The trustees present their report and financial statements for the Period ended 30 September 2020.
Cessation of Charity
It is with deep regret that the trustees of AYICC have had to make the decision to close the charity as of 30th September 2020. They made sure that every effort of support was offered to the staff and volunteers at this very difficult time.
The Board of Antrim Youth Information and Counselling Centre had initiated the development of a new Strategy for the organisation in January 2020. In the February of 2020, the current Chairperson of the organisation announced his resignation from the Board due to health and personal reasons, this was then followed by the Secretary and Treasurer of the organisation announcing their pending resignations due to extended work commitments.
The new Strategy was finalised at the beginning of March 2020 in the mouth of the start of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic.
The Board of AYICC then recognised the first responsibility of the Board is executive oversight. The Board must be mindful to monitor the finances, budget, and key performance indicators for the organisation. The Board must also provide leadership consistent with the mission of the organisation.
The Board embarked on a recruitment campaign to recruit new board members understanding that this is very difficult, however recruiting new Board members keeps fresh ideas flowing and helps an organisation to continue to move forward. Staying stagnant will only hurt a board and recruiting is the best way to stay alive! Self-Evaluation is also important as is a board’s self-awareness.
The Board actively ran 3 separate recruitment campaigns for new Board members, these however proved unsuccessful. Given the outcome of the lack of interest in the recruitment of new board members and with a significant number of current Board members stepping down from the organisation, in addition to the realisation of the impact on our services due to COVID 19, financial sustainability and being able to deliver on the targets of our current funders, then and during the pandemic, the Board had to rethink its Strategy for moving forward as an organisation.
AYICC relies heavily on fundraising opportunities to sustain full functionality and in the current climate these have been significantly eroded. Without the Community Fundraising support that the organisation relies on the financial sustainability of the organisation was in jeopardy.
Due to the aforementioned, having met weekly as a Board from March 2020 to May 2020 the Board had no choice but to call an Extraordinary General Meeting of Antrim Youth Information and Counselling Centre, the meeting was called for the purpose of recommending closure.
The meeting of the Board was called 21 days in advance of the EGM, (3 June 2020). The meeting of the Board was duly convened (24 June 2020) and held at 7.00pm via ZOOM, due to Covid-19 and Government meeting guidelines and restrictions. It was agreed by the Board members present that the organisation should close. The members of the Board were instructed to proceed with closing the organisation in an orderly and proper manner. On settling all liabilities and dissolving the organisation any remaining assets will be distributed in accordance with AYICC governing document.
In accordance with Antrim Youth Information and Counselling Centre’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (Part 8), upon the winding-up or dissolution of the C ompany, if there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Company, but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Charity. Therefore, the Board of Trustees have agreed that the remaining sum of £ 3,648 will be transferred to Muckamore Parish Development Association to support the development of its ‘FOCUS’ Focusing On Community and Understanding Suicide project.
The financial statements comply with the Charities (Accounts & Reports) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 Jan 2015).
Antrim Youth Information & Counselling Centre aims to enhance the quality of people’s lives through the application of an holistic approach to personal growth by providing a community support service that empowers people to maximise their involvement within society.
In the period to 30 th September 2020 Antrim Youth Information & Counselling Centre (AYICC) received financial support from a range to funders that enabled the organisation to deliver its support services and programmes to the community. Funders included BBC Children in Need, Antrim & Newtownabbey Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council and the Victims Support Programme for groups working with Victims and Survivors which is administered by Victims & Survivors Service on behalf of the Executive Office. This funding support enabled the organisation to employ a full-time Counselling Co-ordinator, Youth Development Officer and 3 part-time Youth Support Workers. Funding received from BBC Children in Need and Antrim & Newtownabbey Policing and Community Safety Partnership enabled AYICC to strengthen its youth programmes throughout the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough. Funding from Victims & Survivors Service enabled AYICC to continue its provision of talking therapies, complementary therapy and Emotional Health & Well-being programmes as part of its wrap-round counselling services.
Antrim Youth Information & Counselling Centre (AYICC) delivered a range of services to the local community which included counselling, youth programmes, drop-in facility and training. Youth programmes included drug, alcohol and substance misuse; health and wellbeing;
anti-bullying; on-line safety; cross-community; and personal development. A drop-in facility was available where young people could access information, support and guidance on issues that are affecting their everyday lives.
The one - to - one youth work support provided helps young people to cope better and manage life in a more resourceful way and the counselling support helps individuals and their families affected by a wide range of issues such as abuse, depression, bereavement, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, drugs and/or substance misuse. AYICC’s support services provide a safe place where individuals can talk safely and confidentially about their issues, enabling them to explore and express their thoughts and feelings without being judged.
Antrim Youth Information & Counselling Centre provided support to over 4,200 children and young people through referrals for counselling, information on issues affecting their everyday lives, participation in awareness-raising workshops, training programmes and by offering guidance on support services. Over 1,300 one-to-one counselling sessions were provided to 135 individuals referred through statutory, voluntary and community organisations and through self-referral. AYICC worked closely with Antrim & Newtownabbey Policing and Community Safety Partnership to deliver its HEADS UP drug & alcohol workshops to 2,100 pupils from local primary schools as part of the annual BEE Safe programme. As part of its youth programmes AYICC provided 330 hours of outreach in urban and rural areas across Antrim and Newtownabbey; delivered 109 workshops; and worked with 21 local schools to deliver awareness raising programmes to 1,426 pupils. AYICC has continued to build on its work with local schools with more schools coming on board each year. Feedback from schools has been extremely positive for this programme with teachers and school principles indicating that the programme is a huge asset to their school’s annual Life Long Learning Programmes. In addition to this work AYICC introduced a new awareness raising campaign with off-licences and supermarkets in the Antrim and Newtownabbey area to highlight the legal implications of purchasing alcohol for underage young people.
AYICC continued to support a group of young people through its FOCUS project (Focusing on Community and Understanding Suicide). The FOCUS group continued to build its membership and was active in promoting its work to the wider community through talks, information stands and networking events. The members of FOCUS participated in a wide range of activities and events which included Darkness into Light at the V36 Valley Leisure Centre in Newtownabbey, Belfast Pride Festival, numerous fund-raising activities and a teambuilding residential at Woodhall Outdoor Learning Centre in Kilrea. AYICC has continued to strenghten its work with Pieta House in organsing the annual Darkness into Light walk in Newtownabbey.
Antrim Youth Information and Counselling Centre continued to raise its profile across the community through its website, Facebook, and twitter pages. Volunteering has always been at the core of AYICC’s work and the organisation continued to develop and support its volunteering team. Volunteers are integral to service delivery and during the period they provided over 3,000 hours of their time to support the work of the organisation.
The trustees have established the level of reserves (that is those funds that are freely available) that the charity ought to have. Reserves are needed to bridge the funding gaps between spending on and receiving resources through rental income and grants providing funding. The trustees therefore consider that no free reserves are needed at 30th September 2020 as the charity ceased on that date.
In accordance with Antrim Youth Information and Counselling Centre’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (Part 8), upon the winding-up or dissolution of the C ompany, if there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Compa ny , but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the Charity. Therefore, the Board of Trustees have agreed that the remaining sum of £ 3,648 will be transferred to Muckamore Parish Development Association to support the development of its ‘FOCUS’ Focusing On Community and Understanding Suicide project.
Risk Management
The trustees have examined and assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the fund, and are satisfied systems are in place.
Antrim Youth Information & Counselling Centre is a company limited by guarantee by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Each member’s liability is limited to an amount not exceeding £1.
Directors and trustees
The directors of the charitable company (the charity( are its trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the trustees.
The trustees serving during the period and since the period end were as follows:
The trustees' r eport was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report on the financial statements of the charity for the Period ended 30 September 2020, which are set out on pages 6 to 14.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act
I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act. My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act.. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities;
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The charity ceased on 30th September 2020. These are therefore cessation accounts which have not been prepared on the going concern basis.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the Period.
All income and expenditure derive from charitable activities. The charity ceased on 30th September 2020.
Antrim Youth Information and Counselling Centre is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is 10a High Street, Antrim, BT41 4AN.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance 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)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying 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 charity. Monetary a mounts 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.
These accounts have not been prepared using the going concern basis as the charity did not continue to operate after 30th September 2020. These are therefore cessation accounts.
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 as to how they may be used.
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
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.
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measure reliably.
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category.
The charity is below the charity audit threshold and therefore is exempt from reporting expenditure on an activity basis. The charity has opted to report by the nature of expenditure rather than on an activity basis.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. The trustees have agreed that any fixed asset addition costing £5 or more should be capitalised.
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 net income/(expenditure) for the year.
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 p aymen ts 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 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.
Grants
Room hire
Programme delivery
Charitable expenditure
Counselling
Governance
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the Period.
The average monthly number of employees during the Period was:
Any fixed asset additions costing £5 or more are capitalised.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the Period (2019- none) .
The charity is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the members is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.