The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

The Trustees' Report contains the information required to be provided in the Trustees' Annual Report under the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) guidelines. The trustees of the company are also charity trustees for the purpose of charity law and under the company's constitution are known as members of the board of trustees.

In this report the trustees of Relatives for Justice Ltd  (Previously Relatives for Justice Centre) present a summary of its purpose, governance, activities, achievements and finances for the financial year 31 March 2025.

The charity works to achieve;

• Building and providing access to safe, integrated and professional services and programmes of support for the bereaved and injured of the conflict

• Contributing to the health and wellbeing of victims and survivors

• Realising empowerment through building skills, confidence and self-awareness

• Encouraging the bereaved and injured to realise their role in peace building and processes designed to deal with the past

• Investing in Relatives for Justice through training and sustainable partnerships

Relatives for Justice is non-governmental organisation for the advancement of education, for the relief of persons bereaved or injured as a result of the conflict (from 1968 onwards) in Ireland (the area of benefit), and for the preservation and protection of health of such persons and other inhabitants of local communities which have been among the worst affected by the conflict by the following means:

(a) Fostering an atmosphere of mutual support and encouragement among people suffering the effects of bereavement, injury or trauma as a direct or indirect result of the conflict in Ireland, and their relatives, and people in communities affected;

(b) Alleviating the suffering and trauma by the provision of a community based Drop-In Centre or centres offering emotional support and counselling services to individuals in need;

(c) Raising public awareness of the effects of the conflict in Ireland on individuals and communities;

(d) The provision of facilities in the interest of social welfare for education, recreation and other leisure time occupation of people who are in need as a result of their youth, social and economic circumstances, disability or infirmity so that their conditions of life may be improved.

The charity's objects and principal activities, to further the charity's purposes for the public benefit, are to:

1. To provide a safe space for RFJ members to meet together to address their experiences and to support the recovery of health and well-being.

RFJ has adopted a model of hybrid delivery to include physical spaces in our offices and outreach centres plus significant delivery of online therapeutic support, classes and courses.

2. To provide individual, family and group support for the RFJ membership, which includes providing information, education and training, self-help support and counselling, welfare and legal advice and advocacy. Where appropriate RFJ will work in partnership with other organisations.

In the financial year RFJ delivered various services to the following number of individuals:

TPDPS Information and Support - 1441

Welfare and Housing Advice - 349

Health and Wellbeing Support - 220

Social Support - 367

Respite - 236

Counselling - 377

Complementary Therapies - 625

Legacy Advocacy - 452

Relatives for Justice is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. We provide counselling and psychotherapy and pathways of referral where appropriate to statutory mental health providers. All counsellors and psychotherapists are fully accredited and supervised. RFJ is a permanent Board member of the Regional Trauma Network. Health and Wellbeing Caseworkers are registered with the NI Social Care Council.

RFJ also provides complementary therapies and training in complementary therapies registered with the International Federation of Holistic Therapists.

RFJ is a member of the Law Centre and provides an advice service on applications for benefits and for individual schemes of assistance available from the Victims and Survivors Service and the Payments Scheme for the Permanently Disabled.

3. To support the bereaved and injured to tell their story and document their experiences.

In this period individuals were supported in engaging official investigation processes and informal truth recovery processes. Family reports continued to be developed and published.

An 11th panel of the Remembering Quilt was completed during this period where 49 families of persons killed during the conflict created squares for inclusion in this project which now uniquely represents 539 victims of the conflict.

A project supporting families whose loved ones were in the GAA saw a culmination with a significant book published. Families affected by all actors to the conflict had been involved in recording their experience as Gaels of conflict related loss. This is the first time all of these differing experiences have been brought together in one repository.

RFJ provides research advice to families seeking information on the circumstances of the deaths and injuries of their loved ones - this includes research services using public records and available contemporaneous materials.

4. To build awareness and foster understanding of the specific experiences of the RFJ membership and in doing so contribute to the search for truth, highlight the injustices and contribute to a culture of human rights.

During the reported period RFJ engaged in meetings with the Northern Ireland Office, Irish Dept of Foreign Affairs, the Irish Oireachtas Committee on the Good Friday Agreement, United States Congress, the Human Rights Commission, the Equality Commission, the Police Ombudsman, the Policing Board, the PSNI LIB, An Garda Síochána, various NGOs and academics, conferences and other submissions and consultations. These engagements were with the sole purpose of raising the experience of members, highlighting violations, areas of outstanding remedy and seeking resolution in the context of an extremely testing legislative environment for victims and survivors.

5. Assist families engaging with relevant legal professionals, and government bodies and through the advocacy of cases going through domestic and international courts.

RFJ employs five caseworkers who support families engaging in all of these arenas. With full time workers specialising in submission, support with the courts, legal advice and representation in all areas of the north this is now a fully operational support programme delivering to individuals bereaved and those physically and psychologically harmed.

RFJ provides advice and support to those engaging with historic investigation mechanisms such as inquests, PSNI investigations and Police Ombudsman Investigations

6. To build links with international human rights NGOs and the UN in bringing to their attention many of the circumstances surrounding incidents in which people have been injured and killed.

During the reported period RFJ made submissions in writing to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), The Committee for the Executions of Judgments (ECtHR) for the Council of Europe supervising member states (UK) judgments, the US Congress, the United Nations Committee against Torture, the UN Cttee on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Committee on Social Economic and Cultural Rights. This ongoing engagement has developed into provision of regular reports, updates and memos with strong links and relationships now a part of the operational fulfilment of this objective.

Partnerships with other NGOs and with academic institutions remains a key area of strategic importance for RFJ and this year was no different with projects involving Committee on the Administration of Justice, the Pat Finucane Centre, Amnesty International, Queens University Belfast, Edgehill University, University of Minnesota, and University of Ulster.

Relatives for Justice is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. We provide counselling and psychotherapy and pathways of referral where appropriate to statutory mental health providers. All counsellors and psychotherapists are fully accredited and supervised. RFJ is a permanent Board member of the Regional Trauma Network. Health and Wellbeing Caseworkers are registered with the NI Social Care Council.

RFJ also provides complementary therapies and training in complementary therapies registered with the International Federation of Holistic Therapists.

RFJ is a member of the Law Centre and provides an advice service on applications for benefits and for individual schemes of assistance available from the Victims and Survivors Service and the Payments Scheme for the Permanently Disabled.

RFJ provides research advice to families seeking information on the circumstances of the deaths and injuries of their loved ones - this includes research services using public records and available contemporaneous materials. RFJ provides advice and support to those engaging with historic investigation mechanisms such as inquests, PSNI investigations and Police Ombudsman Investigations.

RFJ also provides drop-in services of safety and we provide vocational and non-vocational classes such as painting, quilting, pottery, creative writing, flower arranging. These are all designed to support the expression of traumatic experience in a safe and managed environment. RFJ also support families and individuals to safely record their experience of trauma through writing, painting, quilting and other creative art forms.

Partnerships with other NGOs and with academic institutions remains a key area of strategic importance for RFJ and this year was no different with projects involving Committee on the Administration of Justice, the Pat Finucane Centre, Amnesty International, Queens University Belfast, Edgehill University, University of Minnesota, and University of Ulster.

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, which was incorporated on 6 November 2002. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association.

The charity has been registered as a charity with HM Revenue and Customs and Charity Commission of Northern Ireland.

The organisation is governed by the Board of Trustees, elected as part of the Annual General Meeting. The composition of the board allows for people with a direct experience of conflict related bereavement and injury, the primary function of the organisation being to provide support services to same.

The Trustees are responsible for the strategic management and governance control of the charity.  The trustees give their time freely and receive no remuneration or other financial benefits.  The Board of Trustees meet on a regular basis in order to review a range of business matters including governance, organisation objectives, strategic direction, best practice, funding and a range of other ongoing relevant issues.

An AGM was held in December 2024, where the 23/24 audited accounts were discussed, the annual report presented, and the Board of Directors elected. A refreshed governing document was presented by the Trustees, following extensive development in cooperation with NICVA, and passed at the AGM.

The Board of Directors met bi-monthly to ensure good governance and oversight of the organisation. Sub-committees of the Board of Directors also met to support good governance, financial, and human resources matters.

The Board of Directors also undertook training in Officers obligations, Trustee reporting, employment law, Company Directors training, Governance training and trauma training.

Mr Mark Thompson is the CEO of Relatives for Justice Ltd and has been delegated the responsibility for the strategic development and daily management of the charity. The Trustees are responsible for setting the remuneration package for key management personnel and this is based on level of funding available, current annual remuneration and any other information the trustees have available at the time of the review.

Ms Andreé Murphy is also key management personnel, who has day to day responsibility for operational and financial management noting that overall legal financial responsibility rests with the Board of trustees.

The principal area of charitable activity is the provision of counselling, therapy and group support.

These are mainly run from 3 offices in Belfast and Dungannon and 5 regional outreach centres, with additional support workers based across the North of Ireland.

In the past twelve months a range of achievements have indicated that the organisational performance is healthy and fulfilling its overall aims and objectives, and thus the needs of families and individuals it supports.

These include;

Legal & Advocacy

Families have been affected by the introduction of the Legacy Troubles and Reconciliation Bill, and have in the context of the ending of investigations been supported by RFJ to understand the implications of the Legacy Act for the pursuit of human rights compliant remedy for violations. This time of uncertainty and change has been deeply distressing for all families.

Additionally, RFJ has made numerous submissions to domestic policy makers and international human rights bodies on outstanding violations and need for remedy and particularly on the question of legacy.

Health and Wellbeing

RFJ has consolidated its support programmes under one umbrella of health and wellbeing support. Social Support, Complementary therapies, Counselling and psychotherapy and health and wellbeing support are now all managed and delivered with a strategic joined up approach. All health and wellbeing workers are registered with the NI Social Care Council.

All social support is now governed by clinical approaches to peer support with groups engaged in accredited and non-accredited classes, courses and activities, practical therapeutic support in terms of stress, anxiety, healthy living, diet, dependency on prescribed medication, and other complementary therapy clinics delivering a range of positive interventions and empowerment. Safeguarding has been at the heart of this development and staff training and policy development has been a key arm of delivery this year. The organisation invested in technological devices and software to ensure the highest standards of delivery.

This Financial year was marked by one of growth as new staff made an impact in the range and depth of service provision.

Staff training and organizational development is a strategic priority with the development of staff reflective practice, compassion fatigue training, an expansion of external supervision and investment in staff training plans.

Relatives for Justice continues to develop in professional expertise as an accredited centre with the BACP and is a key strategic voice in the Victims Sector regarding the provision of mental health services. RFJ is a Board member of the Regional Trauma Network and sits on the Strategic Implememtation Group for the TPDPS as a community representative to the cross-departmental implementation body.

Relatives for Justice commitment to professional development is indicated by its continued investment this year in professional data security systems and monitoring and evaluation systems including Salesforce, Mymops and Corenet. Annual GDPR reviews now take place to supplement good practice.

The introduction of plans to introduce an amnesty as a package of inadequate non human rights compliant measures to dealing with the past impacted negatively on the wellbeing of Relatives for Justice client base and there is a marked increase in demand for family reports in the absence of formal processes, counselling and therapeutic services in the absence of measures of resolution. The decision by the Irish government to take an unprecedented InterState case gave hope to families and was a welcome development amidst a very bleak time for their rights. The organisation found itself engaged in one to one and group explanation of the implications of all of these developments and dealing with heightened symtoms of mental ill heath directly caused by this legislation.

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the housing crisis created additional welfare and benefit needs which also created additional strains on the organisation. With victims and survivors of the conflict also being disproportionately economically adversely affected by their experience of conflict harm, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis created an additional strain on our welfare advice services and on the members of Relatives for Justice. Referrals to foodbanks are now a daily part of the work of the dedicated Welfare Advice Coordinator. The housing crisis is causing great strain on individuals and families. This is reflected in significant increases in requests for housing advice and support.

The victim’s payment scheme for the injured continues to create exceptionally high demand for services. While this is welcome in expanding the client base to include victims of physical and psychological injury there is worry about in-built discriminations affecting women, the bereaved and persons with convictions, and victims of sexual violence. This meant a significant increase in referrals for counselling and welfare support. The organisation’s decision to dedicate the RFJ offices in Ardoyne for the purposes of delivery of support for persons applying to the scheme was well made, with demand already placing strain on the capacity of that relatively small office space. The organisation’s administration and governance systems were leaned on heavily as waiting lists and care demands continued to grow.

At 31 March 2025 the company had net assets of £425,517. This was made up of restricted funds totalling £404,880. The charity also had unrestricted reserves totalling £20,637. It was noted the charities position has benefited during year ended 31 March 2025.  

The charity recognises the requirement to hold limited reserves to ensure it can meet any shortfall in funding, however, due to the nature of the charity and its reliance on funding from grant making bodies it has not been able to meet the preferred level of reserves, which the trustees believe should be 3 months expenditure levels.  For year ended 31 March 2025 the preferred level of reserves is £364,865.  The trustees will look to build its reserves back over future years through the voluntary donations.

While these were positive elements the work of Relatives for Justice was challenged by the lack of implementation of the mechanisms to deal with the legacy of the past the unilateral introduction of a human rights incompliant Legacy Bill.

The hiatus on dealing with the past impacted negatively on the wellbeing of Relatives for Justice client base and there is a marked increase in demand for counselling and therapeutic services in the absence of measures of resolution.

The impact of the cost of living crisis and the introduction of welfare and benefit changes also created additional strains on the organisation. With victims and survivors of the conflict also being disproportionately economically adversely affected by their experience of conflict harm, the introduction of these changes has created an additional strain on our welfare advice services and on the members of Relatives for Justice.

The high demand for support for the permanent disablement payment scheme for the injured increased staffing in RFJ with additional staff being recruited to support individuals access the scheme. There are risks regarding the expectation of the membership and access to the scheme. Bereaved persons not present at the scene of killings are excluded, irrelevant of whether they have psychological injury as a result. Persons with convictions will be treated differently and may not be eligible. Persons who suffered so called punishment attacks are also excluded. As many persons supported by RFJ will meet those criteria there is a risk of unmet demand and increased support needs.

There is a significant issue regarding the premises in which RFJ is housing its main office. There is a lack of space for staff, with no dedicated recreation/eating area. Staff, especially sessional staff have no breakout area which is impacting on the wellbeing of staff.

There is limited space for meeting the increasing demand for counselling and complementary therapies. This is a risk as demand for services increase and there is a realistic expectation that demand for services will increase.

There is no dedicated advice space. RFJ is regularly seeking meeting space outside of the premises. This is not suitable in line with the objective of creating safe space.

The charity recognises that the key risk affecting it is the loss any key funder, which could seriously restrict its ability to meet its objectives.  The charity has responded to this by maintaining a good relationship with their funders and ensuring they provide a high-quality service to further the aims of the charity and ensure it meets the objectives of the funders.

The board anticipate that in the short term they will continue to provide the support and legal advocacy in a similar manner, with the continued support from its key funders.

New staff will be employed to meet the needs of supporting persons applying to the payment scheme for the injured.

Relatives for Justice Ltd ensures the well-being of its employees and clients through the strict adherence to health and safety standards. Systems are in place to ensure that employees are aware of and implement the charity's health and safety requirements. Employees are required to work in a safe manner as mandated by law and best practice.

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance "Public benefit: running a charity (PB2)".

RFJ continues its work of highlighting the importance of human rights and healing in a post-conflict society, building and empowering victims and survivors to articulate and record their own stories and to engage with all mechanisms designed to support their own personal and public journey of recovery.

- Enquiring of managment

- Identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they are aware of any instances of non-compliance.

- Detecting and responding to risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud.

- Discussing among the engagement team as to how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements including unusual journal enteries, complex transactions etc.

- Obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework the company operates in and focusing on those that have an direct effect on the financial statements.

Unrestricted funds consist of General and Designated funds.

- General funds represent amounts which are expendable at the discretion of the board, in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

- Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that the board has, at its discretion, set aside for particular purposes. These designations have an administrative purpose only, and do not legally restrict the board's discretion to apply the fund.

There are no employees who received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000 for the reporting period (2024: None)

The total employee benefit of the key management personnel was £121,315 (2024: £115,861)

The charity trustees were not paid nor received any other charitable benefit, including expenses, during the financial year ended 31 March 2025 (2024: £nil).

The liability of the members is limited.

Every member of the company undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company in the event of its being wound up while they are members, or within one year thereafter, for the payment of the debts and liabilities of the company contracted before they ceased to be members, and the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributors among themselves, such amount as may be required, not exceeding £ 5.