**Company No. 2662382 Charity No.1050456** **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** **REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED ## **REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ## **Contents** Page - 3 Report of the Directors - 5 Reporting Examiner’s report - 6 Statement of Financial Activities - 7 Balance Sheet - 8 Notes to the Financial Statements 12 Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for advice services ## Principal address and registered office: 96 Blackbird Leys Road Blackbird Leys Oxford OX4 6HS ## Independent Examiners Critchleys Audit LLP, Beaver House, 23 - 38 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, OX1 2EP Registered Charity No. 1050456 Company No. 2662382 2 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** The Directors submit their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023. ## **Objectives and activities** The principal activity of the company during the year was to provide advice and information services, in particular welfare rights and money advice, to the residents of Blackbird Leys and the surrounding areas. Additionally the company administers grants to individuals in need with funds donated specifically for that purpose. The trustees consider the company a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102 (2019). ## **Achievements and performance** A detailed description of the company's activities and performance is available in the charity's annual report at https://agnessmith.co.uk/annual-reports. The Annual Report 2022-2023 there should be read in conjunction with this report for a full coverage of the charity’s achievements and performance. During the year the company advised 2011 local residents in 2739 advice sessions, and achieved additional benefit gains for our clients totalling £2,095,586, plus charity grants and other financial gains totalling £157,632. The company helped clients to clear a total of £640,198 in unmanageable debts, freeing up client income for everyday living costs, and in some cases removing the risk of eviction for rent arrears. We prevented homelessness for 46 clients. The total financial gain won for clients was £2,893,416. Our work contributes directly to local strategic priorities to reduce inequalities in Oxford, by increasing the financial resources available to local residents, and strengthening our clients’ ability to manage future problems independently. The advice we give brings peace of mind to many of our clients, and increases quality of life and social cohesion within our catchment area, which includes some of the most deprived areas in the country. ## **Reference and administrative details** The company is a registered charity, No.1050456. The charity operates primarily under the name: Agnes Smith Advice Centre. The directors who served throughout the year unless otherwise stated were as follows:- Andrew Carver Catherine Griffin – left 13 July 22 Elaine Chase – left on 11 Jan 23 Beverley Humberstone Gillian Dodds Simon Pitkin Paul Dornan Cora Spencer Imade Edosomwan Wendy Spray Jesse Erlam Catherine Foot Liz Cairncross was appointed as a Trustee on 11 Jan 2023. The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. Accordingly the directors have no interest in the share capital of the company. ## **Structure, Governance, and Management** ## **General Information** The charity is a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The governing documents are the Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 12 November 1991 as amended by special resolution dated 14 October 1995 as amended on 14 Jul 2021 as amended on 15 Sep 2021 as amended on 25 Oct 2021 and registered with the Charities Commission. The maximum liability of each member for payment of debts of the company is £1. At 31 March 2023 there were 25 members. 3 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **Method of appointment of trustees** The trustees of the charity are also the directors of the company limited by guarantee, BLNSS Ltd. Unless otherwise decided at a general meeting, there are 15 or fewer. At each annual general meeting (AGM), all the trustees/directors stand down, and must stand for re-election; at the AGM, retiring trustees/directors who have indicated their willingness to stand again are capable of being re-elected by the members. Other trustees/directors wanting to be elected at the AGM must be nominated by a member, and must indicate in writing their willingness to stand. Trustees/directors can be co-opted during the year, but must then stand for election at the next AGM. ## **Financial Review** The financial position as at 31 March 2023 is as detailed in the financial statements following this report. There was £370,690 in gross revenue and a surplus of £11,494, leading to total carried forward reserves of £157,920. ## **Risk assessment** The trustees have reviewed the major risks facing the organisation and developed strategies to mitigate them; a policy has been approved and adopted. ## **Reserves policy** Based on discussions about the risk assessment, the trustees have discussed and agreed the following statement on their reserves policy: - BLNSS Ltd. aims to sustain its reserves at a level which would cover a minimum of 4 months’ and a maximum of 6 months’ operating costs; - this is to serve as a contingency against future uncertainty affecting the service we provide; - this will be used only at the discretion of the Board of Trustees in the case of financial necessity; if part of the reserve is used up for this reason the trustees would aim to replace it as soon as possible from any operating surpluses; - reserves can also be designated for a specific purpose (i.e. to fund the development of the organisation); - trustees would prefer to invest the reserves ethically, although relatively easy access is essential. Significant costs are also anticipated in the future due to the continuing need to move to new premises. The decision was therefore taken during the 2008/09 year (implemented in 2009/10) to set aside some of these reserves in a relocation fund, to be used if necessary for moving and necessary renovations/alterations, purchase of a building and/or higher rent. A restricted donation of £10,000 was received in 2009/10. In addition, the trustees have set aside a sum of £40,000 from general reserves. Excluding the £40,000 which has been set aside from unrestricted funds, the unrestricted funds carried forward at 31 March 2023 totalled £104,296 which represents between 4 and 5 months' budgeted expenditure. 4 BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED Going concern The twstees Consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Trusys ability to continue as a going concern This report has been prepared in accordance with the speGial provisicfis of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small ¢(xnpanies. By order of the Board W Spray. Director £ft Date: DLloqieS ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Blackbird Leys Neighbourhood Support Scheme Limited for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages 6 to 11. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity’s trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (“the 2006 Act”) Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’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 report** Since the Company’s gross income exceeds £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, which is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with examination giving me cause to believe: - 1) Accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or - 2) The accounts do not accord with those accounting records; or - 3) The accounts do not comply with account requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or - 4) The accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 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. **Name of examiner:** Gary Pready FCA **Name of firm:** Critchleys Audit LLP **Relevant professional body:** Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales **Address:** Beaver House, 23-28 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, OX1 2EP **Date:** 11 September 2023 65 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ||||2022-2023|||||2021-2022||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Restricted||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|Restricted||Unrestricted|Restricted|| ||Direct Benefits||(Advice)|Advice|2023|Direct Benefits||(Advice)|Advice|Total 2022| |**Revenue:**||||||||||| |Private donations||-|17,316|1,338|18,653||-|3,072|-|3,072| |Bank interest||-|1,644|-|1,644||-|403|-|403| |Grants (see Note 1a)|83,712||114,787|151,894|350,393|64,941||124,170|128,516|317,627| |Total revenue|83,712||133,746|153,232|370,690|64,941||127,645|128,516|321,102| |**Expenditure**||||||||||| |Transfers to 3rd parties*||-|-|17,236|17,236||-|-|16,840|16,840| |**Administrative costs**||||||||||| |Total staff related costs||-|94,612|116,310|210,923||-|97,852|101,938|199,790| |Other admin costs||-|24,023|21,396|45,419||-|27,486|15,801|43,287| |Total administrative costs||-|118,635|137,707|256,342||-|125,338|117,739|243,077| |**Governance costs**||-|1,531|131|1,662||-|1,603|0|1,603| |(Independent examination and|bookkeeping|see|Note 1b)|||||||| |**Direct benefits:**||||||||||| |Total direct benefits|83,633||324|0|83,957|67,282||777|0|68,061| |**Total expenditure**|83,633||120,490|155,074|359,197|67,282||127,720|134,579|329,581| |**Income less expenditure**||80|13,256|(1,842)|11,494|(2,341)||(75)|(6,063)|(8,479)| |**Reserves:**||||||||||| |Total funds brought forward||24|131,040|15,363|146,427|2,365||131,115|21,426|154,906| |Current year earnings||80|13,256|(1,842)|11,494|(2,341)||(75)|(6,063)|(8,479)| |Total funds carried forward|**104**||**144,296**|**13,520**|**157,920**||**24**|**131,040**|**15,363**|**146,427**| The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The notes on pages 8 to 11 form part of these financial statements. * Thames Water Trust Fund grant to Oxford Community Work Agency for partnership project. 7 BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2023 Company No 2662382 2023 2022 Fixed assets Tangible assets Current assets Debtors Note 4,010 7.761 10,058 9,955 Cash at bank and in hand 180 980 161100 Total current assets 191,038 171,055 Creditors - arnounts falling due withln one year 37.128 32,389 Net Cu￿nt assets 153910 Total assets less Cu￿ent liabilltles 157,920 146.427 Unrestrlcted funds 10 144,296 131,040 Restricted funds 157,920 146,427 The directors are satisfied thal the ¢ompany is entitted to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 {the Act} relating lo the audit of the financial statements for the period by virtue of section 477. and that no member or memt*rs have requesled an audit pursuanl to section 476 of the Act. The d1￿CtorS a¢knowledge their responsibility for: (i) ensuring that the company keeps proper accounting ￿cordS whith comply with section 386 of the Act, and (ill preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial period and of its profit or loss for the financial period in accordance with the requiremenls of section 393, and which olherw¢se comply with the requirements of the Act relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with ihe special provisions relattng to small companies within Part 15 ofthe Companies Act 2006. These financial statements were 8pproved by the Board on 6th September 2023 W Spray Director A Carver Director **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ## **1. Principal accounting policies** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (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. ## (a) Grants Grants receivable represent amounts received during the year as adjusted for any elements that relate to future periods, which are included in the balance sheet as deferred income. ## (b) Allocation of expenditure in Statement of Financial Activities Independent examination and bookkeeping (accountancy service) costs are classified as governance costs. All other costs, which principally relate to advice workers' salaries, premises costs and office overheads, are classified as direct charitable expenditure. ## (c) Depreciation Depreciation is provided on a straight line basis at rates estimated to reduce the cost of fixed assets to their residual values over their anticipated useful lives. The following annual rates are used: |Computer equipment|25%||| |---|---|---|---| |Office equipment|25%||| |**movement in funds**|||| |||2023|2022| |The net movement in funds is stated after charging:||£|£| |Reporting examiner's fee||1,140|1,110| ## **2. Net movement in funds** ## **3. Directors' emoluments** The directors received no emoluments or reimbursements of expenses from the company during the year. ## **4. Employees' emoluments** |Salaries
Employer's National Insurance
Employer's Pension Contributions|2023
2022
£
£
191,302
181,359
10,406
9,800
9,215
8,631| |---|---| ||£210,923
£199,790| The average number of employees during the year was 9 (2021/22: 9). There were no employees who received employee benefits of more than £60,000. There were also none in the previous financial year (2021/22). 9 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **5. Tangible fixed assets** |**Cost**
At 1 April 2021
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
Depreciation
At 1 April 2021
Charge for the year
Released on disposal
At 31 March 2022
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2021
**6. Debtors**
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**7. Creditors - amounts falling due within one year**
Accruals
Deferred grant income (see note 8)
**8. Deferred income - grants in advance**
Consortium (Catalyst Housing Ltd, GreenSquareAccord and
A2 Dominion)
Oxfordshire County Council - Councillor's Priority Fund
Oxford City Council Advice Agencies Dev Fund
Oxfordshire Community Foundation
Postcode Society Trust
National Lottery
Small grants up to £1000|||**Equipment**
54,308
0
0
54,308
46,547
3,751
0
50,298
4,010
7,761
2023
2022
£
£
369
1,043
9,689
8,912
10,058
9,955
£
£
13,511
6,583
23,617
25,806| |---|---|---|---| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||37,128
32,389| ||||2023
2022
£
£
8,868
9,246
-
2,211
-
12,586
5,000
5,249
-
-
3,400
1,100
-
1,763
23,617
25,806| 10 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **9. Restricted funds** |Fund
Access to Justice
Agnes Smith Advice Centre Appeal
AdviceUK 21 DRO
City of Oxford Charity - depr
Consortium
Doris Field
Oxford City Council - Advice Agencies Dev Fund
Oxford City Council - General Coronavirus
Oxford City Council - Household Support Grants - depr
Oxfordshire County Council/Oxfordshire Community
Foundation, Cost of Living 22/23
Oxfordshire County Council
National Lottery Community Fund
Northmoor Relocation
Parish Council
Postcode Society Trust
St. Michaels and All Saints Charities
Thames Water Trust Fund
The Fore
Westmill Solar
Client General Fund
Restricted projects total|Revenue
Expenditure
Re-
serves at
start
Re-
serves at
end
10,000
10,000
0
0
5,000
5,000
0
0
2,000
2,000
0
0
2,200
2,400
367
167
21,661
21,661
0
0
1,000
450
0
550
12,586
12,586
0
0
0
1,928
4,607
2,680
68,119
68,119
0
0
10,000
10,000
0
0
7,211
7,211
0
0
6,550
6,550
0
0
0
0
10,000
10,000
2,500
2,500
0
0
15,748
15,748
0
0
0
265
388
123
35,000
35,000
0
0
10,000
10,000
0
0
4,964
4,964
0
0
22,406
22,326
24
104| |---|---| ||236,944
238,707
15,387
13,624| Details of the restricted funds are as follows: - a) 'Consortium' - a one year grant running from September 2022 to August 2023 from the bodies shown above to contribute towards the salary and associated costs of outreach and other work. Funds received in respect of the period after 31 March have been treated as deferred income (see note 10 above). - b) The Northmoor Trust - Relocation Fund. Funds are being accumulated towards the costs of relocating the charity’s offices. Unspent amounts are represented by cash at bank. - c) St Michael's and All Saints' Charities. Originally two separate grants to pay for volunteer childcare costs and floor covering. Agreed in 2016/17 that these could be used to pay for volunteer costs in general. Any unspent amounts are represented by cash held at the bank. - d) Client General Funds comprise funds provided by various donors exclusively for direct client benefits with the beneficiary either proposed by the donor or recommended by the centre. - e) Donors as listed - Grants to pay for costs as indicated. Any unspent amounts are represented by cash held at the bank. ## **10. Unrestricted funds** |**s**|| |---|---| |Income
Expenditure
Surplus for the year
Fund balance brought forward
Fund balance carried forward|General
Fund
Designated
Relocation
Fund
Total
133,746
-
133,746
120,490
-
120,490| ||13,256
-
13,256
91,040
40,000
131,040| ||104,296
40,000
144,296| 11 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **11. Analysis of assets between the funds** |Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities|General
Designated
Relocation
Fund
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
£
1,164
-
2,846
4,010
140,260
40,000
10,778
191,038
(37,128)
-
-
(37,128)| |---|---| ||104,296
40,000
13624
157,920| ## **12. Related party transactions** Donations received from Trustees in the year totalled £21 (2022: £403). One trustee was reimbursed a total of £12 for travel expenses. 12 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **FINANCIAL DETAILS FOR ADVICE SERVICES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** |**Income**|**Unre-**
**stricted**
**Re-**
**stricted**
**Total**
**2023**
**Total**
**2022**| |---|---| ||| |Oxford City Council|81,776
16,812
98,588
89,254| |Oxfordshire County Council|2,211
2,211| |Consortium (Housing Associations)|21,661
21,661
23,428| |National Lottery Community Fund|6,550
6,550
11,969| |Blackbird Leys Parish Council|2,500
2,500
5,000| |Access to Justice|10,000
10,000| |Fore Trust|10,000
10,000| |The Energy Saving Trust|0
6,211| |Henry Smith Charity|10,000
10,000
10,000| |AB Charitable Trust|0
10,000| |Oxfordshire Community Foundation|15,000
15,000
10,000| |Postcode Society Trust|15,748
15,748| |Julia and Hans Rausing Trust|0
19,990| |Thames Water Trust Fund|20,350
20,350
20,350| |City of Oxford Charity|2,200
2,200
3,000| |Westmill Solar|4,964
4,964| |29th May 1961 Charity|5,000
5,000
5,000| |Mr and Mrs J A Pye's Charitable Settlement|0
2,500| |London Legal Support Trust - Legal Walk 2022|3,111
3,111
3,184| |Alice Smith Fund|3,000
3,000| |P. F. Charitable Trust|5,000
5,000
5,000| |Penningtons Manche|3,000
3,000| |Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust|2,500
2,500| |St Michael's & All Saints Charities|0
3,000| |Others|21,716
5,000
26,716
11,032| |Bank interest|1,644
1,644
403| ||| ||133,746
135,995
269,742
239,321| 13 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** **FINANCIAL DETAILS FOR ADVICE SERVICES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023 (Contd)** |**Expenditure**
**Unre-**
**stricted**
**Re-**
**stricted**|**Total**
**2023**
**Total**
**2022**| |---|---| |**Charitable Activities**|| |Consulting
400
0|400
985| |Depreciation Expense
1,623
2,128|3,751
6,315| |Electricity
489
4,134|4,623
2,948| |Information Resources
2,790
4,628|7,418
4,783| |Insurance
4,772
0|4,772
3,642| |Interest Paid
13
0|13
1| |Internet
543
507|1,050
1,029| |Non-durable Office equipment
136
0|136
5| |IT Software and Consumables
890
0|890
1,126| |IT Support
1,585
1,352|2,938
2,460| |Legal and Professional Expenses
1,785
0|1,785
253| |Miscellaneous
700
100|800
511| |Office Supplies and Stationery
689
262|951
1,024| |Photocopying and Printing
839
933|1,772
1,813| |Postage, Freight & Courier
196
945|1,141
1,593| |Recruitment costs
789
0|789| |Rent, rates, refuse collection & water
3,072
5,124|8,196
8,754| |Repairs & Maintenance
955
90|1,045
2,180| |Subscriptions|0
180| |Telephone
978
605|1,583
1,515| |Training: Staff & Trustees
767
424|1,190
1,891| |Training: Volunteers|0
132| |Travel - Staff
12
0|12
49| |Travel _ Volunteers
0
165|165
97| |Direct client benefits
324|324
778| |Salaries and related costs
94,612
116,310
**Governance costs**|210,923
199,790
0| |Independent examination
1,140|1,140
1,110| |Bookkeeping
391
131|522
494| |Total expenditure
120,490
137,838|258,328
245,458| ||| |Net Income
13,256
(1,842)|11,414
(6,137)| 14