**Company No. 2662382 Charity No.1050456** **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** **REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED ## **REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **Contents** Page - 3 Report of the Directors - 5 Independent 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 Gravita Audit Oxford LLP, Park Central 40-41 Park End St Oxford OX1 1JD Registered Charity No. 1050456 Company No. 2662382 2 BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED ## **REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** The Directors submit their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. ## **Objectives and activities** The principal activity of the company during the year was to provide advice and information services, in particular welfare rights, housing 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 impact report at https://agnessmith.co.uk/annual-reports. The Annual Impact Report 2024-2025 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 1667 local residents in 2459 advice sessions, with each client potentially representing a household with other members (including children) benefiting from our advice. We achieved additional benefit gains for our clients totalling £3,487,884, and charity grants and other financial gains totalling £81,425. We helped clients to clear a total of £707,552 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 95 households. The total financial gain won for clients was £4,276,861. Our work contributes directly to local strategic priorities to reduce inequalities in Oxford, by increasing the resilience of local communities, maximising incomes, and teaching skills such as budgeting. We help with complex queries, often involving multiple, interrelated issues: resolving these challenging problems improves the quality of life of our clients and their families, and by extension has benefits for the whole community, through increased spending in the local economy and increased social participation. This year we opened a new outreach service at the Oxford Community Action food distribution hub, and provided money management groups as an initiative designed to prevent the development or escalation of financial problems for our clients. ## **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:- Elizabeth Cairncross Catherine Foot Andrew Carver Beverley Humberstone Gillian Dodds Peter Nowland – from 17[th] July 2024 Paul Dornan Simon Pitkin Imade Edosomwan Cora Spencer Jesse Erlam Wendy Spray 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 2025 there were 26 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 2025 is as detailed in the financial statements following this report. There was £370,617 in gross income and a surplus of £33,588, leading to total carried forward reserves of £189,632. ## **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 2025 totalled £130,281, which represents approximately 5 months' budgeted expenditure. ## **Going concern** The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. By order of the Board W Spray, Director **Date: 03/09/2025** 4 ## **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 2025, 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:** Gravita Audit Oxford LLP **Relevant professional body:** Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales **Address:** Park Central, 40-41 Park End St, Oxford, OX1 1JD ## **Date:** 5 September 2025 5 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** |2024-2025
2023-2024
Restricted
Direct
Benefits
Unrestricted
(Advice)
Restricted
Advice
Total
2025
Restricted
Direct
Benefits
Unrestricted
(Advice)
Restricted
Advice
**Income:**
Donations and legacies
24,517
24,517
16545
Bank interest
4,018
4,018
2890
Grants (see Note 1a)
30,317
185,172
126,593
342,082
28,748
147,667
94,516
Total income
30,317
213,707
126,593
370,617
28,748
167,101
94,516
**Expenditure**
Transfers to 3rd parties*
-
-
16,640
16,640
-
-
12,480
**Administrative costs**
Total staff related costs
-
142,342
82,553
224,895
-
126,949
78,036
Other admin costs
-
43,437
18,339
61,776
-
38,615
6,768
Total administrative costs
-
185,778
100,892
286,671
-
165,5**64**
84,804
**Governance costs**
-
1,863
500
2,363
-
1,745
-
(Independent examination and bookkeeping see Note
1b) Account code 401
**Direct benefits:**
Total direct benefits
31,356
-
-
31,356
27,776
-
-
**Total expenditure**
31,356
187,642
118,032
337,030
27,776
167,309
97,284
**Net movement in funds**
-1,039
26,065
8,561
33,588
972
-207
-2,768
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
1,076
144,216
10,752
156,044
104
144,423
13,520
Current year earnings
-1,039
26,065
8,561
33,588
972
-207
-2,768
Total funds carried forward
37
170,281
19,313
189,632
1,076
144,216
10,752|Total
2024
16545
2890
270,931
290,366
12,480
204,985
45,383
250,368
1,745
27,776
292,369
-2,003
158,047
-2,003
156,044| |---|---| 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. 6 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 Company No 2662382** |**Fixed assets**|**Note**||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |Tangible assets|**5**||2,979||2,837| |**Current assets**|||||| |Debtors|**6**|45,106||22,697|| |Cash at bank and in hand||194,401||184,734|| |Total current assets||239,507||207,432|| |**Creditors - amounts falling due**
**within one year**|**7**|52,854||54,224|| |Net current assets|||186,653||153,208| |**Total assets less current liabilities**|||189,632||156,044| |**Unrestricted funds**|**10**||170,281||144,216| |**Restricted funds**|**9**||19,351||11,328| |**Total funds**|||189,632||156,044| The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the period by virtue of section 477, and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act. The directors acknowledge their responsibility for: - (i) ensuring that the company keeps proper accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act, and - (ii) 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 requirements of section 393, and which otherwise 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 the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. These financial statements were approved by the Board on 3[rd] September 2025 W Spray Director A Carver Director 7 **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** ## **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. The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £. ## (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% ## (d) Recognition of 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. ## (e) Critical accounting estimates and judgements In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods. ## **2. Net movement in funds** |**movement in funds**||| |---|---|---| ||2025|2024| |The net movement in funds is stated after charging:|£|£| |Reporting examiner's fee|1,800|1,200| ## **3. Directors' emoluments** The directors received no emoluments or reimbursements of expenses from the company during the year. 8 **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **4. Employees' emoluments** |Salaries
Employer's National Insurance
Employer's Pension Contributions|2025
2024
£
£
203,419
186,087
11,957
10,187
9,519
8,712
£224,895
£204,985| |---|---| The average number of employees during the year was 9 (2023/24: 10). There were no employees who received employee benefits of more than £60,000. There were also none in the previous financial year (2023/24). ## **5. Tangible fixed assets** |**fixed assets**|| |---|---| |**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
Released on disposal
At 31 March 2025
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024|**Equipment**
54,308
1,554
-2,396| ||53,466| ||51,471
1,412
-2,396| ||50,487| ||2,979
2,837| ## **6. Debtors** |Accounts Receivable
Prepayments and accrued income
**tors - amounts falling due within one year**
Accruals
Deferred grant income (see note 8)|2025
2024
£
£
27,518
12,519
17,588
10,179
45,106
22,697
£
£
11,104
6,476
41,750
47,748
52,854
54,224| |---|---| ## **7. Creditors - amounts falling due within one year** 9 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **8. Deferred income - grants in advance** |Consortium (Peabody and GreenSquareAccord)
Henry Smith Charitable Foundation
A2 Dominion
Society of the Holy Child Jesus|2025
2024
£
£
10,061
21,879
20,000
20,000
-
5,869
11,689
41,750
47,748| |---|---| ## **9. Restricted funds** ## **Advice Services** |**Advice Services**||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |**Fund**|Revenue|Expenditure|Reserves
at start|Reserves
at end| |AdviceUK DRO|1,000|1,000|-|-| |Oxford Advice Partnership|2,885|2,085|-|800| |Alice Smith Blackbird Leys|3,500|3,500|-|-| |Consortium|23,769|23,769|-|-| |CWU|975|61|-|914| |Doris Field|1,000|1,000|-|-| |OCC- General Coronavirus|-|752|752|-| |Oxford County Council|20,000|20,000|-|-| |Money and Pensions Service|24,653|17,054|-|7,599| |Northmoor Relocation|-|-|10,000|10,000| |Parish Council|500|500|-|-| |Society of the Holy Child Jesus|8,311|8,311|-|-| |Thames Water|23,360|23,360|-|-| |Restricted projects total|109,953|101,392|10,752|19,313| |Thames Water funding for Oxford Community Work Agency|16,640|16,640|-|-| |Total Restricted funds for advice services|126,593|118,032|10,752|19,313| |**Direct client benefits**||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |**Fund**|Revenue|Expenditure|Reserves
at start|Reserves
at end| |Client City of Oxford|14,710|15,742|1,032|-| |Client Stanton Ballard|4,927|4,927|-|-| |OCC - Household Support Grants|10,000|10,000|-|-| |Client General Fund|680|686|44|37| |All donors total|30,317|31,356|1,076|37| Details of the restricted funds are as follows: - a) 'Consortium' - a one year grant running from September 2024 to August 2025 from Peabody Trust and GreenSquareAccord Limited to contribute towards the salary and associated costs of advice work. Funds received in respect of the period after 31 March have been treated as deferred income (see note 8 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) 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. The more significant donors in this category are named in the table above. - d) Donors as listed - Grants to pay for costs as indicated. Any unspent amounts are represented by cash held at the bank or undepreciated fixed assets. 10 **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **10. Unrestricted funds** ## 10. Unrestricted funds |Income
Expenditure
Surplus for the year
Fund balance brought forward
Fund balance carried forward|General Fund
Designated Re-
location Fund
Total| |---|---| ||213,707
-
213,707
187,642
-
187,642
26,065
-
26,065
104,216
40,000
144,216| ||130,281
40,000
170,281| ## **11. Analysis of assets between the funds** |Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities|General
Designated
Relocation
Fund
Restricted
Total| |---|---| ||1,522
-
1,457
2,979
166,483
40,000
33,024
239,507
-37,724
-
-15,130
-52,854
130,281
40,000
19,351
189,632| ## **12. Related party transactions** Donations received from Trustees in the year totalled £34 (2024: £1,255). ## **13. Operating lease commitments** |**13. Operating lease commitments**||| |---|---|---| ||2025|2024| ||£|£| |Due not later than one year|7,250|7,250| |Due later than one year and not later than five years.|5,438|12,688| |Due later than fiveyears||| |Total future minimum lease payments under operating||| |leases forpremises atyear end|12,688|19,938| |Lease payments during the year|7,250|7,250| 11 **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** ## **FINANCIAL DETAILS FOR ADVICE SERVICES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** |**Income**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total 2025**
**Total 2024**| |---|---| |Oxford CityCouncil|81,026
800
81,826
81,776| |Oxfordshire CountyCouncil|20,000
20,000
25,000| |Consortium(HousingAssociations)|23,769
23,769
22,424| |A2 Dominium|5,869
5,869| |Garfield Weston|25,000| |National LotteryCommunityFund|| |Blackbird Leys Parish Council|2,500| |Doris Field|1,000
1,000| |HenrySmith Charity|60,000
60,000
10,000| |J.A. Pye Foundation|5,000
5,000| |Batchworth Trust|10,000| |Kathryn Salmon Legacy|15,000
15,000| |Wates Foundation|7,000| |Oxfordshire CommunityFoundation|10,000
10,000| |Postcode SocietyTrust|5,249| |Thames Water Trust Fund|23,360
23,360
17,520| |Landsec Futures|999
999| |Westmill Solar|5,000
5,000
4,943| |Societyof the HolyChild Jesus|8,311
8,311| |National LotteryCommunityFund|3,400| |AdviceUK|1,000
1,000
1,000| |London Legal Support Trust - Legal Walk|5,101
5,101
4,139| |Cumber FamilyCharitable Trust|1,000| |Marsh Charitable Trust|700| |TobyGolds Iyengar Yoga Social ResponsibilityFund|1,134
1,134
752| |MADL - Delteys Supermarket|500| |Money& Pensions Service|24,653
24,653| |Stanton Ballard Charitable Trust|1,000
1,000| |St Peter's Church Wolvercote|1,494
1,494| |Somerville JCR|1,595
1,595| |Age UK|2,085
2,085| |Alice Smith Fund|3,500
3,500| |Comms Workers Union|975
975| |Penningtons Manche|600
600| |Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust|2,500
2,500| |BBL Bowls Club|550
550| |Others|12,821
500
13,321
23,345| |Bank interest|4,018
4,018
2,890| ||| |Totals|213,707
109,953
323,660
249,138| 12 ## **BLACKBIRD LEYS NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT SCHEME LIMITED** **FINANCIAL DETAILS FOR ADVICE SERVICES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 (Contd)** |**Expenditure**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total 2025**
**Total 2024**| |---|---| |**Charitable Activities**|| |Consulting|1,315
700
2,015
100| |Depreciation Expense|563
849
1,412
3484| |Electricity|5,621
5,621
6902| |Information Resources|6,004
1000
7,004
6662| |Insurance|1805
3,000
4,805
4428| |Internet|1,198
1,198
1018| |Non-durable Office equipment|653
341
993
121| |IT Software and Consumables|980| |IT Support|4,508
9,900
14,408
3099| |Legal and Professional Expenses|2,172
2,172
302| |Miscellaneous|1,797
1,797
993| |Office Supplies and Stationery|1,085
1,085
1303| |Photocopyingand Printing|1,511
1,511
1762| |Postage, Freight & Courier|888
888
1199| |Recruitment costs|602
526
1,128
535| |Rent, rates, refuse collection & water|7,585
1,343
8,928
8915| |Repairs & Maintenance|993
500
1,493
932| |Telephone|1,550
180
1,730
1075| |Training: Staff & Trustees|2,942
2,942
1241| |Training: Volunteers|152
152| |Travel - Staff|36
36
92| |Travel_Volunteers|459
459
240| |Salaries and related costs
**Governance costs**|142,342
82,553
224,895
204985| ||| |Independent examination|1,800
1,800
1200| |Bookkeeping|63
500
563
545| |Total expenditure|187,642
101,392
289034
252113| ||| |Net Income|26,065
8,561
34626
-2976| 13