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2024-03-31-accounts

Company no. 03107835 Charity no. 1049945

The Brigstowe Project Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2024

Impact Report 2023/2024

4 FAST-TRACK CITIES

“My worker is very lovely and not just them, Brigstowe. My family is not here, I was born in Africa. When I was diagnosed with HIV, they (Brigstowe) helped me all the way.”

– Advice & Support Client

“I was a bit lost, so I feel like I’m back on track with making decisions and being comfortable with my status. With all the tips, support, and options I was given.”

– HIV Peer Mentee

” I’ve grown very much as a person. I’ve learned many things from all my mentees…. They all came from different countries. It’s very enriching to know their cultures and experiences.”

– HIV Peer Mentor

“Seeing the billboards, with a positive message that slaps stigma into oblivion, made my heart soar and beat with hope. I’m used to hearing negative and ignorant opinions on HIV, so it made me grin seeing people’s faces proudly filling an HIV ribbon not hiding.”

- Young person living with HIV

A message from our Chief Executive

It has been another difficult year for the people who use our services, which has resulted in people accessing support more than ever before. We have had more referrals to our Advice & Support Service and our Migrant Service than in previous years due to a variety of factors, including the continued cost of living crisis and people coming to the UK on work visas. We have also had more referrals for our Peer Mentoring Service and greater take-up of our HIV Awareness Training.

I am always delighted to see the incredible outcomes we achieve, which are highlighted in this Impact Report. Towards the end of the year, we commissioned an independent midterm evaluation of our Positive Voices services, which includes feedback from 14 people involved in the service and has generated many recommendations for how to drive the service forward. I would like to say a huge thank you to staff and volunteers who work so hard to deliver our services which receive great feedback from clients and partnership organisations. We are never complacent and know that there is always room for improvement. You can see the full and abbreviated evaluations on our website.

During a very busy period, we managed to secure new premises to rent. Our office is on the ground floor and is fully accessible. We have significantly more space, allowing all staff to be located in one office, enabling effective collaboration. We have also gained a reception area and doubled the number of meeting rooms to four, which includes a training/board room. This new space will not only allow us to provide a better service to our clients, but also a welcoming and comfortable space to receive people and host group activities. We are grateful to The Clothworkers’ Foundation for their £5,000 grant towards the cost of furnishing the new office.

Thanks to a significant grant of £22,642 from Bristol City Council’s Community Resilience Fund, we have been able to renew a lot of our IT equipment and phones to ensure that staff can work efficiently and enable hybrid working. This grant also covered the costs for a complete redesign of our website, which is currently being worked on. The new website will be specifically designed with mobile phone users in mind as we know many clients access our website using mobile devices.

Local authority funding is a crucial element in the process of securing the future of our services and has therefore been a significant focus during this period. In addition, costs rose further during the year. As a result, the gap between expenditure and funding continues to widen. We are very grateful for the funding we receive from charitable

trusts, companies, and of course, individuals, which helps us address some of this shortfall.

Addressing health inequalities continues to be an essential element of all the work we do. Common Ambition Bristol continues to break new ground, increasing HIV testing and reducing stigma amongst African & Caribbean communities, with our monthly community clinics at two venues now working at full capacity. All of our HIV support services are improving the quality of life for people living with HIV who remain disproportionately affected by poverty and mental health issues. We have also undertaken many initiatives to tackle HIV stigma, from our billboard campaign, to working with the police to develop an e-learning module for their officers.

We are working to improve equity, diversity and inclusion within Brigstowe with various initiatives, such as staff and volunteer training on neurodiversity which was delivered by a speaker with lived experience. We also overhauled our recruitment processes to identify ways to reach more diverse communities and be more inclusive.

We are continuing to develop the services offered by The Peer Partnership, which aims to spread the adoption of peer support for people with long-term health conditions and protected characteristics. We have now developed a brochure of our services, which include training, consultancy and service delivery options.

I would like to finish by expressing my sincere gratitude to staff, volunteers, trustees, clients, funders and partners on whom we rely to deliver our services. With your help, we are enhancing the quality of life for our beneficiaries, supporting them to live long and healthy lives, free from poverty, stigma, prejudice and discrimination.

Rami Ghali, CEO

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Who are our Service Users?

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North Somerset
7
During this South
financial year 22 Gloucestershire
we supported
Where do
they live? 210 30 Other
26 9
Bristol
clients
Non-Binary
3%
35-44 45-54
26%
28%
Age Male 51% Gender
17%
19%
46%
55-64
25-34
5% 5% Female
18-24 65+
Black British/Other
Asian Gay/Lesbian
3%
African Other
8% Heterosexual
1%
60% 30%
40%
Ethnic
Sexuality
Group 33%
White
10%
1%
12%
2%
Mixed
Bisexual
Heritage
Caribbean Latin American
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy and Action Plan 2023-26

The first year of our new EDI Strategy and Action Plan is complete! And what a year it’s been – we’ve been keeping equity, diversity and inclusion at the forefront of our minds with everything we do, and whilst we still have more we want to achieve, we are proud of our accomplishments so far. Here are some of the things we’ve been doing:

Our table of objectives for years 2 and 3 can be found below, and we will report back again each year to let you know how it’s going. If you have any thoughts or ideas on any of the above, we’d love to hear from you, so please email info@brigstowe.org.

YEAR 1 – 2023/24

YEAR 2 – 2024/25

YEAR 3 – 2025/26

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Advice and Support Service

Our Advice and Support Service can help with a range of matters from finances to housing to employment. The service can be accessed by anyone living with or affected by HIV as many times as they need. We offer a person-centred service, which can range from one-off advice to regular meetings for those who need ongoing support. We aim to improve the quality of life and independence of those we assist.

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Number of Service Users:
162
Obtained a total of
Positive Positive Positive outcomes Increasing
housing financial accessing rights access to £167,861.14
outcomes: outcomes: and entitlements: work:
through welfare
54 129 112 6 benefits and grants
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“I value all the service I received; I am really really very happy with it. Imagine if this place wasn’t here, where could I run to, to get the best support like I am getting now? Thank you so much for your best service!”

“I’m in a much better place, my worker helped with accommodation, they helped me - I was pregnant and under a lot of stress. They signposted me to the support that I needed”

Engagement Support Service (ESS)

Working in close partnership with the HIV Clinic at Southmead Hospital, the service supports clients whose viral load, poor attendance at the clinic, and lack of adherence to medication put their health at risk. Entering its third year, we continue to receive a consistent number of referrals into service (approx. 25-30 per year) and have once again achieved the goal of ensuring at least 60% of our clients become undetectable and improve their clinic

attendance rates. This year, there has been a new aspect to the service’s partnership with the HIV Clinic. We started attempting to locate patients who had become “Lost to Follow Up” (LFTU). This means individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV but at some point have stopped attending their appointments. The exact number of patients who had previously received HIV healthcare but then stopped communicating, attending or even showing up on GP records is unknown. However, of the 6 LTFU cases referred this year, 4 were returned to healthcare, with intervention often coming at a critical time.

Engagement

Obtaining initial engagement from clients can be challenging, by definition. But thanks to the length of support potentially available, we have seen a reduction in both voluntary withdrawals from support, as well as cases closed due to persistent non-engagement.

Michael, Engagement Support Worker

At least 29 clients successfully engaged with clinic

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Outcomes

U=U (Undetectable Viral Load = Untransmittable Virus)

As ever, the primary goal with all clients is to achieve or maintain an undetectable viral load. While two-thirds of those in the service have achieved this, even those additional six cases who still have a detectable viral load have yielded benefits, with more regular blood monitoring and sexual health screenings provided.

At least clients have achieved an undetectable viral load 16

Attendance

Nearly ALL clients have shown considerable improvements in attendance, and in certain circumstances have been able to reduce their hospital visits by receiving routine tests at their GP surgery, instead.

Spotlight

Lost To Follow Up HIV cases across the UK were very much in the spotlight this year, and Brigstowe’s Engagement Support Service hosted an online event bringing together clinicians, support organisations and the UK’s Health Security Agency to share the latest developments and best practices. But the critical need for this work was perhaps best demonstrated by the amazing transformations witnessed in those clients who successfully re-engaged with their health care.

Case Study - *George

Case Study - *George George is a pensioner who has chosen to decline HIV related support since his diagnosis over 20 years ago, due to events which led to bereavement, poor mental health, alcohol misuse and a diagnosis of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). He has also declined all HIV medication for several years, and recently hit a crisis point when an unrelated injury saw him admitted to hospital for many weeks. This created an opportunity, however, for clinical staff to identify where he was after years of being “lost”, and for our ESS worker to develop a relationship through countless hospital visits. During these sessions, George not only agreed to go back on medication but was supported in his first visit to the HIV Clinic for several years, voluntarily dispensed with his substance-replacement treatment - and even felt comfortable sharing his personal HIV story with non-HIV staff – despite the trauma-inducing emotions it provoked for so long.

*George is not the client’s real name – it has been changed to protect anonymity

Migrant and Asylum Support Service

This is a specialist, immigration-related service for individuals living with HIV who are in the UK on visas or seeking asylum, including those who have been trafficked. 2023-24 has seen a marked increase in clients seeking help, including many on skilled-worker visas working in the care sector. We offer a safe, confidential, supportive space with ongoing emotional and practical support.

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33 [Clients ]
worked
with
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Clients were granted leave as a result of our worker referring them to solicitors, helping to gather evidence for their cases, and contacting MPs to expedite cases.

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12 Clients were supported in accessing education, volunteering, or employment.

Clients saw a reduction in poverty.

22

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Case Study – *Kisi A trafficking victim, Kisi’s asylum claim was severely delayed by the Home Office (HO). They admitted their housing was unsuitable, paid compensation and moved her to a self-contained flat. We helped her speed up the HO Asylum decision, getting medical evidence and engaging a solicitor. When Asylum was granted, she had no choice but to apply as homeless to the council. They accepted a duty to house her due to her poor mental health, albeit in a shared house. Kisi experienced verbal abuse and intimidation from the other women staying there. We helped get medical evidence and challenged the council’s decision, engaging a solicitor. The council accepted our arguments, and she was moved to a self-contained flat. Kisi says she is happy there, saying “it’s quiet and peaceful, I can sleep again at night… you helped me so much I can’t remember it all… thank you!”

*Kisi is not her real name. This has been changed to protect anonymity.

Positive Voices

This service encompasses a range of different programmes all designed and delivered with people living with HIV to help support their peers and raise awareness of HIV. Learning to live with HIV can be difficult and even overwhelming at times. It can help to speak to someone who has been in

the same position and experienced similar challenges.We want to say a huge thank you to all of our volunteer Peer Mentors, Peer Facilitators and our Positive Speakers for their unwavering passion and dedication to supporting people living with HIV.

One-to-One Peer Mentoring

Our One-to-One Peer Mentoring Service enables individuals to meet regularly with a mentor who is living well with HIV. They can share experiences, provide emotional support, and discuss coping strategies in a safe and confidential space.

We have continued to provide Clinic Peer Support at the HIV Clinic in Southmead Hospital. This service involves a peer mentor being present in a private room at the HIV Clinic offering peer support and taking referrals for Brigstowe and the Terrence Higgins Trust. We have a fortnightly presence and we and our mentors are working closely with the clinicians to maximise referrals.

8 Active Peer Mentors

Mentees accessed and completed mentoring 12 Active Clinic Mentors 2 of clinic sessions have resulted 50%

of clinic sessions have resulted in a referral to Brigstowe’s services

All In Peer Support Group

All In is our HIV Peer Support Group run in partnership with the Terrence Higgins Trust. It is made up of social events and HIV-focused workshops, all of which have been either delivered or co-delivered by Peer Facilitators who are living with HIV.

Social HIV-focused Active Peer Attendees 4 Events 3 sessions 5 Facilitators 83

“The workshop really helped me to be confident and to put myself first above everyone else” – HIV Workshop Attendee

“I love coming to the summer get-together – there is always a feeling of togetherness and familiarity. I get to meet new friends and see old friends. It was an excellent day and could not be any better.” – Social Event Attendee

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Peer Support Self-Reported Outcomes

(One-to-One Peer Mentoring and All In Peer Support Group)

HIV Awareness Training

HIV-related stigma is one of the main challenges facing people living with HIV. This training busts myths, dispels fear and educates participants so people living with HIV can live in a world that doesn’t discriminate.

Although we offer both in-person and online training, all our training this year was delivered face-to-face. As always, our sessions have continued to be well received and our Positive Speaker’s testimonies continue to be a particular highlight as many participants outline in their feedback.

We are also really happy to say we presented at the HIV Stigma Symposium in March 2024, hosted by HIV Prevention England. This annual conference brings together experts, activists, healthcare professionals, and affected individuals to discuss the impact of HIV stigma and explore effective stigma reduction strategies. The title of our presentation was ‘Tackling HIVrelated stigma in Healthcare Using a University-Based Approach’ where we presented the outcomes achieved and feedback attained from the relevant training sessions.

The session was really well received and we have been invited to present the same presentation at the main annual HIV Prevention England Conference in London, September 2024.

100% reported the Positive Speaker was effective or very effective at raising the issues people living with HIV face. 94% reported an increase in knowledge of how to get an HIV test 11 sessions delivered 94% reported an increase in knowledge and understanding of HIV issues 88% reported a positive change in attitude around HIV issues

“From today’s training, I have a better understanding of how HIV is transmitted, and it has got rid of any leftover fear in me towards HIV.” – HIV Awareness Training Participant.

“My general awareness and knowledge have improved, so will feel more able to challenge providers when difficult issues come up regarding delivering care to someone who lives with HIV.” – HIV Awareness Training Participant.

88

Common Ambition Bristol (CAB)

Common Ambition Bristol is a community-powered project led by Brigstowe and the African Voices Forum (AVF), working in partnership with Unity Sexual Health, Bristol City Council and the University of Bristol to improve HIV and sexual health services for people of African and Caribbean heritage in Bristol.

CAB Community Testing Clinic

We launched our second dedicated sexual health testing clinic for African and Caribbean heritage communities in Bristol at Montpelier Health Centre in July 2023. Along with the already established monthly CAB clinic at Charlotte Keel Surgery, the launch of our second clinic has given CAB a presence in two significant areas of Bristol on fixed dates that the community can rely on. The monthly CAB clinics offer HIV and STI testing, advice , condoms & same day PrEP service. A total of 120 people have visited the clinic to get tested.

Community Engagement

The outreach team have continued to work hard this year to further gain community trust and the success is evident in the thirty plus African and Caribbean heritage (ACH) businesses where weekly outreach sessions have taken place. The team have tackled HIV stigma and shared HIV knowledge regarding testing and PrEP. Our aim is to help customers and staff to discuss HIV, sexual health, testing options and PrEP so that they feel more motivated and confident on how and where to access sexual health services. Outreach provided sexual health testing role models, distributed instant HIV self-tests and CAB condoms and promoted the CAB website and clinic. We have also delivered a number of events and workshops on sexual health which include an event run by the African and Caribbean Society at UWE, full barbershop takeovers as well an African day festival known as Afrifest where we delivered HIV awareness in a social space where HIV was openly discussed.

Dissemination and Awards

There have been many highlights this year for CAB in terms of recognition, making our work feel valued and recognised. We are proud to have already been shortlisted as finalists for the following awards this past year:

We have also really enjoyed disseminating the work of CAB, for example:

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“This information that Common Ambition is doing is great. Now they’re coming to the people … Lots of Black people didn’t know about these PrEP or all these medications. Common Ambition is an improvement because at least they’re going out and letting people know, you know, letting us know that you can access this medication. You can access this information. As I said, I’ve never really gone to the local doctor out there or whatever that much, if at all to be honest. So I think like this” Male, 41, Caribbean heritage.

“I feel like you guys should please continue to do what you do. You’re really helping a lot of people, and I’m just one person. So, I feel like you just need to continue doing what you’re doing. And whoever is funding it is doing a good job” Female, 38, African heritage.

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Fundraising and Campaigns
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£4,376 – Bristol 10k
£4,935 – Regular
& Half Marathon
giving from our
“Friends of Brigstowe”
£29,102
raised made up of:
£11,092 – Donations
£8,699 – World
from Individuals,
AIDS Day
organisations
and trusts
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World AIDS Day

1 Headline Sponsor – Bristol Health Partners

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Lunch & Learns – Airbus, Galson Sciences Ltd, Jacobs, The Bridge

2

7

City Takeovers – Big thank you to Break Out Voices and Bristol Show Choir for fundraising at Broadmead and Bristol Temple Meads

Community Fundraisers – Amazing support from all the Bristol LGBTQ+ venues, Don’t Tell Your Mother, Out 2 Swim Bristol AND The Phoenix collectively raised over £6,000!

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Events – Our Stories Told By Us, Red Ribbon Flag Raising, Radio Appearance, Training, Remembrance Vigil and WAD Celebration

Brigstowe would like to pay tribute to all the individuals who had the courage to share their personal experiences during our 2023 World AIDS Day celebrations.

e@ Billboard Campaign

Following the success of last year’s campaign, we developed this and ran a 2nd billboard campaign. We wanted to use real faces this time showing the diverse community of Bristolians who unite and connect within the red ribbon. We introduced the word “Undetectable” and utilised the World Health Organisation’s campaign of “Say Zero”. The final design was co-produced with the community, Brigstowe Volunteers and the Fast Track Cities Tackling Stigma Workstream.

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Impact of the Billboard Campaign

“It has been terrific to witness the impact of the HIV awareness campaign in Bristol’s public spaces. They open up conversation, they remind people that life with HIV is no longer a death sentence. I’ve had friends and family point out how effective they are. It’s also a massive affirmation for all Bristolians affected by HIV.” – Dr Catherine Dodds, University of Bristol.

Fast-Track Cities Bristol Initiative

In year 4 of our Action Plan, Brigstowe continues to co-chair the Tackling Stigma Workstream of Fast-Track Cities Bristol alongside CHIVA.

Bristol is currently achieving:

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FAST-TRACK CITIES ;—
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Tackling Stigma Workstream Achievements in Year 4

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The Peer Partnership oO

The Peer Partnership launched in November 2020 to support the Peer development, adoption, and spread of peer support programmes in all their forms. Using many years of experience of designing and %a& Partnership implementing both one-to-one mentoring and group peer support Lived experience improving models, The Peer Partnership can support organisations to create programmes that take the lived experience of people who have gone through difficult circumstances and help them to become effective agents of change to support people struggling to live in similar situations.

The Peer Partnership provide a variety of services that can support the adoption and spread of peer support at every level, including:

Training – Delivery of a wide range of training for volunteers to have the knowledge and confidence to fulfil the role of peer worker. We also provide training workshops for professionals on how to develop peer support services, ensuring they understand the models, benefits and complexities of providing effective peer support programmes.

Consultancy – We can help organisations to deliver their own peer support programmes. We also seek opportunities to expand our existing peer support programmes by partnering with external organisations to implement new service offerings, thereby helping even more people living with long-term health conditions and protected characteristics.

Service Delivery – We design and implement peer support programmes as the foundation of our work, in order to evidence the effectiveness of peer support and continually improve our expertise.

We have launched our full service catalogue for 2023/24. This can be viewed here ~~__~~ or by scanning the QR code:

Achievements of The Peer Partnership in 2023/2024

Consultancy

In 2023/2024 we completed 3 consultancy commissions, and these organisations now have live and active peer support programmes helping their service-users explore and gain confidence in the situations they find themselves in with the support of others with lived experience.

“Clinical service and patient needs meant we wanted to provide a Long COVID peer support offer in the community. There did not appear to be another organisation that offered the same level of knowledge, comprehensive training, and flexible support like The Peer Partnership. The sheer knowledge and experience around peer support, flexibility of the different packages offered and willingness to work around our needs - and most of all The Peer Partnership’s passion for peer support, they have held our hand through the whole process and been an excellent source of guidance and steer, especially problem-solving when faced with obstacles. The Peer Partnership’s support and input has been invaluable. The Peer Partnership offer a unique and essential service like no other - to set up structured peer support, a vital offer to support people in their lives.” - Amina Adeen, Long COVID Engagement Lead, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

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“We have just launched our peer mentor service which we could not have done without the expertise and knowledge of The Peer Partnership. I had heard of projects that they had done before which were a success. Then once I met Sean and chatted to him about peer support and the services they could offer I was overwhelmingly assured by their knowledge and expertise. They supported us through every step of the journey, sharing their learning and resources from other projects which has benefitted us as an entire organisation. Not only do we have a functioning Peer mentor service, but our wider organisation has benefitted from the training, knowledge, processes, and documentation that came as part of the package. We feel that we are now in a better place to support our large volunteer network due to the work we did with the partnership I cannot recommend this service highly enough.” - Gemma Holden, Operations Manager, Bristol After Stroke.

as trans and non-binary.

Training

We provide a range of training workshops that support the development of peer support services and workshops that support best practice skills in VCSE, health and non-profit organisations.

We have delivered our workshops to over 200 participants in voluntary, health, and local authority sectors across the UK, both in-person and online. In the 2023/2024 financial year we sustained a 100% approval rating to the feedback question “would you recommend this training to others in a similar role”.

Designing Peer Support Services Skills and Best Practice Workshops

How to Design a Peer Support Boundaries in the VCSE Workplace Service How to Write a Proposal for a Peer Recognising and Responding to Support Service Challenging Behaviour How to Recruit, Supervise, and Group Dynamics and Facilitation Retain Peer Volunteers How to Engage and Maintain Introduction to Motivational Lived-Experience Voices Interviewing and Active Listening How to Run a Focus Group Goal Setting and Action Planning

“The training was excellent – the perfect mix of relaxed and informal, accessible, and personable with the confidence of experience, skills, and knowledge. Our team really responded to the trainer’s style, and everyone learnt a lot and thought about things differently as a result. It was also tailored to our specific circumstances and experiences which made it relatable and relevant and helped me translate that into new policies and procedures for our organisation.”

“The trainer was really fun, open and honest and made it easy to listen to him and didn’t feel like we were just being spoken at for the whole time like my previous experience has been in other training sessions.”

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We would like to take this opportunity to thank our funders

Become a Friend of Brigstowe Everyone needs friends and we at Brigstowe are no different.

Brigstowe, Ground Floor 40-42 Chelsea Road, Bristol, BS5 6AF

Just £10 a month (the price of a cup of coffee a week) could be used to provide transport costs to one of our most destitute clients to access community services.

Tel: 0117 9555038

Web: www.brigstowe.org

Email: info@brigstowe.org Twitter: @brigstoweinfo

Facebook: www.facebook.com/brigstowe

To donate please visit: www.brigstowe.org/donate

Support people living with HIV and help raise awareness of HIV in Bristol by making a regular monthly donation to Brigstowe.

Registered Company No: 3107835 Registered Charity No: 1049945

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The Brigstowe Project

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Company number 03107835
Charity number 1049945
Registered office and Old Coop Business Centre
operational address Ground Floor, 40-42 Chelsea road
Bristol
BS5 6AF
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:
Matthew Areskog resigned 4 September 2023
Jonathan Downing
Dominic Eastham
Vicky Harwood
David Henshaw resigned 31 March 2024
Jeremy Horwood
Mark Hubbard resigned 10 June 2024
Carole Johnson resigned 28 May 2024
Sheila Ollis
Diane Perry
Simon Purkiss
Alison Scott
Thomas Sharkey
Chief executive officer Rami Ghali
Principal bankers The Co-operative Bank
14 Broadmead
Bristol
BS1 3HH
Independent Godfrey Wilson Limited
examiners Chartered accountants and statutory auditors
5th Floor Mariner House
62 Prince Street
Bristol
BS1 4QD

15

The Brigstowe Project

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.

The Impact Report and the Reference and administrative details set out on pages 1-15 form 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).

Structure, governance and management

The Brigstowe Project is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Its objects and powers are set out in the revised Memorandum and Articles of Association adopted on 24 January 2024.

The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees.

New trustees are normally recruited through advertisements amongst the charity’s service users and the wider community, as well as through existing members’ professional and personal contacts. All appointments are based on the need for particular knowledge, skills and experience.

All trustees are members of the company. Membership of the company is open to anyone aged 18 years of age or over who lives or works in the South West of England and who is interested in promoting the objects of the charity.

The members of the company elect trustees at an annual general meeting, though trustees may coopt additional trustees to hold office until the next annual general meeting. One third of trustees must retire at each annual general meeting, but a retiring trustee who remains qualified may be reappointed.

New trustees are provided with comprehensive information covering the charity and its work, together with the roles and responsibilities that they are expected to fulfil. Throughout their tenure, all trustees are encouraged to take part in relevant training and development events (funded by the charity as appropriate).

The trustees set the charity’s policies and take all major strategic decisions. Day-to-day operational decision-making is delegated by the trustees to the Chief Executive Officer, who reports to the trustees.

The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed and systems or procedures have been established to manage those risks.

Objectives and activities

The Brigstowe Project’s objects, as amended in January 2024, are given below:

The Objects of the Charity are restricted specifically, in each case, only for the public benefit in but not limited to Bristol and the surrounding areas:

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Plans for future periods

We have plans to develop and improve our services and activities. We want to help more people and to campaign for a more equal, tolerant and fair society.

During 2024/25 we will:

Public Benefit

The trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Financial review

The charity made a surplus (net income) of £148,809 for the year (2023 - surplus of £99,748), with a surplus on unrestricted general funds of £39.815 (2023 – surplus of £7,363).

The charity’s financial position remains healthy. At the year end, short-term investments and cash totalled £739,646 (2023 - £613,957). Net current assets have increased to £687,583 (2023 - £549,895). Total funds at the year end were £702,954 (2023 - £554,145), including restricted funds of £483,885 (2023 - £374,891). It must be noted these funds include £312,911 (2023 - £242,003) of grant income recognised in advance of its budgeted expenditure on services after the year end. When assessing the financial performance and sustainability of the charity’s services, the trustees adjust for these advances to consider ‘operating surplus’:

Net income for the year as reported in the statement of financial activities
Less income recognised in advance of planned expenditure
Add income recognised in the prior year to fund current year services
Operating surplus for the year		 2024
£
148,809
312,911
188,791
24,689		 2023
£
99,748
242,003
153,941
11,686

The majority of our income is from government and institutional funders. The funders and the services they are funding are identified in notes 3, 4 and 5 of the financial statements.

The vast majority (2024 - 94%, 2023 - 96%) of the grants and donations we receive are restricted to particular services and purposes. Grants for services increased from £550,214 for the year to 31 March 2023 to £689,906 for the year to 31 March 2024. This was primarily due to increased funding received in advance for the provision of the following services: Positive Voices, Common Ambition Bristol and the Engagement Support Service. Other grants and donations have fallen to £66,260 (2023 - £97,264) due to 2023 including a one-off significant grant of £50,000 from University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trusts Unity Sexual Health Project. Nonetheless, support from the public remaining strong in the face of the continuing cost of living crisis: donations including gift aid were £28,609 (2023 - £28,882). Income from individual donors and fundraising events supports services not fully funded by government or institutional funders.

Income from charitable activities has fallen to £28,647 (2023 - £114,345), reflecting the decision of Sirona Care & Health not to renew our contracts to provide peer support to people with Type 2 Diabetes and Long Covid. This income funded the provision of those services. Any surplus, together with income from non-charitable trading and interest on bank deposits provides valuable unrestricted funding to support the development of The Peer Partnership brand and pilot projects.

The charity had £358,809 (2023 - £411,215) of investments of cash on deposit at the year end. It is the trustees’ policy to invest reserves that are not immediately required into low risk fixed-term cash deposits in order to generate interest income for the charity. Due to the short-term commitments from some of our funders, no long-term investments are made; the maximum term on any deposit is 12 months. As well as rates of return, the trustees take social, environmental and ethical considerations into account when selecting deposit accounts for investment.

18

The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2024

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the charity identified by the trustees and the related mitigations are:

These are not the only risks facing the charity. The trustees manage a risk register to monitor and manage risks.

Reserves policy

Free reserves' describes the charity's funds that are freely available to spend. It therefore excludes restricted funds (which may only be spent in accordance with the wishes of the relevant donors), any designated funds (which the trustees have committed to expend on particular assets or activities), or funds that could only be realised by disposing of fixed assets held for charity use.

The trustees view the charity's reserves as a 'buffer' to be employed in the event of unexpected costs or shortfalls in income. However, the level of reserves should not be excessive and unnecessarily limit the amount spent on charitable activities. Therefore, the trustees seek to balance the needs of future and current beneficiaries.

The trustees set the target level at which reserves should be maintained after considering:

Since the charity is reliant on relatively few donors, the loss of any one is likely to result in a major impact on the charity's operations and beneficiaries. In addition, the trustees consider that the current economic climate and budgetary pressures being experienced by the charity's government funders increase the probability of a loss of funding and difficulties in securing new funding, which has transpired in 2024 with the potential loss of a major source of local authority funding. In response to this increased funding risk, the trustees consider it prudent to maintain a higher reserve level than would be necessary in a more secure and stable funding environment.

The trustees have determined that there should be sufficient free reserves to cover between three and six months’ expenditure for each service. This means that free reserves – which exclude the value of fixed assets – should be between £168,000 and £338,000.

Free reserves as at 31 March 2024 were £212,984 (2023 - £176,866). This is within the target range. Trustees are watchful for opportunities to apply reserves in productive ways to achieve the charity’s objects.

19

The Brigstowe Project

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 £10 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 re-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 6 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by

T M Sharkey

Thomas Sharkey - Chair

20

Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

The Brigstowe Project

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Brigstowe Project (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 22 to 40.

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.

Dougal Howard

Date: 10 December 2024 Dougal Howard ACA Member of the ICAEW For and on behalf of: Godfrey Wilson Limited Chartered accountants and statutory auditors 5th Floor Mariner House 62 Prince Street Bristol BS1 4QD

21

The Brigstowe Project

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
Grants for services
3
689,906
-
Other grants and donations
4
22,642
43,618
Charitable activities
5
-
28,647
Other trading activities
6
-
16,845
Investments
-
27,595
Total income
712,548
116,705
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
-
18,217
Charitable activities
Advice and support service
146,222
-
Migrant advice and support service
50,928
-
Positive Voices
183,757
-
10,000
58,673
Common Ambition Bristol
145,064
-
Engagement support service
60,330
-
Other charitable activities
7,253
-
Total expenditure
8, 9
603,554
76,890
Net income and net movement in funds
10
108,994
39,815
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
374,891
179,254
Total funds carried forward
483,885
219,069
Peer support for non-HIV
long-term conditions		 2024
Total
£
689,906
66,260
28,647
16,845
27,595
829,253
18,217
146,222
50,928
183,757
68,673
145,064
60,330
7,253
680,444
148,809
554,145
702,954		 2023
Total
£
550,214
97,264
114,345
9,825
4,208
775,856
22,084
124,398
37,550
143,768
123,602
165,846
48,224
10,636
676,108
99,748
454,397
554,145

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 18 to the accounts.

The notes on pages 25 to 40 form part of these financial statements.

22

The Brigstowe Project Registered company number 03107835 Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 13 15,371 4,250
Current assets
Debtors 14 35,709 39,236
Investments: notice and fixed-term deposits 273,806 411,215
Cash at bank and in hand 465,840 202,742
775,355 653,193
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year 15 (87,772) (103,298)
Net current assets 687,583 549,895
Net assets 17 702,954 554,145
Funds 18
Restricted funds 483,885 374,891
General funds 219,069 179,254
Total charity funds 702,954 554,145

Total charity funds

The trustees are satisfied that the charity 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 trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for:

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

The notes on pages 25 to 40 form part of these financial statements.

Approved by the trustees on 6 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by

Dominic Eastham - Treasurer

23

The Brigstowe Project

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2024
Cash used in operating activities:
Net movement in funds
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Decrease in debtors
(Decrease) / increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Withdrawals from notice and fixed-term deposit accounts
Placed in notice and fixed-term deposit accounts
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
Cash and cash equivalents comprises:
Cash at bank and in hand		 2024
£
148,809
4,607
1,408
(27,595)
11,353
(15,526)
123,056
5,923
(17,136)
336,255
(185,000)
140,042
263,098
202,742
465,840
465,840		 2023
As restated
£
99,748
1,420
-
(4,208)
35,612
53,462
186,034
1,211
(625)
-
(137,240)
(136,654)
49,380
153,362
202,742
202,742

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

The notes on pages 25 to 40 form part of these financial statements.

24

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

The Brigstowe Project is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. The registered office address is Old Coop Business Centre, Ground Floor, 40-42 Chelsea road, Bristol, England, BS5 6AF.

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.

The Brigstowe Project 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 general funds held by the charity. There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

c) 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 comprise income received to be used for particular restricted purposes specified by the donor or when funds are raised, less associated costs.

d) 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 received in advance of entitlement is deferred until criteria for income recognition are met.

For grants without performance conditions, entitlement usually exists when a written offer of funding is received by the charity. However, where a funder has the right to suspend grant instalment payments, only the first instalment is recognised on the formal grant offer, with subsequent instalments recognised on receipt.

Grants are included as income from charitable activities where these amount to a contract for services, but as donations and legacies otherwise.

25

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued) e) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity.

f) 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.

Costs of raising funds are associated with generating income from all sources other than from undertaking charitable activities. They consist of the costs of identifying and applying for funding and the costs of other trading activities.

Charitable expenditure comprises the staff and other costs attributable to activities that contribute to the achievement of the charitable objects. Items of expenditure which contribute to the output of more than one activity are allocated to each of the activities based on estimated staff time.

g) 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 support 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 support costs have been allocated between expenditure on charitable activities based on the proportion of direct staff time by each activity as follows:

2024 2023
Raising funds 1.1% 1.5%
Charitable activities
Advice and support service 28.9% 27.2%
Migrant advice and support service 7.8% 6.9%
Positive Voices 33.3% 26.9%
Peer support for non-HIV 1.6% 13.1%
long-term conditions
Common Ambition Bristol 14.2% 12.5%
Engagement support service 13.1% 11.9%

26

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

h) Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. 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: Office equipment 25% reducing balance Fixtures and fittings 25% reducing balance

Fixed assets are reviewed for impairment where there are indications their service potential may be reduced. For example, an asset related to a specific activity will be reviewed for impairment when there are indications the activity may cease or be reduced.

i) 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.

j) Current asset investments

Current asset investments consist of balances held on deposit in interest bearing accounts. Such investments are measured at their fair value.

k) 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.

l) 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.

m) 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.

n) Pension costs

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees. The pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charity to the scheme in respect of the year. There are no further liabilities other than that already recognised in the statement of financial activities.

27

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1. Accounting policies (continued)

o) Accounting estimates and key judgements

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.

2. Prior period comparatives: statement of financial activities

Income from:
Donations and legacies
Grants for services
Other grants and donations
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Advice and support service
Migrant advice and support service
Positive Voices
Common Ambition Bristol
Engagement support service
Other charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income and net movement in funds
Peer support for non-HIV
long-term conditions		 Restricted
£
£
550,214
-
71,923
25,341
-
114,345
-
9,825
-
4,208
622,137
153,719
-
22,084
124,224
174
37,550
-
143,768
-
52
123,550
165,846
-
48,224
-
10,088
548
529,752
146,356
92,385
7,363
Unrestricted		 2023
Total
£
550,214
97,264
114,345
9,825
4,208
775,856
22,084
124,398
37,550
143,768
123,602
165,846
48,224
10,636
676,108
99,748

28

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

3. Income from donations and legacies: grants for services

Advice and support service
Bristol City Council
Henry Smith Charity
North Somerset Council
South Gloucestershire Council
Gilead Sciences Ltd
Wessex Water Community Fund
Bristol Wessex Billing Services Ltd
Other charitable trusts
Migrant advice and support service
Postcode Local Trust
Gilead Sciences Ltd
Garfield Weston Foundation
Henry Smith Charity
Quartet Foundation
Wessex Water Community Fund
Other charitable trusts
Positive Voices
National Lottery Community Fund
Bristol City Council Public Health
Henry Smith Charity
South Gloucestershire Council
Engagement support service
Bristol City Council Public Health
Gilead Sciences Ltd
Quartet Foundation
Peer support for non-HIV long-term
conditions
National Lottery Community Fund
(Awards for All)
Citizens Advice Bristol Household
Support Fund		 Restricted
£
£
79,680
-
-
-
12,393
-
11,520
-
3,000
-
2,500
-
2,500
-
500
-
2,500
-
114,593
-
20,000
-
17,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,000
-
-
-
1,900
-
44,400
-
149,318
-
54,960
-
-
-
4,937
-
209,215
-
71,187
-
-
-
71,187
-
10,000
-
Unrestricted		 2024
2023
Total
Total
£
£
79,680
79,460
-
31,532
12,393
8,228
11,520
8,960
3,000
-
2,500
-
2,500
-
500
1,320
2,500
-
114,593
129,500
20,000
-
17,500
-
-
10,000
-
10,000
-
7,737
5,000
-
-
3,000
1,900
4,181
44,400
34,918
149,318
74,925
54,960
54,016
-
10,031
4,937
3,840
209,215
142,812
71,187
18,984
-
44,000
71,187
62,984
10,000
-

29

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

3. Income from donations and legacies: grants for services (continued)

Restricted
£
£
Common Ambition Bristol
The Health Foundation
108,158
-
Bristol City Council Public Health
96,853
-
28,500
-
233,511
-
Client Welfare
7,000
-
Gilead Sciences Ltd
-
-
7,000
-
Total income from grants for services
689,906
-
All income from grants for services in the prior period was restricted.
Unrestricted
University Hospitals Bristol & Weston
NHS Foundation Trust
Citizens Advice Bristol Household
Support Fund		 2024
Total
£
108,158
96,853
28,500
233,511
7,000
-
7,000
689,906		 2023
Total
£
170,000
-
-
170,000
-
10,000
10,000
550,214

4. Income from donations and legacies: other grants and donations

Donations (including related gift aid)
Membership dues
Bristol City Council Community Resilience Fund
Garfield Weston Foundation
Total income from other grants and donations
Prior period comparative
Donations (including related gift aid)
Membership dues
Rank Foundation
Bristol Health Partners
Total income from other grants and donations
University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS
Foundation Trust (Unity Sexual Health Project)		 Restricted
£
£
-
28,609
-
9
22,642
-
-
15,000
22,642
43,618
Restricted
£
£
3,554
25,328
-
13
8,719
-
50,000
-
9,650
-
71,923
25,341
Unrestricted
Unrestricted		 2024
Total
£
28,609
9
22,642
15,000
66,260
2023
Total
£
28,882
13
8,719
50,000
9,650
97,264

30

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

5. Income from charitable activities

Restricted
£
£
Positive Voices
HIV awareness training
-
8,769
Sirona Care & Health
-
19,878
Total income from charitable activities
-
28,647
All income from charitable activities in the prior period was unrestricted.
Peer support for non-HIV long-term
conditions
Unrestricted		 2024
Total
£
8,769
19,878
28,647		 2023
Total
£
3,205
111,140
114,345
6.
Income from other trading activities
Restricted
£
£
Charges for facilities
-
-
Challenge event fees (Bristol 10k)
-
493
Other income generating activities
-
16,352
Total income from other trading activities
-
16,845
Unrestricted		 2024
Total
£
-
493
16,352
16,845		 2023
Total
£
121
666
9,038
9,825

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

7. Government grants

The charitable company receives government grants, defined as funding from Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council and The National Lottery to fund charitable activities. The total value of such grants in the period ending 31 March 2024 was £503,490 (2023: £258,413 from Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, South Gloucestershire Council and The National Lottery). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants in 2023/24.

31

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

8. Total expenditure

Costs of raising funds:
Fundraising events and applications
Costs of charitable activities:
Advice and support service
Migrant advice and support service
Positive Voices
Common Ambition Bristol
Engagement support service
Other charitable activities
Total expenditure
Prior period comparative
Costs of raising funds:
Fundraising events and applications
Costs of charitable activities:
Advice and support service
Migrant advice and support service
Positive Voices
Common Ambition Bristol
Engagement support service
Other charitable activities
Total expenditure
Peer support for other long-term
conditions
Peer support for other long-term
conditions		 £
13,907
85,633
29,205
100,750
63,703
57,405
33,407
-
370,103
384,010
£
18,037
78,069
24,121
86,890
96,251
46,598
27,272
-
359,201
377,238
Direct staff
costs
Direct staff
costs		 £
2,185
5,133
6,895
19,160
1,891
60,543
1,753
7,253
102,628
104,813
£
1,737
4,837
2,903
15,716
7,395
100,143
2,704
10,636
144,334
146,071
Direct other
costs
Direct other
costs		 £
2,125
55,456
14,828
63,847
3,079
27,116
25,170
-
Support
costs (see
note 9)		 2024
Total
£
18,217
146,222
50,928
183,757
68,673
145,064
60,330
7,253
189,496
191,621
£
2,310
41,492
10,526
41,162
19,956
19,105
18,248
-
Support
costs (see
note 9)		 662,227
680,444
2023
Total
£
22,084
124,398
37,550
143,768
123,602
165,846
48,224
10,636
150,489
152,799		 654,024
676,108

32

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

9. Support costs

Support staff costs
Recruitment, training and other staff costs
Bookkeeping
Insurance
Premises costs
Office equipment and IT support
Photocopying, printing, stationery and postage
Telephone
Depreciation
Publicity
Networking and service development
Legal and professional fees
Other support costs
Fundraising consultants
Governance costs
Total support costs		 2024
Total
£
115,177
1,049
1,598
2,002
28,198
11,977
2,399
3,044
4,607
4,389
3,078
6,310
4,438
2,125
1,230
191,621		 2023
Total
£
95,498
1,995
1,311
1,658
23,988
5,921
2,739
3,398
1,420
1,763
1,025
1,241
3,763
2,310
4,769
152,799

33

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

10. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Depreciation
Independent examiner's remuneration:
▪Independent examination (excluding VAT)		 2024
£
4,607
2,250		 2023
£
1,420
2,100

11. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2024
£
440,261
32,878
26,048
499,187		 2023
£
414,815
33,192
24,729
472,736

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

The key management personnel of the charitable company comprise the Trustees, Chief Executive Officer, Head of Operations and HIV Senior Advice and Support Worker. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel (including employer's pension and national insurance costs) were £120,131 (2023: £112,500).

Average head count 2024
No.
16.4		 2023
No.
15.8

12. Taxation

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

34

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

13. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
On disposals
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
14. Debtors
Accrued income
Prepayments
Other debtors
15. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Deferred income (see note 16)		 £
£
17,469
3,870
13,932
3,204
(10,679)
(2,365)
20,722
4,709
13,832
3,257
4,392
215
(9,471)
(2,165)
8,753
1,307
11,969
3,402
3,637
613
2024
£
26,406
4,103
5,200
35,709
2024
£
6,334
21,692
5,857
53,889
-
87,772
Fixtures and
fittings
Office
equipment		 Total
£
21,339
17,136
(13,044)
25,431
17,089
4,607
(11,636)
10,060
15,371
4,250
2023
£
32,795
4,334
2,107
39,236
2023
£
3,097
17,881
8,878
53,564
19,878
103,298

35

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

16. Deferred income

Deferred income
At 1 April 2023
Deferred during the year
Released during the year
At 31 March 2024		 2024
£
19,878
-
(19,878)
-		 2023
£
9,933
19,878
(9,933)
19,878

Deferred income relates to contract income received by The Brigstowe Project in advance of provision of service and grant funds received where early spend is prohibited by the grant agreement wording.

17. 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		 £
9,286
488,048
(13,449)
483,885
£
1,862
398,407
(25,378)
374,891
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 £
6,085
287,307
(74,323)
219,069
£
2,388
254,786
(77,920)
179,254
General
funds
General
funds		 Total
funds
£
15,371
775,355
(87,772)
702,954
Total
funds
£
4,250
653,193
(103,298)
554,145

36

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

18. Movements in funds

Movements in funds
Restricted funds
Local Sustainability
Positive Voices funds
Common Ambition Bristol
Client Welfare
Engagement support
Other restricted funds
Total restricted funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Unrestricted funds
Information, advice and
support services
North Somerset capital grant
HIV awareness and stigma
reduction
Non-HIV peer support
development
Bristol City Council Community
Resilience Fund		 At 1 April
2023
£
138,892
1,257
89,642
58,157
253
6
30,415
-
45,777
-
10,492
374,891
179,254
179,254
554,145		 Income
£
158,992
-
209,216
233,511
7,000
-
71,187
10,000
-
22,642
-
712,548
116,705
116,705
829,253		 £
(193,651)
(1,197)
(175,531)
(143,776)
(7,253)
(6)
(59,042)
(10,000)
(5,095)
(8,003)
-
(603,554)
(76,890)
(76,890)
(680,444)
Expenditure		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers
between
funds		 £
104,233
60
123,327
147,892
-
-
42,560
-
40,682
14,639
10,492
At 31 March
2024
483,885
219,069
219,069
702,954

Purposes of restricted funds

Information, advice and support services

For the provision of the advice and support service and the migrant advice and support service, including appropriate contributions to the charity’s overheads. This fund is the amalgamation of two funds reported separately in earlier years: the housing-related support fund and the information and advice, and the migrant advice and support services fund. Following the merger of the housing-related support service and information and advice service on 1 April 2018, there is no longer any substantive difference between the two funds.

37

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

18. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds

Local Sustainability

To help The Brigstowe Project become more sustainable by reviewing and transforming the organisation’s operating models. The grant has been fully spent; the remaining balance represents the net book value of the fixed assets purchased with the grant and will be utilised as those assets are depreciated.

Client Welfare For the provision of emergency support for clients living with HIV. Support provided includes emergency payments for living expenses and the provision of laptops, mobiles and data packages.

North Somerset capital grant The North Somerset Capital Grant fund is for capital expenditure and the provision of the charity's premises and facilities. This grant has now been fully spent; the remaining balance represents the net book value of the fixed assets purchased with the grant and will be utilised as those assets are depreciated.

Engagement support Funding for the salary and development of a member of staff to work with clients that have stopped engaging with HIV treatment.

HIV awareness and stigma Funding for work related to HIV testing, promoting PrEP, Common reduction Ambition Bristol and other HIV awareness raising and stigma reduction work.

Bristol City Council Grant from Bristol City Council for the modernisation of the charity's IT Community Resilience equipment and furniture. Some of the fund balance represents the net Fund book value of fixed assets purchased with the grant and will be utilised as those assets are depreciated.

38

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

18. Movements in funds (continued)

Prior period comparative
Restricted funds
Local Sustainability
Positive Voices funds
Common Ambition Bristol
Client Welfare
Engagement support
Other restricted funds
Total restricted funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Unrestricted funds
North Somerset capital grant
HIV awareness and stigma
reduction
Information, advice and
support services		 At 1 April
2022
£
132,548
1,676
86,694
53,513
341
8
6,884
-
842
282,506
171,891
171,891
454,397		 Income
£
167,972
-
142,812
170,000
10,000
-
71,703
50,000
9,650
622,137
153,719
153,719
775,856		 £
(161,628)
(419)
(139,864)
(165,356)
(10,088)
(2)
(48,172)
(4,223)
-
(529,752)
(146,356)
(146,356)
(676,108)
Expenditure		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers
between
funds		 £
138,892
1,257
89,642
58,157
253
6
30,415
45,777
10,492
At 31 March
2023
374,891
179,254
179,254
554,145

19. Related party transactions

There was no trustee remuneration in the current or prior period.

One trustee was reimbursed £129 for subsistence expenses (2023 - two trustees, £73, travel).

Management used £44 (2023 - £50) of charity funds to purchase small gifts of appreciation for each of the trustees.

Details of key management remuneration is disclosed in note 11.

39

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

20. Prior period adjustment

The charity’s statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2023 treated current asset investments in notice and fixed-term deposit accounts as cash equivalents. FRS 102 states investments normally qualify as cash equivalents only when they have a short maturity of three months or less from acquisition. The charity’s current asset investments as at 31 March 2022 and at 31 March 2023 all had a maturity period of greater than three months. Therefore, the trustees have concluded the current asset investments were not cash equivalents and have restated the comparative amounts in the statement of cash flows to correct for this error: disclosing the £137,240 placed on deposit in the year as a cash outflow, reducing the cash inflow from dividends, interest and rents previously reported by the £2,997 added to the investment balances in the year, and reducing the opening and closing value of cash and cash equivalents previously reported by £270,978 and £411,215, respectively. There are no restatements in the statement of financial activities or the balance sheet.

40