**Registered number: 03141164 Charity number: 1053223**
# **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD.**
**(A company limited by guarantee)**
**TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **CONTENTS**
||Page|
|---|---|
|**Reference and administrative details of the Company, its Trustees and advisers**|1|
|**Trustees' report**|2 - 10|
|**Independent auditors' report on the financial statements**|11 - 14|
|**Statement of financial activities**|15|
|**Balance sheet**|16|
|**Statement of cash flows**|17|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|18 - 32|
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE COMPANY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Trustees**|Philip Waller CBE, Chair|
|---|---|
||John Baruch|
||Rose Bentley|
||Bep Dhaliwal (Resigned 6 December 2023)|
||Jean Lammiman|
||Simon Lascelles (Appointed 28 June 2023)|
||Meghan Luton|
||Tom Moore (Resigned 6 December 2023)|
||Robert Neil OBE (Resigned 6 December 2023)|
||Fatima Patel|
||Janet Sharp|
||Nicola Tavender|
||Lana Wood|
||Michael Young, Treasurer|
||Carolyn Fallon (Appointed 26 June 2024)|
||Sarita Dent (Appointed 6 December 2023)|
|**Company registered**
**number**
03141164
**Charity registered**
**number**
1053223
**Registered office**
The Gables
St Marys Road
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire
HP2 5HL
**Independent auditors**
Larking Gowen LLP
Chartered Accountants
1 Claydon Business Park
Great Blakenham
Ipswich
IP6 0NL
**Bankers**
Charities Aid Foundation Bank Limited
25 Kings Hill Avenue
King Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JQ
**Solicitors**
Radar Limited
6 Beacon Way
Hull
East Yorkshire
HU3 4AE||
Page 1
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Introduction**
The Board of Trustees of Relate London North West, Hertfordshire, Mid Thames and Buckinghamshire ("the charity") presents its annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Board is satisfied with the performance of the charity during the year and its financial position as at 31 March 2024. The Trustees consider that the charity is well placed to continue its activities during the coming year, and that its assets are adequate to fulfil its obligations.
## **Name, registered office and constitution of the charity**
The charity constitutes a registered company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006. The full name of the charitable company is **Relate London North West, and Hertfordshire, Mid Thames and Buckinghamshire Ltd** . The full name was changed from Relate London North West & Hertfordshire by special resolution on 9th December 2020. The Charity is also known as Relate North Thames and Chilterns and Relate London NW, Herts, Berks & Bucks, the charity was previously known by the names Relate Central Middlesex and Relate London North West.
The legal registration details are:-
Date of incorporation: 22 December 1995 Company registration number: 03141164 The Registered Office is: The Gables, St. Marys Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 5HL Charity Registration Number: 1053223 The telephone number is: 0300 003 2324
## **Objectives and activities of the charity**
A summary of the objectives of the charity as set out in its governing document.
In terms of its Memorandum and Articles, the charitable company exists to;
- educate the public concerning the benefits of secure and committed relationships; seek to enhance the good health, both mental and physical, of adults and children;
- provide counselling, mediation, advice, education, guidance and relief to adults and/or children in relation to any aspect of contemporary life or work.
The charity operates in the London Boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon, Islington and Westminster and across the counties of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the eastern parts of Berkshire.
The trustees have throughout the year paid regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in dealing with the aims and activities of the charity.
Our Relate federation shares a vision, mission and values:
- Our vision is a future with thriving relationships in every aspect of life.
- Our mission it to provide accessible support in the ways that people want it so everyone can enjoy thriving relationships.
- Our values are:
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## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## Accessibility
We believe in the possibility of every individual to have thriving relationships, irrespective of their background or identity.
## Continuous improvement
We are committed to staying ahead of the curve, anticipating the evolving relationship and wellbeing needs of our communities, and continuously innovating. We ask questions, seek feedback, and adapt to ensure we remain significant and meaningful.
## Excellence
With a foundation rooted in expert knowledge and deep skills, we measure our success by the tangible, transformative outcomes we achieve. Every initiative is undertaken with a commitment to excellence and making a lasting difference.
## Safety
At the heart of our work lies a commitment to safeguarding every individual's well-being, dignity, and rights. We emphasise the paramount importance of consent, creating an environment where personal boundaries are respected and upheld.
## **An explanation of the charity's main aims and objectives for the year**
The charity's main objective for the year was to promote the objectives set out in its governing document and to provide such further related services that will enhance the range and effectiveness of those objectives.
## **An explanation of the charity's main strategies for achieving its stated objectives**
The charity is a member of the Relate Federation and works within its framework and in accordance with the strategy set out in its own business plan.
Relate LNWHMTB’s STRATEGIC PILLARS for 2024-2027 are:
- GROWTH through PARTNERSHIPS - to reach more diverse communities, strengthening relationships with partners and communities and diversify what we offer.
- ENGAGEMENT and INCLUSION - to focus on what works, ensuring our plans are valid offering what clients want and need by providing accessible and inclusive services for all. TECHNOLOGY with RELATE NATIONAL – to make online working easier and smoother INNOVATION - to maximise our appeal, support different approaches and automate our systems QUALITY ASSURANCE & CREDENTIALS/ACCREDIATION of practitioners, systems and services
- SUSTAINABLITY For employees including practitioners, for our organisation financially and for the environment
## **Details of significant activities**
The company's services are in three main areas:
1. Counselling - couple counselling, family counselling, adult relationships counselling including one session therapy, psychosexual therapy and counselling for children and young people.
2. Mediation - family mediation and group mediation
3. Education - courses for individuals, including delivering the Planning Together for Children programme.
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## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
Relate London North West, Hertfordshire, Mid Thames and Buckinghamshire also supported the volunteers who run the Uxbridge Child Contact Centre. However, as a result of loss of grant funding and a drop in demand the contact centre was closed in March 2024.
## **The contribution of volunteers**
The charity has placement student counsellors who work in a voluntary capacity. All Trustees are volunteers. The Uxbridge Child Contact Centre was staffed by volunteers.
## **Summary of main activities of the charity in relation to its objects**
During 2023/24 the majority of our counselling and all of our mediation services have continued to be delivered via Zoom. In person counselling has been building in our offices in Maidenhead and Hemel Hempstead. We also deliver face to face counselling on one day a week in a counselling venue in Museum Street, Westminster as well as in counsellors’ home practice rooms in Bushey, Hampstead and Ruislip.
The services that the charity provides focus on relationships at all stages of life and families. These services are;
## Adult Relationship counselling
For couples or individuals who experience difficulties in their adult relationships. Clients are seen for an Initial Assessment (IA) session of one hour. Following on from this they usually attend a series of fifty-minute counselling sessions, typically for 10 consecutive weeks.
## Family counselling
This is a service for people who wish to attend as a family group. Clients are seen together or separately for sessions of varying lengths, as agreed with the counsellor, to work through issues that are affecting their family and other relationships.
## Psychosexual therapy
For individuals or couples for whom the main identified problem is a sexual one. This programme aims to help the individual or couple relearn more satisfying sexual behaviour and to develop a mutual sense of confidence and enjoyment in lovemaking.
## Family mediation
This is for people who are separating or divorcing. Each party attends an initial assessment meeting (MIAM) at which suitability for mediation and eligibility for Legal Aid are assessed. If both agreed to come to a joint session, they are able to talk through issues affecting their children, financial arrangements and property in order to find a mutually acceptable way forward. The charity also offers other conflict resolution services such as neighbourhood, intergenerational and workplace mediation.
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## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## Children and Young Peoples counselling
The charity is no longer contracted to provide counsellors in local schools as their budgets have been cut in recent years. Young people experiencing a range of difficulties including bereavement and depression may contact us directly for free individual counselling from our specialist counsellors. Usually, family counselling is also appropriate.
## Education and training services
Our counsellors provide relationship training in the contact of our collaboration with Hertfordshire based addiction recovery charities The Livingroom and Family Lives. The service is called Families Living in Recovery. https://www.livingroomherts.org/families-living-in-recovery
The charitable company acts in accordance with its three year Forward Plan and its annual Business Plan and Budget, which is reviewed by the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees on a regular basis.
## **Achievements and Performance of the Charity**
A review of charitable activities and main achievements undertaken by the charity revealed the following performance highlights over the course of the year:
## Counselling
- Relationship counselling was used by 1378 people for 8321 sessions 50 mins long (2022/23 1,689 people for 11,667 sessions)
Family counselling was provided to 249 people for 549 sessions (2022/23: 370 people for 739 sessions). Children and young people's counselling benefited 44 people for 181 sessions (2022/23: 24) young people between the ages of 11 and 18 years
Psychosexual therapy was used by 208 people for 858 sessions (2022/23: 296) people for 1,079 sessions
## Supporting Children
Uxbridge Child Contact Centre enabled contact for 20 families (2022/23: 25) families, including 28 children (2022/23: 30) where there is a non-resident parent
## Mediation
Mediation Information and Advice (Assessment) Meetings (MIAM) - a total of 365 (2022/23: 403) 295 referrals were received. This includes 3 (2022/23: 16) housing MIAMs.
## Education and training services
An extensive CPD programme was run for counsellors, mediators, support staff and advertised across our Relate federation with the majority delivered on Zoom. An in-person gathering was well received in the Summer, when staff gathered for a Tea & Talk session on Mediation.
The annual Conference titled ‘Insights into Differences’ for practitioners, staff and Trustees was very successful when more than forty practitioners, support staff and Trustees attended in Harrow. The CPD programme covered subjects such as: ’Solution Focused Therapy’, ‘Addiction CPD’, ‘Working with Autism Spectrum Condition’, ‘ Advanced Training on Domestic Abuse’, ‘Diversity, Equality, and Intersectionality’, ‘ Transactional Analysis’, ‘Narrative Ideas in Practice’ and ‘Mental Health Awareness’.
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## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
We also ran specific training for supervisors ‘Reflecting on Power and Intersectionality in Clinical Supervision’. We organised several ‘lunch and learn’ sessions which included three Macmillan workshops and a ‘Managing Critical Feedback’ workshop. Our Clinical Lead delivered a number of training sessions for counsellors and trainees which included ‘Relational Risk Assessment training’, ‘CSG with Sexual Focus’ and ‘DA Support group sessions’. We were also able to offer ‘Introduction to Office 365 and MS Teams’ training for all support staff.
## **External Accreditation**
In January 2024, our counselling service was re-accredited by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). The report from the independent assessors stated:
“This service was a delight to visit, and the assessors would like to formally thank all the staff for the giving of their time and their full engagement with the visit. During the visit there were numerous examples from all the staff that the service was delivering a high standard of ethical and professional service. It would seem all staff are working flat out to provide a caring and compassionate service to an increasingly complex range of clients. Of particular note, was the level of staff support and the sense of having strong, collaborative relationships across teams. Alongside this, the level of supervision and free CPD was greatly appreciated by the practitioners. Some of the challenges discussed was how to increase client feedback and go back more fully to face to face work. In conclusion, the assessors enjoyed meeting with the team and hearing more about the ongoing challenges for this service. There was much to celebrate within the service and clients can be assured the service they receive is professional, compassionate and ethical. We wish you well for the coming year.”
## **Fundraising activities**
Charges are made for the provision of counselling and psychosexual therapy services based on the clients' income and their ability to pay. Only one of the twenty seven local authorities in our territory (8 boroughs , 10 Herts councils, 6 in Buckinghamshire and 3 in Berkshire i.e. Dacorum and Hillingdon) provided a grant, which partially assisted the charitable company to provide services to those clients who could not afford to pay either all or part of the charge.
Counselling clients who cannot afford to pay the full cost of their session may apply for financial assistance. During the year, the number of people applying and the amount of assistance has increased. We believe that this reflects the impact of the ‘cost of living crisis’ in the UK which as affected people living in the communities we serve.
The charity’s counsellors explain to all clients that the basic cost of each session is £92. Applying a sliding scale, counselling clients who have a household income of more than £40,000 are invited to contribute more than the base cost. 20-25% of our clients donate more than £92 in order to support the charity. This allows us to provide financial support to about a quarter of the charities clients who cannot afford the full cost of a session.
Family mediation is funded by the Legal Services Commission in the case of clients who are eligible for public funding and by private clients according to incomes. When a dispute involved arrangements for children, mediation clients are eligible for a £500 mediation voucher which is not means tested.
## **Relationships with other groups, Charities and individuals**
The charity works closely with other members of the Relate Federation and with related government agencies, charities and local community groups.
During the period, the Charity had a strong relationship with Relate National (Relate Ltd), which provided significant services to the Charity. On 26 November 2024, Relate Ltd went into administration. The Charity is part of a consortium of federated centres that is working together to secure the future of the Relate brand, training and transitional arrangements for the Penelope CRM system. The board of Trustees do not believe this to present a material uncertainty related to going concern.
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## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Financial Review**
The Board of Trustees has conducted its own review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks, as far as it practicable. Internal risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspects of the charitable company. These procedures are periodically reviewed by the Trustees to ensure that they will meet the needs of the charity.
The principal strategic risks identified during the year are;
- Loss of the Relate brand (including loss of the Relate website listing of Relate LNWHMTB venues which attracts self-referral clients)
- Loss of the use of Relate National services and systems (including reduction or loss of support from Relate national for telephone and case management systems)
- Financial underperformance due to not meeting income forecasts (including the loss of grant and contract income)
The charity has taken action to monitor, mitigate and actively manage these strategic risks. Trustees have also considered the reliability of income and the extent to which expenditure is committed.
## **Steps taken to establish the level of reserves:**
Based on the recommendations of a Subcommittee chaired by the Treasurer the Board of Trustees adopted the following approach.
The Board consider that reserves required to provide:
- Working capital to ensure operating liquidity
- Resilience against risks such as:
- loss of services and support of Relate National through insolvency
- economic downturn in our communities resulting from events like Brexit, the Covid 19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis related to the war in Ukraine.
- Impact Project funds for:
- Greater impact in line with our charitable purposes
- Improved experiences for our clients
The income generated by the investment of the reserves is also required to cover some of the cost of our programme of financial assistance for reduced cost counselling sessions.
The charity operated online accounts with two banks, CAFBank and Barclays. Our finance team work to ensure that the balance held with CAFbank does not exceed £85,000 in line with the limit of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Trustees consider that an unrestricted reserve of 4 months of expenditure is required for financial resilience and flexibility. The Charity’s Budgeted expenditure for 2024-2025 is approximately £1,192,000. 4 months of budgeted expenditure is £397,500. As at 31 March 2024, free reserves (calculated as unrestricted reserves less amounts relating to tangible fixed assets) totalled £1,022,216 (2022/2023: £1,060,783) which is above target.
Restricted funds from grants, contracts, consortiums and previous mergers require to be held separately.
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## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
Trustees agreed that the current reserves are allocated as follows:
Working Capital £200,000 Resilience against risk £397,500
The investment policy and objectives, including the extent (if any) to which social, environmental or ethical considerations are taken into account
Trustees have agreed that invested funds should aim for steady growth and sensible income based on a moderate to medium risk appetite. When possible, Trustees have agreed that Ethical funds should be selected for investment of reserves. These funds where transferred from the CCLA Charity Investment Fund to the CCLA Charities Ethical Investment Fund on 6th August 2024
For funds exceeding the required reserves, the Charity's management will present to Trustees costed proposals for projects that will provide:
- Greater impact in line with our charitable purposes Improved experiences for our clients
Trustees have agreed to invest in a phased investment in improved Information Technology hardware and upgrades in supporting software.
Also the income from these invested funds are required to cover the shortfall resulting from providing reduced cost counselling.
## **How and when the reserves policy will be reviewed:**
The reserves policy is reviewed annually and the risk register is reviewed quarterly.
## **Availability and adequacy of assets of each of the funds:**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. As stated in the introduction to this report, the Trustees consider the financial performance by the charity during the year to have been satisfactory.
The Statement of Financial Activities shows net outflow of resources for the year, before net gains/losses on investments, of £111,589 (2022/2023 £17,689 inflow) and a net outflow of £53,924 (2022/2023: £56,100 outflow) after net gains/losses on investments.
The total reserves at the year end stand at £1,138,576 of which £85,851 are restricted funds (2022/2023: £1,192,000 of which £102,301 are restricted funds).
A majority of the expenditure is spent on salaries, for practitioners (counsellors, mediators and trainers), management and administration staff.
## **Specific changes to fixed assets**
The additions to fixed assets are computer and other office equipment costing £12,177 (2022/2023: £28,964).
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## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Share capital**
The company is limited by guarantee and therefore has no share capital.
## **Plans for future periods**
In future periods the charity intends to continue to provide existing service in an accessible and sustainable way. A forward plan for the period 2024-2027 was prepared and approved by the Trustees. The strategic pillars are noted above.
Business Plans and budgets are prepared annually. The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
## **Trustee Recruitment**
The Board periodically reviews the skills, knowledge and experience of the Trustees. The range of skills is assessed to ensure a diverse range of perspectives as well as knowledge in specialist subjects relevant to our organisation. This information is considered by the Trustee Recruitment and Development Committee which is currently chaired by Fatima Patel.
The Committee’s recommendations are presented for approval to the Board and implemented by CEO. Recruitment of Trustees is openly advertised on our website, social media and Trustee recruitment platforms. Suitable candidates are interviewed by the Chair of Trustees, Chair of the Committee and CEO. Before cooption, suitable candidates are invited to observe a board meeting and meet the Board. After appointment, Trustees a given induction briefing which include viewing a suite of our own training videos.
## **Structure, governance and management**
None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
All new Trustees receive an induction which includes briefings on finance and safeguarding. Ongoing training for trustees is overseen by the Trustee Recruitment and Development Committee.
The Board of Trustees sets the pay and remuneration of the charity’s CEO as its key manager and benchmarks their pay against other similar roles in the charitable sector. .
The charitable company’s current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:
settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction; ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and
pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations.
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## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities**
The Trustees (who are also the directors of Relate London North West, Hertfordshire, Mid Thames and Buckinghamshire for the purpose of company law) 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 charity 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 year.
In preparing these financial statements, they are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the 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 and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **Disclosure of information to auditors**
Insofar as the Trustees are aware:
- there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware, and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
The members and board of trustees will review the appointment of auditors for the next period.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................
## **Philip Waller CBE**
> Date: 11 Dec 2024
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**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Relate London North West, Hertfordshire, Mid thames and Buckinghamshire Ltd (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet, the Statement of cash flows and the related notes, 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 Financial Reporting Standard 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 charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure 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 the 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 Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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 charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve 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.
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**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (CONTINUED)**
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' 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. 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.
## **Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
the information given in the Trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
- the Trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company 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 Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or certain disclosures of Trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic report.
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**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (CONTINUED)**
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) 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 charitable company'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 charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
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 Auditors' 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.
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:
Due to the field in which the company operates, we identified the following areas as those most likely to have a material impact on the financial statements: health and safety; employment law; GDPR and compliance with the UK Companies Act.
The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
- Enquiry with management regarding any known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations, accidents in the workplace and fraud; Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
- Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates; and
- Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, and evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Page 13
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (CONTINUED)**
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
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. This description forms part of our Auditors' report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditors' 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 charitable company and its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Giles Kerkham FCA DChA (Senior statutory auditor)**
for and on behalf of **Larking Gowen LLP**
Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors
Ipswich
Date: 13/12/2024
Page 14
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCORPORATING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
4
Other income
5
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
6
**Total expenditure**
**Net (expenditure)/income before net**
**gains/(losses) on investments**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**8,603**
**1,021,336**
**1,418**
**35,909**
**-**
**1,067,266**
**1,162,405**
**1,162,405**
**(95,139)**
**57,665**
**(37,474)**
**1,090,199**
**(37,474)**
**1,052,725**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**-**
**81,178**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**81,178**
**97,628**
**97,628**
**(16,450)**
**-**
**(16,450)**
**102,301**
**(16,450)**
**85,851**|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**8,603**
**1,102,514**
**1,418**
**35,909**
**-**
**1,148,444**
**1,260,033**
**1,260,033**
**(111,589)**
**57,665**
**(53,924)**
**1,192,500**
**(53,924)**
**1,138,576**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_25,712_
_1,194,192_
_4,464_
_34,849_
_38,005_
_1,297,222_
_1,279,533_
_1,279,533_
_17,689_
_(73,789)_
_(56,100)_
_1,248,600_
_(56,100)_
_1,192,500_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 18 to 32 form part of these financial statements.
Page 15
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee) REGISTERED NUMBER: 03141164**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
||||**2024**|**2024**||_2023_|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**||**£**|||_£_|
|**Fixed assets**|||||||
|Tangible assets|10||**30,509**|||_29,416_|
|Investments|11||**1,100,201**|||_1,033,829_|
||||**1,130,710**|||_1,063,245_|
|**Current assets**|||||||
|Debtors|12|**114,929**|||_80,702_||
|Cash at bank and in hand||**13,171**|||_134,393_||
|||**128,100**|||_215,095_||
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one|||||||
|year|13|**(120,234)**|||_(85,840)_||
|**Net current assets**|||**7,866**|||_129,255_|
|**Total assets less current liabilities**|||**1,138,576**|||_1,192,500_|
|**Total net assets**|||**1,138,576**|||_1,192,500_|
|**Charity funds**|||||||
|Restricted funds|14||**85,851**|||_102,301_|
|Unrestricted funds|14||**1,052,725**|||_1,090,199_|
|**Total funds**|||**1,138,576**|||_1,192,500_|
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
................................................
## **Philip Waller CBE**
## Date: 11 Dec 2024
The notes on pages 18 to 32 form part of these financial statements.
Page 16
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
|**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash used in operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of investments
Other movements in investments
Investment income received
**Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**
The notes on pages 18 to 32 form part of these financial statements|**2024**
**£**
**(136,247)**
**(12,177)**
**-**
**(8,707)**
**35,909**
**15,025**
**(121,222)**
**134,393**
**13,171**|_2023_
_£_
_(46,588)_
_(28,964)_
_(138,256)_
_73,000_
_34,849_
**(59,371)**
**(105,959)**
_240,352_
_134,393_|
|---|---|---|
Page 17
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **1. General information**
Relate London North West, Hertfordshire, Mid Thames And Buckinghamshire Ltd. is a registered company, limited by guarantee, and a charity registered with the Charity Commission. It is incorporated in England, company registration number 03141164 and charity registration number 1053223. The registered office is The Gables, St. Mary's Road, Hemel Hempstead, England, HP2 5HL.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) - 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), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Relate London North West, Hertfordshire, Mid Thames And Buckinghamshire Ltd 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.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling and rounded to the nearest £.
## **2.2 Going concern**
The Trustees have assessed that the basis of going concern is appropriate in preparing these financial statements. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of at least 12 months from the date of approving the financial statements, taking into consideration future cashflow forecasts. The Trustees have concluded that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Page 18
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.3 Income**
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. Amounts received in advance relating to the following year are deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met. For counselling and mediation services, income is recognised when the appointment occurs or when the conditions of any third-party agreements are met. For education courses, income is recognised when the training course takes place.
## **Donations and legacies**
Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and the settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fullfiled in the reporting period.
## **Grants receivable**
Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the Statement of Financial Position as deferred income to be released.
## **Investment income**
Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable. Investment gains and losses includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value.
## **Rental income**
Rental income is accounted for on a receivable basis, net of value added tax.
## **Volunteers and donation of service**
Donated services and facilities are only included in incoming resources (with an equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received.The value of any services provided by volunteers are not incorporated into these financial statements. Further details of any contributions can be found in the trustees report.
Page 19
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.4 Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of the time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of the staff costs.
## **Charitable activities**
Charitable expenditure comprises these costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity costs categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by the floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
## **2.5 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition are included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, .
Depreciation is provided on the following bases:
|Leasehold improvements|- Over the period of the lease|
|---|---|
|Furniture and equipment|- 2-5 years over the life of the asset|
|Cabling and CCTV|- 8 years over the life of the asset|
## **2.6 Investments**
Fixed asset investments are a form of financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction cost and subsequently measured at fair value at the Balance sheet date, unless the value cannot be measured reliably in which case it is measured at cost less impairment. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and presented as ‘Gains/(Losses) on investments’ in the Statement of financial activities.
Page 20
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.7 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **2.8 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **2.9 Liabilities and provisions**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Company anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.
## **2.10 Financial instruments**
The Company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2.11 Pensions**
The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the Charity to the fund in respect of the year.
## **2.12 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Company and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Company for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
Page 21
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **3. Income from donations and legacies**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
Donations
8,603
Government grants
-
**Total 2024**
8,603|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**8,603**
**-**
**8,603**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_20,712_
_5,000_|
|---|---|---|
|||_25,712_|
Office space has been rented from Dacorum Borough Council for £250 peppercorn rent per annum until 2028 and from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for £1 peppercorn rent per annum until 2028. On the basis that the value of the use of these facilities cannot be reliably determined, no income and equivalent expense have been recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.
## **4. Investment income**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
Income from investments
35,795
Bank interest
114
**Total 2024**
35,909|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**35,795**
**114**
**35,909**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_34,577_
_272_|
|---|---|---|
|||_34,849_|
## **5. Other incoming resources**
||**Unrestricted**|**Total**|_Total_|
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|_funds_|
||**2024**|**2024**|_2023_|
||**£**|**£**|_£_|
|Insurance proceeds|-|**-**|_38,005_|
Page 22
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **6. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities**
||**Support**|**Total**|_Total_|
|---|---|---|---|
||**costs**|**funds**|_funds_|
||**2024**|**2024**|_2023_|
||**£**|**£**|_£_|
|Charitable activities|1,260,033|**1,260,033**|_1,279,533_|
## **Analysis of support costs**
|Staff costs
Depreciation
Supervision, counselling and mediation expenses
Legal, consulting and professional fees
Membership and subscription
Advertising
Printing, postage and stationery
Insurance
Rent and rates
Bank charges and interest
Telephone
Other support costs
Governance costs
**Total 2024**|**Activities**
**2024**
**£**
975,706
11,144
139,675
36,533
731
1,587
1,219
11,449
15,048
12,629
626
29,341
24,345
1,260,033|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**975,706**
**11,144**
**139,675**
**36,533**
**731**
**1,587**
**1,219**
**11,449**
**15,048**
**12,629**
**626**
**29,341**
**24,345**
**1,260,033**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_991,834_
_21,493_
_126,621_
_84,082_
_678_
_526_
_3,038_
_7,774_
_5,007_
_15,488_
_1,987_
_9,192_
_11,813_|
|---|---|---|---|
||||_1,279,533_|
The charity's charitable activities consist of counselling, mediation and training.
**7. Auditors' remuneration**
||**2024**|_2023_|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|_£_|
|Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the Company's|||
|annual accounts|**12,300**|_7,250_|
Page 23
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **8. Staff costs**
|Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|**2024**
**£**
**893,169**
**61,004**
**21,533**
**975,706**|_2023_
_£_
_918,438_
_52,080_
_21,316_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_991,834_|
The average number of persons employed by the Company during the year was as follows:
||**2024**|_2023_|
|---|---|---|
||**No.**|_No._|
|Employees|**61**|_72_|
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
|||**2024**|_2023_|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**No.**|_No._|
|In the band £60,000|- £69,999|**1**|_1_|
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the Chief Executive Officer, the Head of Finance, the Heads of Client Services and the Head of Operations. The total employee benefits of key management personnel of the charity were £227,557 (2023 - £217,729).
## **9. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits _(2023 - £NIL)_ .
During the year ended 31 March 2024, expenses totalling _£_ 41 were reimbursed or paid directly to 1 Trustee _(2023 - £61 to 3 Trustees)_ , relating to mileage claims and parking reimbursement.
Page 24
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **10. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost or valuation**
At 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
On disposals
At 31 March 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2024|**Long-term**
**leasehold**
**property**
**£**
**19,886**
**-**
**-**
**19,886**
**19,886**
**-**
**-**
**19,886**
**-**|**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**£**
**204,238**
**12,177**
**(124,570)**
**91,845**
**174,822**
**11,084**
**(124,570)**
**61,336**
**30,509**|**Total**
**£**
**224,124**
**12,177**
**(124,570)**
**111,731**
**194,708**
**11,084**
**(124,570)**
**81,222**
**30,509**|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 25
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **11. Fixed asset investments**
|**Cost or valuation**
At 1 April 2023
Cash movement
Gains
At 31 March 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2024
_At 31 March 2023_|**Other**
**investments**
**£**
**1,033,829**
**8,707**
**57,665**|
|---|---|
||**1,100,201**|
||**1,100,201**|
||_1,033,829_|
The investments represent holdings managed by CCLA Investment Management in the following funds:
**.**
|COIF Charities Investment Funds 41,504.15 units
COIF Charities Property Fund 226,061.74 units
Deposit Account|**Endowment**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
848,038
233,967
18,167
1,100,172|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**848,038**
**233,967**
**18,167**
**1,100,172**|_Total_
_funds_
_2023_
_£_
_777,647_
_246,724_
_9,458_
_1,033,829_|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 26
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **12. Debtors**
|**Due within one year**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2024**
**£**
**48,256**
**2,724**
**63,949**
**114,929**|_2023_
_£_
_15,835_
_38,005_
_26,862_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_80,702_|
## **13. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2024**
**£**
**23,893**
**16,915**
**4,625**
**74,801**
**120,234**|_2023_
_£_
_6,621_
_17,343_
_-_
_61,876_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_85,840_|
Page 27
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **14. Statement of funds**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
|**Balance at 1**
**April 2023**
**£**
**Unrestricted funds**
General Funds
**1,090,199**
**Balance at 1**
**April 2023**
**£**
**Restricted funds**
Dacorum
**94,110**
ADVC Bursary
**3,844**
Eric Young donation
**4,347**
**102,301**
**Total of funds**
**1,192,500**|**Income**
**£**
**Expenditure**
**£**
**1,067,266**
**(1,162,405)**
**Income**
**£**
**Expenditure**
**£**
**77,178**
**(89,387)**
**4,000**
**(7,844)**
**-**
**(397)**
**81,178**
**(97,628)**
**1,148,444**
**(1,260,033)**|**Gains/**
**(Losses)**
**£**
**57,665**
**Gains/**
**(Losses)**
**£**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**57,665**|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**1,052,725**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**81,901**
**-**
**3,950**|
||||**85,851**|
||||**1,138,576**|
The Dacorum contract represents an agreement with Dacorum Borough Council to provide services to residents within its area.
As part of the Dacorum contract the charity received amounts totalling £34,932 (2023: £34,932) on behalf of Mediation Hertfordshire which was paid to them in quarterly payments during the year.
The other items represent grants and donations received for specific purposes which has not yet been fully spent in relation to counselling and court mediation services.
Page 28
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **14. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
General Funds - all funds
**Restricted funds**
Dacorum
ADVC Bursary
Eric Young donation
**Total of funds**|_Balance at_
_1 April 2022_
_£_
_1,135,755_
_100,498_
_8,000_
_4,347_
_112,845_
_1,248,600_|_Income_
_£_
_1,206,222_
_83,000_
_8,000_
_-_
_91,000_
_1,297,222_|_Expenditure_
_£_
_(1,251,778)_
_(89,388)_
_(12,156)_
_-_
_(101,544)_
_(1,353,322)_|_Balance at_
_31 March_
_2023_
_£_
_1,090,199_|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_94,110_
_3,844_
_4,347_|
|||||_102,301_|
|||||_1,192,500_|
## **15. Summary of funds Summary of funds - current year**
|**Balance at 1**
**April 2023**
**£**
General funds
**1,090,199**
Restricted funds
**102,301**
**1,192,500**|**Income**
**£**
**Expenditure**
**£**
**1,067,266**
**(1,162,405)**
**81,178**
**(97,628)**
**1,148,444**
**(1,260,033)**|**Gains/**
**(Losses)**
**£**
**57,665**
**-**
**57,665**|**Balance at**
**31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**1,052,725**
**85,851**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**1,138,576**|
Page 29
## **RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **15. Summary of funds (continued)**
## **Summary of funds - prior year**
|||||||_Balance at_|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||_Balance at_||||_31 March_|
|||_1 April_|_2022_|_Income_|_Expenditure_|_2023_|
||||_£_|_£_|_£_|_£_|
|General funds||_1,135,755_||_1,206,222_|_(1,251,778)_|_1,090,199_|
|Restricted funds||_112,845_||_91,000_|_(101,544)_|_102,301_|
|||_1,248,600_||_1,297,222_|_(1,353,322)_|_1,192,500_|
|**Analysis of net assets between funds**|||||||
|**Analysis of net assets between funds - current period**|||||||
|||||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
|||||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|
|||||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|
|||||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Tangible fixed assets||||30,509|-|**30,509**|
|Fixed asset investments||||1,100,201|-|**1,100,201**|
|Current assets||||42,249|85,851|**128,100**|
|Creditors due within one year||||(120,234)|-|**(120,234)**|
|**Total**||||1,052,725|85,851|**1,138,576**|
|**Analysis of net assets between funds - prior**||**period**|||||
|||||_Unrestricted_|_Restricted_|_Total_|
|||||_funds_|_funds_|_funds_|
|||||_2023_|_2023_|_2023_|
|||||_£_|_£_|_£_|
|Tangible fixed assets||||_29,416_|_-_|_29,416_|
|Fixed asset investments||||_1,033,829_|_-_|_1,033,829_|
|Current assets||||_112,794_|_102,301_|_215,095_|
|Creditors due within one year||||_(85,840)_|_-_|_(85,840)_|
|**Total**||||_1,090,199_|_102,301_|_1,192,500_|
## **16. Analysis of net assets between funds**
Page 30
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **17. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities**
|Net expenditure for the period (as per Statement of Financial Activities)
**Adjustments for:**
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities
Fair value gains and losses on investment
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Movements in working capital:
(Increase)/Decrease in trade and other receivables
Increase/(Decrease) in trade and other payables
**Net cash used in operating activities**|**2024**
**£**
**(53,924)**
**(35,909)**
**(57,665)**
**11,084**
**(34,227)**
**34,394**
**(136,247)**|_2023_
_£_
_(56,100)_|
|---|---|---|
|||_(34,849)_
_73,789_
_21,494_
_15,087_
_(66,009)_|
||||
|||_(46,588)_|
## **18. Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
|Cash in hand
**Total cash and cash equivalents**
**19.**
**Analysis of changes in net debt**
Cash at bank and in hand|**At 1 April**
**2023**
**£**
**134,393**
**134,393**|**2024**
**£**
**13,171**
**13,171**
**Cash flows**
**£**
**(121,222)**
**(121,222)**|_2023_
_£_
_134,393_|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||||_134,393_|
||||**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**13,171**|
||||**13,171**|
## **20. Pension commitments**
The Company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the Company to the fund and amounted to £21,533 _(2023: £21,316)_ . Contributions totalling £4,625 _(2023: £Nil)_ were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date.
Page 31
**RELATE LONDON NORTH WEST, HERTFORDSHIRE, MID THAMES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LTD (A company limited by guarantee)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **21. Operating lease commitments**
At 31 March 2024 the Company had commitments to make future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases as follows:
|Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years|**2024**
**£**
**250**
**750**
**1,000**|_2023_
_£_
_250_
_1,000_|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||_1,250_|
## **22. Related party transactions**
Other than certain transactions with Trustees described in Note 11, the Company has not entered into any related party transaction during the year, nor are there any outstanding balances owing between related parties and the Company at 31 March 2024.
Page 32