Big Life Centres (a company limited by guarantee)
Annual Report
Year Ended
31 March 2024
Company Number 03311884 Charity Number 1062333
Big Life Centres
Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024
Contents
Page:
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1 Legal and administrative information 2 Directors' and trustees' report
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9 Statement of trustees' responsibilities
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10 Independent auditor's report
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14 Statement of financial activities
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15 Balance sheet
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16 Notes to the financial statements
Big Life Centres
Legal and administrative information for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Directors and Trustees | |
|---|---|
| of the charity: | M Fitzgibbon |
| FSelvan | |
| ERobinson | |
| SIslam | |
| L Symonds (resigned 1 December 2023) | |
| M Burrows (appointed 1 March 2024) | |
| M Naraynsingh (appointed 1 December 2023) | |
| Secretary: | M Fitzgibbon |
| Principal and | |
| Registered Office: | 1stFloor |
| 463 Stretford Road | |
| Manchester | |
| England | |
| M16 9AB | |
| Company Number | 03311884 |
| Charity Number | 1062333 |
| Website | www.thebiglifegroup.com |
| Constitution: | The charity is registered as a company limited by |
| guarantee. The governing documents are the | |
| company’s memorandum and articles of association. | |
| Bankers: | Santander |
| Bridle Road | |
| Bootle | |
| Merseyside | |
| L30 4GB | |
| External Auditor: | Beever and Struthers |
| One Express | |
| 1 George Leigh Street | |
| Manchester | |
| M4 5DL |
1
Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2024
Big Life Centres
The directors and trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Legal and administrative information set out on page 1 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities".
1 Structure, Governance and Management
Status
Big Life Centres is a company limited by guarantee, (company number 03311884), and a registered charity (number 1062333) governed by its memorandum and articles of association.
Directors and Trustees
The Trustees serving during the year were as follows.
M Fitzgibbon F Selvan E Robinson S Islam L Symonds (resigned 1 December 2023) M Burrows (appointed 1 March 2024) M Naraynsingh (appointed 1 December 2023)
Recruitment and Training of Trustees
As set out in the Articles of Association, the Chair and other Trustees are appointed by The Big Life Company Limited by sending a notice in writing to the Charity.
The training and induction of new Trustees is the responsibility of the Chair and is tailored to the individual needs of new appointees. All Trustees have a one to one meeting with the Chair each year to discuss training and development needs.
The Standing Orders of the charity give details of the decisions which are made at Board level and the powers delegated to the management team.
Organisational Management
The Board of Trustees evaluate and agree the priorities of the organisation as a whole and sub committees of the Board determine the general policies. Big Life Centres is part of the Big Life Group of social businesses and charities. It contracts with The Big Life Company Limited for the provision of corporate services through a Service Level Agreement.
Risk Management
The directors have identified the risks that the charity may be exposed to in the next financial year and have established strategies to mitigate those risks. A risk management process is in place whereby risks are identified and profiled against likelihood and consequence, with actions put in place. Each risk is assigned to a member of the Senior Management Team.
2
Big Life Centres
Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
Key Management Personnel - Remuneration
Big Life Centres consider its key management personnel to be trustees and senior leadership of the group. Full costs are borne by The Big Life Company Limited and disclosed in those accounts. The costs of the charity’s key management personnel relating to Big Life Centres are paid for as part of an overall service level agreement with The Big Life Company Limited that is annually agreed by Big Life Centres trustees.
Remuneration of the senior leadership within the group is set by the group’s Audit & Remuneration Committee based on benchmarking against comparable external organisations.
2 Objects of the charity
The charity’s object and principal activity is to promote and provide initiatives to advance wellbeing. It is a charity which offers opportunities to people who have had a raw deal in life to change their lives for the better. It is an independent charity which works within the Big Life Group.
The charity operated two healthy living centres in Manchester (Zion and Kath Locke Centres) alongside Wesley Community Furniture Project, and a healthy living centre in Salford (Energise). The charity also delivered social prescribing services in Manchester (Be Well) and Salford (Wellbeing Matters), as well as Living Well in Rochdale. It delivered the Achieve drug and alcohol assertive outreach service in Bury, Bolton, Salford and Trafford. Big Life Centres led a partnership of local Greater Manchester organizations, to pilot the Greater Manchester Integrated Rehabilitative Service (GMIRS), supporting people on probation with their wellbeing and welfare needs. It secured a contract to continue to deliver the service during the year.
3 Statement of public benefit
The Trustees have given due consideration to Charity Commission published guidance on the operation of the public benefit requirement. Full details of the public benefit provided by the charity are detailed in the review of activities in section 4.
4 Review of activities
Big Life Centres provide community and self-help services to support people to improve their health and wellbeing. The charity manages two healthy living centres in Manchester (Zion and Kath Locke Centres) alongside Wesley Community Furniture Project, and a healthy living centre in Salford (Energise). The charity also delivers social prescribing services in Manchester (Be Well) and Salford (Wellbeing Matters), as well as Living Well in Rochdale, and Achieve, drug and alcohol service in Bolton, Salford and Trafford. This year Big Life Centres piloted a welfare service for people on remand, working with a variety of voluntary sector providers. During the year, Big Life Centres achieved the following
Manchester Healthy Living Centres: Zion and Kath Locke
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Worked with 25,825 people offering wellbeing support
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Had 62,338 visits to the Centres by people accessing services and support
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Had 24,612 attendances at drop in groups including chatter café, walking groups, and self help groups.
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Provided 193 people with volunteering opportunities.
The Bread and Butter Thing provided reduced price food, packing and distributing 10,767 bags of food and diverted more than 50 tonnes of food waste from landfill.
40 trained Living Well Volunteers led 18 walks a week throughout the year.
3
Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
Big Life Centres
Be Well welcomed the Minister of State for Health and Social Care, Helen Whately, at Kath Locke Centre in March. The Minister met clients who have been supported by Be Well as well as GPs and front-line professionals who shared their experiences and the positive impact of the service. The service’s Out of Work Employment Support pathway was also covered by Channel 4 News.
Achieve has completed the research into Assertive Outreach for people with alcohol addiction, conducted by Mental Health Implementation Network (MHIN) with a presentation event on 21[st] March. Initial findings are that assertive outreach is effective in reducing ward admissions by 50%, A&E attendance by 26% and ambulance use by 27%. The research also found the Assertive Outreach Team increased the number of contacts made with the treatment team from 700 to 1600 between 2018 -2022.
5 Principal risks and uncertainties
The Big Life group secured Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation in June 2023, but despite this, it subsequently experienced a cyber-attack. It was a ransomware attack on hosted servers and did not affect cloud hosted applications and databases, and back-ups were used to restore data where needed. However, there was prolonged disruption to some staff who had to access systems from offices. The Incident Management Team operated to the principle of maximum transparency and kept staff informed throughout, offering support and information, as well as Experian Identity Plus cover. Retaining a two-star Best Companies rating in December 2024, demonstrates that for most staff this incident was handled well.
The Incident Management Team commissioned expert advisers to undertake the forensic investigation, retrieval and search of documents, and legal support to ensure it complied with its statutory duties to report and disclose to individuals who had been affected.
The cyber-attack led to the compromise of personal data and consequently required the notification of over 60,000 people. This was managed through a third party as it was a complex process requiring tailored notifications to individuals detailing what Personal Identifiable information relating to them had been compromised. Big Life offered Identify Plus cover and access to an advice line. In addition, it offered a wellbeing help line staffed by therapists to offer phone support and referral to other agencies where needed.
There were over 80 Subject Access Requests received after notifications were sent, which were all responded to. The attack does not appear to have had a long-term impact on peoples trust in and to access Big Life services. Only a couple of people withdrew from services after receiving a notification.
The financial cost of managing the cyber-attack was considerable, which prudent financial management enabled it to withstand. The Incident Management team kept key stakeholders informed in a timely and transparent manner in order to minimise the impact on the Big Life group reputation. Commissioners complemented the group on the transparency with which the incident was managed.
The ICO and the police were notified, and the Big Life group continues to respond to enquiries as the ICO investigation remains open.
This incident has utilised significant cash reserves and although this will not impact on day-to-day cash requirements, it will mean that the planned investments in business development and estates will require financing. In the next year the Big Life group will be developing its new business plan for the five years 2025-30 and recovering reserves will be a part of this plan.
4
Big Life Centres
Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
Additional expertise was commissioned to help develop and deliver a plan to further enhance the IT security across the group, and this was implemented in year, with the recognition that this will require continual evolution. This was monitored by the Risk and Audit Committee. Considerable progress was made towards securing ISO27001, which will be completed in the forthcoming year.
The risk management process was updated in year to provide greater oversight and assurance in relation to risks. Strategic risks and mitigations relating to the mission and objectives were reviewed at Board and Executive teams. Inherent risks to the delivery of the business (such as risks of client suicide, or of fraud) were identified and the controls reviewed by the Executive Team and the Risk and Audit Committee and reported to the board. Emergent operational risks continue to be collated quarterly, reviewed at service level and reported to the Executive Team, Risk and Audit Committee and Board. Risks are identified and profiled against likelihood and consequence with mitigations/controls identified. Each risk is assigned to a member of the Executive Team.
There remains uncertainty around the renewal of a number of our existing contracts in their current form beyond March 2024 given the likelihood that Local Authorities’ and Health budgets will be tight. Over the years we have developed good relationships with commissioners and are a partner in the Greater Manchester Alternative Provider Collaborative, through which we will try to influence commissioning decisions.
Changes in the economic climate and government policy remain high on the agenda following the General Election, with the Labour government now in place. Rising fuel bills have increased expenditure and we are predicting increasing wage costs in line with inflation. There is a risk that we will not be able to recover these costs through increased income and will need to reduce performance to balance budgets.
At an operational level, services provided by the Group are subject to legislative and quality standards, including ISO 9001 and 14001. Failure to maintain these standards impacts on the Group’s reputation and ability to operate as a high-quality business, therefore services are constantly reviewed and audited, and appropriate action taken to ensure targets are met and exceeded
6 Related parties
The charity forms part of the “ Big Life Group ” of social enterprises and charities. This includes The Big Life Company Limited , a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, of which one of the company's directors, F Selvan, is the sole guarantor. The Group also includes Self Help Services Ltd and Big Issue North Trust Ltd.
Self Help Services Ltd is an independent charity within the Big Life Group and is a user led primary care mental health service offering self-help groups, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), computerised CBT, counselling, volunteering and peer support.
Big Issue North Trust Ltd is an independent charity within the Big Life Group and provides services to vendors of Big Issue Magazine; including assistance with access to health care services, accommodation and addiction services.
7 Financial Review
In 2024 income increased to £11,093,926 (2023: £7,983,957). £1,326,828 of this was the donated asset of the Kath Locke Centre building. The expenditure increased to £10,225,624 (2023: £7,880,978), which includes £100,000 of cyber costs. The net incoming resources for the year amounted to £868,302 (2023: £102,979). At the year-end restricted funds total £32,392 (2023: £34,545) and unrestricted funds total £3,090,562 (2023: £2,220,107).
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Big Life Centres
Directors' and trustees’ report
for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
8 Key performance indicators
Targets are set and are monitored during the year, and their progress included within the Board Reports. They are categorised under three objectives:
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We will work with more people and places to create opportunities and inspire change
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We will be a good business with our social mission at the heart of all we do
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We will have an organisation that enables us to work in the Big Life Way
9 Reserves policy and going concern
At the year end the Reserves Policy is reviewed for all companies in the Group.
The aim of Reserves is to:
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Reduce the risks to service delivery and operations should income levels fall for a period.
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Allow entry into new projects and initiatives that require investment, be paid in arrears or that may not be profitable in the early periods.
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Facilitate investment in capital assets
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Ensure that, should a contract end, funds are available to allow redeployment of staff.
Reserve Level
Target reserves (to appropriately reflect the business activities of the group) are based on one months’ salary levels and one month’s non-pay expenditure (excluding non- cash items). The aim is to build up reserves to that level where possible. If the level of reserves at the end of a financial year exceeds the target aim, then plans will be made to ensure that excess reserves are utilised.
The current target level of reserves based on 2023/24 costs is £848k and the actual level of free reserves at 31 March 2024 was £233k (2023 - £1.1m).
At 31 March 2024 Big Life Centres held unrestricted funds of £3,090,562 (2023: £2,220,107).
The directors are of the view that all companies in the Group are a going concern.
10 Future developments
The Big Life Group is in the business of changing lives and we fight inequality by working with people and places to create opportunities and inspire change. All our services work with people to support areas of their life and help remove obstacles which are barriers to individuals in changing their life for the better. We help people see the skills and support they already have so that they can build on it and reach their full potential.
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Big Life Centres
Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
Our work is done in the Big Life Way namely:
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Community led : We work with people and communities to change the things they want to change, build on their strengths, and respond to their aspirations.
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First class : We believe all people deserve a first-class service which develops their resilience, is led by them, and responds to their priorities.
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Listen, learn and change : We know that we can always improve. We listen and learn from the people we work with and the world around us to take action to change things that aren’t right.
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Never give up : Everyone has the capacity to change, but we know it’s not always easy. That’s why we celebrate every achievement, and we never give up.
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People not problems : We work with people on all areas of their lives. We see the skills and potential in everyone and value their life experience.
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Tread new ground : We are not afraid to tread new ground and innovate to respond to new challenges.
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Work in partnership : We work in partnership with people and other organisations to achieve more together than we can alone.
The Group’s Business Plan 2020-25 has identified three key work priorities over the next five years which include
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(1) To work with more people and places to create opportunities and inspire change:
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To work with more people to support them in all areas of their life.
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To have volunteer opportunities in every service.
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To increase the opportunities for people to engage with our services through the use of technology, such as online chats, video conferencing and virtual reality.
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To develop place-based plans for every area we work in, and develop partnerships and integrated working.
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(2) We will be a ‘good’ business with our social mission at the heart of all that we do:
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To grow in our existing geographies to diversify our offer and move into new areas where there is an opportunity to develop significant roots to anchor ourselves in a community.
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To increase feedback to continually improve the quality of what we do.
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To invest in our assets and technology and ensure we maximise efficiency and the quality of our data to drive service improvement.
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To reduce our carbon footprint and implement agile working.
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To ensure we have an appropriate legal structure that works for us and the people we work with.
(3) We will have an organisation that enables us to work in the Big Life Way:
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To have management structures, IT systems and change processes that facilitate staff and services working together.
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To deliver our workforce strategy, ensuring we have diverse, trained and happy staff, as evidenced by achievement of Best Companies 3-Star accreditation.
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To have trained Multi-Modality Practitioners in every service and ensure all staff will be trained in strengths based approaches.
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To develop tools for people to have control of their own stories and data.
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To ensure Service user engagement shapes our services.
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To ensure all our services are informed by research and evaluation, and to measure the impact of our work.
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Big Life Centres
Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
11 Provision of information to auditor
Each of the persons who are Directors at the time when this Directors' and Trustees' Report is approved has confirmed that:
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there is no relevant information, being information needed by the auditor in connection with preparing their report, of which the company’s auditor is unaware, and
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the trustees, having made enquiries of fellow directors and the company’s auditor that they ought to have individually taken, have each taken all steps that he/she is obliged to take as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.
The auditors, Beever and Struthers, will be proposed for reappointment in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006.
12 Basis of preparation
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. As such, the Company is exempt from preparing a Strategic report.
This Annual Report is signed by the CEO on behalf of the Board of Trustees. The Trustees also approve the Directors’ and Trustees’ report which is contained within this report, in their capacity as Company Directors.
F Selvan Trustee
Date: 18/12/2024
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Big Life Centres
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
The Trustees (who are also directors of Big Life Centres for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year in which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
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make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Financial statements are published on the charity's website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions. The maintenance and integrity of the charity's website is the responsibility of the trustees. The trustees' responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein.
F Selvan Trustee
Date: 18/12/2024
9
Independent auditor's report
Big Life Centres
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BIG LIFE CENTRES
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Big Life Centres (“the charitable company”) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (combining income and expenditure account), the Balance Sheet and the related notes. 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:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the 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 the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the other information. 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.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.
10
Independent auditor's report
Big Life Centres
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BIG LIFE CENTRES
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:
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the information given in the trustees’ report, which includes the directors’ report prepared for the purposes of company law, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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the directors’ report included within the trustees’ report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of 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 directors’ report included within the trustees’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
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the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities set out on page 9, 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.
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Big Life Centres
Independent auditor's report
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BIG LIFE CENTRES
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (continued)
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 specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
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the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
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we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charitable company through discussions with trustees and other management, and from our knowledge and experience of the charity sector.
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we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the charitable company, including the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, taxation legislation, data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environmental and health and safety legislation.
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we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence.
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identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
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making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud.
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considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
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performed analytical procedures on income and salaries to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships.
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tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions.
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assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in note 1 were indicative of potential bias.
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investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
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Big Life Centres
Independent auditor's report
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF BIG LIFE CENTRES
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.
Sue Hutchinson FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of
Beever and Struthers Statutory Auditor Beever and Struthers One Express 1 George Leigh Street Manchester M4 5DL
Date: 19/12/24
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Big Life Centres
Statement of financial activities (Combining income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2024
| Restricted Unrestricted Total Note funds funds 2024 £ £ £ Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 - 84,478 84,478 Exceptional item - Donated leased asset 2 - 1,326,828 1,326,828 Charitable activities 3 96,894 9,536,021 9,632,915 Investments 4 - 49,705 49,705 __ __ __ Total Income 96,894 10,997,032 11,093,926 __ __ __ Expenditure on: Charitable activities 5,6,7 99,047 10,026,577 10,125,624 Exceptional item – cyber costs - 100,000 100,000 __ __ __ Total expenditure 99,047 10,126,577 10,225,624 __ __ __ Net (expenditure) / income and net movement in funds (2,153) 870,455 868,302 __ __ __ Total Funds brought forward at 1 April 2023 34,545 2,220,107 2,254,652 __ __ __ Total Funds carried forward at 31 March 2024 32,392 3,090,562 3,122,954 |
Total 2023 £ 66,630 - 7,897,115 20,212 __ 7,983,957 __ 7,880,978 - __ 7,880,978 __ 102,979 __ 2,151,673 __ 2,254,652 |
|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All amounts relate to continuing activities.
The notes on pages 16 to 28 form part of these financial statements.
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Big Life Centres
Balance sheet as at 31 March 2024
| Company number 03311884 | Note | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fixed assets | |||||
| Tangible assets | 11 | 2,857,708 | 1,099,896 | ||
| Current assets | |||||
| Debtors | 12 | 902,990 | 397,359 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 1,078,030 | 2,353,769 | |||
| __ | __ | ||||
| 1,981,020 | 2,751,128 | ||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due | |||||
| within one year | 13 | (1,642,602) | (1,596,372) | ||
| __ | __ | ||||
| Net current assets | 338,418 | 1,154,756 | |||
| __ | __ | ||||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 3,196,126 | 2,254,652 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due after | 20 | (73,172) | - | ||
| one year | |||||
| __ | __ | ||||
| Total net assets | 15,16 | 3,122,954 | 2,254,652 | ||
| __ | __ | ||||
| __ | __ | ||||
| The funds of the charity: | |||||
| Restricted income funds | 16 | 32,392 | 34,545 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 16 | 3,090,562 | 2,220,107 | ||
| __ | __ | ||||
| Total funds | 3,122,954 | 2,254,652 | |||
| __ | __ |
These accounts are prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act relating to small companies and constitute the annual accounts required by the Companies Act 2006 and are for circulation to members of the company.
The financial statements on pages 14 to 28 were approved and authorised for issue by the board on 18 December 2024 and are signed on its behalf by:
F Selvan
Trustee, approved and authorised on behalf of the Trustees
Date: 18/12/2024
15
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2024
1 Accounting policies
General Information
Big Life Centres is a private company, limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011. The address of the registered office is provided in Legal and administrative details. Details of the charity’s operations are provided in the Directors’ and Trustees’ Report.
Accounting Policies
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
(a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) – (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.
Big Life Centres meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at their historic cost or transaction value.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which assumes an ability to continue operating for the foreseeable future, there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern and the Trustees consider it appropriate to continue to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis.
In accordance with Section 1A of FRS 102, the charity has taken the exemption from including a cash flow statement, as it meets the definition of a small entity.
(b) Legal status of the Charity
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity.
(c) Incoming resources
Voluntary income is received by way of donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable.
Grants, including grants for the purchase of fixed assets, are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are receivable.
Services and recharge income reflects revenue recognised in respect of services supplied during the year. Incoming resources from investments is recognised when receivable.
(d) Resources expended and cost allocation
Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred.
16
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
Big Life Centres
1 Accounting policies (continued)
Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. Certain other costs, which are attributable to more than one activity, are apportioned across the cost categories on the basis of an estimate of the proportion of time spent by staff on those activities. Costs allocated to charitable activities are the costs associated with achieving the charity’s main objectives.
Governance costs represent expenditure relating to the governance of the charity, to allow it to operate and to generate information for public accountability.
(e) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.
Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund, together with a fair allocation of management and support costs.
(f) Pensions
Big Life Centres is a member of the Big Life Group’s defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge relating to this scheme represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the year.
Big Life Centres is also a member of the National Health Service defined benefit pension scheme for all its eligible employees. The NHS scheme is a multi-employee defined benefit scheme where there are no separable identifiable assets and liabilities therefore costs are accounted for as a defined contribution scheme.
See note 21 for further details.
(g) Corporation taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
(h) Tangible fixed assets
Items of equipment are capitalised at cost where the purchase price exceeds £4,000.
Depreciation is provided to write off the cost of tangible fixed assets on a straight line basis over their expected useful lives as follows:
-
Leasehold property is depreciated on a straight line basis over the life of the lease.
-
Leasehold improvements are depreciated on a straight line basis over 60 years or over the life of the lease if less than 60 years.
-
Office and gym equipment is depreciated on a straight line basis over 4 years.
(i) Debtors
- Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any trade discounts due.
(j) Cash at bank and in hand
- Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
17
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
Big Life Centres
1 Accounting policies (continued)
(k) Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
(l) Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
(m) Leases
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straightline basis over the lease term. Any premiums received at the inception of the lease are recognised on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease.
(n) Judgements
In preparing these financial statements, the directors have made the following judgements:
-
Determine whether leases entered into by the charity either as a lessor or a lessee are operating leases or finance leases. These decisions depend on an assessment of whether the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred from the lessor to the lessee on a lease by lease basis.
-
Determine whether there are indicators of impairment of the charity’s tangible assets. Factors taken into consideration in reaching such a decision include the economic viability and expected future financial performance of the asset and where it is a component of a larger cash-generating unit, the viability and expected future performance of that unit.
Other key sources of estimation uncertainty:
Tangible fixed assets (see note 11)
Tangible fixed assets are depreciated over their useful lives taking into account residual values, where appropriate. The actual lives of the assets and residual values are assessed annually and may vary depending on a number of factors. In re-assessing asset lives, factors such as technological innovation, product life cycles and maintenance programmes are taken into account. Residual value assessments consider issues such as future market conditions, the remaining life of the asset and projected disposal values.
Donated asset
The directors have determined that the lease signed with Manchester City Council for the Kath Locke Centre meets the criteria for recognition as a donated asset. The donated asset has been included in the financial statements at its fair value with the corresponding gain being recognised as exceptional donation income in the year, due to its one-off nature. The best estimate of fair value has been determined by an external valuer and is based on a number of assumptions in assessing the market value of the property.
See notes 2 and 11 for further details.
18
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
2 Donations and Legacies
| Donations Gifts and donations Donated asset |
Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total Funds 2024 £ £ £ - 84,478 84,478 - 1,326,828 1,326,828 __ __ ______ - 1,411,306 1,411,306 |
Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds £ £ - 66,630 - - _ _ - 66,630 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 66,630 - ______ 66,630 |
|---|---|---|---|
The Kath Locke building was donated in April 2023 and is included in fixed assets in the balance sheet.
3 Income from charitable activities
| Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Grants received £ £ The Big Local Plan 86,428 - Minor Grants 10,466 - National Lottery Community Fund - - _ __ 96,894 - _ _ Services and recharges Contract services - 9,047,741 Room bookings and external service charges - 333,844 Sundry income and recharges - 154,436 __ __ - 9,536,021 _ _ Total income from charitable 96,894 9,536,021 activities |
Total Funds 2024 £ 86,248 10,466 - ______ 96,894 __ 9,047,741 333,844 154,436 __ 9,536,021 ______ 9,632,915 |
Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds £ £ 116,422 - 8,130 - 10,000 - _ _ |
Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds £ £ 116,422 - 8,130 - 10,000 - _ _ |
Total Funds 2023 £ 116,422 8,130 10,000 _ |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134,552 _ - - - _ - __ 134,552 |
- _ 7,282,748 321,414 158,401 __ 7,762,563 _ 7,762,563 |
134,552 _ 7,282,748 321,414 158,401 __ 7,762,563 __ 7,897,115 |
4 Investments
Bank Interest
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted |
|---|---|
| Funds | Funds |
| 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ |
| 49,705 | 20,212 |
| __ | __ |
19
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
5 Expenditure on charitable activities
| Services and recharges Governance 2024 £ £ £ Staff costs 5,687,349 - 5,687,349 Depreciation 54,612 - 54,612 General 2,780,756 - 2,780,756 Equipment hire 6,869 - 6,869 Minor equipment 52,795 - 52,795 Property expenses 409,341 - 409,341 Recharges - group companies 1,127,902 - 1,127,902 Cyber costs 100,000 - 100,000 Governance costs: audit fees - 6,000 6,000 _ _ _ 10,219,624 6,000 10,225,624 _ _ _ Restricted 99,047 - 99,047 Unrestricted 10,120,577 6,000 10,126,577 _ _ __ 10,219,624 6,000 10,225,624 |
2023 £ 4,406,812 27,792 1,999,610 6,772 39,906 376,491 1,015,460 - 8,135 _ 7,880,978 _ 118,952 7,762,026 __ 7,880,978 |
|---|---|
Recharges from group companies relate to Finance, HR, Payroll and other central support services provided by The Big Life Company Limited.
6 Total resources expended
| Staff | Other | 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | costs | Costs | Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Services and recharges | 54,612 | 5,687,349 | 4,477,663 | 10,219,624 | 7,872,843 |
| Governance costs | - | - | 6,000 | 6,000 | 8,135 |
| __ | __ | __ | __ | __ | |
| 54,612 | 5,687,349 | 4,483,663 | 10,225,624 | 7,880,978 | |
| __ | __ | __ | __ | __ | |
| Summary analysis of expenditure and | related income | ||||
| Income | Expenditure | Net | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Donations and legacies | 1,411,306 | - | 1,411,306 | ||
| Grants | 96,894 | - | 96,894 | ||
| Contract services | 9,047,741 | 10,219,624 | (1,171,883) | ||
| Room hire | 333,844 | - | 333,844 | ||
| Other | 154,436 | - | 154,436 | ||
| Interest | 49,705 | - | 49,705 | ||
| Governance: audit fees | - | 6,000 | (6,000) | ||
| __ | __ | __ | |||
| 11,093,926 __ |
10,225,624 __ |
868,302 __ |
7 Summary analysis of expenditure and related income
20
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
8 Net (expenditure) / income
Net (expenditure) / income for the year is stated after charging:
| Rental under operating leases Auditor’s remuneration Depreciation 9 Remuneration and expenses Staff costs: Salaries Social security costs Pension costs Defined Benefit Pension costs The average full time equivalent number of persons employed (based on a 35 hour week) and analysed by function was: Services and projects |
2024 Total £ 11,083 6,000 54,611 _ 2024 £ 5,030,836 443,239 213,274 - __ 5,687,349 __ Number 163 |
2023 Total £ 6,963 8,135 27,792 _ 2023 £ 3,991,672 341,050 181,090 (107,000) _ 4,406,812 __ Number 144 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| _ |
The average monthly headcount was 193 staff (2023 - 165 staff).
The number of employees whose benefits (excluding employer National Insurance contributions and employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £60,001 | - £70,000 | 1 | - |
| _ | ______ | ||
| TOTAL | 1 | - |
Key management personnel of the charity are the Trustees and senior leadership of the group. Costs are borne by the parent company, The Big Life Company Limited, Big Life Centres, and Self Help Services and are not recharged to Big Issue North Trust Ltd. The total employee benefits paid to key management personnel by The Big Life Company Ltd was £478,646, comprised of salary of £408,830, pension contributions of £19,128 and employer’s national insurance contributions of £50,688 (2023: £517,584 comprised of salary of £441,325 pension contributions of £20,653 and employer’s national insurance contributions of £55,606).
The salary of the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, a Trustee, is paid by The Big Life Company Ltd. Employee benefits of £111,807, comprised of salary of £95,350, pension contributions of £4,250 and employer’s national insurance contributions of £12,207 (2023: £109,862 comprised of salary of £93,400 pension contributions of £4,250 and employer’s national insurance contributions of £12,212) was paid by the Big Life Company Ltd during the year.
21
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
10 Trustees’ remuneration and expenses
During the year remuneration of £8,000 (2023: £8,000) was paid to E. Robinson, a trustee, by The Big Life Company Limited for her role as chair of The Big Life Company Limited. Costs are borne by the parent company, The Big Life Company Limited, and are not recharged to Big Life Centres Ltd.
No other trustee received remuneration from the charity or a related entity during the year (or the prior year) other than disclosed in note 9.
No reimbursement of expenses has been made to trustees during the year (or the prior year).
11 Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1 April 2023 Additions Disposals At 31 March 2024 Depreciation At 1 April 2023 Charge for the year Disposals At 31 March 2024 Net book value At 31 March 2024 At 31 March 2023 |
Leasehold Leasehold Office Fixtures and property improvements Equipment Equipment £ £ £ £ 1,600,000 84,507 57,613 16,059 1,400,000 399,817 - 12,606 - - (57,613) - _ 3,000,000 484,324 - 28,665 _ _ _ _ 586,658 16,888 57,613 16,059 39,999 - 11,673 - - (57,613) 1,030 - _ _ _ _ 626,657 28,561 - 17,089 _ _ _ _ 2,373,343 455,763 - 11,576 _ _ _ __ 1,013,342 67,619 - - |
Vehicles £ 19,095 - - _ 19,095 _ 160 1,909 - _ 2,069 _ 17,026 __ 18,935 |
Total £ 1,777,274 1,812,423 (57,613) 3,532,084 677,378 54,611 (57,613) _ 674,376 _ 2,857,708 __ 1,099,896 |
|---|---|---|---|
22
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
11a Leasehold Property – Donated Asset
1. On 1[st] April 2023, the organisation entered a 105-year lease for the Kath Locke Centre building, with annual lease payments of £4,400. This lease was recognised as a donated asset based on fair value.
2. Initial recognition
The building has been recognised as a tangible fixed asset at a fair value of £1,400,000. This also includes a £1,326,828 donation component and a £73,172 lease liability, representing the present value of future lease payments.
3. Depreciation
The asset is depreciated over the lease term on a straight-line basis, at £1,111.11 per month.
4. Lease liability
Lease payments of £4,400 are made annually, reducing the liability over time.
12 Debtors
| Trade debtors Amounts owed by group entities Prepayments Accrued Income Social security and other taxes Other debtors |
2024 £ 170,630 514,392 32,111 157,903 11,573 16,381 902,990 |
2023 £ 208,205 27,575 19,544 130,759 11,276 - |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 397,359 |
All debtors fall due within one year.
Amounts owed by group undertakings are unsecured and repayable on demand.
13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Amounts owed to group entities Other creditors Accruals Deferred income (note 14) |
2024 £ 117,508 137,443 12,276 311,621 1,063,754 __ 1,642,602 |
2023 £ 55,283 95,577 - 317,516 1,127,996 __ 1,596,372 |
|---|---|---|
All creditors fall due within one year.
Amounts owed to group undertakings are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.
23
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
14 Deferred income
| Deferred income represents grant, services and recharge income received in advance. Balance at 1 April 2023 Amounts received and deferred in the year Amounts released to incoming resources in the year Balance at 31 March 2024 |
£ 1,127,996 620,950 (685,192) 1,063,754 |
|---|---|
Of the £1,063,754 of deferred income, £5,775 is held for Salford Healthy Living Centre room bookings, £118,855 for Achieve underspend, £12,718 for Big Local Plan, £261 for Be Well hardship fund, £4,382 for Kirkholt Ride & Repair, £11,008 for Local Pilot, £1,100 for Whisper Sisters, £6,070 for childhood Obesity Trail Blazer, £850 for MFP, £156,819 for GM IRS, £1,500 for Manchester CC-VCSE LIF-shop and Café , £27,453 for Kath Locke Centre Heritage project, £333,333 for Rochdale Living Well – Covid Recovery, £5,328 for Action Together - Community Cooking Programme, £164,225 for various projects in Rochdale Living well, £128,601 for various projects in the Be Well service, £85,474 for the Mental Health in Prisons service. These are all paid in advance for 2024/25.
| 15 Analysis of net assets between funds Restricted Unrestricted £ £ Net current assets 32,392 232,854 Fixed assets - 2,857,708 _ _ 32,392 3,090,562 |
Total Total 2023 £ £ 265,246 1,154,756 2,857,708 1,099,896 _ _ 3,122,954 2,254,652 |
|---|---|
24
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
16 Movement in funds
| Movement in funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at | Balance at | |||
| 1 April | 31 March | |||
| 2023 | Income | Expenditure | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Restricted funds | ||||
| Chisholm Memorial | 6,250 | - | - | 6,250 |
| Transition Fund | 1,033 | - | (458) | 575 |
| Manchester City Council / Other | 4,644 | - | - | 4,644 |
| Transformation Fund | 5,595 | - | - | 5,595 |
| Big Local Plan | 1,670 | 86,428 | (86,357) | 1,741 |
| Kirkholt Ride & Repair | - | 471 | (471) | - |
| Whisper Sisters | 181 | - | - | 181 |
| Community Doulas | 10,000 | - | (2,501) | 7,499 |
| Violence Reduction Programme | 2,600 | - | (1,200) | 1,400 |
| Social Prescribing – Doulas GM | 1,287 | - | (1,287) | - |
| Toy Sales | 1,000 | - | (695) | 305 |
| International Women’s Day | 285 | - | (285) | - |
| VCSE NIF | - | 3,895 | (3,279) | 616 |
| Mother Hubbard | - | 6,100 | (2,514) | 3,586 |
| __ | __ | ____ | __ | |
| Subtotal | 34,545 | 96,894 | (99,047) | 32,392 |
| __ | __ | ____ | __ | |
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General funds | 2,220,107 | 10,997,032 | (10,126,577) | 3,090,562 |
| __ | __ | ____ | __ | |
| Total funds | 2,254,652 | 11,093,926 | (10,225,624) | 3,122,954 |
| __ | __ | ___ _____ | __ |
At 31 March 2024 Big Life Centres held restricted funds of £32,392 (2023 - £34,545). This comprised £6,250 remaining from the Di Chisholm Memorial which paid for the outdoor gym at the Zion Centre, £575 remaining from the Transition fund which allowed preparations and structuring for the change in funding, £4,644 for several small projects from Manchester City Council and others, £5,595 from the Transformation Fund funded by Rochdale Borough Council and £1,741 from Big Local Plan, £7,499 for Community Doulas, £1,400 for the Violence Reduction Programme, £305 for toy sales, £616 for VCSE NIF and £3,586 for Mother Hubbard.
At 31 March 2024 Big Life Centres held general funds of £3,090,562 (2023 - £2,220,107).
17 Related party transactions
In accordance with FRS 102, the charity discloses related party transactions that were recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities. Remuneration of key management personnel is disclosed in note 9. Trustees’ remuneration and expenses are disclosed in note 10.
The charity is charged for direct salary costs, finance, HR, payroll and other central support services provided by The Big Life Company Limited. Salary costs are recharged based on staff time and other costs are recharged based on estimated income.
25
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
Related party transactions with other group entities during the year were as follows:
| Amounts charged to group entities | Amounts charged to group entities | Amounts charged by group entities | Amounts charged by group entities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| The Big Life Company Limited | 2,034,827 | 3,111,010 | 2,203,562 | 5,858,613 |
| Self Help Services Limited | 120,737 | 121,418 | 4,911 | 18,406 |
| Big Issue North Trust Ltd | - | 1,933 | 10,000 | 19,909 |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | |
| 2,155,564 | 3,234,361 | 2,218,473 | 5,896,928 | |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
The following amounts were owed by/to group entities at the year-end:
| Amount owed by group entities | Amount owed by group entities | Amounts owed to group entities | Amounts owed to group entities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| The Big Life Company Limited | 514,370 | 13,840 | 135,855 | 89,460 |
| Self Help Services Limited | 22 | 13,734 | 1,588 | 3,708 |
| Big Issue North Trust Ltd | - | - | - | 2,409 |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | |
| 514,392 | 27,574 | 137,443 | 95,577 | |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
18 Ultimate parent undertaking and controlling party
The ultimate parent company and controlling party is The Big Life Company Limited, a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales.
The parent undertaking of the smallest and largest group for which consolidated accounts are prepared is The Big Life Company Limited. Consolidated accounts are available from Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ.
The mission of The Big Life Company Limited is to change lives. We fight inequality by working with people and in places to inspire change. Two of the directors of Big Life Centres are also directors of The Big Life Company Limited. Operational and strategic oversight of Big Life Centres is exercised by The Big Life Company Limited.
26
Big Life Centres
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
19 Commitments
Operating lease commitments
At 31 March 2024, the charity had total future minimum commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as set out below:
| Operating leases commitments which are owed: Land and Buildings Not later than one year Later than one year and not later than five years Later than five years Office Equipment Not later than one year Later than one year and not later than five years Later than five years 20 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year Lease |
2024 £ 3,916 13,569 51,536 __ 69,021 _ 3,208 9,679 - __ 12,887 _ 2024 £ 65,105 __ 65,105 |
2023 £ - - - __ - _ 6,932 12,143 745 __ 19,820 _ 2023 £ - __ - |
|---|---|---|
21 Pensions
Big Life Centres operates three pension schemes:
1 Big Life Centres Pension Fund
This is a defined contribution scheme available to all employees.
2 National Health Service Pension Scheme (group)
Past and present employees are covered by the provisions of the two NHS Pension Schemes. Details of the benefits payable and rules of the Schemes can be found on the NHS Pensions website at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions. Both are unfunded defined benefit schemes that cover NHS employers, GP practices and other bodies, allowed under the direction of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in England and Wales. They are not designed to be run in a way that would enable NHS bodies to identify their share of the underlying scheme assets and liabilities. Therefore, each scheme is accounted for as if it were a defined contribution scheme: the cost to the NHS body of participating in each scheme is taken as equal to the contributions payable to that scheme for the accounting period.
27
Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 (continued)
Big Life Centres
In order that the defined benefit obligations recognised in the financial statements do not differ materially from those that would be determined at the reporting date by a formal actuarial valuation, the FReM requires that “the period between formal valuations shall be four years, with approximate assessments in intervening years”. An outline of these follows:
a) Accounting valuation
A valuation of scheme liability is carried out annually by the scheme actuary (currently the Government Actuary’s Department) as at the end of the reporting period. This utilises an actuarial assessment for the previous accounting period in conjunction with updated membership and financial data for the current reporting period and is accepted as providing suitably robust figures for financial reporting purposes. The valuation of the scheme liability as at 31 March 2024, is based on valuation data as 31 March 2023, updated to 31 March 2024 with summary global member and accounting data. In undertaking this actuarial assessment, the methodology prescribed in IAS 19, relevant FReM interpretations, and the discount rate prescribed by HM Treasury have also been used.
The latest assessment of the liabilities of the scheme is contained in the report of the scheme actuary, which forms part of the annual NHS Pension Scheme Accounts. These accounts can be viewed on the NHS Pensions website and are published annually. Copies can also be obtained from The Stationery Office.
b) Full actuarial (funding) valuation
The purpose of this valuation is to assess the level of liability in respect of the benefits due under the schemes (taking into account recent demographic experience), and to recommend contribution rates payable by employees and employers.
The latest actuarial valuation undertaken for the NHS Pension Scheme was completed as at 31 March 2020. The results of this valuation set the employer contribution rate payable from April 2024 to March 2027 to 23.7% of pensionable pay, however employers are responsible for paying 14.38% of contributions, with the remaining 9.4% being funded centrally.
- 3 Local Government Scheme – The Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF)
The defined benefit pension scheme reflects the Charity’s share of the Local Government defined benefit scheme in respect of one employee. The actuarial valuation as at 31 March 2024 reported a surplus of £127k (2023 surplus of £85k). In accordance with FRS 102 paragraph 28, the asset has not been recognised in the financial statements as a defined benefit asset as the criteria in relation to either future reduced contributions or refunds from the plan has not been met as at 31 March 2024.
28