OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2024-03-31-accounts

Company no. 02580579 Charity no. 1002424

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) Report and Unaudited Financial Statements 31 March 2024

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Company number 02580579
Charity number 1002424
Registered office and 36 Old School House
operational address Britannia Road
Kingswood
Bristol
BS15 8DB
Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during
the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:
W Thompson, Chair
J Westlake, Treasurer (appointed 1 August 2023)
Dr E M Fleming
L Fleming (appointed 31 October 2023)
C Lindsay (resigned 30 June 2023)
Dr J Menakaya
L G Montgomery (resigned 31 October 2023)
J Rouse (appointed 18 April 2023)
K L Tomlin (resigned 1 July 2023)
Z Warren (appointed 1 August 2023)
A Wileman (appointed 1 August 2023)
Chief executive officer J Rayner
Bankers National Westminster Bank Plc
40 Queens Road
Clifton
Bristol
BS8 1RF
Triodos Bank
Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AS
Independent Godfrey Wilson Limited
examiners Chartered accountants and statutory auditors
5th Floor Mariner House
62 Prince Street
Bristol
BS1 4QD

1

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Reference and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities (effective from January 2019).

Policies and Objectives

ERIC is the only charity in the UK and internationally, dedicated to children and young people’s bladder and bowel conditions. There are more than 1.5 million children and young people in the UK affected by a bowel or bladder condition, that’s 1 in 12 children in the UK and at least 2 children in each school classroom. Sadly, many children suffer in silence for many years before their families find the right help. It is ERIC’s mission to get everyone talking openly about good bladder and bowel health; to empower children and carers with support, information and resources; to contribute to research and policy development and to deliver the best education and advice to all those working with families.

This activity is in support of achieving ERIC’s charitable objects, amended by agreement with the Charity Commission in July 2020 which are for:

ERIC’s vision until March 2024 was for all children and young people to live a healthy and happy life regardless of any bladder or bowel issue. During ERIC’s strategic planning for 2024-27 we have evolved the vision to ‘children and young people everywhere enjoy good bladder and bowel health’.

ERIC’s mission is to get everyone talking openly about good bladder and bowel health; to empower children and carers with support, information and resources; to contribute to research and policy development and to deliver the best education and advice to all those working with families.

This is important as when a child has difficulty controlling their bowel or bladder, it can leave families isolated and unable to talk. Bowel and bladder problems such as bedwetting, constipation, soiling or wetting is embarrassing and can ruin a child or teenager’s life, affecting their education, friendships, confidence & self-esteem.

The ERIC Team

Over the past year staff and volunteer numbers have remained stable. We recruited an additional communications and content officer to support the huge demand for digital articles, blogs and social media. At the end of the year we had two vacant senior leadership posts due to retirement and one member of the team moving on after nine years with ERIC. Recruitment in underway for a Head of Communication & Engagement and a Head of Commercial Services & Education.

2

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

As at 31 March 2024, there were a total of 18 staff (1 full-time and 17 part-time) making 14 FTE’s. The team was supported by a growing and dedicated band of regular volunteers, standing at 10 people contributing more than 2,285 hours between them during the year. Clinical guidance and support is provided by ERIC’s Paediatric Advisory Committee.

ERIC Family Services

Demand for ERIC’s services has continued to rise during 2023-24. There are a number of reasons for this including the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on children’s delayed development and struggling to become school ready, challenges within the NHS including the short supply of health visitors and school nurses, barriers for families in accessing GP appointments and general disarray across many children’s community bladder & bowel services has added to the pressure on our services. More positively, we have worked hard to raise awareness of services to families which has also contributed to increased contacts.

Year two of ERIC’s funding from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund has enables us to continue to increase our capacity to support families and by the final quarter of this report period we were responding to just short of 1 in 2 calls to the helpline rather than 1 in 4 as was the situation in the previous year. This is even more impressive as the number of contacts has increased to 4,658, an increase of 35% on the previous year.

In line with ERIC’s priorities for families, the team has continued to provide new ways to engage with communities, for example creating short awareness videos for social media using British Sign Language and creating new webinars for families including Toileting for Additional Needs. We are proud to have supported a further 2,269 families via fifteen free access webinars throughout the year. This brings the total number of families supported to just under 7,000, demonstrating the impact of the lottery funding which has enabled us to focus on our effectiveness.

In November 2023 we implemented a new cloud-based phone system which is integrated with Salesforce, our CRM database, saving time and increasing efficiency. This system and integration allows for a far superior level of reporting and monitoring to ensure service remains at a high standard and providing insights into user groups.

The COVID driven change in working practices and upgraded systems mean that all Helpline advisors work from home. A Team Day in the spring for all Family services Staff and Volunteers, focused on priorities set out in the 2024-2027 strategy, wellbeing and promoting cohesion and positive relationships among the team. This aligns with ERIC’s values and our goal to build a resilient and agile organisation that will thrive into the future.

Increasing our reach and raising awareness of our resources

ERIC is a small charity with a national reach and big ambition. This year we made positive progress towards increasing our network across the communities we serve and promoting our message of good bladder and bowel health more widely.

The ERIC website received 1.3 million visits over the year. This is an increase of 58% on the previous year (834,307). The majority of visits (792k) this year came from organic search, and a further 370k direct (63k came from referrals, 51k from paid search and 51k from organic social media).

3

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The most popular pages were as follows:

  1. Homepage (278k visits)

  2. Potty training: how to start & best age to potty train (250k visits)

  3. Constipation in children: symptoms, causes and relief (136k)

  4. Stool withholding: why & how to stop a child holding poo (122k)

  5. Bedwetting – reasons and how to stop it (109k)

Our social media reach has increased substantially over the past year, thanks to innovative new content and strategic partnerships with key brands and organisations.

On Facebook our reach this year was 576k (up almost 300% from 148k the previous year). There were notable peaks in reach in April, May and September 2023.

On Instagram our reach this year was 15.8k (up around 350% from 3.5k the previous year). The peaks were reached in April, October, January and February.

On LinkedIn we now have a growing community of 511 followers, primarily made up of healthcare professionals.

As part of our commitment to improving accessibility of our resources, this year ERIC undertook a project to translate 5 advice sheets into a range of other languages, including Polish, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Punjabi, and Urdu. This was widely shared on social media and by local authorities and health visitors across their communities.

We also undertook a review of our online advice sheets and resources, updating several and adding two new ones to meet the needs of our service users

A partnership with toilet paper brand Cushelle saw ERIC messaging and QR codes printed on their products in stores, and across their social media, prompting customers to visit the ERIC website for more information on healthy bladders and bowels.

We also nurtured relationships with key media partners including Journal of Community Nursing, Nursing Times and Nursery World, where we have published several advice-driven articles throughout the year to raise awareness of ERIC’s services and resources among healthcare professionals and early years practitioners.

In addition to online outreach, our team have made significant efforts to bring the ERIC message to communities in person, attending events at museums, Children’s Centres and educational settings.

ERIC also made significant progress in its bid to achieve PIF (Patient Information Forum) accreditation. This will further cement our status as a trusted source of health information for patients, carers, the public and healthcare professionals.

ERIC Commercial Services & Education

ERIC’s commercial activity continues to play an important part in generating income for the charity, comprising 54% of ERIC’s total income in 2023/24 a 25% increase on net income based on the previous year. A pleasing trajectory despite fluctuations in team capacity at various times throughout the year, as well as additional work generated by the planning the ERIC conference for 2024 and facilitation of a series of new webinars for the Family Services team as part of our core objectives.

4

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Additional focus on further expansion of services with the intention of recruiting a Head of Commercial Services and Education alongside reorganisation of the existing team to include a Training and Shop Manager will enable further growth and an increased revenue stream.

Training

Our online training continues to be popular with an increasing number of NHS Trusts booking directly for webinars to be delivered in house as well as an increase in the number of Individual HCPs attending our webinars.

During 2024-25 we will continue to build on our existing offering, as well as rolling out the new Early Years eLearning training which focuses on supporting HCP's and parents and families with toilet readiness.

Shop

Our online shop is now established on the e-commerce platform, Shopify. This has enabled us to provide a smoother shopping experience for our online customers, who are able to browse across the site more easily than our previous e-shop and is a more efficient platform for our staff to manage all 7,035 orders that were placed between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

Alarm Hire

We launched a bedwetting alarm hire service during 2023. This provides a service for Clinicians in the NHS to refer their families to ERIC to loan an alarm. The benefit to them is that the logistics of sending out and getting the alarms back is managed by the ERIC shop team. They get a monthly update on their stock. Payment terms are agreed at the outset, we set up a contract agreement and purchase order for the year that is billed against monthly. This is proving to be a very popular service and income stream for ERIC that we anticipate will grow through 2024/25.

5

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Collaboration and Partnership

ERIC strives to work collaboratively at a local, regional and national level to maximise efforts to raise awareness, influence policy and improve quality of services. Of note in during 2023-24 was:

Research collaborations during the year included:

Organisational Development

Through the year ERIC continued to develop and improve its database systems, with the aims of increasing staff efficiency and reducing costs; improving management of personal data; and improving the experience for service users and other stakeholders. This has meant steady investment of staff resources and the use of some external contractors.

In line with ERIC’s strategic plan for 2024-27 a digital transformation strategy is now in place and we are scoping the work packages needed to develop a new online platform for digital services, which will include e-learning; online training; and services for parents, carers and young people.

Fundraising

ERIC’s fundraising model in engaging a skilled fundraising consultant has continued to work well, securing repeat grants as well as securing support from new funders and we have a solid plan in place to generate the funds needed to maintain the level of grant income into 2024-25.

We are delighted to have secured multi-year corporate partnership funding from Cushelle and Velvet toilet paper brands. Their packaging includes the ERIC logo along with messaging to promoter good bladder and bowel health in children. Single year funding from DryNites to support messaging about how products can support the management of bedwetting have also helped to boost funding for this year.

6

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The support of Trusts, Foundations and corporate partners continues to be an integral source of support for delivering ERIC’s services. We are enormously grateful to all the organisations that have supported our work for many years and were delighted to secure new grants and donations too.

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 about the adoption of the going concern can be found in the Accounting Policies.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Income

Total income for the year was £814k (2023: £721k). 37% of income was generated from Trading, 14% from Training & Conference and 49% from Fundraising and other activities (2023: 36%, 21% and 43% respectively).

Expenditure

Total expenditure for the year was £801k (2023: £707k). 25% of expenditure was for Trading stock, 65% was for other charitable activities, and 10% for fundraising expenditure (2023: 24%, 68% and 8% respectively).

Summary

A net surplus of £13k (2023: £13k) was recorded.

RESERVES POLICY

Reserve Policy Statement April 2024

For 2023-24 the trustees agreed a target reserves level of four months’ operating costs (including wind up costs), currently set at £211,209. This figure was reviewed by trustees on a quarterly basis. The cash balances of the charity are currently invested in a fixed rate account with Scottish Widows.

ERIC has a reserves policy that is annually reviewed by the trustees. For 2024-25 the trustees agreed a target reserves level of four months’ operating costs plus an allowance for additional costs that would be incurred in the event of the charity closing. The reserves target was calculated at £238,108.

MATERIAL INVESTMENTS POLICY

Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association the charity has the power to invest in any way that the trustees see fit.

RISK MANAGEMENT

Strategic, business and operational risks are contained within ERIC’s organisational risk assessment. An updated version of this risk assessment is reviewed by the board of trustees at each of their quarterly meetings, to ensure that the document properly reflects current and future risks; that all mitigating actions identified in the risk assessment are being actioned and are on target for completion; and that residual risks are at an acceptable level with no further mitigating actions needed.

The risk assessment process is also connected to ERIC’s strategic planning process, with longerterm risks addressed within strategy planning.

7

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT CONSTITUTION

ERIC was established on 4 November 1988 under the auspices of the Children’s Society and was registered as an independent charity by the Charity Commission with effect from 1 April 1991, Charity number 1002424. ERIC was registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 7 February 1991, Company registration number 2580579. ERIC’s registered office is 36 Old School House, Britannia Road, Bristol, BS15 8DB.

The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. At the year-end, there were seven trustees of whom all are directors of the charity. The trustees form the Board of Trustees. The paid employees who form the staff team report to the Board of Trustees via the CEO. The staff team is responsible for carrying out all areas of the charity’s activities.

METHOD OF APPOINTMENT OR ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

New trustees are recruited by open advertisement in line with the charity’s policy on equal opportunities or co-opted to fill specialist roles e.g. people with medical or marketing experience. They are formally voted in at the next Annual General Meeting.

POLICIES ADOPTED FOR THE INDUCTION AND TRAINING OF TRUSTEES

New trustees are given an induction pack and are encouraged to undertake external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role. All trustees are given opportunities for training on new regulations or changes within the voluntary sector.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AND DECISION MAKING

The Board of Trustees administers the charity and meets at least four times a year. Where appropriate Trustees have a designated responsibility for areas e.g. safeguarding, finance, HR, legal issues. The Chair stood down from the board in October 2023 and a new Chair was voted in unanimously by the trustees at the AGM.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

In September 2023 we held a strategic planning day, involving trustees, members of ERIC’s professional advisory committee, staff and volunteers. It was an opportunity to reflect on achievements and impact as well as engage in meaningful discuss about the future. The full strategy is available on the ERIC website https://eric.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ERIC-Strategy2024_2027_FINAL.pdf. In summary four strategic aims were agreed (see below) and delivery plans developed detailing key activity for the next 3 years:

Strategic Aims

  1. Good bladder and bowel health from birth is recognised and included as a key milestone in childhood development, across public health, primary health, the early years sector, primary schools and with parents.

  2. Children, young people and their families can access the information, advice and support they need to meet their bladder and bowel care needs.

  3. The children’s workforce across health, public health, social care and early years, have the skills and knowledge they need to assess, treat, manage and sign post families to appropriate support and intervention.

  4. To lead the way in identifying affordable and environmental initiatives for the benefit of families, health services and the planet.

8

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of the charity 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, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

Independent examiners

Godfrey Wilson Limited were appointed as independent examiners to the charitable company during the year and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the trustees on 29 October 2024 and signed on their behalf by

Wendy Thompson - Chair

9

Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 11 to 24.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charitable company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the charitable company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

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 accounts to be reached.

William Guy Blake

Date: 29 October 2024 William Guy Blake ACA Member of the ICAEW Godfrey Wilson Limited Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

10

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Restricted Unrestricted
Note
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
235,235
147,260
Charitable activities
4
-
426,257
Other trading activities
5
-
2,476
Investments
-
3,099
Total income
235,235
579,092
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
-
76,510
Charitable activities
228,123
496,454
Total expenditure
7
228,123
572,964
Net income and net movement in funds
7,112
6,128
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
56,537
246,550
Total funds carried forward
63,649
252,678		 2024
Total
£
382,495
426,257
2,476
3,099
814,327
76,510
724,577
801,087
13,240
303,087
316,327		 Restated
2023
Total
£
276,954
425,588
17,328
709
720,579
56,557
650,934
707,491
13,088
289,999
303,087

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 17 to the accounts.

Prior period expenditure has been reclassified to reflect the requirements of the Charities SORP (FRS 102) and to be comparable with the current year. The restatements are purely reclassifications of expenditure and do not affect total expenditure nor net income.

11

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2024

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
11
Current assets
Stock
12
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year
14
Net current assets
Net assets
16
Funds
17
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Total charity funds		 £
49,898
40,707
294,638
385,243
(69,322)		 2024
£
406
315,921
316,327
63,649
252,678
316,327		 2023
£
2,364
33,125
53,221
282,692
369,038
(68,315)
300,723
303,087
56,537
246,550
303,087

The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the trustees on 29 October 2024 and signed on their behalf by

Wendy Thompson - Chair

12

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Cash used in operating activities:
Net movement in funds
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Increase in stock
Decrease in debtors
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Net cash provided by investing activities
Increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year		 2024
£
13,240
1,958
(3,099)
(16,773)
12,514
1,007
8,847
3,099
-
3,099
11,946
282,692
294,638		 2023
£
13,088
3,333
(709)
(17,134)
31,498
(19,688)
10,388
709
(697)
12
10,400
272,292
282,692

The charity has not provided an analysis of changes in net debt as it does not have any long term financing arrangements.

13

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

ERIC is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. The registered office address is 36 Old School House, Britannia Road, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 8DB.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate having regard to the current level of unrestricted reserves. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from the government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of provision of training is deferred until criteria for income recognition are met.

d) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity: this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

e) Donated services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item, is probable and the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), general volunteer time is not recognised.

14

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

e) Donated services and facilities (continued)

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

f) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

h) Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities based on the proportion of income generated by each activity as follows:

2024 2023
Raising funds 21% 16%
Charitable activities 79% 84%

i) Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Computer equipment 3 years straight line

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500.

j) Stock

Stock is included at the lower of cost or net realisable value. Donated items of stock are recognised at fair value which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay for the items on the open market.

15

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

k) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

l) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

m) Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

n) Financial instruments

The charitable company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

o) Pension costs

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees. There are no further liabilities other than that already recognised in the SOFA.

p) Foreign currency transactions

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at rates prevailing at the date of the transaction. Balances denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the year end.

q) Accounting estimates and key judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying 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 if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

There are no key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

16

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities

Income from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
3.
Income from donations and legacies
Grants
Donations
Gift in kind
Total income from donations and legacies
Prior period comparative:
Grants
Donations
Total income from donations and legacies		 Restricted
£
£
159,465
117,489
-
425,588
-
17,328
-
709
159,465
561,114
-
56,557
129,187
521,747
129,187
578,304
30,278
(17,190)
4,544
(4,544)
34,822
(21,734)
Restricted
£
£
230,235
15,392
5,000
125,868
-
6,000
235,235
147,260
Restricted
£
£
159,086
7,150
379
110,339
159,465
117,489
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
Unrestricted		 2023
Total
£
276,954
425,588
17,328
709
720,579
56,557
650,934
707,491
13,088
-
13,088
2024
Total
£
245,627
130,868
6,000
382,495
2023
Total
£
166,236
110,718
276,954

17

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

4. Income from charitable activities

Income from charitable activities
Corporate
Family services
Contract
Shop
Training
Total income from charitable activities		 2024
Total
£
925
-
11,905
296,954
116,473
426,257		 2023
Total
£
3,500
33,469
90
240,039
148,490
425,588

All income from charitable activities in the current and prior period was unrestricted.

5. Income from other trading activities

Trading income
Total income from other trading activities		 2024
Total
£
2,476
2,476		 2023
Total
£
17,328
17,328

All income from other trading activities in the current and prior period was unrestricted.

6. Government grants

The charitable company receives government grants, defined as funding from National Lottery to fund charitable activities. The total value of such grants in the period ending 31 March 2024 was £120,351 (2023: £97,053). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants.

18

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

7. Total expenditure

Staff costs (note 9)
Shop
Training
Family services
Fundraising
Administration
Corporate
Premises
IT and digital
Office
Professional fees
Other staff costs
Bank and finance
Depreciation
Governance
Taxes
Miscellaneous
Sub-total
Total expenditure
Allocation of support and
governance costs		 Raising
funds
£
5,583
-
-
-
21,136
-
-
-
105
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
26,824
49,686
76,510		 Charitable
activities
£
257,750
202,334
33,023
30,717
-
-
-
-
-
367
426
898
6,845
1,958
-
-
-
534,318
190,259
724,577		 £
143,330
-
-
-
-
6,789
-
22,490
28,341
18,590
12,015
6,079
2,311
-
-
-
-
239,945
(239,945)
-
Support and
governance		 2024 Total
£
406,663
202,334
33,023
30,717
21,136
6,789
-
22,490
28,446
18,957
12,441
6,977
9,156
1,958
-
-
-
801,087
-
801,087		 Raising
funds
£
18,240
-
-
-
10,256
-
-
-
180
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
28,676
27,881
56,557		 Charitable
activities
£
254,056
167,834
46,404
6,708
-
-
38
-
14,062
-
769
3,188
6,935
3,333
-
-
1,327
504,654
146,280
650,934		 £
91,616
-
-
-
-
2,306
-
16,852
33,562
13,264
10,359
4,280
1,377
-
345
200
-
174,161
(174,161)
-
Support and
governance		 Restated
2023 Total
£
363,912
167,834
46,404
6,708
10,256
2,306
38
16,852
47,804
13,264
11,128
7,468
8,312
3,333
345
200
1,327
707,491
-
707,491

Total governance costs were £4,550 (2023: £5,121).

Expenditure allocations have been re-stated to better reflect the requirements of the SORP and to increase clarity for the reader. The restatement is purely between categories and has not affected total expenditure.

19

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

8. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Depreciation
Operating lease payments
Trustees' remuneration
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Independent examiner's remuneration:
▪Independent examination (excluding VAT)
▪Other services		 2024
£
1,958
13,590
Nil
Nil
3,050
Nil		 2023
£
3,333
12,579
Nil
Nil
3,350
3,095

In common with other charities of our size and nature we use our independent examiners to assist with the preparation of the financial statements.

9. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2024
£
369,782
22,187
14,694
406,663		 2023
£
328,459
20,643
14,810
363,912

No employee earned more than £60,000 during the year.

The key management personnel of the charitable company comprise the Trustees and Chief Executive Officer. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £62,518 (2023: £61,111).

Average head count:
Full-time
Part-time		 2024
2023
No.
No.
1
1
19
17
20
18

10. Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

20

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

11. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023 and at 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
12. Stock
Merchandise
13. Debtors
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors
14. Creditors : amounts due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Other taxation and social security
Deferred income (see note 15)
Other creditors		 2024
£
49,898
2024
£
38,569
2,138
-
40,707
2024
£
29,384
3,600
8,432
23,675
4,231
69,322		 Total
£
11,439
9,075
1,958
11,033
406
2,364
2023
£
33,125
2023
£
46,360
3,565
3,296
53,221
2023
£
17,210
3,850
8,106
33,135
6,014
68,315

21

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

15. Deferred income

At 1 April 2023
Deferred during the year
Released during the year
At 31 March 2024
Deferred income relates to training invoiced in advance of delivery.		 2024
£
33,135
23,675
(33,135)
23,675		 2023
£
50,722
33,135
(50,722)
33,135

16. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2024
Prior period comparative
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2023		 £
-
63,649
-
63,649
£
-
56,537
-
56,537
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 £
406
321,594
(69,322)
252,678
£
2,364
312,501
(68,315)
246,550
General
funds
General
funds		 Total
funds
£
406
385,243
(69,322)
316,327
Total
funds
£
2,364
369,038
(68,315)
303,087

22

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

17. Movements in funds

Movements in funds
Transfers
At 1 April between
At 31 March
2023 Income
Expenditure		 funds 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Restricted funds
Information and Helpline 2,848 114,884 (111,989) - 5,743
National Lottery Community
Fund 53,689 120,351 (116,134) - 57,906
Total restricted funds 56,537 235,235 (228,123) - 63,649
Unrestricted funds
General funds 246,550 579,092 (572,964) - 252,678
Total unrestricted funds 246,550 579,092 (572,964) - 252,678
Total funds 303,087 814,327 (801,087) - 316,327
Purposes of restricted funds
Information and Helpline Grants towards providing direct one-to-one support from our
telephone and email helpline.
National Lottery Fund towards the Helpline for three years, with the first grant
Community Fund payment being received in July 2022. A dedicated restricted fund
was created to handle all income and expenditure related to this
funding.
Prior period comparative
Restricted funds
Information and Helpline
Total restricted funds
Designated funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Unrestricted funds
National Lottery Community
Fund		 At 1 April
2022
£
21,715
-
21,715
102,830
165,454
268,284
289,999		 Income
£
62,412
97,053
159,465
-
561,114
561,114
720,579		 £
(85,823)
(43,364)
(129,187)
(63,858)
(514,446)
(578,304)
(707,491)
Expenditure		 £
£
4,544
2,848
-
53,689
4,544
56,537
(38,972)
-
34,428
246,550
(4,544)
246,550
-
303,087
Transfers
between
funds
At 31 March
2023		 £
£
4,544
2,848
-
53,689
4,544
56,537
(38,972)
-
34,428
246,550
(4,544)
246,550
-
303,087
Transfers
between
funds
At 31 March
2023
56,537
-
246,550
246,550
303,087

23

ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence)

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

18. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the current or prior period.

24