously delivered on the strategic objectives established in 2022-23, together with a focus on addressing the systemic inequalities in support for controlled schools. Moving forward into 2025-26, Council will review its strategic objectives in light of CSSC's evolving role alongside the Interim Controlled Schools Unit and our collaboration in delivering improved support arrangements for controlled schools.
A New Era for Controlled Schools - The Foundation for Change
The Independent Review of Education (December 2023), provided validation of concerns CSSC has consistently raised since its inception. The Review's clear identification of "suboptimal arrangements" for controlled schools, concluding that the EA was "stretched too thin and is conflicted by servicing all school types, leaving Controlled schools relatively unsupported," proved instrumental in securing the Minister's commitment to establishing a Ministerial Taskforce in September 2024. The Review highlighted the fundamental challenge facing controlled schools: EA's dual role as both managing authority for controlled schools and service provider for all sectors creates competing pressures that have disadvantaged the sector.
Establishment of the Ministerial Taskforce
In September 2024, Education Minister Paul Givan announced the establishment of a Taskforce to identify solutions for more effective and equitable support for the controlled sector. CSSC Chief Executive Mark Baker was appointed as Chair, working collaboratively with senior representatives from DE and EA.
Taskforce Recommendations
On 20 December 2024, the Taskforce delivered its comprehensive report to the Minister. This report outlined evidence-based findings, proposed solutions, and outlined an implementation roadmap designed to address the longstanding challenges facing the controlled sector.
The Taskforce's work was underpinned by compelling evidence of the challenges facing controlled schools. Analysis of Key Stage 4 (GCSE) data since 2012 revealed persistent achievement gaps, with Catholic maintained schools consistently outperforming controlled schools by 8-12 percentage points despite serving communities with higher levels of socioeconomic disadvantage. Through consultations with controlled school leaders, several critical areas of need were consistently identified: a clearer sectoral vision and more coherent leadership, improved tools and support for school improvement, proactive rather than reactive support, support tailored to individual school contexts, and enhanced collaboration.
Minister's Acceptance of Recommendations
On 3 February 2025, Minister Paul Givan publicly accepted the Taskforce recommendations, acknowledging that "controlled schools are a core part of our education system, comprising almost half of all schools across Northern Ireland." The Minister's acceptance represented a historic commitment to addressing systemic inequities that have disadvantaged controlled schools for decades.
Phase 1: Interim Controlled Schools Unit (CSU)
The first phase involves establishing an Interim Controlled Schools Unit within EA by September 2025. This interim collaborative model is designed to facilitate delivery of tangible improvements for controlled schools whilst commencing preparations for a dedicated standalone body.
Key features include coordinated service delivery bringing together school governance support, school development and improvement services, area planning coordination, sectoral support and strategic guidance, ethos development, and leadership appointment support. Enhanced collaboration through a formalised partnership agreement between EA and CSSC will enable collaborative planning and shared decision-making. The CSU will provide proactive, relational support with staff who have thorough understanding of sectoral needs and individual school contexts.
Phase 2: Managing Authority for Controlled Schools (MACS)
The second phase involves establishing a dedicated Managing Authority for Controlled Schools as a standalone statutory body, requiring primary legislation to transfer identified duties and functions from EA to MACS.
MACS will have controlled schools as its sole focus, ensuring dedicated strategic leadership and support. MACS will develop sector-specific vision and strategy addressing unique needs of controlled schools and diverse communities they serve. As a statutory body reporting to the Department of Education, MACS will provide a structured accountability framework for controlled sector support and assume responsibility for key managing authority functions including governance support, leadership development, area planning coordination, and strategic sectoral advocacy.
Implementation Roadmap and Next Steps
The Minister requested the Taskforce continue as an implementation group, meeting every six weeks to maintain consistent progress. EA is responsible for finalising CSU governance arrangements and staffing structure. A formal collaboration agreement between EA and CSSC, conducting comprehensive resource assessment, developing stakeholder engagement and communications plan will be established.
DE will commence legislative preparation work for MACS supported by CSSC.
Medium-term objectives for EA will include CSU operational launch by September 2025.
Evaluation of CSU effectiveness will inform MACS development, legislative drafting and pre-legislative consultation, business case development for MACS establishment, and staff transition planning and resource allocation.
This transformational agenda represents the most significant development for controlled schools since CSSC's establishment, promising to deliver the focused, equitable support the controlled sector has long advocated for whilst maintaining collaborative relationships with education partners across Northern Ireland.
CSSC continued to deliver the following strategic priorities:
Support better outcomes for all pupils through provision of high quality education
CSSC continued to provide comprehensive direct support to controlled schools focused on raising educational standards and improving outcomes for pupils across the sector.
This included:
Representing the sector through submitting written and oral evidence to public consultations
Delivering the ongoing Ethos and Leadership programme, which supported schools in developing self-evaluative approaches to school improvement
Providing individual school engagements throughout the year focused on raising standards and supporting controlled schools' participation in shared education initiatives
Leading a study visit to Shanghai as part of the Building Capacity Programme in partnership with the Confucius Institute NI, enabling educators to observe and learn from a high performing system
Continuing partnership work including the THRIVE strategic partnership in Newtownabbey and collaboration with Ulster University on the Taking Boys Seriously project
2. Build understanding that the controlled sector is diverse and inclusive
CSSC worked systematically to address misconceptions about the controlled sector and promote understanding of its inclusive and diverse nature:
Supporting schools in demonstrating their openness to all communities and highlighting the diversity of the controlled sector, which encompasses nursery, primary, secondary, grammar, integrated, Irish-medium, and special schools
Engaging with controlled school leaders through various forums and events, including induction seminars for first-time principals and the chairperson of their Board of Governors to enhance understanding of CSSC's role and strategic objectives.
3. Promote the role controlled schools have in serving their communities
CSSC emphasised the community-centred role of controlled schools and their vital contribution to local areas:
Supporting schools in reflecting on their embeddedness and connection to their communities while promoting controlled schools' role in serving diverse communities across Northern Ireland
Facilitating sharing of good practice through events and continuing development of a community profiling toolkit to enable schools to better understand and serve their local communities
4. Engage and collaborate with partners to ensure equitable support for the controlled sector
This included focusing on representing controlled schools' interests at the highest levels of government:
Chairing the Ministerial Taskforce on controlled schools support from September to December 2024, collaborating closely with DE and EA to develop both interim and long-term proposals for equable and consistent sector support
Submitting the Taskforce Report to the Minister in December 2024, which was subsequently endorsed
Representing controlled schools through the Ministerial Taskforce, ensuring school leaders' voices remained central to reform proposals
Engaging with MLAs and MPs, including appearances at the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Education, and advocating for controlled schools within area planning and strategic education frameworks
Delivering the Annual Conference and AGM in February 2025 to communicate reform proposals to the sector, receiving unanimous endorsement from member schools for the Minister's reform commitments
5. Optimise opportunities to encourage effective governance in controlled schools
CSSC continued supporting effective governance across controlled schools through comprehensive development activities:
Providing ongoing support to schools on governance matters and delivering governor development sessions with particular focus on ethos
Attending Board of Governor meetings when invited to address specific concerns and supporting the reconstitution process for school governing bodies
Promoting the importance of school governors as advocates for their schools and the wider sector
6. Represent the sector effectively to ensure an enduring role and valued role for controlled schools within a network of sustainable schools.
CSSC maintained its representative function while leading transformational change for the sector including participating with educational partners in the area planning process and advocating for the needs, perspectives, ethos and long-term sustainability of the controlled sector within area planning structures, and through the area planning process. CSSC engaged with controlled schools participating in estate planning to provide quality support to inform representation of the controlled sector’s views and needs
This included:
Consultation engagements with individual schools informed 24 responses to prepublication and development proposal consultations which had potential to impact on controlled schools.
CSSC representation continued at area planning group meetings including Area Planning Steering Group (APSG), Area Planning Working Group (APWG), Area Planning Local Group (APLG) Pre-school Education Group (PEG), Integrated Education (IE) Steering Group and IE Working Group.
During the year, CSSC participated in a total of 1,076 school support engagements. This included:
1,004 one-to-one engagements, where CSSC representatives provided direct support
58 cluster advisory engagements, where CSSC officers met with groups of schools in an advisory capacity
14 cluster representative engagements, where CSSC officer were present at an engagement with a group of schools in a representational capacity
Promote trust and respect by nurturing a collective ethos
CSSC continued supporting schools in developing and expressing their distinctive ethos as controlled schools:
Delivering ethos-focused development sessions and trauma-informed practice approaches, with ethos development accounting for 49% of all school interactions
Providing coaching support while facilitating sharing of effective practice in ethos expression and development across the controlled school network
The results for the year are set out on page 17 to the attached financial statements along with the total funds at the year end.
Going concern
After making appropriate enquiries, 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. Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in the accounting policies.
a. Key functions
The Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2014 made provision for the funding of sectoral bodies. On 14 October 2014, during the Education Bill: Second Stage debate, the Education Minister stated the functions of ‘a new organisation to provide support for controlled schools’. Thus, the functions of CSSC are:
providing a representational and advocacy role for controlled schools, including advice and support in responding to consultation exercises in respect of education policies, initiatives and schemes and in regard to relationships with DE, EA and other Departments working with schools within the sector to develop and maintain its collective ethos, including, where appropriate, a role in identifying, encouraging and nominating Governors and ensuring that ethos is part of employment considerations
working with EA to raise educational standards
participating in the planning of the schools’ estate; assessing ongoing provision within the sector; participating in area-based planning co-ordinated by DE and EA, including membership of DE's area planning steering group; engaging, where appropriate, in strategic planning processes, including community planning
building cooperation and engaging with other sectors on matters of mutual interest, including the promotion of tolerance and understanding. CSSC’s Articles of Association enable Council to provide educational and other necessary support to individual controlled schools and to controlled schools as a whole. See below link (reference debate at 4pm).
http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/officialreport/report.aspx?&eveDate=2014/10/14&docID=209460#561900
b. Appointment of directors
The Board of Directors is constituted as follows.
One Director elected by those members representing nursery schools attending the meeting at which the election takes place.
One Director elected by those members representing special schools attending the meeting at which the election takes place.
One Director elected by those members representing secondary schools attending the meeting at which the election takes place.
One Director elected by those members representing grammar schools attending the meeting at which the election takes place.
Two Directors elected by those representing primary schools attending the meeting at which the election takes place.
Three representatives of Transferor Representatives’ Council.
Four Directors who have expertise of assistance to the charity, provided that no such Director shall be employed in the public sector but shall be supportive of the aims and objectives of the controlled sector.
Directors are elected and appointed for four years.
The Directors who served during the period were:
c. Director induction and training
The Company Secretary ensures that appropriate induction and training is given to all Board members.
d. Risk management and internal control
The Directors are responsible for ensuring that an effective system of internal financial control is maintained and operated by the Council. The system of internal financial control is based on a framework of regular management information, administrative procedures and a system of delegation and accountability.
The Finance and General Purposes Committee reviews the financial reports and provides assurance to Council on the budget setting process and appropriateness of expenditure ensuring CSSC remains within the Grant allocation. The Audit, Governance and Risk Committee reviews the risk register on a quarterly basis and provides assurance to Council that the CSSC risk management strategy has been implemented which is designed to minimise any potential risks identified.
During 2024-25, CSSC managed significant organisational risks arising from the Ministerial Taskforce work, staff capacity constraints due to three vacant posts (16% of workforce), and the retirement of the Head of Corporate Services at year end. The Chief Executive assumed direct financial management responsibilities following this departure, with clear segregation of duties maintained and robust internal financial controls continuing across all relevant functions.
e. CSSC governance arrangements
CSSC is grant funded by DE and an annual programme of work is undertaken to deliver on behalf of the controlled sector. This sits within CSSC's business plan which outlines priorities, objectives and resources for the year ahead. Quarterly reporting ensures that CSSC remains on target to deliver its objectives.
Following consideration in Quarter 1 of the reporting year, Council agreed that the functions previously delegated to the Education and Research Committee and the Audit, Governance and Finance Committee be rescinded, with Council itself conducting all business directly from September 2024. Members also agreed that Council would meet six times per year rather than the previous ten meetings.
Prior to September 2024, Council met ten times per year, once every month from January – June and September to December, with a range of issues considered by Council.
These governance changes streamlined decision-making during a year of significant strategic focus on the Ministerial Taskforce work whilst maintaining appropriate oversight and accountability.
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Company for the purposes 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. Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company 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 Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that HM Chartered Accountants 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 The Controlled Schools’ Support Council (the ‘Charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the statement of financial position, 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.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you were:
the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or
the directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the group's or the parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Directors’ Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. 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.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require 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
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.
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.
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.
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the company through discussions with directors and/or senior management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the sector;
We focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company, including Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation, data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environmental and health and safety legislation:
we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in Note 2 were indicative of potential bias; and
investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and
reviewing correspondence with HMRC and the company’s legal advisors.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
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.
Investments
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The Controlled Schools’ Support Council is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 2nd Floor, Main Building, Stranmillis Road, Stranmillis University College, Belfast, BT9 5DY.
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” (“FRS 102”) 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)" (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 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.
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.
Government grants
Other income
Staff Training
Insurance
Travelling expenses
Rent
Service charges
Cleaning
Light and heat
Printing, postage and stationery
Telephone and fax
Legal and professional
Trustees' remuneration and expenses
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 £45 travelling expenses (2024- Trustees were reimbursed £Nil).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
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 assumed life expectations on retirement at age 65 are:
The amounts included in the statement of financial position arising from the Charity's obligations in respect of defined benefit plans are as follows:
The actual return on plan assets was £7,000 (2024 - £86,000).
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.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
The Charity had no material debt during the year.