Company Number 2967121
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Report and Financial Statements
Year to 31 March 2025
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees for the year to 31 March 2025 (continued)
Reference and administrative details
Members of the Trustee Board
Chair Vice Chair Honorary Treasurer Individual member Individual member Individual member Individual member
Mr |. Curtis-Nye Mrs N. Hamilton-Martin Mr A. Edger FCA Ms J. Benton Ms J. Butler (resigned 13 May 2025) Ms |. D. Fikry (appointing 3 March 2025) Ms O. Odubanjo
Independent Examiner Rachel Eden
Holybrook Accountants 4% Floor, Pinnacle Building Tudor Road Reading, RG1 1NH
Bankers
CAF Bank Ltd Flagstone Group Ltd 25 Kings Hill Ave, Clareville House Kings Hill, 26-27 Oxendon Street West Malling ME19 4JQ London SW1Y 4EL
Solicitors 105DexterOxford MontagueRoad & Partners Reading, Berkshire. RG1 7UD
Registered office Minster Street
Reading, Berkshire, RGi 2JB
Registered company number: 2967121 Registered charity number: 1042542
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees for the year to 31 March 2025 (continued) The Trustee Board presents its report, together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Structure, governance and management
Citizens Advice Reading was founded in 1939 and in 2024 celebrated its 85"" Anniversary. It is a company limited by guarantee and was first incorporated in September 1994. In accordance with its Memorandum of Association, every member of the company undertakes to contribute to its assets a sum not exceeding £1 in the event of winding up, while they are members, or within one year after they cease to be members. Citizens Advice Reading is also a registered charity.
Citizens Advice Reading has its own Trustee Board and is its own autonomous unit, but by satisfying certain conditions it is also a member of the National Association of Citizens Advice. The National Association is the policy making body of Citizens Advice nationally. It sets the standards that all local Citizens Advice offices must meet in order to qualify for membership and acts as a national voice for them on issues such as national social policy. An annual appraisal of Trustee Board performance is carried out.
The Trustee Board assesses at least annually both the current skills and experience of the Board, such as management, fundraising and business acumen, and also the Board's effectiveness to identify any gaps. CitizensProspectiveAdvicetrustR e esadingare selectedthrough their for thesk i lls,r potentialKnowledge to makeand anexperi eff e ctivence. contributionThe Trustee toBoard the activitiesrecognises of that diversity of membership is important and adds to its effectiveness and seeks to ensure that it is representative of the local community. New Trustee Board members complete a register of interests and receive an induction supported by an information pack and ongoing training enables them to fulfil their role.
The Trustee Board is responsible for every aspect of Citizens Advice Reading's affairs and is ultimately accountable for the conduct of the organisation. The full Board meets a minimum of four times throughout the year to discharge these responsibilities, and is supported by 4 sub-committees (Finance; Funding, Partnerships and Communications; HR and Infrastructure; Quality, Development and Governance) compromising trustees and members of the Senior Management Team. Individual members of the Board are provided with enough and timely information to enable them to discharge their respective duties.
The Trustee Board retains responsibility for all key decisions, including approval of: ¢ The strategy and policies adopted by Citizens Advice Reading to achieve its charitable objects * The annual budget ¢ Major capital expenditure, including property acquisition and refurbishment ¢ The annual financial statements
Responsibility for specific matters is allocated to named members as appropriate.
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The Trustee Board is responsible for the organisation's system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. It must also ensure that the organisation's system of internal control manages risk effectively. Such a system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve the objectives and can only provide reasonable, and not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. The Trustee Board has assessed the major strategic, business and operational risks which it believes Citizens Advice Reading faces. The external risks to which the organisation is exposed are kept under constant review.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees for the year to 31 March 2025 (continued)
Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for the authorisation of all transactions and projects and to ensure the highest standards in the delivery of advice services and in all operational aspects of the organisation.
These procedures, including the adherence to the established financial controls, are reviewed annually as part of our overall risk management plan process, to ensure they still meet the needs of Citizens Advice Reading.
The Trustees consider the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive as comprising the key management of the charity in charge of directing and controlling the charity and running the charity on a day-to-day basis. All Trustees give of their time freely and no Trustee remuneration was paid in the year. Details of Trustee expenses are disclosed in Note 7 to the accounts.
Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and in accordance with the Trust's policy withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises. Trustees, in compliance with Charity Commissioners guidelines, are always expected to act in the best interest of the Charity.
The pay of the Chief Executive is reviewed annually as part of the paid staff salary review process. Objectives and activities
Citizens Advice Reading (CAR) was established to provide advice and support, and to promote any charitable purpose for the public benefit by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness, and distress, in particular but without limitation, for the benefit of the community in Reading and surrounding areas. In carrying out its objects and in all aspects of its work, the Charity is committed to promoting diversity, equity, equality and inclusion, to preventing prejudice and discrimination, to ensuring equal access and to promoting good relations between all sections of the community. The services provided are free, independent, confidential and impartial.
The trustees confirm they have given due consideration to the information contained in the Charity Commission's published guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives of Citizens Advice Reading and in planning activities and setting its policies and priorities.
Offering specialist advice in several fields, CAR helped over 7,500 people with benefits and debt advice to address complex situations; securing Debt Relief Orders and supporting clients with new Universal Credit claims and energy issues. In addition, CAR has signposted people to other local partners according to the best service to meet their advice and information needs.
The organisation continued to offer a specialist benefits advice service, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support, for people living or receiving treatment for cancer in Berkshire. This service is principally based in the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
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Citizens Advice Reading also, working in collaboration with the Royal Berkshire Healthcare Trust, established and delivered an excellent support and advice service for hospital staff, particularly those struggling with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, which started in October 2023.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees for the year to 31 March 2025 (continued)
An essential part, indeed, a twin aim of the organisation's work was that of research and campaigns. Through advice work Citizens Advice Reading has the opportunity to gather an enormous amount of evidence about clients' experiences, and the impact of the way a wide range of services and legislation operate both locally and nationally. By collecting and collating such evidence it was possible to work positively with local MPs to amend proposed changes to welfare benefits and improve outcomes for those in receipt of welfare benefits, as well as supporting the national campaigning around the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis.
People and performance
At any one time the organisation typically operates with around 30 paid staff and 50 volunteers. Between April 2024 and March 2025, we had the following operational roles:
8 people full-time as a paid staff member. 27 people part-time as paid staff members. 41 people as volunteer advisers (level 1 and level 2) or trainee advisers, 5 volunteer supervisors and 10 people as volunteer reception or administration and IT support
Between April 2024 and March 2025, 20 volunteers and 11 paid members of staff joined the organisation. During this period 2 Trustees resigned, and 1 new Trustee was appointed to the Board of Trustees, with 7 Trustees on the Board on 31 March 2025.
The CAR service focuses upon providing an assessment of a client's goals and providing information and advice to resolve or progress their issue in one call. If a client needs more help or their circumstances are complex, this is followed with bespoke support. Initial help has been achieved via telephone, drop-in or online. Follow up work has been offered to best meet the needs of the client, including face to face and telephone appointments, as well as email and web chat support.
2024-25 proved to be a challenging but positive year with the eventual reintroduction of three days general service due to National Lottery Community Funding. Overall client numbers increased significantly because of this, especially due to the continuation and expansion of drop-in sessions each week at our Central Reading office and continued outreach which has been a great support for local communities in Reading.
Citizens Advice Reading is subjected to an ongoing performance and quality regime by its national organisation (NCA). This entails quarterly audits on quality of advice and financial performance and annual assessment of 9 leadership areas: governance; risk management; financial management; people management; operational performance management; partnership working; research, campaigns and equality. An independent audit is undertaken by NCA annually and in September 2024 Citizens Advice Reading was again rated as excellent.
During the year Citizens Advice Reading responded to 44,906 advice request issues, resulting in 27,592 contacts for 7,528 unique clients (an increase of 47% from the previous year). Of the clients seen, 55% were female and 44% male, with a small proportion preferring to self-describe.
Our services continued to be used extensively by people of all nationalities, communities of different ethnic groups and those with disabilities or long-term health conditions 67% of clients described themselves as disabled or living with a long-term health problem, up from 60% in 2023/24. In terms of ethnicity, 13% of clients were Asian, 14% were Black and 67% were White, with clients coming from across 74 different nationalities.
The number of people under 25 accessing our services increased to 4.6%, maintaining the growth seen in previous years and reflecting our efforts to ensure services are accessible to younger people.
The main areas of advice requested were benefits, including Universal Credit (60%), Debt (9% - a small reduction on 2023/24 but still significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels), Utilities and Communications (9%), Financial
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees for the year to 31 March 2025 (continued) Services and Capability (5%) and Housing (4%).
Citizens Advice Reading achieved financial gains for our clients totaling £9,586,322 in benefit entitlements, employment related awards, charity awards and compensation. We also had £76,332 in debts rearranged or written off and £543,765 in other financial gains for clients. All represent significant increases when compared to 2023-24, showing the power of funding a general service to underpin all of the specialist casework projects we also deliver.
Financial review
All £ values are rounded to the nearest thousand. In this section the years written as “2024” and “2025” refer to the financial periods ending 31st March 2024 and 31st March 2025 respectively.
a. Financial performance and position
Total 2025 income increased to £957,000, an increase of £99,000 compared to 2024. The increase is principally due to a new project, the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) which supports general advice services with income of £157,000, and to an increase of ca £49,000 in the Help to Claim project income, whilst total energy project related income and donations from J Davey reduced by £81,000 and £34,000 respectively.
Total expenditure increased to £919,000 in 2025, an increase of £59,000 compared to 2024 The increased costs are mainly due to higher staff costs totalling £71,000, driven up mostly by salaries related to the new National Lottery Community Fund service contract.
The charity achieved a net surplus of £39,000 for the year, of which £84,000 related to an unrestricted surplus, and -£45,000 to an restricted deficit mainly as a result of higher costs incurred supporting the NLCF general advice service compared to income received, covered in 2025 by a transfer from unrestricted funds. As a result, CAR held total funds of £294,000 at 31st March 2025, of which £269,000 related to unrestricted funds and £25,000 to restricted funds respectively. Citizens Advice Reading (CAR) maintained a stable financial position throughout the period under review. The cash balance reduced by £39,000 at the end of March 2025 to £288,000 compared to prior year, mainly as a result of the decreased funding payments received in advance, as outlined in Note 14 to the Financial Statements.
b) Reserves Policy
Each year the Trustee Board reviews its reserves policy and considers the appropriate level of reserves for the Charity to hold, in the light of the risks that it faces and the economic environment in which it is operating The Board's key priority remains to ensure the continuity of the charity's operations to meet the needs of the community.
Based on this year's review the Trustee Board's reserve policy is to hold funds which have not been designated for a specific use ("free reserves") at the equivalent of between 3- and 6-months' anticipated cash expenditure. The Board considers that this level of free reserves will ensure that in the event of a major shortfall of funding enough time will be available to consider and implement mitigating steps, allowing Citizens Advice Reading to continue its charitable activities, or to organize an orderly wind up of its operations.
As at the 31st March 2025 the free reserves (unrestricted funds), net of designated funds totaled £239,000 and lay within the Reserve Policy target range of free reserves held. A designated fund of £30,000 has been set up and earmarked by the Trustees to contribute to expected office relocation costs in 2027.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees for the year to 31 March 2025 (continued)
c) Investment Policy
As of 31 March 2025, the policy of the Trustee Board is to hold sufficient of its cash assets in Bank Accounts providing immediate access to funds, whilst agreeing to hold a portion of the funds in Deposit Accounts. This approach is subject to periodic review.
Further the policy of the Trustee Board is to limit deposits with any Bank to no more than the amount provided for under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS cover £85,000), allowing for balances above £85,000 in its main operating bank account for short periods due to operational reasons.
Citizens Advice Reading was entitled to exemption from taxation on its income and capital gains to the extent that its funds were used for charitable purposes.
d) Going Concern
The financial performance and position have been summarized in the Financial Review.
The Trustees have reviewed CAR ‘s financial position and concluded that it is well-placed to meet all its obligations as they fall due for at least the twelve months up to September 2026. This position is supported by a strong cash balance, adequate reserves, a proven ability to both secure new services, and to carry out necessary cost restructuring at short notice if required.
As a result, we have adopted the going concern basis of preparation of our financial statements and conclude there is a reasonable expectation that we have enough resources to continue in operational existence for at least 12 months from the date of approval of these Financial Statements.
Plans for future periods
An annual review of our business plan identified several priorities, detailed below and in priority of delivery. These are based on the identified need and resource capacity to deliver and will inform CAR annual action plans.
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1 Service delivery - Continue to improve access and quality for clients. 2 Resources (Finance and Funding) - Maintain sound financial management. Embrace relevant and financially viable partnering & collaboration activities. Increase unrestricted income generation capacity.
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3 Resources (Infrastructure) - Ensure that: IT/telephony is secure and fit for purpose; Effective processes and support mechanisms for service delivery are in place; We are making best use of available resources and contributing to net zero agenda.
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4 Resources (People) - Champion Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and actively increase diversity within our teams. Ensure CAR retains and attracts high quality paid and voluntary applicants. Support the professional development & wellbeing of our people.
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5 Fundraising, Partnerships and Communications - Strong reputation with key stakeholders. A wider range of strong and effective partnerships. Ensure that we are a trusted voice for community-based service provision.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees for the year to 31 March 2025 (continued)
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The Trustee Board constitutes the directors for the purposes of company law.
Company law requires the directors to prepare Financial Statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing those Financial Statements the directors are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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- prepare the Financial Statements on the going-concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue to operate.
The directors are responsible for Keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracyaccountingatstandards any time the havefinancial been followedposition andof the thatcompany the Financial and to Statemenabl e n t hems complyto ensure with th ate Companies applicable Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The directors have taken advantage, in the preparation of their report, of the special exemptions applicable to small companies provided by Part II of Schedule 8 to the Companies Act 2006. This report was approved by the Trustee Board and signed on its behalf.
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lan Curtis-Nye 25 September 2025 Chair of Trustees Citizens Advice Reading
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
| report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for year ended 31st March 2025, which are set out on pages 9 to 18.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity Trustees of the 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 company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, | report in respect of my examination of your company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination | have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement Since the company's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. | confirm that | am qualified to undertake the examination because | am a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
| have completed my examination. | confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records;or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts 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 accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
| 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. (artobiiler, 6" October 2025 Rachel Eden Holybrook Accountants, 1st Floor, Pinnacle Building, Tudor Road,
Reading, RG1 1NH.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Statement of Financial Activities Year to 31 March 2025 (including income and expenditure account)
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|Note|Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Funds|||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Funds|
|Funds|Funds|2025|Funds|Funds|2024|
|£|£|£|£|£|£|
|INCOME|FROM|
|Donations|and|legacies|2|64,722|64,722|102,831|-|102,831|
|Investments|3|12,055|12,055|9,984|-|9,984|
|Charitable|Activities|4|124,161|756,454|880,615|132,450|613,455|745,905|
|Other Income|-|-|-|-|-|-|
|TOTAL INCOME|200,938|756,454|957,392|245,265|613,455|858,720|
|EXPENDITURE|ON|
|Raising Funds|5|19,313|19,313|34,033|-|34,033|
|Charitable|Activities:|6|
|Staff Costs|7|72,834|617,620|690,454|140,321|478,717|619,038|
|SupportPremises costsCosts|8|18,3276,743|102,89144,819|121,21851,562|26,7157,859|76,66822,084|103,38329,943|
|Payments|to|Third|Parties|9|-|36,296|36,296|5,000|68,524|73,524|
|TOTAL EXPENDITURE|117,217|801,626|918,843|213,928|645,993|859,921|
|NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)|10|83,721|(|45,172)|38,549|31,337|(|32,538)|(1,201)|
|TRANSFERS|BETWEEN|FUNDS|11|(|44,126)|44,126|-|(|28,255)|28,255|-|
|NET MOVEMENT IN|FUNDS|39,594|(|1,045)|38,549|3,081|(|4,282)|(|1,201)|
|RECONCILIATION|OF|FUNDS:|
|TOTAL FUNDS BROUGHT FORWARD|229,594|26,263|255,857|226,513|30,545|257,058|
|eee|eee|
|TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD|269,188|25,218|294,406|229,594|26,263|255,857|
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All of the above results for the years ended 31 March 2025 and 31 March 2024 are derived from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 12 to 18 form part of these financial statements.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025
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|2025|2024|
|Note|£|£|
|Fixed|assets|
|Tangible|Assets|12|-|-|
|Current|assets|
|Debtors|13|86,102|52,953|
|Cash|at|bank|and|in|hand|288,492|327,433|
|374,594|380,386|
|Less:|Liabilities|
|Amounts|falling|due|within|one|14|(|80,188)|(|124,529)|
|year|
|NET CURRENT ASSETS|294,406|255,857|
|TOTAL ASSETS|LESS|CURRENT|LIABILITIES|—_294,406|—255,857|
|Funds of the Charity|15|
|Designated|fund|(office|relocation)|30,000|-|
|Unrestricted|funds|239,188|229,594|
|Restricted|funds|25,218|26,263|
|——|
|TOTAL|—_—_____.|
|FUNDS|294,406|255,857|
|The|
|directors|are satisfied|that the company|is entitled|to exemption form the requirements to|
|obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 and that members have not required the|
|company to obtain an audit|in accordance with section 476 of|the Act.|
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The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to small companies regime.
These accounts were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf.
Ian Curtis-Nye — Chair
Wy Andrew Edger — Treasurer
25 September 2025
25 September 2025
Date Date
Company Registration Number: 02967121 Charity Registration Number: 1042542
The notes on pages 12 to 18 form part of these financial statements.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
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Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31 March 2025
Reconciliation of increase in funds to net cash flow from operating activities
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Increase (Decrease) in funds | 38,549 | 13,799 |
| Depreciation charge | - | - |
| Decrease/(increase ) in debtors | ( 48,149) | ( 25,224) |
| (Decrease)/ Increase in creditors | ( 29,341) | ( 137,897) |
| Interest received | ( 12,055) | ( 9,984) |
| Net cash flow from operating activities | (50,996) | (159,306) |
| Cash flow statement | ||
| Netcash flowfromoperatingactivities | (50,996) | ( 159,306) |
| Investingactivities | ||
| Interest received | 12,055 | 9,984 |
| Fixed assets addition | - | - |
| Increase /(Decrease) incash | (38,941) | (149,322) |
| Movement in cash | ( 38,941) | ( 149,322) |
| Net cash 1 April | 327,433 | 476,755 |
| Netcashat31March | 288,492 | 327,433 |
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The notes on pages 12 to 18 form part of these financial statements.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee) Notes to the Financial Statements Year to 31 March 2025
1. Accounting policies
The following accounting policies have been used in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Bureau’s financial statements.
Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared on an accruals basis and include income and expenditure as they are earned or incurred, rather than as cash is paid and received. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1st October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.”
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The accounts include all transaction, assets and liabilities for which the Charity is responsible for. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
Income
- i) Recognition of Incoming Resources These are included in the statement of financial activities when: - the charity becomes entitled to the resources; - the trustees are virtually certain that they will receive the resources; and
ii)
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Grants and- donationsthe monetary value can be measured with reasonable accuracy. Grants are only included in the statement of financial activities when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
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iii) Gifts in kind Gifts in kind are accounted for when receivable, at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity.
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iv) Investment income Bank and building society interest is included in the statement of financial activities when receivable except for the interest from our Flagstone Portal which is accrued.
c) Expenditure and liabilities Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources. d) Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity are capitalised if they can be used by the charity for more than one year and cost at least £1,000. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt. Assets costing less than £1,000 are written off in the year of acquisition. Fixtures, fittings and equipment (none of which individually cost more than £1,000) have been purchased during the year in the total amounting to £9,831 (2024 £3,475)
e) Depreciation
Depreciation has been provided at the following rates in order to write off the assets over their estimated useful lives IT Equipment 3 years straight line Other furniture and equipment 5 years straight line
f) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Expenditure which meets these criteria is allocated to the fund, together with a fair allocation of support costs.
g) Debtors and Creditors Debtors and creditors receivable or payable within one year are recognised at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Notes to the Financial Statements Year to 31 March 2025
||Unrestricted|Restricted|2025 Total | Unrestricted|2025 Total | Unrestricted|Restricted|2024 Total||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds||
||£|£|£|E|£|£||
|2 INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES||||||||
|Benefit in Kind|55,000|-|55,000|55,000|-|55,000||
|Reading B. Council, provision of Premises occupied||||||||
|by Citizens Advice Reading on a Rent Free Basis (see|also Note 19)|||||||
|Corporate|||||||:|
|London Legal|2,336|-|2,336|3,698|-|3,698||
|TDK Epcos (UK) Ltd.|360|-|360|500|-|500|;|
|Vodafone|-|-|-|2,072|-|2,072|;|
|TrustFunds andOtherOrganisations|||||||||
|J Davy Foundation|-|-|-|34,033|-|34,033||
|Other Donations
Restricted
Unrestricted|-
7,026|-
-|-
7,026|-
7,528|-
-|-
7,528||
|
||
|GiftAid RecoveriesfromHMRC|-|-|-|-|-|-|||
||64,722|-|64,722|102,831|-|102,831|||
||||||||||
|3 INVESTMENT INCOME
InterestonBankDeposits|12,055|-|12,055|9,984|-|9,984|||
||||||||||
|4 INCOME FOR CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES|||||||||
|NLCF - GeneralistService|-|156,550|156,550|-|-|-|||
|Reading Borough Council Debt Services|96,292|-|96,292|96,292|-|96,292||
|Energy/ Financial Capability|-|-|-|-|133,614|133,614||
|Energy SavingsTrust|-|98,002|98,002|-|45,657|45,657||
|Macmillan|-|143,497|143,497|-|123,298|123,298||
|HenrySmithCharity
Help to Claim|-
-|64,083
216,319|64,083
216,319|-
-|59,417
167,229|59,417
167,229|||
|NCA Outreach / CoL Project|-|49,750|49,750|-|54,375|54,375||
|SNAP2 / red cross
Others
TOTAL|-
27,869
124,161|-
28,253
756,454|-
56,122
880,615|-
36,158
132,450|29,865
-
613,455|29,865
36,158
745,905||
||
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Notes to the Financial Statements Year to 31 March 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | Unrestricted | Restricted | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | |
| £ | E | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| 5 COSTS OF RAISING FUNDS | ||||||
| COSTS OF RAISING VOLUNTARY INCOME | ||||||
| Staff Cost | 16,106 | - | 16,106 | 26,310 | - | 26,310 |
| Premises cost | 2,409 | - | 2,409 | 7,723 | - | 7,723 |
| Support costs | 798 | 798 | ||||
| TOTAL | 19,313 | - | 19,313 | 34,033 | - | 34,033 |
| Staff Costs are for two part-time staffmembers funded by J | Davy foundation. | |||||
| 6 ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | ||||||
| Year to 31 March 2025 | SNAP2 /Red | |||||
| NLFC | Macmillan | Henry Smith | RBC Debt | Cross | Help to Claim | |
| Immigration | ||||||
| Staff cost | 147,188 | 123,744 | 52,015 | 82,921 | 171,012 | |
| Premises cost | 28,088 | 20,030 | 7,618 | 14,713 | 26,837 | |
| Support cost | 13,802 | 5,474 | 1,546 | 4,220 | 16,926 | |
| Payments to Third Parties Sub-Total |
- 189,078 |
- 149,248 |
- 61,179 |
- 101,854 |
- - |
- 214,775 |
| RBC Utilities Grant |
Energy Redress |
NCAOutreach | Others | Total | ||
| Staff cost | - | 86,766 | 36,895 | ( 10,087) | 690,454 | |
| Premises cost | - | 14,295 | 6,023 | 3,614 | 121,218 | |
| Support cost PaymentstoThird Parties Sub-Total |
- 36,296 36,296 |
5,189 - 106,250 |
1,882 - 44,800 |
2,522 - (3,951) |
51,561 36,296 899,529 |
|
| Yearto31 March 2024 Staffcost Premises cost Support cost |
NLFC - - - |
Macmillan 102,725 16,997 4,792 |
Henry Smith 46,001 16,775 1,150 |
RBC Debt 108,192 22,649 5,073 |
SNAP2/Red Cross Immigratiop 33,107 3,236 2,032 |
Helpto : Claim 152,325 15,998 4,503 |
| Payments to Third Parties | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sub-Total | - | 124,514 | 63,926 | 135,914 | 38,375 | 172,826 |
| RBC Utilites | Energy | NCA | Others | Total | ||
| Grant | Redress | Outreach | ||||
| Staffcost | 47,807 | 50,352 | 46,400 | 32,129 | 619,038 | |
| Premises cost | 13,572 | 5,980 | 4,110 | 4,066 | 103,383 | |
| Support cost PaymentstoThird Parties Sub-Total |
3,711 68,524 133,614 |
3,234 - 59,566 |
2,662 - 53,172 |
2,786 5,000 43,981 |
29,943 73,524 825,888 |
|
| 7STAFFANDVOLUNTEERCOSTS | Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 Total | Unrestricted | Restricted | |
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Wages and Salaries | 52,958 | 477,858 | 530,816 | 124,595 | 425,065 | 549,660 |
| Social Security Costs | 15,460 | 108,711 | 124,171 | 9,053 | 30,883 | 39,936 |
| Other Pension Costs (Note 16) | 3,048 | 21,430 | 24,478 | 5,178 | 17,664 | 22,842 |
| Other Staffing Costs | - | |||||
| Paid Staff (expenses, recruitment, training) | 919 | 6,462 | 7,381 | 1,138 | 3,884 | 5,022 |
| Volunteers (expenses) | 449 | 3,159 | 3,608 | 358 | 1,220 | 1,578 |
| Redundancy Payments | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| TOTAL | 72,834 | 617,620 | 690,454 | 140,322 | 478,716 | 619,038 |
As at 31 March 2025 the number of staff employed was 33 (= 23.5 Full Time Equivalent). The corresponding numbers as at 31st March 2024 were 28 (= 21.5 Full Time Equivalent). No employee earned more than £60,000 in the current or preceding year. The pay of the Key Manager during the year was £40,700 (2024: £44,387) No trustee received a salary during the year (2024: Nil) One Trustee received expenses of £50 in the year ending 3ist March 2024 (31st March 2024: Nil)
14
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Notes to the Financial Statements Year to 31 March 2025
8 SUPPORT COSTS
The charity allocates its support costs as shown in the table below. Both Independent Examination and AGM Expenses are treated as Governance costs; all Consulting costs are allocated directly to the relevant Project; whilst General Office and Payroll costs are charged on a basis consistent with the use of resources. The method of support cost allocation in the current year is unchanged from that used in the prior year.
| General | Governance | 2025Total | General | Governance | 2024Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| support | support | |||||
| E | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Independent Examination | 1,050 | 1,050 | - | 990 | 990 | |
| AGM Expenses | 140 | 140 | - | 108 | 108 | |
| General office | 39,830 | 35 | 39,865 | 20,184 | 13 | 20,197 |
| Payroll cost | 1,752 | 1,752 | 1,286 | - | 1,286 | |
| Consulting | 8,755 | 8,755 | 7,362 | - | 7,362 | |
| Depreciation | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 50,337 | 1,225 | 51,562 | 28,832 | 1,111 | 29,943 |
Support costs includes £44,819 (2024: £22,084) of restricted expenditure 9 PAYMENTS TO THIRD PARTIES The Energy Voucher Scheme Contract includes £36,296 which represents the total cost of Energy Vouchers and Energy Efficency items distributed to those local clients identified as being eligible to receive them. 10 NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR THE YEAR YEAR 2025 2024
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10 NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR THE YEAR YEAR 2025 2024
This is stated afterDepreciationcharging: £ ~ £ -
11 [FUND] [TRANSFER] Independent examination 1,050 990
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Transfers to (and from) restricted funds are made at the discretion of the Trustees. Transfers from unrestricted funds of £35,989 were made resulting in a net transfer of £35,9889 to restricted funds (please see note 15).
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12 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS 2025 2024
Cost £ £
Cost at 1 April 2024 - -
Additions - -
At 31 March 2025 - ”
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024 - -
Charge for the year - -
Net Book ValueAt 31 March 2025 - -
AtAt 3131 MarchMarch 20242025 -- --
2025 2024
13 DEBTORS £ £
Funding Payments outstanding 75,396 43,941
Prepayments 8,547 4,692
Other debtors 2,160 4,320
86,103 52,953
14 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Taxation and social security 11,380 10,803
Employment Tribunal hearing - 15,000
Other creditors 12,097 6,293
Accruals 1,294 1,213
Funding payments received in advance 55,417 91,220
80,188 124,529
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Notes to the Financial Statements Year to 31 March 2025
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|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|15|MOVEMENT|IN|FUNDS|
|Year|to|31|March|2025|As|at|31st|Incoming|Outgoing|Transfers|As|at|31st|
|March|2024|Resources|Resources|2024/25|March|2025|
|RESTRICTED|FUNDS|£|£|£|£|£|
|Energy|Redress|-|98,002|106,250|8,248|-|
|Help|to|Claim|-|216,319|214,775|1,544|
|Henry|Smith|Charity|-|64,083|61,178|2,905|
|NLCF|-|156,550|189,078|32,528|-|
|Macmillan|12,230|143,497|149,249|6,478|
|NCA|Outreach|/|CoL|1,203|49,750|44,799|6,154|
|RBC|Utilities|/Winter|Grant|12,830|28,253|36,296|(|4,787)|-|
|TOTAL RESTRICTED|FUNDS|26,263|756,454|801,625|35,989|17,081|
|UNRESTRICTED|FUNDS|
|General|Fund|229,594|200,938|117,218|(|35,989)|277,325|
|TOTAL UNRESTRICTED|FUNDS|229,594|200,938|117,218|(|35,989)|277,325|
|TOTAL FUNDS|255,857|957,392|918,843|“|294,406|
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CURRENT RESTRICTED FUND PROJECTS
Energy Redress: funded by the Energy Trust this project delivers energy advice and support to vulnerable consumers with energy issues. Contract Terminates August 2025.
Help to Claim Project: funded via the Government and administered centrally by National Citizens Advice; the Help to Claim service offers support with making a new claim for Universal Credit. This replaces support previously provided by local authorities. Contract terminates no earlier than December 2025.
Henry Smith Project: the Henry Smith Charity provides funding for a Benefit Caseworker and Supervisor to provide specialist benefit advice. Contract terminates September 2026.
NLCF: funded via the National Lottery Community Fund, this general advice project has enabled Citizens Advice Reading to provide an open door service three days per week. Contract terminates March 2027
Macmillan: funded by Macmillan Cancer Support this service provides advice on benefit entitlements for cancer sufferers and their families. Extended Contract terminates December 2025.
NCA Outreach: orginally funded by National Citzens Advice, but now by a range of smaller grants to provide advice add outreach locations within Reading. Grants in place to March 2026.
RBC Debt: funded by Reading Borough Council this services provides advice on debt for Reading residents and their families. Contract terminates October 2025.
RBC Utilities - with money provided from RBC this Fuel Voucher Scheme provided additional help for people facing hardship. Terminated August 2024.
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|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Year to|31|March|2025|Tangible|Net|Current|Total|
|Fixed|Assets|Assets|
|£|£|£|
|Restricted|Income|Funds|
|MacMillan|-|6,478|6,478|
|NCA|Outreach|project|-|6,154|6,154|
|Henry|Smith|Charity|-|2,905|2,905|
|Help|to|Claim|-|1,544|1,544|
|Unrestricted|Funds|
|Designated|Fund|-|-|-|
|General|Fund|-|277,325|277,325|
|Totals|-|294,406|294,406|
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Totals
16
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Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
Notes to the Financial Statements Year to 31 March 2025
| Year to 31 March 2024 | As at | 31st | Incoming | Outgoing | Transfers | As at | 31st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 2023 | Resources | Resources | 2023/24 | March | 2024 | |
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Energy Redress | - | 45,657 | 59,566 | 13,909 | - | ||
| Help to Claim | - | 167,229 | 172,826 | 5,597 | - | ||
| Henry Smith Charity | 3,169 | 59,417 | 63,925 | 1,339 | - | ||
| Macmillan | 13,446 | 123,298 | 124,514 | - | 12,230 | ||
| NCA Outreach / CoL | - | 54,375 | 53,172 | - | 1,203 | ||
| RBC Utilities /Winter Grant | 12,830 | 133,614 | 133,614 | - | 12,830 | ||
| Red Cross - Immigration SNAP | 1,100 | 29,865 | 38,375 | 7,410 | - | ||
| TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS | 30,545 | 613,455 | 645,992 | 28,255 | 26,263 | ||
| UNRESTRICTED FUNDS | |||||||
| General Fund | 226,513 | 230,265 | 198,929 | ( 28,255) | 229,594 | ||
| TOTALUNRESTRICTED FUNDS | 226,513 | 230,265 | 198,929 | (28,255) | 229,594 | ||
| TOTALFUNDS | 257,058 | 843,720 | 859,921 | - | 255,857 | ||
| Yearto31 March 2024 | Tangible FixedAssets £ |
NetCurrent Assets £ |
Total £ |
||||
| Restricted Income Funds | |||||||
| MacMillan | - | 12,230 | 12,230 | ||||
| NCA Outreach project | - | 1,203 | 1,203 | ||||
| RBC Utilities Grant Unrestricted Funds |
- | 12,830 | 12,830 | ||||
| Designated Fund | - | - | - | ||||
| General Fund | - | 229,594 | 229,594 | ||||
| Totals | ~ | 255,857 | 255,857 |
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17
Citizens Advice Reading (Limited by Guarantee)
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Notes to the Financial Statements Year to 31 March 2025
17 PENSION FUND
The company operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of paid employees. The assets of the scheme are administered in a fund independent from those of the company.
The pension cost charge for the year payable by the company was £25,046 (2023/24: £22,841)
18 OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|At|the|year|end|the|charity|had|annual|commitments|under|non-cancellable|
|Operating|lease|agreements|as|follows:-|Total|Total|
|2025|2024|
|Operating|leases|which|expire|£|£|
|Within|one|year|-|-|
|Within|two|to|five|years|3,152|4,502|
|19|BENEFIT|IN|KIND|
|The|premises|used|by|Citizens|Advice|Reading|(with|an|revised|assessed|Rental|Value|of|£55,000|p.a.)|are,|
|and|have|been,|provided to the Charity as a|“Benefit|in|Kind” by Reading|Borough|Council|and|is shown|as|
|"Voluntary|Income”|within|the|SOFA.|
|In|turn|this|total|cost|is|re-apportioned|to|each|of|our|various|Projects|—|using|an|allocation|formula|based|
|upon|a|corresponding|estimate|of|relevant|floor|usage|during|the|Financial|Year.|The|total|Premises|cost|
|shown within the SOFA (2024/25:|£ 121,218)|incorporates this £55,000 cost.|
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20 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
There were no related party transactions during 2024/25; nor were there any in the previous year. 21 TRUSTEE DONATIONS
Trustees have made small Donations to the Charity in both 2024/25 and the previous year. These donations are already included within the "Other Donations - Unrestricted" figures totalling £7,026 (2023/24 £7,528) detailed in Note 2.
Of these, identifiable donations from Trustees in 2024/25 amounted to £140 (2023/24: £190)
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