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2022-03-31-accounts

Berkshire Women’s Aid (Limited by Guarantee) Report & Financial Statements 31 March 2022

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Contents

Page
Reference and administrative details
 1 to 4
Trustees’ Report 5 to 18
Independent Auditor’s Report 19 to 22
Statement of Financial Activities 23
Balance Sheet 24
Statement of Cash Flows 25
Notes to the Financial Statements 26 to 48

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Charity Information

Company number 03081670
Charity number 1050484
Registered office and 94-98 Addison Road
Operational address Reading
Berkshire
RG1 8EG
Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under Charity law, who served
during the period up to the date of this report were as follows:
M Rice-Jones Chairperson
D Hunt
J Cooper
P Spinks
K Baddeley
F Jones
J Harrington (resigned 31 May 2022)
A Hawkins (resigned 1 December 2021)
E O’Kerry
M Beddall
B Moses-Mulrooney
Key Management Andrea West Chief Executive
Personnel Nicola Wimble Finance Manager
Rachel Murray Service Development Manager
Bankers Barclays Bank plc
Nationwide Building
Leicester Society
LE87 2BB PO Box 3
5-11 St Georges Street
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM99 1 AS
Metro Bank
One Southampton Row
London
WC1B 5HA

3

Berkshire Women’s Aid Charity Information

Solicitors Field Seymour Parkes 1 London Street Reading RG1 4PN Dexter Montague 105 Oxford Road Reading RG1 7UD Auditor Edwin Smith 32 Queens Road Reading RG1 4AU

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Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA) Trustees’ Report Year ended 31 March 2022

The Trustees and Senior Management Team present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

Reference and administrative information set out on pages 3 & 4 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the memorandum and articles of association and the 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 (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Structure, Governance and Management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 19 July 1995 and registered as a charity on 25 June 1975.

The company was established under a memorandum of association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association

Trustees delegate the day to day management and responsibility to the Chief Executive who is supported by the Finance Manager who ensures the ongoing financial viability of the Charity and a Service Development Manager and Refuge Accommodation Manager.

The Chief Executive, Senior Management Team and Board of Trustees followed the procedures advised by the Charity Commission before making appointments for positions. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the Charity are set out in note 8 of the financial statements.

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are recruited through advertisements placed in local volunteer bureaux, social media, via the BWA website and by potential Trustees expressing their interest by making direct contact with BWA. Potential Trustees are requested to speak with the Chair and submit a written resume of their career and interests for consideration by the Board of Trustees. Following an interview by a panel of two to three Trustees and reference checking, suitable applicants are invited to attend one board meeting as an observer and complete relevant paperwork and an induction. After the first meeting and if the Board is unanimous, the new trustee is elected on to the Board at the next meeting.

Trustees are not appointed by anyone outside the charitable company. Trustees adhere to Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA) policies and procedures for staff and volunteers.

Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA) is a member of the Women’s Aid Federation of England (WAFE)

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Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA) Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Induction and Training for Trustees

All Trustees receive a programme of induction, co-ordinated by the senior management team upon appointment. A trustee induction pack is kept up to date and forms the basis of this induction.

The induction includes a welcome and introduction to the Board and an explanation of functions and services within BWA.

New Trustees are also required to read the trustee guidance on the Charity Commission website and access other digital training materials on the more role and responsibilities of a Charity Trustee.

Compulsory training also includes safeguarding (adult and children) and equality and diversity. Additional training is offered to the board throughout the year.

Remuneration

Currently, the key management personnel team consists of three staff including, the Chief Executive, Finance Manager and Service Development Manager. The combined annual salaries including pensions and benefits of these key personnel is £136,262. Individual’s salaries are reviewed after each appraisal annually, although the Charity cannot guarantee an annual review and this is based on available funding and operational performance.

Staffing

The BWA staff team is made up of 27 full time and 16 part time members of staff. We currently have 10 regular volunteers with further volunteers in training. Additionaly 2 to 3 times per year teams of 10 to 15 volunteers help with specific projects such as clearing gardens and painting & decorating in refuges.

Preparation, selection, vetting and vigilant maintenance are all central to our safer recruitment policy with all senior managers undertaking the Safer Recruitment Training. All of our staff, students and volunteers are screened before commencing employment or volunteering with us. This means taking up references from former employers. Proof of identity and ability to work is additionally sought from candidates prior to interview along with relevant training / education / qualification certificates. Our recruitment policy and volunteer policy are updated annually to ensure all recent legislation and guidance is included.

Pre-planned interview questions with an interview panel of two members of staff are used to access the knowledge, insight and suitability of a candidate.

All volunteers, students and staff have to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before they can commence their duties and they have to undertake safeguarding training along with our introduction to domestic abuse training.

Objectives and Activities for the Public Benefit

The Charity’s objects in its Memorandum of Association are to assist women, men and their children who are in necessitous circumstances and, in particular, those women and their children who have suffered from abuse or maltreatment in their homes.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA) Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

The Charity furthers its charitable purposes for the public benefit by providing a range of services to enable people experiencing domestic abuse to make choices about their future and to rebuild their lives.

For 2021/2022 the Board’s key objectives included:

This has continued to be an incredibly challenging year for our sector as we have adapted our risk based services to be able to safeguard survivors and their families as the nation recovers from pandemic conditions and meets the challenge of further variants impacting on service delivery and staffing.

Vision

BWA is a charity that breaks the cycle of domestic abuse, today and for future generations.

Mission

We work with survivors to find immediate routes to safety to recover and rebuild.

We are part of a community tackling the impact of domestic abuse.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Values

All BWA activities are underpinned by a set of values adopted by the organisation’s volunteers, staff, management and Trustees:

Achievements and Performance

The need for BWA’s services is as great as ever.

The following outcomes were delivered in 2021/2022 with key achievements set out on page 15:

Outcomes

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022 BWA Helpline

The BWA Helpline offers information, signposting and support to a wide range of callers including professionals, those experiencing domestic abuse, or calling on behalf of a friend or family member. It is the single point of entry for BWA services and operates 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Experienced call handlers support callers from out of the area, as well as those from areas in which BWA are commissioned to provide support. Information can also be provided about other local and national services. An out of hours service is provided by Forestcare with out of hours backup provided by the BWA senior management team. Helpline can be accessed by calling 0808 801 0882 or emailing helpdesk@bwaid.org.uk.

The helpline number is widely publicized in the local areas and on social media platforms. In 2021/22 we updated the helpline infrastructure to provide an agile and adaptable virtual system able to be operated from any location and providing a freephone number which doesn’t appear on household bills.

Refuges

Refuges provide a safe place for survivors of domestic abuse and their children and has been at the centre of BWA’s services since 1975.

In 2021/22 we sold one of our refuges in Reading in line with our accommodation strategy and the learning over the pandemic. We expect to add dispersed housing provision to our existing shared refuge provision using these funds. This accommodation will support those survivors for whom shared accommodation is not appropriate.

Following a tender process Wokingham Borough Council awarded the Domestic Abuse contract to a non specialist provider who were contracted to deliver refuge services in Wokingham from July 2021 onwards. BWA continued to provide a refuge in Wokingham resources via charitable fundraising as the new provider had failed to quickly establish a safe accommodation service. Following their continued failure to do so, Wokingham Borough Council awarded the refuge element of the contract to BWA.

BWA has five refuges across Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell which are able to accommodate up to 32 women and 63 children. In Reading, four of these rooms, which can accommodation up to one woman and two children in each, are dedicated specialist provision for women from an Asian background.

BWA refuges provide a safe, confidential home where survivors can feel safe and have time and space to make informed choices and decisions about their future.

Staff will work directly with survivors via a keyworking programme to provide emotional and practical support. They can assist with safety planning, managing finances, housing, legal support, accessing work, education or training, or health needs. They can also support with children’s needs, including education and their health and wellbeing.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Once the survivor has discussed all her options the aim is that she feels empowered to make informed choices regarding her family’s future. Keeping the support plan under regular review ensures it is survivor focused, updated and amended as needs change. Embedded within the process is clear risk assessment framework to assist staff and survivors manage risk.

Resettlement

Moving out of refuge can be a challenging time for women. BWA’s resettlement service offers women a stepping stone between the supported environment of the refuge and independent accommodation.

Resettlement is tailored to individual needs and may include practical tasks involved in such a move.

Although resettlement is usually offered for up to six weeks after a woman moves on from refuge, this can be adjusted to suit individual needs and BWA’s further support can be provided through BWA outreach workers.

Local authorities have been very supportive in helping us resettle clients and their children as lockdowns have occurred thus enabling us to free up spaces for new clients fleeing abuse.

Family Choices

BWA’s Family Choices (FC) Programme works directly with perpetrators of domestic abuse to address abusive behaviour with those who have acknowledged the abuse and demonstrated a desire to change. Family Choices provides a dedicated Partner Support Worker to work with the person at risk of abuse to ensure that their safety, and that of any children, is kept central throughout the intervention. Survivors are offered full risk assessment, safety and support planning, as well as sessions aimed at building awareness of the dynamics of domestic abuse. If requested direct work can be completed with any school aged children in the household who have experienced the impacts of domestic abuse in the home.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Outreach/IDVA Support

In 2021/2022 BWA provided high quality, risk-led, specialist outreach/IDVA support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse across Reading, Wokingham and Bracknell. Following a tender process Wokingham Borough Council awarded the Domestic Abuse contract to a non-specialist provider who were contracted to deliver Outreach services in Wokingham from July 2021 onwards. After that date BWA have continued to deliver services in Reading and Bracknell.

BWA’s Outreach/IDVA service offers support to those experiencing domestic abuse. The support consists of risk assessment, safety planning, emotional support and advocacy. BWA can provide those experiencing abuse information about legal and civil remedies, housing, finances and benefits, signposting or making referrals for specialist support where required. BWA can also provide support at court, attend child protection proceedings and other meetings as required by the survivor. BWA regularly attend MARAC, MATAC and MAPPA meetings.

Adult Group Work

Both Outreach and Family Choices clients are offered a place on the BWA Choices Programme which is a psychoeducational programme that looks at the dynamics of domestic abuse and how the elements of power and control can affect our minds as well as our bodies.

The Choices group is facilitated by a BWA Group Facilitator. The group is open to survivors who have been affected by abuse by a spouse or a family member, either currently or in the past.

The Choices Programme covers the following general themes:

The programme is evaluated on the basis of feedback questionnaires completed by survivors.

Following learning from the pandemic we now deliver a hybrid model of training with programmes delivered both face to face and virtually to meet the needs of survivors.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Children and Young People’s Programmes

BWA recognises the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognised children as victims in their own right and BWA has designed and delivered services to meet this need:

Expect Respect

BWA are advocates of the Women’s Aid ‘Expect Respect’ programme. Using this programme, we run sessions on healthy relationships with children and young people aged five and over. We work with children and young people who have experienced domestic abuse, with age appropriate activities that are designed to be fun and engaging. Our team of specialist workers support children and young people to resolve conflicts, safety plan and enhance their selfesteem tackling issues of domestic abuse in a safe and contained way.

Domestic Abuse Recovery Together (DART)

Developed by the NSPCC, the DART programme works with children aged 7-14 and their parent to provide them with a safe space and the skills to speak to each other about domestic abuse, learn to communicate and rebuild their relationship.

For children and young people who require more in depth therapeutic support or work to address challenging behaviour, our team can help you identify counselling and support services who may be able to help.

To respond to the needs of children and young people in the community, BWA has developed specialist programmes for children 5–17 years old who have been affected by domestic abuse. BWA offer children and young people a safe environment in which they can share experiences and develop a better understanding of domestic abuse, its effects and importantly how they can keep themselves safe. BWA has been providing tailored support either individually or in groups for over 10 years in the local area.

BWA provide the following Children’s and Young People’s programmes;

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Specialist Community Outreach Support Services

Stop, Think, Feel:

Based on a clinical model of support, the Stop Think Feel programme was devised to work with women who have experienced domestic abuse and also present with a diagnosis of, or behavioural traits indicative of, personality disorder. The programme consists of ten sessions and focuses on mentalisation techniques. The programme is not designed to act as crisis intervention; women accessing the programme who have current support needs around domestic abuse must be linked in with an outreach worker.

In 2021-2022, 85 clients were referred to the Stop, Think, Feel programme of whom, 51 clients were from Reading, 21 were from Wokingham, 11 were from West Berkshire and two were out of area. Four programmes were run; in line with changing Government restrictions, three groups were run virtually and one group was run face to face in the Reading area. Clients living outside of Reading were supported to travel to the area for face to face group work where required.

Empowering Women Project:

The Empowering Women Project, through a key worker 1:1 programme, aims to support women who are identified as having multiple and complex needs. The programme aims to enable women to increase their resilience, support them to make changes to their lives and access mainstream services. The service is open to women over the age of 18 living in West Berkshire who have consented to the referral. To access the programme, women must meet at least three of seven referral criteria: domestic abuse, insecure housing, offending history, problematic substance use, mental health or self-harm support needs, unemployment, money or debt management problems.

BAME Project

Following funding from the Volant Charity BWA has developed a project to work directly with survivors from black and minority ethnic backgrounds providing advocacy and support. The project also works within the local communities to raise awareness of domestic abuse and services available to survivors and their children.

Multi Agency Training

In 2021-2022 BWA continued to provide specialist domestic abuse multiagency training and/or briefing sessions in partnership with Reading Borough Council (RBC) and Bracknell Forest Council, as well as the local CCG and other statutory and voluntary agencies. BWA have continued to work with partner organisations both in statutory services and the third sector to respond to requests to provide specialist DA training to individual agencies.

BWA are contracted by Reading Borough Council to deliver ten DA Level 1 and 2 training sessions in each financial year. This training is open to all and not solely council employees

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

meaning attendees are from diverse professional backgrounds including voluntary organisations, probation, schools and children’s centres, as well as statutory services.

At the request of Reading Borough Council, training continued to be delivered online this year. Six DA Level 1 courses were delivered during the financial year as well as four da Level 2 courses. A bespoke DA Level 2 course had been developed for professionals, focusing on the impact of domestic abuse on children and this continued to be delivered due to the positive feedback received. In total, 102 professionals were trained via the DA Level 1 and 2 courses delivered this year.

BWA attend the Reading DA Training subgroup to review domestic abuse training needs across the area and contribute to the activities group.

BWA continued to be involved in the local delivery of DA Matters training to Thames Valley Police. Developed by Safelives and the College of Policing, this training focuses on assisting frontline response officers and police staff to identify and respond appropriately to coercive control and is delivered by a specialist domestic abuse practitioner and a police trainer. In 202122, one DA Matters training session was delivered to 25 attendees.

Training undertaken with other partners in the last financial year has included:

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Key BWA Achievements:

Plans for future

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Risk Review

BWA have a charity risk assessment that was introduced in 2018/19 and that is reviewed at least once annually. This covers governance, operational, funding, people, legal, external factors e.g. government policies and compliments the Business Continuity Plan.

Risk to clients is managed through relevant policies including Health & Safety Policy, Safeguarding (adults and children), and Code of Conduct. Risk is also managed through monthly supervision and case management.

The Management Team monitor financial risk by reviewing income and expenditure in the management accounts on a monthly basis as well as cash flow to ensure the Charity can meet its commitments as they fall due. Regular budget reforecasting allows tracking to ensure the Charity is looking ahead at its financial stability providing a longer term picture. The income and expenditure, funding and financial risk is explored thoroughly at Board meetings every other month allowing strategy to be revised if required.

A charity risk register identifies all key risks and how these are being managed.

Financial Review

The Charity has been under significant financial pressure during the year in supporting an increasing number of service users within very tight Local Authority contract funding. Additional funding has been critical to delivery of services to those coming to us.

The statement of financial activities shows that the total incoming resources decreased to £1,219,242 while total resources expended (before movement on the defined benefit scheme) increased to £1,275,250 resulting in a shortfall of income over expenditure of £56,008

BWA’s principal funding sources are Local Authority contracts to provide refuge and outreach services. This income is supplemented by donations and restricted grants.

Expenditure during the year has reflected the efficient running of the refuges, helpline and outreach services, with 97% of total resources expended being direct costs of charitable activities and restricted grant funded activities, which have been established in accordance with the key objectives of the Charity.

Income and expenditure for all services are continuously monitored.

BWA has a defined benefit pension scheme with the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS), which was closed to new members in 2010. This is a multi-employer scheme with a valuation at the last formal actuarial valuation date 30 September 2020 revealing a shortfall of assets compared with the value of liabilities for the whole scheme of £1,560 million. The actuary has set a deficit contribution plan for all members to which BWA makes its share of payments.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022 Reserves Policy

The Reserves Policy is set to ensure there is no disruption of Berkshire Women’s Aid (BWA) (BWA) services in the event of an unforeseen reduction in income or increase in expenditure. It also allows for contingencies aimed at the mitigation of any major risks identified that would have a financial impact should they materialise.

The Trustees have determined a requirement for freely available funds in order to fund the following:

The Trustees believe that, in line with the current contract dates and structure, the level of free reserves excluding pension deficit should be sufficient to cover:

The level of reserves is continually monitored by the Trustees and the policy is reviewed at least every three years.

The Trustees have designated a fund of £315,922 to cease and repay the joint arrangement with Reading Rotary Community Projects in late 2022 under the terms of the agreement. At the end of March 2022 free reserves were £425,333 in line with the reserves policy.

The Trustees regularly review the Charity’s portfolio of owned properties within operational commitments to ensure that obligations are met over the longer term.

The Charity works to build its reserves to the level required to meet the policy to remain sustainable, build a safer future and protect the Charity in the long term.

Going Concern

After making enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue its activities for the near future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing financial statements and accounts.

Investment Policy

The Trustees, having regard to the liquidity requirements of operating BWA, have kept available funds in interest-bearing deposit accounts and seek to achieve a rate on deposit which matches or exceeds inflation as measured by the retail prices index.

Restrictions on Distribution

The memorandum of association prohibits the distribution of the income and property of the charitable company to the members. Upon dissolution or winding up of the company, the assets shall be given or transferred to some similar institution or institutions having objects similar to the charitable company.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Trustees’ Report (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

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.

Auditor

Edwin Smith were re-appointed as Charity’s auditors and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

This report was approved by the Trustees 28 September 2022 and signed on their behalf by

M Rice-Jones – Chair

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Berkshire Women’s Aid

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Berkshire Women’s Aid as at 31 March 2022

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Berkshire Women’s Aid (the “Charity”) for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

•give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2022 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended;

•have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

•have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, including the trustees’ report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Berkshire Women’s Aid (continued) as at 31 March 2022

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

•the information given in the trustees’ report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or

•sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or

•the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

•we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement [set out on page 18) the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Berkshire Women’s Aid (continued) as at 31 March 2022

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud.

The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud, are to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the company.

Our approach was as follows:

• We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the Charity and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, UK financial reporting standards as issued by the Financial Reporting Council and UK taxation legislation.

• We obtained an understanding of how the Charity complies with these requirements by making enquiries with management and those charged with governance. We corroborated our enquiries through our review of the Trustees’ meeting minutes.

• We assessed the susceptibility of the financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur by considering the key risks impacting the financial statements and documenting the controls that the Charity has established to address risks identified, or that otherwise seek to prevent, deter or detect fraud. In our assessment we considered the risk of management override. Our audit procedures included testing manual journals, including segregation of duties.

• We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of noncompliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations.

• Based on this understanding, we designed specific appropriate audit procedures to identify instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. This included making enquiries of management and those charged with governance and obtaining additional corroborative evidence as required.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.

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Berkshire Women’s Aid

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Berkshire Women’s Aid (continued) as at 31 March 2022

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the Charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and the regulations made under section 154 of that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Edwin Smith

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor

32 Queens Road Reading RG1 4AU

Dated 4 October 2022

Edwin Smith is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

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Berkshire Women’s Aid Statement of Financial Activities Year ended 31 March 2022

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds Funds Funds
2022 2021
Note £ £ £ £
Income:
Donations 2 167,025 46,102 213,127 226,652
Income from charitable 4 931,232 74,308 1,005,540 1,479,279
activities
Investment income 3 575 - 575 852
Total income 1,098,832 120,410 1,219,242 1,706,783
Expenditure: 5
Cost of raising funds 42,859 42,859 42,321
Cost of charitable activities 1,117,721 114,670 1,232,391 1,215,620
Total expenditure 1,160,580 114,670 1,275,250 1,257,941
Net income/(expenditure) (61,748) 5,740 (56,008) 448,842
before transfers
Actuarial gains/(losses) on 21 1,536 - 1,536 (172,811)
defined benefit pension
schemes
Gain on disposal of property 362,234 - 362,234 -
Transfers between funds 17 10,973 (10,973) - -
Net income/(expenditure) 312,995 (5,233) 307,762 276,031
for the year/Net
movement in funds
Fund balances at 1 April 1,757,800 26,670 1,784,470 1,508,439
2021
Fund balances at 31 2,070,795 21,437 2,092,232 1,784,470
March 2022

The statement of financial activities complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006 and includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

23

Berkshire Women’s Aid Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2022

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
9
Current assets
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
11
Net current assets/(liabilities)
Creditors: amounts falling due
after one year
13
Provisions for liabilities
Defined benefit pension scheme
liability
14
Total net assets
Income funds of the Charity
Restricted funds
17
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
17
Designated funds
17		 2022
£
£
1,329,540
1,103,659
1,329,210
2,432,869
(1,253,560)

1,179,309
(175,693)
(240,924)
2,092,232
21,437
1,754,873
315,922
2,070,795
2,092,232		 2022
£
£
1,329,540
1,103,659
1,329,210
2,432,869
(1,253,560)

1,179,309
(175,693)
(240,924)
2,092,232
21,437
1,754,873
315,922
2,070,795
2,092,232		 2021
£
£
1,354,198
1,062,652
1,006,343
2,068,995
(1,150,300)
918,695
(207,851)
(280,572)
1,784,470
26,670
1,757,800
-
1,757,800
1,784,470		 2021
£
£
1,354,198
1,062,652
1,006,343
2,068,995
(1,150,300)
918,695
(207,851)
(280,572)
1,784,470
26,670
1,757,800
-
1,757,800
1,784,470
2,432,869
(1,253,560)		 2,068,995
(1,150,300)

1,754,873
315,922		 1,757,800
-
2,092,232 1,784,470
21,437
2,070,795		 26,670
1,757,800


2,092,232 1,784,470

The charitable company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2022, although an audit has been carried out under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011. No member of the company has deposited a notice, pursuant to section 476 requiring an audit of these accounts under the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors (trustees) acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The accounts were approved by the Board on 28 September 2022 Director/Trustee - M Rice-Jones Company Registration No. 03081670

24

Berkshire Women’s Aid Statement of Cash Flows Year ended 31 March 2022

Note
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided/(used) by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Interest from investments
Proceeds from disposal of tangible fixed asset
Net cash provided by investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of borrowing
19
Cash inflows from loans
Net Cash used in financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
year
Net income/(expenditure) for the year (as per
the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Gain on disposal of tangible fixed asset
Interest from investments
(Increase) / decrease in debtors
Increase / (decrease) in creditors and provisions
Net cash provided from operating activities
Analysis of cash and equivalents
Cash in hand
19
Total		 2022
£
(22,135)
(22,135)
575
375,207
375,782
(30,780)
(30,780)
322,867
1,006,343
1,329,210
307,762
11,685
(362,234)
(575)
(41,007)
62,234
(22,135)
1,329,210
1,329,210		 2021
£
402,610
402,610
852
-
852
(29,505)
-
(29,505)
373,957
632,386
1,006,343

276,031
18,090
(852)
(12,857)
122,198
402,610
1,006,343
1,006,343

25

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31 March 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

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 to the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective January 2021) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Berkshire Women’s Aid 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(s).

Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern.

The Trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.

Fund Accounting

Income

Income is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether capital or revenue grants is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

Donations and other income

Donations and other income are recognised when they become due and credited to the statement of financial activities. Any donations received for specific time restricted purposes are carried forward as deferred income and matched with related expenditure.

26

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure

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.

Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings within the statement of financial activities to one of the following headings:

The direct costs of fundraising and publicity activities.

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

Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objects of the Charity. In the case of unconditional grants, they are accrued once the recipient has been notified of the grant award. The notification gives the recipient a reasonable expectation that they will receive the one year or multi-year grant. Grant awards that are subject to the recipient fulfilling performance conditions are accrued as the performance conditions are met.

Allocation of support and governance costs

Expenditure is allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. These costs have been allocated between the cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. Costs of generating funds is based on 5% of staff costs.

Costs are identified relating to the governance of the Charity being the costs associated with constitutional statutory requirements and costs associated with the strategic management of the Charity’s activities.

Support costs and governance costs are apportioned between the key charitable activities undertaken in the year on basis of revenue earned.

Financial instruments

The Charity 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.

27

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Operating leases

Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual assets or groups of similar assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised at cost. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate that their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use.

Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of fixed assets over their estimated useful lives. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Freehold land is not depreciated

Freehold buildings 50 years straight line

Housing equipment 3 years straight line

Computer equipment and software 3 years straight line

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term deposits with a maturity or notice period of twelve months or less at the balance sheet date.

Joint arrangement

The Charity has a share of the income and expenditure, and assets and liabilities relating to the terms of a joint arrangement. The Charity’s share in the transactions are recorded at cost less impairment.

Creditors and provisions

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.

Pension Schemes

Defined contribution scheme

The Charity operates a defined contribution scheme for its employees. Contributions payable to the scheme are charged to the statement of financial activities in the period to which they relate. The assets of the scheme are held separately from the Charity in an independently administered fund.

28

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Defined benefit scheme

The Charity also participates in a multi-employer defined benefit scheme, being the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS), which was closed to new entrants in March 2010 and the

A defined benefit plan defines the pension benefit that the employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent upon several factors including age, length of service and remuneration. A defined benefit plan is a pension plan that is not a defined contribution plan.

The liability recognised in the balance sheet in respect of the defined benefit plan is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the reporting date less the fair value of the plan assets at the reporting date.

The defined benefit obligation is calculated using the projected unit credit method. Annually SHPS engages independent actuaries to calculate the obligation. The present value is determined by discounting the estimated future payments (recovery plan contributions) using equivalent single discount rates that vary with the duration of the employer liabilities which give the same results as as using a full AA corporate bond (high quality corporate bond) yield curve to discount the employer’s obligations over the specific duration of the employer’s liabilities (‘discount rate’).

The fair value of plan assets is measured in accordance with the FRS 102 fair value hierarchy. This includes the use of appropriate valuation techniques.

Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability, which comprise actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments, the return on scheme assets, changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to the statement of financial activities after net income/expenditure.

The net interest cost is calculated by applying the discount rate to the net balance of the defined benefit obligation and the fair value of scheme assets. This cost and other expenses are recognised in income/expenditure of the statement of financial activities.

29

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

2. DONATIONS

.
DONATIONS
Donations and gifts
Other grants etc.
. INVESTMENT INCOME
Bank interest		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
2022
£
£
£
156,770
2,049
158,819
10,255
44,053
54,308
167,025
46,102
213,127
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
2022
£
£
£
575
-
575		 Total
2021
£
136,484
90,168
226,652
Total
2021
£
852

3. INVESTMENT INCOME

30

Berkshire Women’s Aid

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

4. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Refuge
Rent
Service charges
Reading Borough Council
Bracknell Forest Council
Bracknell Forest Council –
Infection Control Fund
Wokingham Borough Council
MHCLG
Berkshire Community Foundation
Wokingham United Charities
Other
Outreach
Reading Borough Council
Bracknell Forest Council
Wokingham Borough Council
West Berks Council
The Earley Charity
PCC
Other
Children’s Services
Wokingham Borough Council
First Growth
The Pilgrim Trust
Anonymous
Other
Core Services
Wokingham United Charities
Berkshire Community Foundation
Bracknell Forest Covid-19 Fund
Total		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
2022
£
£
£
220,180
-
220,180
41,637
-
41,637
90,000
-
90,000
70,360
-
70,360
9,640
-
9,640
30,329
-
30,329
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
6,762
-
6,762
468,908
-
468,908
307,871
-
307,871
48,667
-
48,667
26,535
-
26,535
71,313
-
71,313
-
42,641
42,641
-
-
-
-
-
-
454,386
42,641
497,027
7,938
-
7,938
-
-
-
-
-
-
30,000
30,000
-
-
-
7,938
30,000
37,938
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
1,667
1,667
1,667
1,667
931,232
74,308
1,005,540		 Total
2021
£
271,927
35,717
90,000
70,360
8,948
21,085
97,515
51,421
20,000
6,732
673,705
295,000
69,973
108,014
83,013
41,711
74,686
21,885
694,282
29,592
25,000
15,000
-
26,700
96,292
10,000
5,000
-
15,000
1,479,279

31

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31 March 2022

5. EXPENDITURE

Staff training
Volunteer costs
Other staff costs
Grants to institutions
Provision of housing services
Rent and property costs
Premises and offices costs
95% payroll and support costs
Depreciation
Professional advice
Finance cost – pension deficit
Audit and accounts
Allocation of overheads
Allocation of governance costs
Total expenditure
2021 expenditure		 Cost of
raising
funds
Refuge
£
£
-
5,490
-
-
-
583
-
-
105,604
53,181
41,016
42,859
139,772
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Outreach
£
2,173
-
8,317
-
10,056
-
7,570
375,859
-
-
-
-		 Children’s
services
£
1,483
-
872
-
403
-
4,618
54,836
-
-
-
-		 Governance
costs
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
32,944
-
-
-
6,506
Support
costs
£
1,586
360
7,515
-
36,625
31,500
75,221
207,139
11,686
216
9,260
-		 Total
2021
£
£
10,732
7,069
360
130
17,286
17,891
-
671
152,688
141,211
84,681
71,772
128,425
140,500
853,410
846,410
11,686
18,090
216
622
9,260
6,803
6,506
6,772
42,859
345,645		 403,976 62,212 39,450 381,108 1,275,250
1,257,941
181,574
18,796		 185,874
19,241		 13,660
1,413		 -
(39,450)		 (381,108)
-		 -
-
-
-
42,859
546,015		 609,091 77,285 - - 1,275,250
1,257,941
42,321
519,132		 603,140 93,348 - - 1,257,941

Auditor’s remuneration comprises audit fees of £5,490 (2021: £5,400) and accountancy services of £1,146 (2021: £1,372).

Of the total expenditure, £1,275,250 was unrestricted (2021: £847,719) and £119,670 was restricted (2021: £410,522).

32

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements Year ended 31 March 2022

6. TAXATION

The company is a registered Charity. It has no liability to corporation tax on bank interest received on its charitable activities.

7. TRUSTEES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Trustees were not paid and did not receive any benefits from employment with the Charity in the year (2021: £nil).

There were no reimbursements of expenses to Trustees during the year (2021: £nil).

There were no related party transactions during the year (2021: £nil).

8. EMPLOYEES

Employment Costs

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs		 2022
£
763,257
56,349
19,716
839,322		 2021
£
766,199
54,229
17,171
837,599

Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Refuge
Outreach
Children’s Services
Support		 2022
Number
7
15
3
13
38		 2021
Number
9
20
2
9
40

The average number of full time equivalent staff employed during the year was 30 (2021: 31).

No employee received more than £60,000 in the financial year (2021: none).

The key management personnel of the Charity comprise the Trustees, Chief Executive Officer, Finance Manager and Service Development Manager. The total employee benefits including pension contributions of the key management personnel of the Charity were £136,262 (2021: £139,212). See note 8 for specific details on Trustees.

33

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Cost
At 1 April 2021
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
Depreciation
At 1 April 2021
On disposals
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2022
Net book value
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2021		 Freehold
property
Furniture
and
equipment
Total
£
£
£
1,464,351
57,838
1,522,189
-
-
-
(22,203)
(10,390)
(32,593)
1,442,148
47,448
1,489,596
111,232
56,759
167,991
(9,230)
(10,390)
(19,620)
10,606
1,079
11,685
112,608
47,448
160,056
1,329,540
-
1,329,540
1,353,119
1,079
1,354,198

In 2019 a new refuge was built under a joint arrangement with another charity and renovations were made to the freehold property for use in the Charity’s activities. The cost of £1,017,090 represents the Charity’s share of the property under the joint arrangement. The total cost of the property (including improvements) amounts to £1,317,090.

10. DEBTORS

Debtors
Amount due from joint arrangement
Prepayments and accrued income		 2022
£
18,824
1,017,090

67,745
1,103,659
 2021
£
9,617
1,017,090
35,945
1,062,652

34

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

11. CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

Bank loan
Trade creditors
Taxes and social security costs
Amount owing to joint arrangement
Other creditors
Accruals
Deferred income
12. DEFERRED INCOME
Deferred income comprises of restricted grants
Balance at beginning of year
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in year
Balance at year end
13. CREDITORS
Amounts falling after one year
Bank loan		 2022
£
32,140
8,599
24,533
1,017,090

885
47,720
122,593
1,253,560

2022
£
28,557
(28,557)
122,593
122,593
2022
£
175,693		 2021
£
30,762
9,740
25,402
1,017,090
805
37,944
28,557
1,150,300
2021
£
33,098
(33,098)
58,056
58,056
2021
£
207,851

The bank loan totaling £207,833 at 31 March 2022 is the balance on a commercial mortgage taken out in 2018 for a term of ten years with a fixed rate of interest of 4.32%. The mortgage is secured upon the Charity’s freehold property. The amount falling due in more than five years by instalments is £32,639 (2021: £70,599).

35

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

14. PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES

4. PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES
2022 2021
£ £
Defined benefit pension scheme liability 240,924 280,572

The movements in the year regarding the provision are detailed in note 21 on page 42.

15. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fund balances at
31 March 2022 are
represented by:
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Creditors falling due after
one year
Pension deficit provision		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total
2022
Total
2021
£
£
£
£
1,316,922
12,618
1,329,540
1,354,198
1,170,490
8,819
1,179,309
918,695
(175,693)
(175,693)
(207,851)
(240,924)
(240,924)
(280,572)
2,070,795
21,437
2,092,232
1,784,470

16. COMMITMENTS UNDER OPERATING LEASES

At 31 March 2022 the Charity had a total of future minimum lease payments under non– cancellable operating leases for each of the following periods:

Several of the leases have completed their term, the values included are the current rentals and where leases terminate during the next financial year, the commitment included is the value to the date of termination of the lease.

Expiry date:
Not later than one year
Later than one year and not later than five years		 2022
£
86,575
9,823
96,398		 2021
£
72,313
44,037
116,350

36

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

7. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Movements in restricted
funds
Holly Tree House
Douglas Martin
Refuge
Shanly Foundation
Berkshire Community
Foundation
The Good Exchange
Volant Trust
Shanti Fund
Helpline
Schroder Trust
Covid Support
Bracknell Forest Council
Infection Control
Outreach
The Earley Charity
Bracknell Forest Covid-19
Recovery Fund
Children's Services
Anon
Resident Wellbeing
Get Berkshire Active
NatWest Circle Fund
Sundry
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
Designated fund
Total Funds		 Balance at
1 April
2021
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Balance at
31 March
2022
£
£
£
£
£
25,946
-
(355)
(12,973)
12,618
724
-
(724)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,000
2,000
5,000
-
-
5,000
-
2,000
(2,000)
-
-
-
14,397
(14,397)
-
-
-
2,049
(230)
-
1,819
-
-
-
3,000
(3,000)
-
-
-
-
-
8,062
(8,062)
-
-
-
-
-
-
42,641
(42,641)
-
-
-
1,667
(1,667)
-
-
-
-
-
-
30,000
(30,000)
-
-
-
-
-
-
8,529
(8,529)
-
-
-
2,500
(2,500)
-
-
-
565
(565)
-
-
26,670
120,410
(114,670)
(10,973)
21,437
1,757,800
1,098,832
(796,810)
(304,949)
1,754,873
-
-
-
315,922
315,922
1,757,800
1,098,832
(796,810)
10,973
2,070,795
1,784,470
1,219,242
(911,480)
-
2,092,232

37

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)

Transfers relate to the half the funds of Holly Tree House sold in year being transferred to general funds and a restricted fund from last year transferred from general funds.

The following amounts within restricted funds represent net book values of capital items at 31 March 2022 and do not represent cash available:

2022 2021
£ £
Holly Tree House 12,618 25,946

Purposes of the restricted funds

Holly Tree House

The property is owned by Berkshire Women’s Aid but it was purchased by a grant from Urban Aid. The fund is being expensed by depreciation over the anticipated life of the property. During the year one half of the property was sold.

Shanti Fund

A fund specifically set up to meet the religious and cultural needs of women from BAME communities accessing BWA services.

Anonymous

Support to provide a Refuge Children’s Worker to support those children and young people coming into BWA refuge accommodation and to deliver the NSPCC Dart Programme working with mothers and children who have experienced domestic abuse.

Earley Charity

Provided the funds to help us to build capacity in our Outreach and IDVA community services.

Bracknell Forest Council Infection Control Grant

Funding to provide support to ensure COVID-19 measures are delivered in refuge accommodation.

Get Berkshire Active

In partnership with ResideDance to deliver the Navigating Stories programme of therapeutic dance workshops to women and children in refuge accommodation.

The Good Exchange

Donations from this online giving platform are supporting three key strands of our work: emergency refuge to women and children; 24/7 helpline and our outreach services.

38

Berkshire Women’s Aid

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)

Purposes of the restricted funds (continued)

Volant Trust

To deliver a domestic abuse group support and advocacy project for women from Black and Minority ethnic communities.

Berkshire Community Foundation

Play equipment for the garden of a BWA refuge supporting families fleeing domestic abuse.

Shanly Foundation

A donation towards purchasing a van to collect donations of clothing, furniture, bedding and toys to support families in our refuge accommodation.

Schroder Trust

To update the BWA 24/7 domestic abuse helpline technology to better meet the needs of survivors seeking support.

Bracknell Forest Covid-19 Recovery Fund

To support domestic abuse services in Bracknell.

Berkshire Community Foundation

Play equipment for the garden of a BWA refuge supporting families fleeing domestic abuse.

NatWest Circle Fund

To provide financial support through grants to victims of economic abuse and to help survivors move forward and promote recovery and resilience

DESIGNATED FUND

Funds designated to cease and repay the joint arrangement in late 2022 in accordance with the terms of the agreement. The joint arrangement with another charity was entered into in 2017 to facilitate the building of a new refuge.

39

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

18. LEGAL STATUS OF THE CHARITY

The Charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.

19. ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET DEBT

Cash
Loans falling due within
one year
Loans falling due after
more than one year
Total		 Balance at
1 April 2021
Cash-
flows
£
£
1,006,343
322,867
(30,762)
(1,378)
(207,851)
32,158
(238,613)
30,780
767,730
353,647		 Balance at
31 March 2022
£
1,329,210
(32,140)
(175,693)
(207,833)
1,121,377

20. FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS

The Charity has a joint arrangement with another charity which involved sharing the cost of building and renovating a refuge property completed in previous years. There is a financial commitment to the other charity under the equity share arrangement relating to a share of the net rents from the property. The other charity is entitled to have a share of the net rental income from the refuge. At 31.3.2021 (after the first anniversary) the amount payable to the other charity for the share of the net rents is based on the greater of £2,000 per month or the agreed equity percentage until the agreed 10[th] anniversary. Thereafter the other charity is entitled to a share of the rents based on the agreed equity percentage.

40

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

21. PENSION SCHEME

The Charity participates in the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) which was closed to new members in 2010. SHPS offer several pensions structures including a multi-employer defined benefit scheme which provides benefits to some 500 non-associated employers.

A full actuarial valuation for the scheme was carried out with an effective date of 30 September 2020. This actuarial valuation showed assets of £5,148m, liabilities of £6,708m and a deficit of £1,560m. The estimated debt withdrawal at 30 September 2020 is £1,260m. To eliminate this funding shortfall, the Trustees and the participating employers have agreed that additional contributions will be paid, in combination from all employers. The Charity’s contributions are detailed on page 44.

The liability recognised in the balance sheet is the present value of the defined benefit obligation less the fair value of the plans assets at the year-end as detailed below.

PRESENT VALUES OF DEFINED BENEFIT OBLIGATION, FAIR VALUE OF ASSETS AND DEFINED BENEFIT ASSET (LIABILITY)

2022
2021		 2022
2021
Fair value of plan assets
1,449,784
1,470,924
Present value of defined benefit obligation
1,690,708
1,751,496
Surplus (deficit) in plan
(240,924)
(280,572)
Unrecognised surplus
-
-
Defined benefit asset (liability) to be
recognised
(240,924)
(280,572)
RECONCILIATION OF THE IMPACT OF THE ASSET CEILING

31 March 2022 Impact of asset ceiling at start of period - Effect of the asset ceiling included in net interest cost - Actuarial losses (gains) on asset ceiling - Impact of asset ceiling at end of period -

41

Berkshire Women’s Aid

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

21. PENSION SCHEME (CONTINUED)

RECONCILIATION OF OPENING AND CLOSING BALANCES OF THE DEFINED BENEFIT OBLIGATION

31 March
2022
Defined benefit obligation at start of period
1,751,946
Current service cost
3,775
Expenses
36,281
Interest expense
-
Contributions by plan participants
-
Actuarial losses (gains) due to scheme
experience
112,346
Actuarial losses (gains) due to changes in demographic
assumptions
(26,685)
Actuarial losses (gains) due to changes in financial
assumptions
(104,425)
Benefits paid and expenses
(82,080)
Liabilities acquired in a business
combination
-
Liabilities extinguished on settlements
-
Losses (gains) on curtailments
-
Losses (gains) due to benefit changes
-
Exchange rate changes
-
Defined benefit obligation at end of period
1,690,708

42

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

21. PENSION SCHEME (CONTINUED)

RECONCILIATION OF OPENING AND CLOSING BALANCES OF THE FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS

31 March
2022
Fair value of plan assets at start of period 1,470,924
Interest income 30,796
Experience on plan assets (excluding amounts included in
interest income) - gain (loss)		 (17,228)
Contributions by the employer 47,372
Contributions by plan participants -
Benefits paid and expenses (82,080)
Assets acquired in a business combination -
Assets distributed on settlements -
Exchange rate changes -
Fair value of plan assets at end of period 1,449,784

The actual return on the plan assets (including any changes in share of assets) over the period ended 31 March 2022 was £13,568 (2021 - £142,719).

43

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

21. PENSION SCHEME (CONTINUED)

DEFINED BENEFIT COSTS RECOGNISED IN STATEMENT OF STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTVITIES

For the year to 31 March 2022
Current service cost
Expenses 3,775
Net interest expense 5,485
Losses (gains) on business combinations
-
Losses (gains) on settlements
-
Losses (gains) on curtailments
-
Losses (gains) due to benefit changes
-
Defined benefit costs recognised in statement of
comprehensive income(SoCI) 9,260

44

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

21. PENSION SCHEME (CONTINUED)

DEFINED BENEFIT COSTS RECOGNISED IN OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the year to 31 March 2022
Experience on plan assets (excluding amounts included in
net interest cost) - gain (loss) (17,228)
Experience gains and losses arising on the plan liabilities -
gain (loss) (112,346)
Effects of changes in the demographic assumptions
underlying the present value of the defined benefit
obligation - gain (loss)		 26,685
Effects of changes in the financial assumptions underlying
the present value of the defined benefit obligation - gain
(loss)		 104,425
Total actuarial gains and losses (before restriction due to
some of the surplus not being recognisable) - gain (loss)		 1,536
Effects of changes in the amount of surplus that is not
recoverable (excluding amounts included in net interest
cost)-gain(loss) -
Total amount recognised in other comprehensive income -
gain (loss)		 1,536

45

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

21. PENSION SCHEME (CONTINUED)

ASSETS

31 March 2022
31 March 2021
Absolute Return 58,160
81,189
Alternative Risk Premia 47,807
55,400
Cash 4,930
15
Corporate Bond Fund 96,712
86,917
Credit Relative Value 48,184
46,824
Distressed Opportunities 51,881
42,476
Emerging Markets Debt 42,185
59,378
Fund of Hedge Funds -
168
Global Equity 278,219
234,433
High Yield 12,494
44,051
Infrastructure 103,278
98,072
Insurance-Linked Securities 33,801
35,330
Long Lease Property 37,305
28,829
Liability Driven Investment 404,538
373,827
Net Current Assets 4,026
8,942
Private Debt 37,166
35,080
Property 39,146
30,330
Currency hedging (5,675)
-
Risk Sharing 47,734
53,546
Secured Income 54,018
61,169
Opportunistic Credit 5,157
40,325
Opportunist Illiquid Credit 48,710
37,396
Liquid Credit 8
17,557
Total assets 1,449,784
1,470,924

None of the fair values of the assets shown above include any direct investments in the employer’s own financial instruments or any property occupied by, or other assets used by, the employer.

46

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

21. PENSION SCHEME (CONTINUED)

KEY ASSUMPTIONS

31 March
31 March
2022
2021
% per annum
% per annum
Discount Rate 2.79%
2.12%
Inflation (RPI) 3.66%
3.31%
Inflation (CPI) 3.23%
2.84%
Salary Growth 4.23%
3.84%
Allowance for commutation of pension for
cash at retirement		 75% of
maximum
allowance		 75% of
maximum
allowance

The mortality assumptions adopted at 31 March 2022 imply the following life expectancies:

expectancies:
Life
expectancy
at age 65
(Years)
Male retiring in 2022 21.1
Female retiring in 2022 23.7
Male retiring in 2040 22.4
Female retiring in 2040 25.2

47

Berkshire Women’s Aid Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2022

21. PENSION SCHEME (CONTINUED)

OTHER SMALL MULTI-EMPLOYER SCHEME

The Charity also has a much smaller multi-employer scheme which provides benefits to some 950 non-associated participating employers. The scheme is a defined benefit scheme in the UK. It is not possible for the company to obtain sufficient information to enable it to account for the scheme as a defined benefit scheme. The scheme is so small the necessary disclosures as a defined contribution scheme are not considered material. The pension deficit liability of this scheme is £263 (2021 - £1,089).

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION SCHEME COSTS

The defined contribution scheme contributions for the year total £19,716 (2021: £17,171).

22. CONTINGENT LIABILITY

As detailed in note 21 the Charity participates in the Social Housing Pension Scheme which is a multi-employer defined benefit scheme

There is a potential additional liability within in the Technical Provisions methodology for actuarial valuation of the scheme. This relates to changes made to the benefit structures of the scheme and the trustees of the pension scheme have sought direction from the court on the effect of the changes. The court direction is still pending at the year-end.

For multi-employer schemes, the potential impact as individual employer level is not known due to various factors and therefore no liability to the Charity can be quantified at this stage.

48