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← The Brigstowe Project

2025-03-31-accounts

Company no. 03107835 Charity no. 1049945

The Brigstowe Project Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2025

Annual Highlights 2024/2025

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During the 2024-25 in Bristol, North Somerset, and financial year, we supported people[288] South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Advice and Support Service We advised 177 clients, a 9% increase from the previous year Claimed £387,049 100% 100% of 83 167 7 positive 149 positive in welfare benefits, of clients respondents improvements positive outcomes in outcomes in grants and debt achieved reported being in housing financial accessing accessing other write-offs – more one or more satisfied with outcomes work or rights and than double the positive the service training entitlements amount in the outcomes provided previous year

Advice and Support Service

Migrant and Asylum Support Service

Engagement Support Service

of clients experienced a reduction 73% 41 clients in poverty We provided support to worked with, 28 people a 24% 73% of clients are more independent and have greater control in their lives who are finding it difficult to take i ncrease from the their HIV medication and/or attend previous year 68% of clients experienced an hospital appointments improvement in their wellbeing

‘Positive Voices’ – Peer Support Services and HIV Awareness Training

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----- Start of picture text -----
One-to-One Peer Support and ‘All In’ Group Peer Support HIV Awareness Training
8 active peer mentors 54 unique individuals 11 sessions delivered
attended ‘All in’ events
12 mentees 270 attendees
people reported an increase in
43 confidence and self-esteem 3 workshops reported that the Positive Speaker was
100% effective or very effective at raising the
people reported an increase
73 issues people living with HIV face
in mood 4 social activities
people reported more close reported a positive change in attitude
80 93%
relationships/reduction in isolation around HIV issues
----- End of picture text -----

“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.” – All In Client Summer Social attendee

Our external evaluation of these services, which explored data across 10 years (2016-2025), showed an extremely positive, encouraging picture of the impact of these services – our evaluator noted it being the most positive data set they’ve ever worked with.

Common Ambition Bristol (CAB) eC

CAB works to improve the sexual health of African and Caribbean heritage communities.

CAB is transforming healthcare:

For National HIV Testing Week, we launched our first billboard campaign featuring local community members and empowering messages about testing.

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----- Start of picture text -----
Know your HIV status,
take control.
Dravie-John
HIV testing is FREE
and CONFIDENTIAL
#HIVTESTINGWEEK
www.commonambitionbristol.org
2
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CAB was Highly Commended at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2025 for Most Effective Contribution to Integrated Health and Care.

Fast-Track Cities Bristol aD

As a Mum, taking He medication meant (Se 9 Our 2024 World AIDS Day billboard that HIV did not get FAST-TRACK CITIES campaign across Bristol was featured passed on to my son. =~ on BCC Points West. fj) Sa ‘ie People taking HIV medication CANNOT pass on the virus mae ~~ee~~

The Peer Partnership aD

“The session was extremely inspiring, and it made me really want to get mentoring up and running at my organisation so that we can make such a huge impact on our service users as The Peer Partnership has in theirs.” – The Peer Partnership workshop attendee

BNSSG Integrated Sexual Health Service ed During the year, we secured a contract for the provision of health promotion services for people at risk of poor sexual health across BNSSG. The service, which is being delivered under the brand name ‘Yuno’, commenced on 1st April 2025.

We would like to say a HUGE thank you to our funders, supporters, partners, volunteers, staff, trustees, clients, and the local community who have enabled us to deliver these outcomes for our beneficiaries.

The Brigstowe Project

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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:
Joshua Anderson appointed 25 June 2025
David Crofton appointed 9 April 2025
Jonathan Downing
Dominic Eastham
Vicky Harwood
Jeremy Horwood
Mark Hubbard resigned 10 June 2024
Carole Johnson resigned 28 May 2024
Sheila Ollis
Diane Perry resigned 29 January 2025
Simon Purkiss
Alison Scott resigned 11 June 2025
Thomas Sharkey
Adele Wolujewicz appointed 9 April 2025
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

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The Impact Report and the Reference and administrative details set out on pages 1-3 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). 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 24th 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. The members of the company elect trustees at the AGM, although trustees may co-opt additional trustees during the year to hold office until the next AGM.

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.

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.

Trustees are encouraged to serve a full term of three years. Trustees may be re-elected to the Board for a further term up to a total of two consecutive terms. If a Trustee wishes to serve for more than two consecutive terms, this must be subject to a governance review by the Board and endorsed by members at the annual general meeting (AGM) through the election of Trustees.

At each AGM, one-third of the directors or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, the number nearest to one-third, must retire from office. If there is only one director, he or she must retire.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Charitable Objects

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:

Aims

Brigstowe’s aims are to:

  1. Help people increase and maintain their independence through responsive and relevant services

  2. Meet the changing needs of people living with HIV (PLWHIV) and other long-term health conditions

  3. Educate people about HIV and challenge stigma and discrimination

  4. Ensure Brigstowe’s strength and sustainability into the future

In order to meet these aims and further the charity’s purposes for the public benefit, we undertook a wide range of activities. During this financial year, we supported 288 people (2024 – 269) across all of the following services:

Activities and Outcomes

Advice and Support Service

This service is delivered by support workers who provide personalised, practical and emotional support for people who are living with or affected by HIV in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG). It is a person-centred service offering both intensive support for people with complex needs and one-off advice on rights and entitlements. It aims to help people live independently by delivering benefits advice, money management skills, help with grant applications, housing and homelessness advice, signposting to appropriate services, emotional support, and help to access education, training and employment opportunities.

In 2024/25, we advised 177 clients (2024 – 162), a 9% increase from the previous year, with a total of 467 matters. These matters resulted in 83 (2024 – 54) improvements in housing, 167 (2024 – 129) positive financial outcomes, 7 (2024 – 6) positive outcomes related to access to work, training, voluntary work or work experience, and 149 (2024 – 112) positive outcomes related to access to other rights and entitlements.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

During the year, we helped our clients to claim £361,606 (2024 – £167,861) in a variety of welfare benefits, grants and debt write-offs, with a further £25,443 being obtained in backdated benefit payments.

Outcomes:

“My worker was there for me when I had no one to talk to when I was down. [They were] always there. If not, [they] made sure all was okay. Very caring [person], it hurts that we have to part now. Wishing [them] all the best. [They] deserve it.”

“I'm much better, at the same time I was diagnosed with cancer, and I didn't know what had hit me, that and HIV at the same time. I've been on ARV [antiretroviral] drugs and my health has improved, [my worker] also helped me with a grant and pointed me in the right direction for benefits which is really important for people who can't work, I was in hospital for 8 days. [My worker] came up with some very good advice.”

“My rent is paid by housing benefit, my rent went up so I had some money to pay back, and my worker really helped me to communicate with the landlord and the housing benefit, we applied for discretionary where they paid off the debt. When I was applying for citizenship, I managed to get my passport and citizenship.”

“Now I have got a lot of people off my back debt wise. My worker helped me get a DRO [Debt Relief Order].”

“I value everything, your understanding and listening, and you don't judge me when I come to see you guys. I value having someone listening.”

“Sometimes we have ups and downs and don't know who to turn to, but Brigstowe are sympathetic and they have emotional support that changes things, I can always call. Brigstowe has compassion and I wouldn't be where I am now. Feel emotional talking about it now.”

“A service that understands me.”

This service is funded by Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils, the Government’s Household Support Fund (via Bristol City Council), Bristol Water, Wessex Water Community Fund (via Quartet) and other funders. We are working with Bristol City Council to find ways to ensure long-term funding beyond March 2026, and also seeking additional funding from other sources.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Migrant and Asylum Support Service

This service provides support to PLWHIV in the Southwest who are refugees, migrants or asylumseekers and have no access to public funds. We support individuals who are subject to immigration control and often fleeing persecution, discrimination, modern slavery or trafficking, as well as those who have come to the UK to work or study. We work with clients, alongside partner agencies, to prevent destitution, support clients in dealing with trauma, help them access immigration advice and legal assistance, and help with a multitude of other needs.

In 2024/25, we provided support to 41 clients (2024 – 33). The outcomes achieved were as follows:

“When I approached the service, I was melting down constantly when everyone asked anything, I would start crying because I didn’t think my situation had a solution, and no one would understand my pain, but after meeting [my worker] and realising someone cared to help. It made a great difference, especially because [they were] so persistent and kept trying to call me on my different number. [They] tried so many times to contact me with failure, honestly anyone else would have given up and moved on, but [they] didn’t. [They were] so patient, kind and literally saved me.”

“I know now there are people out there who understand what I am going through and are there to help. I now have a solution to my problem and clear pathway of the future. I am grateful.”

“I have actually had a great change in my situation as I have been granted a refugee status. This has made me to be able to get a job and even have my own accommodation. I am very happy, and my mental health is at least stable, and this has also gone a long way in affecting my health. As of my last lab test, it shown that the virus in my blood very low and gives me good reason to say that my situation has changed.”

“I am on course to embracing myself and my life now. Speaking to someone who listened and understood what I was going through really helped too.”

“The support I have received from my support worker has eased my existence in numerous ways, most especially mentally.”

“You’ve literally saved me.”

This service is funded by The National Lottery Awards for All, Quartet, the Government’s Household Support Fund (via Bristol City Council) and other funders.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Engagement Support Service

This service works in close partnership with the HIV Clinic at Southmead Hospital, supporting clients who are finding it difficult to take their HIV medication and/or attend hospital appointments. We provide support and outreach to address barriers that are interfering with clients engaging with their HIV treatment. The aim is to ensure good long-term health for our clients, whilst also reducing the risk of onward transmission to sexual partners. In January 2025, the service entered its fourth successful year, supporting some of the clinic’s most complex patients, whose barriers to engagement include poor mental health, substance use issues and/or poverty.

In 2024/25, we provided support to 28 people. This included one client who voluntarily withdrew from support. This was viewed as a positive development for the client, who had recently taken steps to become more independent while maintaining the safety net of having in-house supported accommodation.

In October 2024, emergency departments across Bristol started testing for blood-borne viruses with every blood test taken. This has resulted in an increase in referrals to the HIV clinic. The clinic is working in partnership with Brigstowe to engage and support these patients.

"My worker knows what I am going through. They always help and are always here when I need to ask for help."

"Having someone who understands my situation and helps me get to appointments has made a real difference."

"I have improved attendance at appointments and have been supported to clean my home and get out of the house."

During the year, this service was funded by Bristol City Council Public Health.

‘Positive Voices’ (One-to-One Peer Support, HIV Awareness Training and ‘All In’, our Peer Support Group)

After the financial year ended, we worked with an external evaluator on the final evaluation of the first 10 years of our Positive Voices and All-In services. The final evaluation covered the period from November 2023 to August 2025. It also explored all peer mentee data across the entire period that the services have been operating (2016-2025). The findings show an extremely positive, encouraging picture of the impact of these services – our evaluator even noted it being the most positive data set they’ve ever worked with. The results are testament to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, staff, and colleagues at Southmead Hospital’s HIV Clinic. We are looking forward to implementing the evaluator’s recommendations to grow and improve Positive Voices.

One-to-One Peer Support

This service trains people who are living well with HIV to work as volunteer peer mentors, providing one-to-one support for people who are newly diagnosed with HIV or struggling with their diagnosis.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

This year, we had 8 active peer mentors (2023 – 9) and 12 mentees (2023 – 17). We achieved the following outcomes across Positive Voices and All In (peer support group):

“My mental state has changed; [my mentor] really helped how I think about my diagnosis and how I view it. I was very in my head and worried that life was different after my diagnosis, but [my mentor] pulled me out of my mindset and how I see HIV in general. At the beginning, I was very down about it, and I'd wake up and blame myself and feel unconfident; life was over as I had known it. The more I spoke to [my mentor] and how [they] got through it, the better I felt, and [they] suggested different ways to keep my mind off it, e.g. activities and yoga to keep my mind off the stress and now I actually look at life from a more positive way. Also, things could be worse. They're ok. I'm well and fine. I do need to remind myself of that. [My mentor] didn’t do ALL the work, but [they have] helped me to get there with my diagnosis and with health and wellness.” – Peer mentee

HIV Awareness Training

This service aims to combat the stigma and lack of understanding that PLWHIV often experience from service providers, community organisations, businesses or other people with whom they interact. We provide training and information to professionals, community and faith groups to enable them to have an informed and accurate picture of HIV, countering prejudice and enabling professionals to provide more appropriate and high-quality services for PLWHIV.

This year, we delivered 11 HIV Awareness training sessions (2023 – 10) to various organisations, including the University of Bristol, the University of the West of England, and Interventions Alliance. We trained a total of 270 attendees. Of these people:

“From today’s training, I now have my red ribbon on my lanyard, know what to tell people if they want a test, and am ready to advocate for U=U!” – Training participant

These services are funded by The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), South Gloucestershire Council and income earned through training. Our current grant from NLCF comes to an end in June 2026. In the autumn of 2025, we will undertake an external evaluation of Positive Voices, which will inform our next application to NLCF and/or other funders.

‘All In’ Peer Support Group activities and events

Brigstowe clients are encouraged to take part in the ‘All In’ group, which supports trained Peer Facilitators to deliver a varied programme of social events, workshops and excursions aimed at increasing self-confidence and combating isolation. Some sessions are HIV-specific workshops aimed at helping people to live well with HIV.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Our All In service had 54 unique individuals (2023 – 83) attending our workshops and events, with 37 coming from Bristol, 9 from South Gloucestershire, 2 from North Somerset and 2 from Somerset (plus 4 unknown). At the end of the year, we had 5 active Peer Facilitators (2023 – 5) helping to deliver the programme of events, which included 3 workshops (2023 – 3) and 4 social activities (2023 – 4).

“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.” – All In Client Summer Social attendee

This service is funded by Bristol City Council Public Health and NLCF.

Common Ambition Bristol (CAB)

CAB works to improve the sexual health of African and Caribbean heritage communities within Bristol. It is a coproduction project that works alongside African & Caribbean heritage community members, along with Yuno Sexual Health Service, University of Bristol, Bristol City Council and African Voices Forum. Brigstowe is the lead partner.

Our aim is to encourage people to test for HIV, be in control of their sexual health and to reduce HIV related stigma.

Campaigns and Publicity: Getting the Message Out

For National HIV Testing Week, we launched our first billboard campaign featuring local community members and empowering messages about testing. Displayed over four weeks at 16 high-footfall sites across Bristol, each billboard included a QR code linking to the CAB website for easy access to testing info.

We also aired daily adverts on Ujima FM and BCfm from January to March 2025 and hosted two live Ujima shows, sparking open conversations about HIV, stigma, and knowing your status.

Community Engagement: Meeting People Where They Are

We now partner with 40 black-owned Bristol businesses, who share CAB materials and offer free condoms and HIV self-test kits. Over the past year, we’ve delivered:

These visits create space for conversations, support, and promote testing. We also attended festivals and local events, normalising HIV discussions and building trust. Our workshops reached groups from UWE’s African and Caribbean Society to Bristol Refugee Women, tackling myths and promoting sexual health.

CAB Clinics: Dedicated Sexual Health Testing for Bristol’s African and Caribbean Heritage Communities

Our monthly walk-in clinics at Charlotte Keel Medical Practice and Montpelier Health Centre offer:

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

CAB Community Connectors

In June 2024, CAB onboarded our first group of volunteer Community Connectors to help us expand connections with African and Caribbean communities in Bristol. Community Connectors attend community events and get out and about on outreach, visiting the local barbershops, salons and shops that help us distribute free condoms and sexual health information. Since being trained and inducted, volunteers have attended events such as -

Our community connectors bring so much energy and dedication to their roles, allowing us to strengthen our presence in the community and reach an increasingly diverse group of people who would benefit from knowing about CAB. In March 2025, the current cohort of Community Connectors also supported the recruitment of our second cohort of volunteers, bringing us up to a team of 8 Community Connectors.

Influence and Recognition: Making Waves Not Just Ripples

CAB is not just making an impact on the ground—we’re changing the way services are designed and delivered.

Locally, CAB is transforming healthcare:

Nationally, we’re setting the standard:

Together, we’re building a future where sexual health services don’t just serve our community—they reflect and respect it.

“What you’re doing is so great and so important, I love it.” – Female, 26, Caribbean heritage

“When I walked into the barbers, I noticed how quiet it went and felt slightly awkward and uncomfortable. Once I started chatting to Pablo and the other barbers, I felt fine, and on leaving, the atmosphere was different, and we all said goodbye. Having never experienced that before as a white male, I now understand how difficult it could be for a person of colour to access health services in a very white environment." – Stuart Walker (Medical Director, UHBW NHS trust)

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

“Since when CAB started coming into the shop, I have realised the importance of sexual health and learnt more about HIV. My clients know to come into my shop to get condoms, and because I am open late, sometimes till midnight, it is easy for them to get them. I sometimes have discussions with my clients too and explain to them about CAB. It's really important for our community as we have to look after each other.” – Pablo, Owner of Pablo’s Barbers

This service is funded by Bristol City Council Public Health and the University of Bristol NIHR funding. From 1st April 2025, CAB will be funded through Yuno (BNSSG Integrated Sexual Health Contract).

Fast-Track Cities Bristol

Fast-Track Cities Bristol (FTC Bristol) is a local partnership which aims to end new HIV infections, stop preventable HIV deaths and tackle the discrimination and stigma associated with HIV. Current partners include people living with HIV, the voluntary and community sector, academics, clinicians, public health professionals and councillors. Brigstowe is an active partner in the FTC Bristol steering group and also co-chairs the “Tackling Stigma” Work-Stream.

As part of our aim to address stigma and discrimination faced by people living with HIV, we have continued to campaign and inform the wider public about HIV through delivering a programme of public events, using our newsletter, website and social media, and by contributing to relevant conferences and activities organised by other agencies. Our annual World AIDS Day campaign was a success, with several events taking place between November and December, including a billboard campaign across the city centre (featured on local TV by BCC Points West), the red ribbon flag raising at City Hall, and our celebration event with key guest speakers. We are grateful to the partner organisations, community groups and businesses that collaborated with us on this campaign. We also attended local community events. Our main focus at these events was to publicise the U=U message – Undetectable = Untransmittable, meaning that people on HIV medication cannot pass on HIV to their sexual partners.

This service is funded by Bristol City Council Public Health. From 1st April 2025, FTC Bristol will be funded through Yuno (BNSSG Integrated Sexual Health Contract).

The Peer Partnership

The Peer Partnership provides training, consultancy and service delivery for all kinds of peer support programmes. As well as peer support, we’re experts in co-design and co-production, and can deliver services designed with clinical professionals for a range of long-term health conditions. We previously also provided in-house service delivery of type 2 diabetes and long COVID peer support programmes. Each package of support is tailored to meet the needs of the organisation we are working with. We aim to promote and support the growth of peer support both locally and further afield.

Consultancy

We have provided consultancy services for Whittington and Homerton NHS Trusts to support the development and implementation of peer support for people with long COVID. Unfortunately, Homerton’s Long COVID clinic closed in December 2024, and the long COVID peer support ended at that time; however, Homerton have requested further support to consider peer programmes for other long-term conditions within the trust. The work on this will commence in the next financial year (202526), Whittington’s Peer Mentors have been trained, and they are due to start their first peer support groups in May 2025.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

We are also working in partnership with University Hospital Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust to provide a 12-month Action Learning Set (ALS) on the co-production of health services. This ALS will take our learning from Common Ambition Bristol and see how the toolkit and techniques used to engage and co-produce services for underserved communities can be applied in a variety of healthcare settings.

Training

We have delivered 12 Eventbrite training sessions on a variety of topics where people book individual training spaces. We have also delivered 18 organisation-specific trainings. During the year, training accounted for more than half of the income generated by The Peer Partnership. This also represented training over 400 participants. Feedback received from our training showed that 100% of participants who fed back would recommend our training to others in a similar role. Our most popular training workshops were:

  1. Boundaries in the Workplace

  2. Recognising and Responding to Challenging Behaviour

  3. Group Dynamics and Facilitation

“I would recommend this training because I think it is easy to respond to behaviours without considering where these behaviours are coming from. This training helps raise awareness of where challenging behaviours come from and how we can deal with them consequently.”

“I wasn’t looking forward to the training, but it was really engaging, and I got a lot more from it than I expected. This is important training for anyone working directly with members of the public.”

“I have more confidence in setting boundaries in a way that still aligns with my personal strengths and values. There were lots of useful tools, including reflective practice, guidelines, and better language to express my boundaries.”

“A well-structured workshop, delivered by a knowledgeable course leader who ensured the session was engaging and interactive with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and to speak with other course attendees”.

“The session was extremely inspiring, and it made me really want to get mentoring up and running at my organisation so that we can make such a huge impact on our service users as The Peer Partnership has in theirs.”

Service Delivery

We are looking for opportunities to deliver peer support to groups where this would help people to live well with a long-term health condition or challenging situation. We have draft proposals ready to go in a number of areas so that we can apply for funding when opportunities arise:

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

We have also taken up a position on the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board’s Long-term Condition Operational Delivery Group (BNSSG ICB LTC ODG) as the VCSE Alliance Ambassador. This allows us to be in a position to be aware of the direction of travel of long-term condition plans and strategies in the region and to advocate for the commissioning of peer support services.

The Peer Partnership is self-funding and aims to be profitable in the future. Total income for the year was £30,739. This was from both training and consultancy work. As explained above, we also offer service delivery work but have not delivered any contracts in this financial year.

Ensure Brigstowe’s strength and sustainability into the future

We continue to develop relationships with individuals, community groups and corporate contacts to secure a voluntary income stream or sponsorship for events/activities. Our flagship event this year was the Great Bristol Run, which raised approximately £7,000. We are grateful to our team of runners and supporters who made this event a success.

From 1st April 2025, we are starting work on the new BNSSG Integrated Sexual Health Service, delivered under the brand name ‘Yuno’. This service includes health promotion work, with certain specific roles being delivered by Brigstowe via a subcontract with Brook, who are the lead provider. The contract covers CAB (working with African and Caribbean heritage communities), health promotion work with other groups at greater risk of poor sexual health, HIV awareness raising, the Fast-Track Cities initiative, and our Engagement Support Service. Brigstowe will work with specific vulnerable communities at risk, including African and Caribbean heritage communities, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+), sex workers, asylum seekers and refugees, homeless people, people with learning difficulties and drugs and alcohol treatment service users; and we will work in a range of settings including black businesses, nightclubs and other outreach venues.

In the 2024-25 financial year, we raised a total of £76,206 donations including related Gift Aid (2024 – £28,609). This income came from individuals, companies, trusts and foundations. We submitted a total of 579 applications to trusts and foundations, the majority of which were letters prepared by our external fundraiser targeting smaller grant-giving organisations across the UK.

At the end of the financial year, we had a total of 21 (2024 – 23) regular givers committing to give a total of £5,090 (2024 - £4,935) each year.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy and Action Plan 2023-26

We’ve completed Year 2 of our 3-year EDI strategy, in which we embedded new practices that create a culture where everyone feels valued and respected, addressing discrimination and ensuring fair opportunities for all. Systems like having EDI on meeting agendas can ensure we keep the conversation “live”, yet we have to be careful that it does not become a tick box exercise without any meaningful action taking place.

A recent review of our clients’ demographics against those attending Southmead Hospital’s HIV Clinic revealed that generally our clients are representative with a few minor exceptions. We aim to establish what barriers underrepresented groups face to accessing the support they need and how we can connect with them and better meet their needs.

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The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

We have appointed an anti-ageism champion within the staff team who is ensuring our services are inclusive for older people and without prejudice or discrimination. Another staff member is a menopause champion, promoting awareness of and advocating for the rights of women experiencing this significant and often challenging time.

Finally, we’ve developed an Equality Impact Assessment for staff to use when we start or change a service or progress a new strategic plan.

During the year, we are also pleased that we have received positive feedback from candidates who have been through our recruitment process. Comments have covered well laid out paperwork to support blind recruitment, helpful reasonable adjustments for people with a disability, and friendly staff who work hard to put people at ease.

There is always more we can do. We’re moving into Year 3 feeling positive about the changes we have made to date, whilst continuing our commitment to continual review and improvement of our working practices and influence.

Plans for future periods

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

During 2025/26, 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.

Financial review

The charity made a deficit (net expenditure) of £168,634 for the year (2024 - surplus of £148,809), with a surplus (net income) on unrestricted general funds of £31,642 (2024 – surplus of £42,470).

Despite the deficit for the year, the charity’s financial position remains healthy. At the year end, shortterm investments and cash totalled £509,130 (2024 - £739,646). Net current assets have decreased to £515,852 (2024 - £687,583). Total funds at the year end were £534,320 (2024 - £702,954), including restricted funds of £283,609 (2024 - £483,885). It must be noted these funds include £321,161 (2024 - £312,911) 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’:

15

The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Net (expenditure)/income 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		 2025
£
(168,634)
(115,142)
312,911
29,135		 2024
£
148,809
(312,911)
188,791
24,689

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 (2025 - 72%, 2024 - 86%) of the grants and donations we receive are restricted to particular services and purposes. Grants for services decreased from £689,906 for the year to 31 March 2024 to £358,202 for the year to 31 March 2025. This was primarily due to the large amount of funding received in advance in 2023/24 for the provision of the following services in 2024/25: Positive Voices, Common Ambition Bristol and the Engagement Support Service. Other grants and donations have increased to £83,876 (2024 - £66,260) due to successful fundraising from charitable trusts, gifts in kind from Cooley (UK) LLP and DAC Beachcroft, and continuing strong public support. Income from charitable trusts, individual donors and fundraising events supports services not fully funded by government or larger institutional funders.

Income from charitable activities has fallen to £10 (2024 - £28,647), reflecting the ending of the contract with Sirona Care & Health to provide peer support to people with Type 2 Diabetes and Long Covid. 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 to support beneficiaries.

The charity had £432,624 (2024 - £273,806) of investments in notice and fixed term deposit accounts 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 shortterm 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.

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.

16

The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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, budgetary pressures on the charity's government funders, and competition for funding elsewhere increase the probability of a loss or reduction of funding and difficulties in securing new funding. In response to this increased funding risk, the trustees consider it prudent to target 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 £157,000 and £316,000.

Free reserves as at 31 March 2025 were £240,317 (2024 - £212,984). This is within the target range. Trustees are watchful for opportunities to apply reserves in productive ways to achieve the charity’s objects.

17

The Brigstowe Project

Report of the trustees

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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 10 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by

T M Sharkey

Thomas Sharkey - Chair

18

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 2025, which are set out on pages 20 to 37.

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 2025 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

19

The Brigstowe Project

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

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Restricted Unrestricted
Note
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
Grants for services
3
358,202
-
Other grants and donations
4
-
83,876
Charitable activities
5
10
-
Other trading activities
6
-
33,075
Investments
-
22,846
Total income
358,212
139,797
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
-
35,456
Charitable activities
Advice and support service
142,999
93
Migrant advice and support service
38,762
24
Positive Voices
180,147
137
-
60,954
Common Ambition Bristol
129,867
65
Engagement support service
56,713
3,636
Other charitable activities
10,000
7,670
Total expenditure
8, 9
558,488
108,035
10
(200,276)
31,762
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
483,885
219,069
Total funds carried forward
283,609
250,831
Peer support for non-HIV
long-term conditions
Net (expenditure)/income and net
movement in funds		 2025
Total
£
358,202
83,876
10
33,075
22,846
498,009
35,456
143,092
38,786
180,284
60,954
129,932
60,349
17,670
666,523
(168,514)
702,954
534,440		 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

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

The notes on pages 23 to 37 form part of these financial statements.

20

The Brigstowe Project Registered company number 03107835 Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2025

2025 2024
Note £ £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 13 18,468 15,371
Current assets
Debtors 14 48,189 35,709
Investments: notice and fixed-term deposits 432,624 273,806
Cash at bank and in hand 76,506 465,840
557,319 775,355
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year 15 (41,347) (87,772)
Net current assets 515,972 687,583
Net assets 16 534,440 702,954
Funds 17
Restricted funds 283,609 483,885
General funds 250,831 219,069
Total charity funds 534,440 702,954

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 23 to 37 form part of these financial statements.

Approved by the trustees on 10 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by

Dominic Eastham - Treasurer

21

The Brigstowe Project

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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
(Increase) / decrease in debtors
(Decrease) in creditors
Net cash (used in) / 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 (used in) / provided by investing activities
(Decrease) / 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		 2025
£
(168,514)
6,157
-
(22,846)
(4,570)
(46,425)
(236,198)
7,359
(9,254)
18,759
(170,000)
(153,136)
(389,334)
465,840
76,506
76,506		 2024
£
148,809
4,607
1,408
(27,595)
11,353
(15,526)
123,056
5,923
(17,126)
336,255
(185,000)
140,052
263,098
202,742
465,840
465,840

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 23 to 37 form part of these financial statements.

22

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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.

23

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

e) Donated services and facilities

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

f) Interest receivable

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

g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

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

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

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.

h) Allocation of support and governance costs

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the 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:

2025 2024
Raising funds 4.6% 1.1%
Charitable activities
Advice and support service 25.3% 28.9%
Migrant advice and support service 6.3% 7.8%
Positive Voices 28.2% 33.3%
Peer support for non-HIV 0.4% 1.6%
long-term conditions
Common Ambition Bristol 23.6% 14.2%
Engagement support service 11.6% 13.1%

24

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

i) 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.

j) 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.

k) Current asset investments

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

l) Cash at bank and in hand

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

m) Creditors

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

n) Financial instruments

The charitable company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

o) 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.

25

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

p) 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
£
£
689,906
-
22,642
43,618
-
28,647
-
16,845
-
27,595
712,548
116,705
-
18,217
146,222
-
50,928
-
183,757
-
10,000
58,673
145,064
-
60,330
-
7,253
-
603,554
76,890
108,994
39,815
Unrestricted		 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

26

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

3.
Income from donations and legacies: grants for services
Restricted
£
£
Advice and support service
Bristol City Council
82,966
-
Bristol City Council Public Health
15,500
-
North Somerset Council
4,438
-
South Gloucestershire Council
12,600
-
12,068
-
Gilead Sciences Ltd
-
-
Wessex Water Community Fund
-
-
Bristol Wessex Billing Services Ltd
1,100
-
Other charitable trusts
-
-
128,672
-
Migrant advice and support service
Postcode Local Trust
-
-
Gilead Sciences Ltd
-
-
20,000
-
Bristol City Council Public Health
9,000
-
Quartet Foundation
-
-
Other charitable trusts
-
-
29,000
-
Positive Voices
National Lottery Community Fund
73,086
-
Bristol City Council Public Health
12,477
-
South Gloucestershire Council
5,400
-
90,963
-
Engagement support service
Bristol City Council Public Health
13,813
-
13,813
-
Quartet Foundation
6,000
-
Peer support for non-HIV long-term
conditions
National Lottery Community Fund
(Awards for All)
Citizens Advice Bristol Household
Support Fund
Unrestricted		 2025
Total
£
82,966
15,500
4,438
12,600
12,068
-
-
1,100
-
128,672
-
-
20,000
9,000
-
-
29,000
73,086
12,477
5,400
90,963
13,813
13,813
6,000		 2024
Total
£
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

27

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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

Common Ambition Bristol
The Health Foundation
Bristol City Council Public Health
Client Welfare
Total income from grants for services
University Hospitals Bristol & Weston
NHS Foundation Trust
Citizens Advice Bristol Household
Support Fund		 Restricted
£
£
2,000
-
73,272
-
4,482
-
79,754
-
10,000
-
358,202
-
Unrestricted		 2025
Total
£
2,000
73,272
4,482
79,754
10,000
358,202		 2024
Total
£
108,158
96,853
28,500
233,511
7,000
689,906

All income from grants for services in the prior period was restricted.

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

Donations (including related gift aid)
Gifts in kind
Total income from other grants and donations		 Restricted
£
£
-
76,206
-
7,670
-
83,876
Unrestricted		 2025
Total
£
76,206
7,670
83,876

Included within gifts in kind are donated legal and professional services (£7,170, 2024: £nil), and donated meeting space (£500, 2024: £nil).

Prior period comparative

Donations (including related gift aid)
Membership dues
Bristol City Council Community Resilience Fund
Garfield Weston Foundation
Total income from other grants and donations		 Restricted
£
£
-
28,609
-
9
22,642
-
-
15,000
22,642
43,618
Unrestricted		 2024
Total
£
28,609
9
22,642
15,000
66,260

28

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

5.
Income from charitable activities
Restricted
£
£
Positive Voices
HIV awareness training
-
-
10
-
Sirona Care & Health
-
-
Total income from charitable activities
10
-
All income from charitable activities in the prior period was unrestricted.
Unrestricted
Peer support for non-HIV long-term
conditions
Member contributions to activities and
events		 2025
Total
£
-
10
-
10		 2024
Total
£
8,769
-
19,878
28,647
6.
Income from other trading activities
Restricted
£
£
Challenge event fees (Bristol 10k)
-
406
Other income generating activities
-
32,669
Total income from other trading activities
-
33,075
Unrestricted		 2025
Total
£
406
32,669
33,075		 2024
Total
£
493
16,352
16,845

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 2025 was £298,052 (2024: £503,490). There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attaching to these grants in 2024/25.

29

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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		 £
23,304
87,933
22,545
101,204
58,617
60,287
33,115
-
363,701
387,005
£
13,907
85,633
29,205
100,750
63,703
57,405
33,407
-
370,103
384,010
Direct staff
costs
Direct staff
costs		 £
2,764
3,105
3,264
21,250
1,476
21,030
3,323
10,000
63,448
66,212
£
2,185
5,133
6,895
19,160
1,891
60,543
1,753
7,253
102,628
104,813
Direct other
costs
Direct other
costs		 £
9,388
52,054
12,977
57,830
861
48,615
23,911
7,670
Support
costs (see
note 9)		 2025
Total
£
35,456
143,092
38,786
180,284
60,954
129,932
60,349
17,670
203,918
213,306
£
2,125
55,456
14,828
63,847
3,079
27,116
25,170
-
Support
costs (see
note 9)		 631,067
666,523
2024
Total
£
18,217
146,222
50,928
183,757
68,673
145,064
60,330
7,253
189,496
191,621		 662,227
680,444

30

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

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		 2025
Total
£
122,776
1,062
1,309
1,430
32,244
5,498
2,575
3,977
6,157
7,174
2,016
8,448
4,224
9,388
5,028
213,306		 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

31

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

10. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Depreciation
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Independent examiner's remuneration:
Independent examination (excluding VAT)		 2025
£
6,157
46
2,230		 2024
£
4,607
129
2,250

Trustees' reimbursed expenses relate to travel and postage costs for two trustees (2024: subsistence costs for one trustee).

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

11. Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2025
£
448,574
34,270
26,937
509,781		 2024
£
440,261
32,878
26,048
499,187

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 £127,836 (2024: £120,131).

Average head count 2025
No.
16.7		 2024
No.
16.4

12. Taxation

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

32

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

13. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2025
Net book value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
14. Debtors
Accrued income
Prepayments
Other debtors
15. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors		 £
£
20,722
4,709
1,798
7,456
22,520
12,165
8,753
1,307
3,441
2,716
12,194
4,023
10,326
8,142
11,969
3,402
2025
£
33,850
10,339
4,000
48,189
2025
£
3,114
26,930
8,389
2,914
41,347
Fixtures and
fittings
Office
equipment		 Total
£
25,431
9,254
34,685
10,060
6,157
16,217
18,468
15,371
2024
£
26,406
4,103
5,200
35,709
2024
£
6,334
21,692
5,857
53,889
87,772

33

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

16. Analysis of net assets between funds

Analysis of net assets between funds
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2025
Prior period comparative
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2024		 £
8,074
312,317
(36,782)
283,609
£
9,286
488,048
(13,449)
483,885
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds		 £
10,394
245,002
(4,565)
250,831
£
6,085
287,307
(74,323)
219,069
General
funds
General
funds		 Total
funds
£
18,468
557,319
(41,347)
534,440
Total
funds
£
15,371
775,355
(87,772)
702,954

34

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

17. 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
HIV awareness and stigma
reduction
Non-HIV peer support
development
Bristol City Council Community
Resilience Fund		 At 1 April
2024
£
104,233
60
123,327
147,892
-
42,560
-
40,682
14,639
10,492
483,885
219,069
219,069
702,954		 Income
£
157,673
-
90,973
79,753
10,000
13,813
6,000
-
-
-
358,212
139,797
139,797
498,009		 £
(180,846)
(15)
(178,691)
(129,317)
(10,000)
(56,373)
-
(644)
(2,602)
-
(558,488)
(108,035)
(108,035)
(666,523)
Expenditure		 £
81,060
45
35,609
98,328
-
-
6,000
40,038
12,037
10,492
At 31 March
2025
283,609
250,831
250,831
534,440

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.

35

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

17. Movements in funds (continued) Purposes of restricted funds (continued) Local Sustainability To

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.

Positive Voices funds

Common Ambition Bristol

Engagement support

For the provision of training, consultancy and service delivery related to peer support programmes under our "Peer Partnership" brand".

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

Bristol City Council Community Resilience Fund

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

36

The Brigstowe Project

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

17. 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
Information, advice and
support services
Unrestricted funds
North Somerset capital grant
Non-HIV peer support
development
HIV awareness and stigma
reduction
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		 £
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

18. Related party transactions

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

Reimbursed trustee expenses can be found in note 10.

Management used £91 (2024 - £44) of charity funds to purchase small gifts of appreciation for each of the trustees.

Details of key management remuneration is disclosed in note 11.

37