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2021-03-31-accounts

Company number: 03039752 Charity Number: 1059419

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Operating as Citizens Advice Westminster

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2021

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Contents

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Reference and administrative information .................................................................................... 1 Trustees’ annual report ................................................................................................................ 2 Independent auditor’s report ...................................................................................................... 17 Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account) .................. 21 Balance sheet ............................................................................................................................. 22 Statement of cash flows .............................................................................................................. 23 Notes to the financial statements ............................................................................................... 24

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Reference and administrative information

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Company number 03039752
Charity number 1059419
Registered office 21a Conduit Place
and operational address London
W2 1HS

Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Dee Conaghan Chair
Alan Gorringe Treasurer; Resigned 02 August 2021
Stephen Grave Resigned – 31 May 2021
Gwyneth Macaulay
Nina Fletcher Resigned – 31 July 2021
Georgia Ackland
Richard Geller
Jennifer King
John Robinson Treasurer designate; Joined – 27 May 2021
Joseph Hill Resigned – 21 June 2021
Ksenia Zheltoukhova
Janine Edgerton-Avin Resigned – 21 June 2021
Shing Yang (Rodney) Chau
Srishti Mahhajan Joined – 07 October 2020
Company Sital Gohil Appointed – 19 March 2020
Secretary
Senior staff Joanna Cain Chief Executive Officer (Joined 25 January 2021)
Nowsar Hussain Performance and Quality Manager
Foridul Islam Head of Contracts and Services
Bankers National Westminster Bank plc
Strand, London Branch PO Box 414
38 Strand WC2N 5JB
Auditor Sayer Vincent LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor
Invicta House
108-114 Golden Lane
LONDON
EC1Y 0TL

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

The Trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, present their report together with the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on pages 27 to 29 and comply with the Companies Act and applicable law.

The Trustee Board have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

1 Structure, Governance and Management

Citizens Advice Westminster is the operating name of Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service and a registered company limited by guarantee and under the number 03039752. Governed by its Articles of Association, the organisation is also a registered charity with the Charity Commission under the number 1059419.

Trustee Board members are drawn from the local community of Westminster and surrounding areas. They can stand as representatives of local community groups (member organisations) or as individuals and are elected to hold office for a period of three years, after which time they may be reappointed for a maximum of nine years. Currently the Board consists of 9 Trustees.

There is a formal recruitment and induction process for Trustees where potential members receive information about the organisation as well as the role and responsibilities of being a Trustee. New members are expected to attend for induction at the local office and also formal training on the role and responsibilities of Trustees, provided by Citizens Advice. Potential Trustees will complete a formal application; attend for interview with the Chair of Trustees and another board member; visit a local office induction and observe a Board meeting. Trustee Eligibility checks are done prior to appointment, and references are taken up for new Trustees who are elected by vote at a Board meeting and reported at the Annual General Meeting.

The Trustee Board meets at least four times a year (plus the Annual General Meeting) to discuss and make decisions concerning the business of the organisation. A new Finance and General Purposes Committee was established this year, replacing the Finance, Premises and Risk, Fundraising and Campaigns, Human Resources and the Service Delivery committees. The new Finance and General Purposes Committee operates under strict terms of reference and meets quarterly to provide focused strategic discussion. In addition, working groups of Trustees and staff are convened where needed to support particular areas of strategic development or change, including a premises review, the Business Development plan and working with Covid 19. The Chief Executive Officer is invited to attend Trustee Board meetings to report on the activities of the organisation. Other staff members, for example the Executive Team, or Finance Manager will also attend as required, as will the external auditor.

Strategic management of the organisation is the responsibility of the Trustee Board and the Executive Team, which consists of the Chief Executive Officer, the Performance and Quality Manager, and the Head of Contracts and Services. The day-to-day operational responsibility is delegated to the Head of Contracts and Services and Supervisors. The central strategic document

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

is the Business and Development Plan (BDP) which details the aims and strategic objectives of the organisation to be achieved over a three-year period. The strategic objectives are reviewed at quarterly intervals by the board and input from staff and volunteers is encouraged through participation in an annual planning day.

Salaries of staff, including the salaries of key management personnel, are reviewed annually and benchmarked across the local voluntary advice sector as well as the National Citizens Advice service

The organisation is a member of the national body, Citizens Advice, which undertakes an external audit of the organisation every three years, in addition to telephone assessments at yearly intervals. This is to determine whether the strategic aims of the organisation meets certain standards for membership and that the organisation is operating in adherence to Citizen Advices’ aims and principles.

2 Objectives

The objects for which the local office was established, as defined by the Articles of Association, are: the promotion of any charitable purposes for the public benefit by the advancement of education, the protection and preservation of health and the relief of poverty, sickness and distress in particular, but without limitation, for the benefit of the community in Westminster and surrounding areas.

To achieve these objects the Trustee Board has established Citizens Advice Westminster with offices in Paddington which are centrally located within the borough and easily accessible.

The aims of the Citizens Advice Westminster service are:

The Citizens Advice Westminster service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. We use the evidence of our clients' problems to campaign for improvements in policy and legislation that affect the whole of the community.

The organisation provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. It values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination.

As part of our 2021 – 24 business plan we have agreed a goal statement and strategic objectives, as follows:

Our Goal:

Citizens Advice Westminster works with local community organisations to make a difference to the lives of people in Westminster through advice, research and campaigning. We deliver a high

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

quality, agile advice service which reflects the issues and needs of our communities and which puts clients first.

Our strategic objectives to meet this goal:

Underpinning these objectives, we will

More detail is available in our 2021 – 24 Business Plan.

The Trustee Board is responsible for ensuring that the organisation is adequately resourced (i.e. it has all or most of the human and material resources it needs to achieve its objectives) and that proper financial controls are in place. In line with this, Trustees reviewed the charity’s Financial Protocols procedures during the year and found them to be robust and appropriate to achieve these objectives.

3 Activities

The organisation’s main activities, in line with the two aims of the Citizens Advice service is, to provide advice which meets the needs of local people to the standards of the Advice Quality Standard; and to exercise a responsible influence on policy and decision-makers as a way of effecting change. Additional activities have been undertaken during the year, by way of progressing the strategic objectives, as defined in the Work Plan of the Business and Development Plan.

- Advice giving

The organisation’s main area of activity is to provide a generalist advice service, which meets quality mark standards in a range of subjects pertaining to English civil law; matters including:

Benefits, Consumer, Money Advice, Education, Employment, Family/Relationship, Health & Community Care, Housing & Homelessness, Immigration & Nationality and Legal issues. In addition, the organisation provides specialist help/advice in the areas of: Welfare Benefits, Debt, Housing and Homelessness, and Licensing law.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

The remit of each area of specialist advice is as follows:

Benefits : To provide specialist advice and assistance to individual clients in connection with the range of social security and other welfare benefits. This work includes: assessing benefit entitlement, challenging decisions and preparing submissions to tribunals for hearings.

Debt and Money Advice : To provide specialist debt advice and casework to individual clients. We also offer educative and preventative help in the form of workshops and presentations to community groups within Westminster. This work aims to prevent debt and promote financial and digital inclusion.

Housing and Homelessness : To provide specialist advice and assistance in connection with clients’ housing issues, whether in relation to social or private housing, in order to prevent homelessness.

Licensing law: To provide specialist advice and assistance to Westminster residents who may be affected by the operation of a licensed premises. The caseworker advises groups of residents as well as individuals sometimes giving practical support by way of advocacy and representation.

Policy and Campaigns Work

As well as giving advice and information to individual clients, Citizens Advice Westminster advisers and caseworkers collect evidence of practices and policies which are causing problems. Our knowledge of clients' problems and circumstances enables us to try to influence change and get a fairer deal for everyone.

Our Policy and Campaigns Coordinator works one day per week and leads a team of volunteers to look at the evidence collected by front-line advisers, to try to identify local and national trends. Citizens Advice Westminster collects evidence and statistics anonymously so that individual clients are not identified. We use this information to produce reports and to campaign locally for improvements in the law and local services. Our Policy and Campaigns Development Plan is used to drive our campaigns work throughout the year. This is reviewed quarterly by our Trustee Board, which also includes a Lead Campaigns Trustee.

In the past year Citizens Advice Westminster’s front-line advisers have raised a total of 267 evidence forms which highlight the enormous impact the pandemic has had on local residents, including:

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Over the past year, our Policy and Campaigns team has participated in campaigns both at local and national levels using evidence gathered from our frontline advisers:

Under this campaign we have secured a number of successes on behalf of our clients:

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

We welcomed the Government’s decision at the start of pandemic to increase Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits by £20 a week. This uplift has provided a lifeline for millions of families across the UK, during extraordinarily tough times. The uplift is due to be phased out from September 2021. We echo the national Citizens Advice service’s call for it to be made permanent to provide financial security for millions of people and help support the country's longer term economic recovery. Over the last year our advisers have raised 76 evidence forms for clients in crisis who are in need of this support. We will continue to publish reports, and submit evidence to the national team as well as local councillors and other stakeholders to raise the profile of the #KeepTheLifeLine campaign.

Other national campaigns our team has participated in include:

We were supported by two excellent volunteers Taylor Barrall and Anna Sotheran during the spring, and they contributed to developing campaigning initiatives on Housing and Access to Digital.

Contributions to national Citizens Advice Evidence Reports has included reports on mental health and social exclusion, clients’ experience of debt and employment issues, exploitation of migrant workers, access to justice and legal help.

This campaigns work is undertaken by encouraging staff and volunteers to become involved at a local and national level, by the return of evidence to Citizens Advice and through regular reports to the Trustee Board, having identified issues of social policy from their client work.

4 Achievements and Performance

Our services remained open and accessible throughout the pandemic, and whilst we were not able to operate a full face-to-face service, we have recorded helping a high number of local people in crisis.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Our Gateway Assessors provided information to 2,257 local-residents, which was an increase of 8% from the previous year. Our front-line team provided advice to 9,214 unique clients, which is up by 5% from the previous year, (ie. each client only counted once, regardless of how many times they returned for further help). The number of times these individual clients returned to us for further help and advice (ie. the total client contacts) was 30,741 (an increase of 25% from the previous year) which represents each person returning three times on average.

The organisation also dealt with some 24,959 different enquiries, and the top three problem categories were: Benefits (51%), Debt and Money Advice (12%), and Housing and Homelessness (15%).

Service Delivery

The Westminster Advice Partnership Service (WASP) has been running since the Autumn of 2018, when the organisation secured further contract funding from Westminster City Council. The WASP service ensures that Citizens Advice Westminster continues to work as part of a consortium of agencies, with Age UK Westminster, Asylum Aid (formerly Consonant) and DeafPlus, to deliver the advice services contract for local Westminster residents.

An element of the Council’s advice contract is the ‘Advice Shop’ service which facilitates access for local people to a wide range of different voluntary and statutory service providers – altogether under one roof. During the pandemic the Advice Shop has been unable to operate since our service has been delivered via phone and video advice, however we are now developing plans to reintroduce a new service, with a strong focus on building digital skills in order to access advice online.

For further advice and assistance, where necessary, clients are then referred to one of our advice services, some of which are funded to deliver more tailored advice services for the following groups:

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

In addition to our funding from Westminster City Council, we have also delivered the following externally funded contracts:

As part of the roll out of Universal Credit, we are part of the national Citizens Advice Help to Claim service, funded by the DWP. Help to Claim service can support clients in the early stages of your Universal Credit claim, from the application, through to your first payment.

We are a partner within Debt Free London, which is a Money and Pension Service funded project delivering debt advice across London, covering issues including rent arrears, council tax, utility bills, credit cards and loans.

Our Funding for the Octavia Tenants Advice Project ended in November 2020. This was one of longest serving projects based at the housing offices of Octavia Housing and providing their tenants with debt and benefits advice.

Advice on Prescription Project, funded by the Kensington and Chelsea Social Council, takes referrals from GPs in the West London CCG area to provide practical advice and support for over 65’s with disabilities, long-term health conditions or mental health needs.

The Carer’s Advice Project, funded by Carers Network; it is integrated into the wider Carers Network services for carers, providing support groups, care assessments and respite care. The Carers Network hubs are able to directly refer carers for our specialist advice on benefits, housing and debt across the three boroughs of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.

The Thames Water Project is funded by the Thames Water Trust Fund. The project helps Thames Water customers with one-to-one budgeting advice; accessing hardship fund and help in applying for grants and social tariff schemes to pay off water debts. Despite the service being delivered by phone we have continued to work closely with North Paddington Foodbank including receiving referrals directly.

The EU Nationals Advice Project, funded by Westminster City Council was restarted in January in order to provide advice for the 30,000 EU nationals living in Westminster in the run up to the deadline for applications for settled status on 30 June 2021.

The local authority commissioned Citizens Advice Westminster to administer it’s Covid Hardship Fund which issued food vouchers to residents experiencing financial hardship. £284,011 of support was provided to 499 Westminster families during the pandemic, of which 156 were our clients in crisis.

Through our tailored services we have been able to achieve some very successful outcomes for clients during the past year; our team were able to secure £2.86m in financial outcomes, including new and unclaimed backdated benefit awards totalling £2.47m; and £21,627 in charitable support obtained for our very vulnerable clients. We were also able to secure 3,219 non-financial

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

outcomes, including repayments negotiated with debtors and bailiff action being suspended following our intervention. Over four thousand clients reported to have improved wellbeing outcomes getting advice from Citizens Advice Westminster.

Volunteering

The Performance and Quality Manager reviews the volunteer training and development programme with new procedures being implemented. To further support volunteers we have also recruited a Volunteer Co-ordinator.

We continue to undertake performance reviews to ensure the progress of volunteers is fed back and training needs identified and met. In addition, the charity’s recruitment and selection procedures have been made more stringent to ensure we are targeting the right people, with the right skillset for the right roles.

Volunteers come from all walks of life, with very different life experiences and skills. The organisation aims to capitalise on this wealthy resource by matching this range of skills, experience and availability to a variety of volunteering roles including: Trustees, Receptionist/Information assistant, Advice Administrator, Adviser and Trainee adviser, Gateway Assessor, Financial Capability trainer, Digital Money Coach, Digital Media assistant, Fundraiser, Form filling assistant, IT Support volunteer, Marketing and Media assistant, and Campaigns assistant.

Sourcing good quality volunteers with the requisite skills and availability is the first step, but encouraging them to stay is equally important. The supportive working environment in which our volunteers are trained and developed and the collaborative working ethos aids this but we want to ensure volunteers feel really appreciated and valued. We have looked to do this in a variety of ways including offering discounts with various London businesses once they have completed their training, as part of a Time Credits scheme, and providing regular social activity on Teams during the pandemic.

Citizens Advice Westminster recognises and appreciates the commitment and dedication of its volunteer workforce in delivering services to the local community.

Income generation

We are committed to growing our ability to deliver high quality advice in Westminster and beyond, and there are 3 strands to our income generation strategy:

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

During 2020-21 we maintained all existing grant and contract funding apart from the Octavia project and gained new funding with a second EU nationals advice project.

Donations and sponsorship are made through the Local Giving online fundraising platform. The charity is not registered with the Fundraising Regulator as its fundraising expenditure is below the registration threshold, but it does comply with the Code of Fundraising practice published by the regulator. There have been no breaches of the code during the year and no complaints.

Quality Assurance

The organisation undertakes regular and robust file review procedures which are conducted by suitably qualified supervisors. Each assessor or adviser has a number of their case records checked; the ratio is determined by their own level of competency. The quality scores of individual cases reviewed with feedback is provided to frontline assessor and advisers. Where training needs are identified, this is discussed and fed back to the Performance and Quality Manager who may address these needs through individual learning activities, in-house group sessions or arranging external training. Over the last year the following in-house workshops were delivered: Universal Credit, case checking reviews, Case recording, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

Additionally, the organisation undertakes a quarterly analysis and assessment of our advice and information giving and reports this assessment to Trustees. The organisation is also subject to an independent audit by the national Citizens Advice body, against the requirements of the Advice Quality Standard, which we hold, having passed the most recent audit in April 2020.

Stakeholder management and Partnership Working

As mentioned above under ‘Service delivery,’ Citizens Advice Westminster works in very close partnership with Age UK Westminster, Asylum Aid and DeafPlus as a consortium to deliver on the Council’s advice services contract. This work involves collaboration to ensure clients have access to streamlined advice services which offers smooth transition for clients. The partnership is known as the Westminster Advice Services Partnership or WASP.

In October 2016, Citizens Advice Westminster joined the national Citizens Advice Adviceline telephone service. This is in collaboration with 4 other London borough services to run it: Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow, Merton & Lambeth and Wandsworth. We now also partner with Barnet and Barking and Dagenham and is available from 10 am to 4 pm daily.

We work closely with the Pan London group of local Citizens Advice offices and we have liaised with them in relation to funding opportunities. We have also contributed to the appointment of a pan London development worker who will support and develop joint funding opportunities. We work closely with Westminster Connects which has been proactive in bringing together voluntary and community organisations during the pandemic and with One Westminster. In terms of other partnership working, the organisation is a member of the Westminster Advice Forum, although this has not been active during the pandemic. During 2020 we created a new role of

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Partnership Supervisor. This has ensured we have kept in close contact with our delivery and community partners despite the pandemic, and we have worked particularly closely with organisations including the North Paddington Foodbank who like us have been on the frontline of supporting residents who have been most negatively impacted by the pandemic.

5 Financial Review

The company had net outgoing resources on unrestricted funds of £141,946 for the year. Outgoing resources were higher than anticipated due to an £87,264 increase in the pension deficit following revaluation. Together with accumulated surplus brought forward from previous years, the company now has an accumulated surplus on unrestricted funds of £163,883. Total incoming resources for the year amounted to £1,285,513 of which £997,500 was received from Westminster City Council as payment of fees, grants and contracts.

Principal Funding Resources

Citizens Advice Westminster generates income from contracts with Westminster City Council for services provided to Westminster residents. These services are enhanced by the receipt of grants, fundraising and contracts other than Westminster City Council amounting to 22% of income. These funds were used to support the core generalist service, the specialist advice service and generalist advice services to specific groups of clients. All these services are free at the point of delivery and are open to anyone primarily living or working in and around the Westminster area.

Going Concern Statement

The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis. Financial budgets are set to ensure that the organisation can continue to operate as a going concern for at least a year. Detailed financial budgets are presented and approved by the Trustee board on a 12 month basis. Management accounts are presented quarterly to the Finance Sub Committee and the Trustee board. Any changes in funding within the year are reflected as soon as practicable and action taken by management to ensure the charity spends within its available resources. Secured income for 2021/22 is £1.2 million with an anticipated deficit of £76,000. Additional grant/contract applications are being undertaken to increase income. For 22/23 the outlook is positive with the five year council contract expected to be secure up to September 2023 and an additional £75,000 p.a. secured from September 2021. Cashflow remains good with an average balance of around £600,000 for 21/22.

There are no material uncertainties which cast doubt on the charity’s going concern.

Investment Policy

Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year most of the charity's funds are to be spent in the short term so there are no funds for long term investment. The policy of the Board of Trustees is to invest the amount that it has available and grants received in advance on the money market.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Reserves Policy

The Board of Trustees examines the charity’s level of reserves on a regular basis in light of the main risks to the organisation. As the main aim of the charity is to use its funds for the benefit of the people of Westminster it does not aim to keep reserves beyond those prudently required (a) to meet fluctuations in the timing of receipts and expenditure; (b) to ensure that operations are not disrupted by unexpected events; and (c) to enable necessary capital and other expenditures to be made when required. This gives a target of around £300,000 in general funds. At the balance sheet date the charity had unrestricted reserves of £163,883 of which £48,745 was tangible fixed assets and £115,183 was current assets.

6 Risk Management

The Chief Executive together with the Trustee Board, analyse the major risks to the charity periodically when preparing and updating the strategic plan. Risk analyses evaluates the likelihood and severity of the impact to the organisation in relation to the principal risks and uncertainties facing the organisation, as identified by Trustees; namely:

The annual review of the Risk Assessment Policy was conducted, and the items marked red and amber within the Risk Register are reviewed quarterly by Trustees. The Risk Register clearly sets out the management processes to be deployed in order to effectively manage these potential risks; these include:

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

All policies and procedures have been updated to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018.

7 Plans for Future Periods

The need to deliver our service remotely during the pandemic has been transformative in terms of our approach to service delivery. Citizens Advice Westminster’s staff and volunteers began

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

working from home in March 2020. We introduced new ways of advising and supporting our clients and meeting and supporting each other.

We were well placed to shift to remote working because of previous investment in new equipment and ICT infrastructure including laptops, and further digital development has enabled us to gain experience in providing advice through video conferencing, using Zoom for drop in and WhatsApp for document sharing.

Going forward we are committed to retaining a hybrid approach which is aimed at starting where clients are, with face to face and drop in advice available for those who need it most, but also retaining our phone and digital advice service. We will expand our online enquiries and explore options for delivering web chat advice as well. Underpinning is this is our commitment to put our clients first in our planning and delivery, ensuring that clients are able to receive the level of information or advice they require with as few steps as possible. We will also continue our flexible approach to home working for both volunteers and paid staff, and we will review our current premises over the next 12 months to ensure our base is fit for purpose in the context of our developing service.

8 Statement of responsibilities of the Trustees

The Trustees (who are also directors of Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 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 Trustees 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.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2021

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.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31 March 2021 was 12 (2020; 12). The Trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The Trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

9 Auditor

Sayer Vincent LLP was re-appointed as the charitable company's auditor during the year and has expressed its willingness to continue in that capacity.

The report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the Trustees on 24th August 2021 and signed on their behalf by

Dee Conaghan Chair

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Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including 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:

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 charitable company 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 Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau'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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Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Other Information

The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual 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. 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the 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’ annual report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of

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Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

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.

Auditor’s 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 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.

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 are set out below. Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

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Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s 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 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 charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Joanna Pittman (Senior statutory auditor) 24 September 2021

for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TL

20

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

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

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Note
Income from:
2
4a
5
Reconciliation of funds
Net income / (expenditure) and net movement in
funds
Total expenditure
Gross transfers between funds
Donations and legacies
Investment income
Total income
Other
Charitable activities
Net income/(expenditure) before transfers
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Restricted
£
-
-
216,305
-		 Unrestricted
£
80
248
1,068,880
-		 2021
Total
£
80
248
1,285,185
-		 Restricted
£
2,000
-
249,733
-		 2020
Unrestricted
Total
£
£
3,292
5,292
1,306
1,306
1,092,427
1,342,160
4,754
4,754
1,101,779
1,353,512
1,018,968
1,314,950
1,018,968
1,314,950
82,811
38,562
(42,741)
-
40,070
38,562
265,759
269,492
305,829
308,054
216,305 1,069,208 1,285,513 251,733
241,682 1,182,027 1,423,709 295,982
241,682 1,182,027 1,423,709 295,982
(25,377)
29,127		 (112,819)
(29,127)		 (138,196)
-		 (44,249)
42,741
3,750
2,225		 (141,946)
305,829		 (138,196)
308,054		 (1,508)
3,733
5,975 163,883 169,858 2,225

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 15 to the financial statements.

21

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Company no. 03039752

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2021

Note
Fixed assets
9
Current assets
10
Liabilities
11
12
14a
15a
Restricted funds
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
Unrestricted funds
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total net assets
The funds of the charity
Total charity funds
Tangible fixed assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Debtors
Total assets less current liabilities		 £
96,849
635,210		 2021
£
£
48,745
121,156
656,137
777,293
360,110
359,391
408,136
238,278
169,858
5,975
163,883
169,858		 2020
£
77,037
417,183
732,059
372,668
494,220
186,166
308,054
2,225
305,829
308,054

Approved by the trustees on 24th August 2021 and signed on their behalf by

Dee Conaghan Chair

John Robinson Treasurer

22

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Company no. 03039752

Statement of cash flows

As at 31 March 2021

Reconciliation of net income / (expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities

Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation charges
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of fixed assets
Cash flows from operating activities		 £
£
(21,175)
248
-
248
(20,927)
656,137
635,210
2021		 £
£
(21,175)
248
-
248
(20,927)
656,137
635,210
2021		 2021
£
(138,196)
28,292
(248)
24,307
64,670		 2020
£
38,562
21,074
(1,306)
(67,907)
6,654
(21,175) (2,923)
(20,927)
656,137
635,210

23

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

1 Accounting policies

a) Statutory information

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

The registered office address is 21a Conduit Place, London, W2 1HS.

b) Basis of preparation of financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.

c) Public benefit entity

The charitable company meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

d) Going concern

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.

e) Incoming resources

Voluntary income is donations. They are recognised where there is entitlement, receipt is probable, and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis.

Income from charitable activities includes income received under contracts for the provision of services and grant funding which is subject to specific performance conditions. Income from the provision of services is recognised as earned as the related services are provided and is stated after discounts and net of Vat. Grant income included in this category is recognised where there is entitlement, receipt is probable, and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. It is only deferred when:

Grants received for services and activities which are not completed at the year end are included in income at the full amount and the unused portion is carried forward in restricted funds at the end of the year.

The charity relies on volunteer advisors to assist in the delivery of the service. These financial statements do not include the value of this work.

24

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Notes to the financial statements

1 Accounting policies (continued)

f) Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred. Contractual arrangements and performance related grants are recognised as goods or services are supplied. Partnership payments are accrued when services are supplied irrespective of whether an invoice has been received.

g) Irrecoverable VAT

h) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. Major components are treated as a separate asset where they have significantly different patterns of consumption of economic benefits and are depreciated separately over its useful life.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Equipment 25% Straight line Computer equipment 33% Straight line Leasehold Improvements 6.7% Over period of lease 15 years, straight line

i) Operating and finance leases

Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities as incurred. Equipment purchased with finance leases, where the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor, is capitalised and the outstanding lease payments, less any finance charges, are included in accruals. Finance charges, if any, are included in the Statement of Financial Activities.

j) Pensions

Westminster Citizens Advice participated in the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureau Pension and Assurance Plan (1991) which was a defined benefit scheme. It operated in the UK and was closed on 31 March 2008. More than one employer participated in the scheme and Westminster Citizens Advice is unable to identify its share of the underlying assets and liabilities in the scheme and so contributions are treated as though it was a defined contributions scheme.

The charity has recognised a liability for commitments to pay an annual payment towards the funding shortfall, as shown in notes 12 and 18.

The charitable company also operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable under the scheme by the charitable company to the fund. The charitable company has no liability under the scheme other than for the payment of those contributions.

25

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Notes to the financial statements

1 Accounting policies (continued)

k) Funds structure

The charity has a number of restricted income funds to account for situations where a donor requires that a donation must be spent on a particular purpose or where funds have been raised for a specific purpose. All other funds are unrestricted income funds.

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

l) Financial instruments

The charity only has both basic and non-basic financial assets and financial liabilities. 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. Non-basic financial instruments are measured at fair value with any gain or loss going to the statement of financial activities. Full details are given in the financial instruments note.

2 Income from charitable activities

Areas of activity
Special projects
EU Citizens Advice Project
Advice on Prescription
Thames Water
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Debt Free London
Carers Network
Mental Health Outreach
Debt and Welfare Benefits - Social
Housing Tenants
Generalist services - Paddington bureau		 Grants
£
-
-
-
7,500
-
-
22,524
120,734
65,548		 Fees for
services
£
991,321
-
31,689
-
23,759
22,110
-
-
-		 2021
Total
£
991,321
-
31,689
7,500
23,759
22,110
22,524
120,734
65,548		 Grants
£
-
-
-
16,250
-
-
25,860
119,308
88,315		 Fees for
services
2020
Total
£
£
993,780
993,780
5,178
5,178
47,097
47,097
-
16,250
22,252
22,252
24,120
24,120
-
25,860
-
119,308
-
88,315
1,092,427
1,342,160
216,306 1,068,879 1,285,185 249,733

3 Grants and grants received in advance

Brought forward from previous year
Westminster City Council - EU Advice Project
Thames Water
Thames Water
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Debt Free London
Westminster City Council - EU Advice Project		 2021
£
7,500
22,524
120,734
65,548		 2020
£
7,500
23,705
119,308
88,315
216,306 238,828
-
-		 2,155
8,750
- 10,905
216,306 249,733

26

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

4a Analysis of expenditure (current year)

Analysis of expenditure (current year)
Contracts and Fees for Services
Generalist services
Mental Health Outreach
Debt & Welfare Benefits - Octavia Housing
Carers Network
Advice on Prescription
Total Unrestricted
Grants
EU Citizens Advice Project
Thames Water
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Debt Free London
Total Restricted
Total charitable resource expended 2021
Total charitable resource expended 2020		 Staff costs
£
721,754
-
20,190
17,349
17,612		 Other
activity costs
£
195,551
-
-
-
-		 Office and
general
£
94,902
-
3,055
2,493
2,953		 Premises
£
90,488
-
2,913
2,377
2,816		 Governance
costs
£
6,948
-
226
183
217		 2021
Total
£
1,109,643
-
26,384
22,402
23,598		 2020
Total
£
902,103
5,704
49,768
24,957
36,436
776,905 195,551 103,403 98,594 7,574 1,182,027 1,018,968
4,233
18,517
89,362
70,088		 -
-
378
-		 667
2,546
15,924
10,021		 637
2,428
15,187
9,557		 49
187
1,167
734		 5,586
23,678
122,018
90,400		 35,423
28,363
124,052
108,144
182,200
959,105		 378
195,929		 29,158
132,561		 27,809
126,403		 2,137
9,711		 241,682
1,423,709		 295,982
1,314,950
852,891 196,410 123,238 128,370 14,041 1,314,950

Other activity costs includes payments to partners of £144,688 as follows:

Other activity costs includes payments to partners of £144,688 as follows:
Age UK Westminster
Asylum Aid
Deafplus		 2021
72,500
61,306
10,862		 2,020
66,875
66,741
6,583
144,668 140,199

27

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

4b Analysis of expenditure (prior year)

Analysis of expenditure (prior year)
Contracts and Fees for Services
Generalist services
Mental Health Outreach
Debt & Welfare Benefits - Octavia Housing
Carers Network
Advice on Prescription
Total Unrestricted
Grants
EU Citizens Advice Project
Thames Water
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Debt Free London
Total Restricted
Total charitable resource expended 2020		 Staff costs
£
537,185
4,508
39,342
19,775
28,000		 Other
activity costs
£
190,019
-
-
-
62		 Office and
general
£
81,137
555
4,837
2,404
3,885		 Premises
£
84,518
578
5,038
2,504
4,046		 Governance
costs
2020
Total
£
£
9,244
902,103
63
5,704
551
49,768
274
24,957
443
36,436
10,575
1,018,968
375
35,423
305
28,363
1,559
124,052
1,227
108,144
3,466
295,982
14,041
1,314,950
628,810 190,081 92,818 96,684
22,904
22,597
94,296
84,284		 5,417
-
261
651		 3,295
2,675
13,683
10,767		 3,432
2,786
14,253
11,215
224,081
852,891		 6,329
196,410		 30,420
123,238		 31,686
128,370

28

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

5 Net expenditure for the year

This is stated after charging / crediting:

This is stated after charging / crediting:
2021 2020
£ £
Depreciation 28,292 21,074
Operating lease rentals:
▪
property		 98,400 98,400
Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):
▪
audit		 7,920 7,825
Trustees' remuneration Nil Nil
Trustees' reimbursed expenses Nil 585

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2020: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2020: £nil).

Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £0 (2020: £585) incurred by 12 (2020: 12) members relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees. No face to face meetings were held in the year due to Covid

6 Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Staff costs were as follows:
Contract & Agency Staff
Pension contributions - Defined contribution schemes
Redundancy and Termination Costs
Increase in pension deficit
Salaries and wages
Employer's National Insurance
Total emoluments paid to staff were:		 2021
£
647,263
72,538
66,944
67,671
13,668
91,021		 2020
£
750,973
11,430
67,667
17,677
5,144
959,105 852,891
714,207 762,403

Total emoluments paid to staff were:

The redundancy and termination costs were settled and paid at the balance sheet date.

One employee received between £100,000 -£110,000 during the year (2020: One employee between 60,000 to 70,000). Employer pension contributions for this employee totalled £1,138 (2020: £3,414).

The average weekly number of employees during the year was 24 (2020: 25).

The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £180,505 (2020: £156,185).

7 Related party transactions

There are no related party transactions to disclose for 2020 (2020: none).

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

29

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

8 Taxation

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

9 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Cost
Depreciation
At the end of the year
Net book value
At the end of the year
At the start of the year
Eliminated on disposal
At the end of the year
At the start of the year
Additions in year
Charge for the year
At the start of the year
Disposals in year		 Leasehold
improvements
£
30,843
-
-		 Equipment
£
30,714
-
-		 Computer
equipment
£
102,906
-
-		 Total
£
164,463
-
-
30,843 30,714 102,906 164,463
15,498
2,046
-		 30,714
-
-		 41,214
26,246
-		 87,426
28,292
-
17,544 30,714 67,460 115,718
13,299 - 35,446 48,745
15,345 - 61,692 77,037

Computer equipment with carrying value of £29,621 is held under a finance lease. £20,909 is payable within one year and £8,712 is payable in 1-3 years.

10 Debtors

Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments		 2021
2020
£
£
7,500
1,075
27,602
32,588
61,747
87,493
96,849
121,156

11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Grants and other income in advance
Taxation and social security
Accruals
Pension Deficit Contributions		 2021
2020
£
£
12,439
13,099
17,744
18,227
116,362
108,271
208,123
206,113
18,000
14,400
372,668
360,110

30

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

12
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
13
14a
Long term liabilities
14b
Long term liabilities
Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)
Financial instruments
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2021
Tangible fixed assets
Employer contributions to Pension Recovery Plan
Unwinding of the discount
Net movement
Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)
Increase in deficit following acturial revaluation of liabilities
Defined pension scheme liability
Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2020
Tangible fixed assets
Provision carried forward
Pension Deficit Provision brought forward
Due in less than one year
Due in more than one year
Computer Equipment Lease Payments due in more than one year
Computer Equipment Lease
Total due in more than one year		 Restricted
£
-
5,975
-		 2021
£
170,945
(14,400)
3,757
87,264		 2020
£
180,201
(14,400)
5,144
76,621 (9,256)
247,566
(18,000)		 170,945
(14,400)
229,566
8,712		 156,545
29,621
238,278 186,166
2021
£
247,556
29,621		 2020
£
170,945
50,530
277,177 221,475
£
48,745
353,416
(238,278)
Unrestricted		 Total funds
£
48,745
359,391
(238,278)
5,975 163,883 169,858
Restricted
£
-
2,225
-		 £
77,037
414,958
(186,166)
Unrestricted		 Total funds
£
77,037
417,183
(186,166)
2,225 305,829 308,054

31

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

15a Movements in funds (current year)

Movements in funds (current year)
Restricted funds:
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Debt Free London
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
Designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Pension reserve
Debt and Welfare Benefits - Octavia
Thames Water
EU Citizens Advice Project
Carers Network
Advice on Prescription
Total unrestricted funds including
pension reserve
Financial literacy
Childcare		 At 1 April
2020
£
225
2,000
-
-
-
-		 Income
£
-
-
22,524
7,500
120,734
65,548		 Expenditure
£
-
-
(23,678)
(5,586)
(122,019)
(90,400)		 Transfers
At 31 March
2021
£
£
-
225
-
2,000
1,154
-
1,836
3,750
1,285
-
24,852
-
29,127
5,975
(34,596)
411,449
(5,305)
-
(161)
-
292
-
(39,770)
411,449
(76,621)
(247,566)
(116,391)
163,883
(87,264)
169,858
2,225 216,306 (241,683)
476,774
-
-
-		 991,650
31,689
23,759
22,110		 (1,022,379)
(26,384)
(23,598)
(22,402)
476,774 1,069,208 (1,094,763)
(170,945)
305,829		 -
1,069,208		 -
(1,094,763)
308,054 1,285,514 (1,336,446)

32

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

15b Movements in funds (prior year)

Restricted funds:
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Debt Free London
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
Designated funds
L & Q Pound Advice
Total unrestricted funds
Debt and Welfare Benefits - Octavia
Advice on Prescription
Childcare
EU Citizens Advice Project
Mental Health Outreach
Licensing advice
Carers Network
Financial literacy
Thames Water
Pension reserve
Total unrestricted funds including
pension reserve
Total funds		 At 1 April
2019
£
225
-
1,243
-
2,265
-		 Income
£
-
2,000
25,860
16,250
119,308
88,315		 Expenditure
£
-
-
(28,363)
(35,423)
(124,052)
(108,144)		 Transfers
At 31 March
2020
£
£
-
225
-
2,000
1,260
-
19,173
-
2,479
-
19,829
-
42,741
2,225
(42,608)
476,774
(17,744)
-
(222)
-
2,671
-
14,183
-
(9,114)
-
837
-
(51,997)
476,774
9,256
(170,945)
(42,741)
305,829
-
308,054
3,733 251,733 (295,982)
418,354
17,744
748
-
-
9,114
-		 1,003,132
-
5,178
47,097
22,252
-
24,120		 (902,104)
-
(5,704)
(49,768)
(36,435)
-
(24,957)
445,960 1,101,779 (1,018,968)
(180,201)
265,759		 -
1,101,779		 -
(1,018,968)
269,492 1,353,512 (1,314,950)

Purposes of designated funds

Mental Health Outreach

This service, funded by Central London Healthcare, provides Welfare Benefits and Debt Advice to service users accessing the mental health programme in Westminster. The contract ended in September 2019.

Debt and Welfare Benefits - Octavia

This contract provides practical assistance and specialist advice in debt management and benefits advice to tenants of Octavia Housing. The contract ended in November 2020.

Advice on Prescription

This programme, funded by Kensington and Chelsea Social Council, provides advice to patients on the recommendations of GP's in the West London Clinical Commissioning Group area.

Licensing advice

This contract with Westminster City Council provides an independent advice service free of charge to all Westminster residents and to publicise their rights and responsibilities in relation to licensing matters. Previously a separate contract, this service is now part of the main contract with Westminster Council.

Carers Network

This project, funded by the Carers' Network, provides specialist advice to unpaid carers.

33

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Purposes of restricted funds

Childcare

To assist volunteers with childcare costs while undergoing training

EU Citizens' Advice Project

This project is funded by grant funding from Westminster City Council for £15,000 p.a. for two years from November 2017. The project delivers advice to EU nationals on the implications of brexit for their status. The funding was further extended in the year until July 2021.

Thames Water

Thames Water provides funding from February 2018 to March 2022 to employ a debt advice worker for two days a week to provide debt/money advice to individuals within the Thames water area.

Financial literacy

To assist in expanding the advice given about debt and financial management, the balance of £2000 shown in the accounts was a donation from the Tesco plastic carrier bag fund.

Citizens Advice - Universal Credit

Funds were provided via National Citizens Advice by the Department for Work and Pensions to provide advice to persons claiming Universal Credit.

Debt Free London

Funds were provided by the Money Advice Service (now the Money and Pension Service) via Toynbee Hall to provide debt advice.

17 Operating lease commitments

The charity's total future minimum annual lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods

Less than one year
One - five years		 2021
2020
£
£
82,000
82,000
34,324
116,324
116,324
198,324
Property

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

Citizens Advice ('the Principal Employer') operates a defined benefit scheme ('the Plan') in the UK which provides both pensions in retirement and death benefits to members. Pension benefits are related to the members' final salaries at retirement and their length of service at the date they retired or left pensionable service. The Plan closed to future accrual on 31 March 2008. The Plan also contains some money purchase AVCs and protected rights funds, which are not included in these

In accordance with the schedule of contributions in force over the 2021/22 accounting year, the contributions to the Plan for the year ending 31 March 2022 are expected to be £2,579,000, which includes £2,279,000 towards the deficit and £300,000 as an allowance for administration expenses and all scheme levies.

The Plan is a registered scheme under UK legislation. The Plan is subject to the scheme funding requirements outlined in UK legislation. The Plan is governed by the Plan's Trust Deed and Rules dated 4 April 2011. The Trustee is responsible for the operation and the governance of the Plan, including making decisions regarding the Plan's funding investment strategy (although they are required to consult the Principal Employer).

A full actuarial valuation of the Plan was carried out as at 31 March 2021 by a qualified independent actuary, based upon membership data as at 31 March 2019, allowing for assumed membership movements over the period from this date, as well as any actual transfers out or trivial commutations over the period.

The most recent formal actuarial valuation of the Plan was as at 31 March 2019 and revealed a funding deficit of £68,501,000. In the recovery plan agreed following the valuation, the Principal Employer and other participating employers agreed to pay deficit reduction contributions of £2,279,000 per annum with the view to eliminating the deficit by 31 March 2037.

The liabilities of the Plan are based on the current value of expected benefit payment cashflows to members of the Plan over the next 60 or more years. The average duration of the liabilities is approximately 16 years. The Plan is exposed to actuarial risks such as market (investment) risk, interest rate risk, inflation risk, currency risk and longevity risk.

Assumptions

Assumptions
2021 2020
% %
Discount Rate 2.10 2.40
Inflation (RPI) 3.30 2.80
Inflation (CPI) 2.80 2.00
Revaluation of deferred pensions in excess of GMP 2.80 2.00
Pension in payment increases of:
CPI or 5% pa if less 2.80 2.00
CPI inflation since retirement or 5% pa if less 2.80 2.00
CPI or 3% pa if less 2.50 1.90
Allowance for commutation of pension for cash at retirement 75% of HMRC 75% of HMRC
maximum maximum

35

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2021

The mortality assumptions adopted at 31 March 2019 imply the following life expectancies:

Life expectancy at age 65 Life expectancy at age 65
(Years)
Male retiring in 2020 21.2 21.2
Female retiring in 2020 24.1 24.1
Male retiring in 2040 22.6 22.6
Female retiring in 2040 25.7 25.6

The annual deficit payments from 1st April 2021 have increased to £18,000 per annum until 31st March 2037. From 1st April 2020 the deficit payments were £14,400 per annum until 31st December 2033.If Citizens Advice Westminster paid its annual contributions as planned, using an actuarial discount rate of 2.1%, the net present value would be £247,566 (2019/2020 £170,945 and 2.4% discount). See note 12.

The assets in the Plan were:
Multi asset funds
Structured Equity
Cash
Fair value of Plan assets
The actual return on assets over the period was:
Present value of funded obligations
Fair value of Plan assets
Surplus/(deficit) in funded scheme		 Value at
Value at
31/03/2021
31/03/2020
£000s
£000s
72,995
61,086
24,849
24,279
1,509
594
99,353
85,959
14,282
188
161,415
140,310
99,353
85,959
(62,062)
(54,351)

36