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2023-03-31-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 2023

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Contents

For the year ended 31 March 2023

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 2023

Company number 03039752 Charity number 1059419 Registered office The Stowe Centre, 258 Harrow Road and operational address London W2 5ES

Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year
and up to the date of this report were as follows:
Ksenia Zheltoukhova Chair
Cheryl Schlomit Crespo Pizarro Joined – 07 March 2023
Gwyneth Macaulay
Georgia Ackland Resigned – 31 December 2022
John Robinson Treasurer
Julie Fewtrell Joined – 24 May 2022
Matt Mckenna
Richard Geller
Shing Yang (Rodney) Chau
Simon Duong Resigned – 07 March 2023
Srishti Mahhajan
Trisha Manners Joined – 07 March 2023
Company Sital Zielonka
Secretary
Senior staff Joanna Cain Chief Executive Officer
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 2023

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 2023. 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. Overview of 2022 – 23

Highlights:

Here is what some of our clients have told us

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Overview of the year

At the start of April 2022 the impact of the cost of living crisis was already being felt in rising food and energy prices. This impacted demand for our services, with steep rises in calls to adviceline and an increase in clients experiencing anxiety and mental health issues. Cases were also increasingly complex, with clients in Westminster supported with 4.4 issues on average, an increase from 3.8 issues in the previous year.

Our strategic priority to provide an agile and responsive service has been tested to the full and we have delivered against key performance indicators and in addition supported the delivery of 3 rounds of Hardship Fund grants in partnership with the local authority.

In May 2022 a new administration was elected in Westminster, and we have continued to work very closely with the local authority, benefiting from a significant increase in funding to support 4 paid Telephone Assessors. The new team have also enabled a widening of our Advice Shop activities with very popular drop ins now re-established at both the Beethoven Centre and our new base at the Stowe Centre. Both these and our other Advice Shops at Church St Library and Ebury Edge near Victoria have been well supported by an increasing number of community and local authority partners.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

The move from Conduit Place in September 2022 and the establishment of the new office was a significant piece of work, with both a rebuild of the new office space and a major clear out required as we moved towards a paperless working environment. Being at the heart of Westbourne ward, one of the most deprived local areas in the country, has enabled us to reach greater numbers of speakers of Arabic and has helped us to create new relationships including with Healthwatch and Paddington Development Trust, both also based at the Stowe. We have been able to take advantage of the new space for team meetings and training, and in November 2022 welcomed Mayor Hamza Taouzzale to our AGM to formally open the new office.

The move to the Stowe Centre has also enabled us to reduce our overheads which in this year helped fund the new office refurbishment, which was also supported by a £10,000 grant from the Clothworkers Foundation. In future years we will be able to focus a greater percentage of our income into front line service delivery, enhanced by additional funding including from new projects funded by the Trussell Trust and the City Bridge Trust.

We remain committed to campaigning and research which leads to improvements in the underlying issues which face our clients and Westminster residents, including those placed in temporary accommodation. During 2022 – 23 we actively supported research in this area. Two key areas of campaign focus remain the experience of tenants both in private rented accommodation and in council managed housing, and the impact of the digital divide on Westminster residents.

2. Activities

Information and advice

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, 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.

During 2022 – 23 benefits was our largest advice area, with 6,161 issues handled in total. Issues related to personal independence payments (PIP) remained the highest focus. Compared with the previous year we saw an increase in cases relating to debt, utilities and communications.

WASP contract

Our advice and casework services are funded by Westminster City Council (WCC) and through project funding. WCC funds us to manage the Westminster Advice Partnership Service (WASP), alongside Age UK Westminster, Asylum Aid and DeafPlus, to deliver the advice services contract for local Westminster residents.

Our services include delivery of Advice Shop, an open access assessment session which we deliver alongside other advice providers including Shelter, The Passage, Carers Network and our WASP

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

partners. We also deliver advice from the WCC Children’s Centres and WCC Housing services. Our Licensing Advice Project provides specialist advice and support to residents with concerns about local licensed premises.

During 2022 – 23 we received additional funding for Telephone Assessors, and we have continued to develop our digital offer, with a webchat service launched in August 2022. While take up of this has been small, we continue to experiment how and when we offer the service.

Between April and December we administered 2 rounds of the WCC Hardship Fund, reaching 2,702 Westminster residents. We worked closely with the Council team to develop a new Cost of Living Support Fund which launched in January 2023, and is a referral only scheme available to advice agencies in Westminster. Until March 2023, 231 grocery vouchers were distributed.

Projects

In addition to our funding from Westminster City Council, we are very grateful to have been able to work collaboratively with partners and funders to deliver the following contracts:-

Advice on Prescription 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.

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.

Debt Free London (now Debt Free Advice) , which is a Money and Pension Service funded project delivering debt advice across London.

Energy projects support clients to access discounts and provide information and advice about energy saving and smart meters, and also provide access to Carbon monoxide testing equipment.

GLA project Providing information, advice and casework service to Westminster residents facing crisis issues including homelessness, eviction, bailiff actions and food poverty. Delivering training to Westminster agencies to identify advice issues.

Hardship and Support Funds Administration and management of applications from the public for support via the Household Support Fund, on behalf of WCC.

Health project A 3 month project to pilot use of health questions on adviceline to promote vaccinations

Kings College London Project provides debt advice to Kings College students.

North Paddington Foodbank Project provided debt and money advice to users of the foodbank’s service users.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Thames Water Trust 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.

Trussell Trust Delivering debt, benefits, energy and advice on other generalist areas for residents experiencing food hardship.

Policy and Campaigns Work

In the past year Citizens Advice Westminster’s front-line advisers have raised a total of 570 evidence forms, dealing with a wide range of issues including:

Campaigns

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:

Scams Awareness Fortnight

This was the first opportunity in 2 years to have in person events, so we held 2 events across the 2 weeks of the campaign. 3 of our volunteer team set up information stalls in Church Street and Victoria Libraries. Around 40 individual contacts with clients took place giving out leaflets and talking through problems to highlight the need to be always on the look out for scams. These events were supplemented by our social media campaign on twitter making good use of the central messaging and graphics.

Putting it Right. This campaign raises formal complaints on behalf of clients on issues of malpractice and/or official error on the part of statutory bodies in order to influence positive change and improvement to their services – both in terms of policy and procedure. 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 2023

Disability Benefits Consortium

We have regularly attended the Consortium which campaigns on creating a fairer benefits system.

Energy Saving Winter

We took the original national campaign of Energy Saving Week and made it a full Winter as the problems of keeping warm last several months. We followed the messaging from head office as the energy crisis was growing and it was important to not steer people in the wrong direction such as switching which was no longer an option.

Influencing work

Using data and a template supplied from Head Office, supplemented with locally sourced data, we wrote to our 2 MPs with detailed figures about impact of the rise in energy prices in our 2 constituencies. We were pleased to host a meeting with the Minister for Energy Affordability in early April 2023 when our advisers were able to give her first hand examples of the challenges faced by clients in Westminster, and the way in which multiple overlapping issues affected their wellbeing and ability to pay for basic commodities including food and energy.

The research team played a big part in supporting the CEO in building relationships with newly elected Councillors and Cabinet members following the May 2022 Local Government elections. CAW were represented in a number of community events during the year, including the South West Fest, the Walterton and Elgin summer festival and community events across the year.

Social media activity

The WCC twitter account goes from strength to strength with a regular posting of at least 10 tweets a week to a growing number of followers. We have increased our followers during the year by 17 (we now have 1,738 followers) and regularly hit over 10,000 impressions per month. Our account enables us to get important information out to followers who may not have any other contact with us as well as keeping up to date with what’s happening in our borough. We also use the account to promote our own services as well at the main CAW website. In addition, we use the account to keep in touch with local bodies and partners such as Age UK Westminster, Libraries, the Council, and our MPs.

Research

The research team carried out a number of research projects including

This work contributed both to how we allocated resources as part of the Crisis Prevention Project, the development of several funding bids and also to ongoing work with the North Paddington Board on which we are represented.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Temporary accommodation

We concluded our work with Cardinal Hume Centre to co-ordinate responses to their research project on families living in temporary accommodation. The team were able to supply great examples to CH for their report and they were most appreciative of our partnership working. This has led to us joining the Temporary Accommodation Action Group now established in Westminster.

Volunteering

CAW are committed to providing high quality volunteering opportunities and during 2022 -23 we have created a new volunteer role, the client support volunteer, which has proved both popular with volunteers and very successful in supporting service delivery.

The benefits of volunteering to CAW as an organisation are also highly significant. Trained and active volunteers directly support service delivery both of our generalist and contract and specific projects. This is most evident in the Gateway team, where there is a direct correlation between the amount of volunteer time on the service and the amount of demand from residents that we can meet. Volunteers have also proved a very positive source of recruits to paid roles. During 2022 – 23 three volunteers took up paid roles within CAW. This has brought significant benefits to the team and the volunteers, including savings in recruitment and induction, flexibility in relation to being able to respond quickly to new opportunities, and for volunteers the benefit of gaining valuable paid work experience.

Volunteers get involved in a variety of roles, including as Trustees, Receptionist/Information assistant, Advice Administrator, Adviser and Trainee adviser, Gateway Assessor, Financial Capability trainer, Digital Money Coach, Digital Media assistant, Fundraiser.

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:

During 2022-23 we maintained our existing grant and contract funding and gained new funding as described above. Our Thames Water project ended on 31 March 2023 following a change of focus from the Thames Water Trust.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

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. Our overall quality standard is Green.

Partnership Working

CAW remains an active member of the London Adviceline partnership and the Pan London Citizens Advice Group. During 2022 – 23 we re-established the Westminster Advice Forum which is regularly attended by over 20 representatives of Westminster Advice agencies. The Refernet partnership now has 33 active members with referral numbers steadily increasing during the year. New projects including the Crisis Prevention Project and the Westminster Foodbank project have enabled us to reach clients in new parts of the City and to build new partnerships.

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 10 Trustees.

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. The Finance and General Purposes Committee also meets quarterly.

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 meet standards for membership and that the organisation is operating in adherence to Citizen Advices’ aims and principles.

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

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

distress in particular, but without limitation, for the benefit of the community in Westminster and surrounding areas.

The aims of the Citizens Advice Westminster service are:

Our Goal and strategic objectives are set out in our Business Plan:

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 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:

1 Financial Review

The company had net outgoing resources on unrestricted funds of £26,804 for the year. Together with an accumulated surplus brought forward from previous years, the company now has an accumulated surplus on unrestricted funds of £137,144. Total incoming resources for the year amounted to £1,453,189 of which £1,194,973 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 18% of income (2022 22%) 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.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Fundraising policy

Citizens Advice Westminster has a Fundraising Strategy which aims to increase funds to the organisation in order to increase and improve access to our advice and information services for the local community. Additionally, the organisation aims to increase our funding base and diversify streams of income that it receives. The organisation will look to increase its level of unrestricted funding, year on year in order to ensure it is able to meet its future liabilities.

Communication and building relationships with key, relevant stakeholders will play a vital role in raising awareness of the impact of the work the organisation does and in direct marketing, to solicit support for the organisation and increase donor giving and create opportunities for funded joint partnership work.

Grant and contract funding will remain key to the organisation, as it is highly cost effective in terms of potential return and an annual target of £25,000 for new funding per year from this source has been agreed by the trustees as a reasonable aim.

The organisation will also explore alternate sources of funding, including paid-for services, corporate sponsorship through the social responsibility policies of companies, in-kind support and individual giving. Our strategy is to focus on a small number of specific activities each year, to include:

Going Concern Statement

The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis. A three-year financial plan is prepared and annual budgets are set to ensure that the organisation can continue to operate as a going concern for at least a year. Management accounts are presented quarterly to the Finance and General Purposes 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 2023/24 is £1.5m and breakeven or a small surplus is anticipated. Additional grant/contract applications are being undertaken to increase income. From September 2023 the outlook is positive with two year council funding of around £1.3 million expected to be secure up to September 2025. Cashflow remains good with an average balance of around £650,000 up to September 2024.

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

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

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.

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, excluding long term pension liabilities, of £308,283.

2 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 analysis 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.

The annual review of the Risk Assessment Policy was conducted, and the Risk Register is reviewed quarterly by Trustees. The Risk Register clearly sets out the management processes to be deployed in order to effectively manage these potential risks.

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

Key risks identified and mitigations include:

Lack of strategic direction and forward planning:

Poor budgetary control and financial planning:

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Operations and service delivery:

Information Management:

People:

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

3 Plans for Future Period

The need to deliver our service remotely during the pandemic has been transformative in terms of our approach to service delivery. Going forward we are committed to retaining a hybrid approach both for volunteers and staff and for our clients. Underpinning this is our commitment to ensuring that clients are able to receive the level of information or advice they require with as few steps as possible.

We will continue to offer face to face and drop in advice for those who need it most, and also retain and develop our phone and digital advice service. Over the next year we will be continuing to deliver a digital offer including via webchat and Zoom l drop ins, and we will introduce advice booths situated in partner organisations so that their service users can access drop ins and attend advice appointments remotely. We will continue to make the most of our new office in the Stowe Centre in Westbourne ward, which is right at the heart of communities facing multiple deprivation. We will build on our involvement in the Westminster City Council North Paddington project with new initiatives in the health sector and to support employability for our clients.

At the same time we will be continuing to develop our outreach and partnership working, building on the success so far of the Westminster Refernet partnership, the Westminster Advice Forum and our GLA supported Crisis Prevention Programme.

As part of our City Bridge project we will be introducing new volunteer roles including energy volunteers and community researchers.

4. Remuneration Policy

Prior to April 2022 remuneration for all staff was set out in a Salary Framework and pay progression was determined by length of service. From April 2022 a new pay policy and framework has been established. The policy recognises the importance of providing a fair and transparent pay and rewards system which:

The Pay Framework establishes pay and progression routes for all staff below senior management level. Senior management pay is subject to benchmarking and is approved by the Chair, Treasurer and HR Trustees.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

5. 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.

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 2023 was 12 (2022; 17). The Trustees are members of the charity but this entitles them only to voting rights. The Trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Trustees’ annual report

For the year ended 31 March 2023

4 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 12[th] September 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Ksenia Zheltoukhova

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 Service (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 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:

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Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

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 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)

Date 13 September 2023

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

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

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

For the year ended 31 March 2023

Note
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
Income from:
Net income/(expenditure) before
transfers
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Restricted
£
-
-
314,212
-		 Unrestricted
£
2,299
3,005
1,133,340
333		 2023
Total
£
2,299
3,005
1,447,552
333		 Restricted
£
-
-
313,982
-		 Unrestricted
£
2,261
65
1,054,880
7		 2022
Total
£
2,261
65
1,368,862
7
314,212 1,138,977 1,453,189 313,982 1,057,213 1,371,195
305,509 1,145,831 1,451,340 309,479 1,020,985 1,330,464
305,509 1,145,831 1,451,340 309,479 1,020,985 1,330,464
8,703
19,950		 (6,854)
(19,950)		 1,849
-		 4,503
36,163		 36,228
(36,163)		 40,731
-
28,653
46,641		 (26,804)
163,948		 1,849
210,589		 40,666
5,975		 65
163,883		 40,731
169,858
75,294 137,144 212,438 46,641 163,948 210,589

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 2023

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		 £
41,533
661,452		 2023
£
-		 £
63,552
733,177		 2022
£
20,827
383,577 395,891
702,985 796,729
319,408 400,838
383,577
171,139		 416,718
206,129
212,438 210,589
75,294
137,144		 46,641
163,948
212,438 210,589

Approved by the trustees on 12th September 2023 and signed on their behalf by

Ksenia Zheltoukhova Chair

John Robinson Treasurer

22

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Company no. 03039752

Statement of cash flows

As at 31 March 2023

Reconciliation of net income / (expenditure) to net cash flow from 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
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flows from operating activities
Depreciation charges
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period		 £
£
(74,730)
3,005
-
3,005
(71,725)
733,177
661,452
2023		 £
£
(74,730)
3,005
-
3,005
(71,725)
733,177
661,452
2023		 2023
£
1,849
20,827
(3,005)
22,019
(116,420)		 2022
£
40,731
27,918
(65)
33,297
(3,979)
(74,730) 97,902
£
£
97,902
65
-
65
97,967
635,210
733,177
2022
3,005 65
(71,725)
733,177		 97,967
635,210
661,452 733,177

23

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

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 The Stowe Centre, 258 Harrow Road, London W2 1ES. Until the 6th September 2022 the registered office address was 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) ~~a~~ nd 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. 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

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

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

All resources expended are classified under activity headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred. The charity is not registered for 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

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

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
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Debt Free London
Kings College
Energy Advice Programme
Financial Capability
North Paddington Foodbank
Citizens Advice
Trussel Trust
Additional Advice Line
Carers Network
GLA Crisis Project
Generalist services - Paddington bureau
One Westminster
Clothworkers Foundation
Advice on Prescription
Thames Water
Digital Project		 Grants
£
-
15,000
6,000
10,000
24,000
8,080
-
-
25,860
(2,246)
51,498
-
-
-
91,995
9,025
75,000		 Fees for
services
£
1,027,978
-
-
-
-
-
18,476
18,090
-
-
-
28,926
39,870
-
-
-
-
2023
Total
£
1,027,978
15,000
6,000
10,000
24,000
8,080
18,476
18,090
25,860
(2,246)
51,498
28,926
39,870
-
91,995
9,025
75,000
Grants
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
29,196
123,423
54,222
-
19,537
2,000
-
10,604
75,000		 Fees for
services
£
1,002,128
-
-
-
-
-
19,409
20,603
-
-
-
12,740
-
-
-
-
-
2022
Total
£
1,002,128
-
-
-
-
-
19,409
20,603
29,196
123,423
54,222
12,740
19,537
2,000
-
10,604
75,000
314,212 1,133,340 1,447,552 313,982 1,054,880 1,368,862

26

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

North Paddington Foodbank
Digital Project
Thames Water
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Debt Free London
Citizens Advice Energy Advice
Financial Capability - Pimlico Millions
GLA Crisis Project
Trussel Trust
Additional Advice Line
Clothworkers Foundation
One Westminster
Citizens Advice		 2023
£
15,000
6,000
10,000
24,000
91,995
25,860
(2,246)
8,080
51,498
-
-
9,025
75,000
2022
£
-
-
-
-
-
29,196
123,423
54,222
19,537
2,000
10,604
75,000
314,212 313,982

27

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

4a Analysis of expenditure (current year)

Analysis of expenditure (current year)
Contracts and Fees for Services
Generalist services
Kings College
Energy Advice Programmes
Carers Network
Advice on Prescription
Total Unrestricted
Grants
One Westminster
Clothworkers Foundation
Trussel Trust
Additional Advice Line
Thames Water
GLA Crisis Project
Debt Free London
Financial Literacy
North Paddington Foodbank
Digital Project
Energy Advice Programme
Total Restricted
Total charitable resource expended 2023
Total charitable resource expended 2022		 Staff costs
£
669,542
22,585
26,133
19,281
13,999		 Other
activity costs
£
178,102
-
-
-
-
Office and
general
£
77,632
1,951
2,338
1,662
1,215
Premises
£
116,120
1,581
1,895
1,346
984		 Governance
costs
£
8,669
217
260
184
135
2023
Total
£
1,050,065
26,334
30,626
22,473
16,333
2022
Total
£
968,659
11,550
-
23,350
17,426
751,540 178,102 84,798 121,926 9,465 1,145,831 1,020,985
5,712
6,793
66,503
23,819
23,357
51,617
2,081
9,138
44,858
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
15,749
-		 472
534
7,624
1,661
2,151
5,412
144
784
5,124
-		 382
10,000
432
6,178
1,346
1,743
4,385
116
635
4,151
-		 5
59
847
185
239
601
16
87
569
-		 6,571
10,000
7,818
81,152
27,011
27,490
62,015
2,357
10,644
70,451
-		 4,351
30,969
124,129
85,393
3,005
10,750
30,584
20,298
233,878
985,418		 15,749
193,851		 23,906
108,704		 29,368
151,294		 2,608
12,073		 305,509
1,451,340		 309,479
1,330,464
848,465 174,108 120,362 176,792 10,737 1,330,464

Other activity costs includes payments to partners of £140,718 (2021: £137,427) as follows:

Age UK Westminster
Asylum Aid
Deafplus		 2023
72,500
61,306
6,912		 2022
72,500
61,306
3,621
140,718 137,427

28

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

4b Analysis of expenditure (prior year)

Analysis of expenditure (prior year)
Contracts and Fees for Services
Generalist services
Kings College
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
Financial Literacy
North Paddington Foodbank
Digital Project
Energy Advice Programme
Total Restricted
Total charitable resource expended 2022		 Staff costs
£
569,893
9,428
-
18,749
13,976		 Other activity
costs
£
164,436
-
-
-
-
Office and
general
£
85,485
1,006
-
2,181
1,636
Premises
£
141,220
1,026
-
2,225
1,668		 Governance
costs
2022
Total
£
£
7,625
968,659
90
11,550
-
-
195
23,350
146
17,426
612,046 164,436 90,308 146,139 8,056
1,020,985
3,939
24,765
96,576
67,057
2,433
8,680
16,484
16,485		 -
-
984
-
-
-
8,688
-		 195
2,942
12,597
8,694
271
981
2,566
1,808		 199
3,000
12,848
8,867
277
1,001
2,617
1,844		 18
4,351
262
30,969
1,124
124,129
775
85,393
24
3,005
88
10,750
229
30,584
161
20,298
236,419
848,465		 9,672
174,108		 30,054
120,362		 30,653
176,792		 2,681
309,479
10,737
1,330,464

29

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

5 Net expenditure for the year

This is stated after charging / crediting:

This is stated after charging / crediting:
2023 2022
£ £
Depreciation 20,827 27,918
Operating lease rentals:
▪
property		 49,200 98,400
Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):
▪
audit		 9,700 8,450
Trustees' remuneration Nil Nil
Trustees' reimbursed expenses 105 Nil

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2022: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2022: £nil).

Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £105 (2022: £Nil) incurred by 12 (2022: 12) members relating to attendance at meetings on behalf of the charity.

6 Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs were as follows:

Staff costs were as follows:
Contract & Agency Staff
Working from Home Allowances
Salaries and wages
Employer's National Insurance
Total emoluments paid to staff were:
Pension contributions - Defined contribution schemes
Redundancy and Termination Costs
Increase/(Decrease) in pension deficit		 2023
£
888,379
7,621
3,094
-
84,612
18,702
(16,990)		 2022
£
749,951
6,723
14,530
-
67,248
15,150
(5,137)
985,418 848,465
896,000 756,674

No employees received more than £60,000 during the year (2022: None)

The average weekly number of employees during the year was 30 (2022:26).

The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £176,314 (2022: £153,919).

7 Related party transactions

There are no related party transactions to disclose for 2023 (2022: none).

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

30

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

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 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
At the end of the year
Disposals in year		 Leasehold
improveme
£
30,843
-
(30,843)
Equipment
£
30,714
-
(20,163)		 Computer
equipment
£
102,906
-
(20,395)
Total
£
164,463
-
(71,401)
- 10,551 82,511 93,062
19,590
11,253
(30,843)		 30,714
-
(20,163)		 93,332
9,574
(20,395)		 143,636
20,827
(71,401)
- 10,551 82,511 93,062
- - - -
11,253 - 9,574 20,827

10 Debtors

Debtors
Accruals
Trade creditors
Grants and other income in advance
HMRC -Taxation and social security
Provision for dilapidations on property lease termination due in 2022
Prepayments
Other debtors
Trade debtors
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Pension Deficit Contributions
Defined Contribution Pension Scheme		 2023
£
6,550
31,383
3,600		 2022
£
-
29,183
34,369
41,533 63,552
2023
£
10,828
4,662
22,797
53,920
209,201
18,000
-		 2022
£
34,972
3,705
18,989
62,896
208,246
18,000
54,030
319,408 400,838

11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

31

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

12 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year

12
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
13
14a
Long term liabilities
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2023
Tangible fixed assets
Due in less than one year
Due in more than one year
Employer contributions to Pension Recovery Plan
Pension Deficit Provision brought forward
Unwinding of the discount
Net movement
Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)
Financial instruments
Defined pension scheme liability
Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profit or loss
Provision carried forward
Computer Equipment Lease		 Restricted
funds
£
-
75,294
-		 2023
£
224,129
(18,000)
(16,990)		 2022
£
247,566
(18,300)
(5,137)
(34,990) (23,437)
189,139
(18,000)		 224,129
(18,000)
171,139 206,129
2023
£
189,139
-		 2022
£
224,129
8,712
189,139 232,841

£
-
308,283
(171,139)
Unrestricted		 Total
funds
£
-
383,577
(171,139)
75,294 137,144 212,438

14b Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)

Long term liabilities
Net assets at 31 March 2022
Net current assets
Tangible fixed assets		 Restricted
funds
£
-
46,641
-
£
20,827
349,250
(206,129)
Unrestricted		 Total
funds
£
20,827
395,891
(206,129)
46,641 163,948 210,589

32

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

15a Movements in funds (current year)

Movements in funds (current year)
Restricted funds:
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Trussel Trust
Additional Advice Line
North Paddington Foodbank
Digital Project
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
Designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Pension reserve
Kings College
Total unrestricted funds including
pension reserve
Debt Free London
GLA Crisis Project
Carers Network
Advice on Prescription
Premises reserve
Clothworkers Foundation
One Westminster
Thames Water
Childcare
Financial literacy
Energy Advice Programmes
Citizens Advice		 At 1 April
2022
£
225
2,000
-
-
-
-
-
44,416
-
Income
£
15,000
6,000
10,000
-
-
25,860
(2,246)
24,000
8,079
91,995
9,025
75,000
51,499		 Expenditure
£
(6,571)
(10,000)
-
(2,357)
(27,011)
(27,490)
(7,818)
(81,152)
(10,644)
(70,451)
(62,015)		 Transfers
£
571
-
357
1,151
2,246
3,490
-
-
1,619
-
10,516		 At 31 March
2023
£
15,000
-
-
225
-
-
-
-
261
10,843
-
48,965
-
46,641 314,212 (305,509) 19,950 75,294
442,107
-
-
-		 1,033,615
39,870
28,926
18,476
18,090		 (1,050,065)
(30,626)
(26,334)
(16,333)
(22,473)		 (99,374)
(9,244)
(2,592)
(2,143)
4,383		 326,283
-
-
-
-
442,107 1,138,977 (1,145,831) (108,970) 326,283
(224,129)
(54,030)
163,948		 -
-
1,138,977		 -
-
(1,145,831)		 34,990
54,030
(19,950)		 (189,139)
-
137,144
210,589 1,453,189 (1,451,340) - 212,438

33

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

15b Movements in funds (prior year)

Restricted funds:
Citizens Advice - Universal Credit
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
Designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
Financial literacy
Pension reserve
Childcare
Carers Network
Thames Water
Premises reserve
Debt Free London
Energy Advice Programme
North Paddington Foodbank
Digital Project
Kings College
Advice on Prescription
EU Citizens Advice Project
Total unrestricted funds including
pension reserve
Total funds		 At 31 March
2021
£
225
2,000
-
3,750
-
-
-
-
-
Income
£
-
2,000
29,196
-
123,422
19,538
10,604
75,000
54,222		 Expenditure
£
-
(3,005)
(30,969)
(4,351)
(124,129)
(20,298)
(10,750)
(30,584)
(85,393)		 Transfers
£
-
1,005
1,773
601
707
760
146
-
31,171		 At 31 March
2022
£
225
2,000
-
-
-
-
-
44,416
-
5,975 313,982 (309,479) 36,163 46,641
411,449
-
-
-		 1,004,461
12,740
19,409
20,603		 (914,629)
(11,550)
(17,426)
(23,350)		 (59,174)
(1,190)
(1,983)
2,747		 442,107
-
-
-
411,449 1,057,213 (966,955) (59,600) 442,107
(247,566)
-
163,883		 -
-
1,057,213		 -
(54,030)
(1,020,985)		 23,437
-
(36,163)		 (224,129)
(54,030)
163,948
169,858 1,371,195 (1,276,434) - 210,589

Purposes of designated funds

Energy Advice Programme

Funds were provided via Citizens Advice to provide one-to-one energy and smart meter advice to fuel poor and vulnerable clients who are struggling to pay their bills.

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.

Kings College

This contract with Kings College London is for the provision of debt advice/casework for students. The contract commenced in November 2021.

Carers Network

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

34

Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

15 Movements in funds (continued)

Purposes of restricted funds

Citizens' Advice

A grant for additional advice staffing, to be spent by March 2024 .

One Westminster

A grant to pilot public health approaches via adviceline and advice shop.

Clothworkers' Foundation

Contribution towards furbishment of the new offices

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 at £15,000 p.a. from November 2017. The project delivers advice to EU nationals on the implications of brexit for their status. The funding expired in June 2021.

Thames Water

Thames Water provided funding from February 2018 to March 2023 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 brought forward (a grant from the Tesco carrier bag fund) was spent in 2021/22. Income of £2000 received in 2021/22 was a grant from the Pimlico Millions Fund. This was spent in 2022/23.

North Paddington Foodbank

Funds were provided by North Paddington Foodbank for an advisor to attend to provide advice and practical support and assistance to help the service user/s resolve their debt, money matters and budgeting problems.

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. This funding ceased in March 2023. £2246 of accrued income in the 21/22 accounts was not receoverable in 22/23.

Greater London Authority Crisis Project

The Greater London Authority via London Citizens Advice funds CAW to employ a Crisis Support Adviser to provide information and advice for those facing urgent issues including homelessness, eviction, bailiff actions and food poverty. This is delivered both in outreach locations and by phone. The funding is for one year unitil October 2023.

Digital Project

This project is funded by additional funding from Westminster City Council to enhance the charity's digital services. Funding is £75,000 p.a. for two years from September 2021.

Debt Free London

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

Trussel Trust

We are funded by Trussell Trust to deliver face-to-face generalist advice at Westminster Chapel foodbank on both a drop-in basis and by appointment

Additional Advice Line

Funds were provided by Westminster Council to provide four additional telephone advisers in response to the cost of living crisis.

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

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

The charity's total future minimum annual lease payments under non-cancellable
for each of the following periods
Operating lease commitments		 operating leases is as follows operating leases is as follows
Less than one year
One - five years		 2023
2022
£
£
-
41,000
-
-
Property
- 41,000

18 Pension cost and commitments

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 disclosures.

In accordance with the schedule of contributions in force over the 2023/24 accounting year, the contributions to the Plan for the year ending 31 March 2024 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 31 March 2022 valuation is currently underway and a new schedule of contributions will be put in place at its completion.

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 2023 by a qualified independent actuary, based upon membership data as at 31 March 2022, allowing for assumed membership movements over the period from this date, and any material membership movements significantly different from those assumed (e.g. transfers out).

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 31 March 2022 valuation is currently underway.

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 12 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
Revaluation of deferred pensions in excess of GMP
CPI inflation since retirement or 5% pa if less
Discount Rate
Inflation (CPI)
Inflation (RPI)
Pension in payment increases of:
CPI or 3% pa if less
CPI or 5% pa if less
Allowance for commutation of pension for cash at retirement		 2023
%
4.80
3.30
2.85
2.85
2.85
2.85
2.50		 2022

%
2.80
3.70
3.25
3.25
3.25
3.25
2.70
75% of HMRC
maximum
75% of HMRC
maximum

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Westminster Citizens Advice Bureau Service

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2023

18 Pension cost and commitments (continued)

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

Life expectancy at age 65 Life expectancy at age 65
(Years)
Retiring today - Males 20.8 21.3
Retiring today - Females 23.6 24.2
Retiring in 20 years time - Males 22.0 22.6
Retiring in 20 years time - Females 24.7 25.7

Westminster Citizens Advice annual deficit payments from 1st April 2021 are £18,000 per annum until 31st March 2037. If Citizens Advice Westminster paid its annual contributions as planned, using an actuarial discount rate of 4.8 %, the net present value would be £189,139 (2021/2022 £224,129 and 2.8% 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
31/03/2023
£000s
24,903
35,116
726		 Value at
31/03/2022
£000s
68,955
27,488
5,771
60,745 102,214
(37,084)
111,169
60,745		 5,301
148,768
102,214
(50,424) (46,554)

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