The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 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 charitable company'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 objectives of the charitable company are set out in the Memorandum of Association.
The main purpose is to promote, further or support any purpose for the benefit of the community in the Portadown and surrounding area, and in particular:
To advance the education of the public concerning Orange history, culture and traditions, the military traditions and the heritage and industrial legacy of Portadown and the surrounding area with a view to securing appreciation and understanding of said heritage and traditions by means of outreach through exhibits, digital outputs research, study, historical talks and community outreach or other such means charitable in law for the benefit of the youth and general public.
To foster a sense of community by:
(a) facilitating organisations, interest groups, and individuals to participate in discovering and preserving knowledge, encouraging and celebrating a sense of place, civic pride and ownership and appreciation of all aspects of Orange, local military and the industrial heritage of Portadown and surrounding area;
(b) supporting strong inter-community relationships; and
(c) fostering social, environmental and economic regeneration in the local area and along the heritage tour areas in particular.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland in deciding what activities the charitable company should undertake.
During the year to 30 September 2025 the charitable company received funding, donations and undertook walking tours and held events to promote the rich local history of the area.
Family fun days, talks, exhibitions, big breakfasts, military fairs and the Ulster Scots Summer School have once again proved to be popular.
Research was carried out on the impact of Carleton Street Orange Hall on Portadown and surrounding areas as it celebrated 150 years of rich heritage. This led to community outreach and engagement, a very successful exhibition and wide reaching community celebrations. The exhibition included a special visit from local primary school children.
Overseas visitors included a number of American families visiting the birthplace of their ancestors as well as other visitors tracing family members.
There has been continued outreach and involvement with community groups through exhibitions, history talks and walking tours.
There has been engagement with Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council as it surveyed constituents and local groups to put in place a comprehensive ten year Heritage Strategy.
Volunteers continue to research local residents who fought in the World Wars, the contributions of those on the home front and the effects of these periods on the life of the town.
All our work is carried out on a wholly voluntary basis with input from young people, working aged folk and retirees.
The charitable company's financial results are set out in detail on pages 5-13.
There is an overall surplus of funds for the year of £10,008 (2024 - £2,102 deficit). Accumulated funds consist of a deficit of unrestricted funds of £3,572 and surplus of restricted funds of £5,575.
Portadown Heritage Tours is a charitable company limited by guarantee. The charitable company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 7 November 2018.
The charitable company was registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland on 17 May 2021.
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:
Under the requirement of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, directors are appointed and retire by rotation every three years at the annual general meeting.
None of the trustees have any beneficial interest in the charitable company. In the event of the charitable company being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
Organisation
The day to day running of the charitable company is overseen by the trustees.
Reserves
The trustees aim to maintain a level of reserves, sufficient to service those costs which are incurred irrespective of the charitable activities carried out in a period. The trustees consider a level of £5,000 to be appropriate.
In preparing this report, the trustees have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.
Registered Office:
6a Carleton Street
Portadown
Craigavon
Co Armagh
BT62 3EN
Charity Registration No: NIC107955
Company Registration No: NI656920
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Portadown Heritage Tours (the charitable company) for the year ended 30 September 2025.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the financial statements under section 65 of the Charities Act;
follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Act; and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charitable company as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Portadown Heritage Tours is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 6a Carleton Street, Portadown, Craigavon, Co Armagh, BT62 3EN.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charitable company'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 charitable company is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charitable company has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities by applying section 1A of FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charitable company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. 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 charitable company 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 charitable company 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.
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 charitable company 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 charitable company's balance sheet when the charitable company 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 charitable company’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 charitable company 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.
Tour income
Badge and booklet sales
Events income
Insurance
Event costs and refreshments
Advertising and promotion
Professional fees and research
Room hire
None of the trustees received any remuneration from the charitable company for services acting as a trustee during the period.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
In the prior year, an amount of £4,111 was transferred from restricted funds to unrestricted funds to reflect the release of funds where the restriction no longer applied.
There were no related party transactions during the year.