2025-03-31-accounts

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres (a company limited by guarantee)

Annual Report

Year Ended

31 March 2025

Company Number 03311884 Charity Number 1062333

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

Contents

Page:

• 1 Legal and administrative information

• 2 Directors' and trustees' report

• 8 Statement of trustees' responsibilities 9 Independent auditor's report

• 13 Statement of financial activities

• 14 Balance sheet

• 15 Notes to the financial statements

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Legal and administrative information for the year ended 31 March 2025

Directors and Trustees
of the charity:	M Fitzgibbon
	FSelvan
	ERobinson
	H Khan (appointed 1stSeptember 2025)
	SIslam (resigned 21 October 2024)
	O Alofoje (appointed 27thMay 2025)
	M Burrows (resigned 1stApril 2025)
	M Naraynsingh
Secretary:	M Fitzgibbon
Principal and	Zion Community Resource Centre
Registered Office:	339 Stretford Road
	Manchester
	England
	M15 4ZY
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:	Menzies LLP
	One Express
	1 George Leigh Street
	Manchester
	M4 5DL

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Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2025

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 2025.

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

H Khan (appointed 1[st] September 2025)

S Islam (resigned 21 October 2024)

O Alofoje (appointed 27[th] May 2025)

M Burrows (resigned 1[st] April 2025)

M Naraynsingh

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.

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Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

Big Life Centres

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 leads a partnership of local Greater Manchester organizations, to deliver the Greater Manchester Integrated Rehabilitative Service (GMIRS), supporting people on probation with their wellbeing and welfare needs.

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. Big Life Centres leads 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

• Worked with 56,226 people offering wellbeing support

• Had 51,124 visitors to the Centres by people accessing services and support

• Had 32,783 attendances at drop in groups including chatter café, walking groups, and self help groups.

• • Provided 118 people with volunteering opportunities.

The Bread and Butter Thing provided reduced price food, packing and distributing over 12,000 bags of food and diverted more than 50 tonnes of food waste from landfill.

Living Well Rochdale supported 617 people to quit smoking and over 1,000 people to set a quit date, while 7,546 Oral Health packs have been distributed across the borough. Additionally, this quarter, 111 people received chatter calls tackling isolation and loneliness. The Champions have providing 4,227 hours of support in Q4, while recruiting and inducting 21 new volunteers, bringing our total to 148 active volunteers

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Big Life Centres

Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

Be Well worked with more people this year, (13,433) and completed 1,818 Community Health Checks completed across Manchester. Halfway through the year Be Well started to deliver support to people to find employment and succeeded in helping 60 people to move into employment.

Achieve has worked with 3580 people this year, which is approximately 43% above target. The Assertive Outreach team has provided Dry Blood Spot testing in support of Hep C elimination in the community, and Hep C Elimination has been declared in Bury and Trafford.

Referrals to GMIRS have increased throughout the year and it has supported 1889 people. Most people are seeking support with wellbeing, finance and how they spend their time. A new ‘at the gate’ service has been piloted and a personal payment programme delivered, which provides individual grants of up to £300 for training, employment or other support.

It was decided to streamline the legal structures and merge the two charities, Self Help Services and Big Life Centres. From the 1[st of] April 2025, Big Life Services will be the renamed charity.

5 Principal risks and uncertainties

The board identified several inherent risks to the business and approved the controls to manage them. The highest risks relate to changes in contracts, inflationary pressures on costs and risks to clients including death and safeguarding. The financial risks were controlled through maintaining close relationships with commissioners to manage impact of inflationary pay awards, and tight budgetary management. A number of new initiatives have been introduced to reduce costs of energy. The client risk management was enhanced in year by the introduction of a new Incident Management System and the implementation of the new NHS PSIRF incident review approach. Client risk is overseen by the Quality Committee, chaired by the Board Medical Director.

The main Strategic Risk identified related to growth and supporting people to engage through increased use of technology. The Risk and Audit Committee have overseen the areas of business development and scrutinized business plans/investment proposals. The Risk and Audit Committee also monitors the Emergent Risk Register. 14 risks have been mitigated throughout the year including the risk of losing contracts, escalating insurance costs, and risks of transferring data when moving to a new system.

In June 2024, following an election, a new government was formed, and it has started to reshape the public sector. The Board recognizes that there are both opportunities and risks for the group in the NHS ten year plan, public sector financial restraints and uncertain economic outlook. The rise of far right extremist groups and election success of political parties that have an ideology of blaming immigration is also a risk to the communities and mission of the Big Life group.

The Board reviews all risks annually and receives reports from Risk and Audit quarterly. The new Business Plan for 2025-30 set new strategic objectives which have been approved by the Board and the associated risks, mitigations and controls identified.

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.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

Big Life Centres

7 Financial Review

In 2025 income increased to £11,740,115 (2024: £11,053,559). The expenditure increased to £11,761,060 (2024: £10,285,257). The net outgoing resources for the year amounted to -£20,945 (2024: £868,302). At the year-end restricted funds total £31,421 (2024: £32,392) and unrestricted funds total £3,070,588 (2024: £3,090,562).

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:

• We will work with more people and places to create opportunities and inspire change

• We will be a good business with our social mission at the heart of all we do

• 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:

• Reduce the risks to service delivery and operations should income levels fall for a period.

• Allow entry into new projects and initiatives that require investment, be paid in arrears or that may not be profitable in the early periods.

• Facilitate investment in capital assets

• 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 2024/25 costs is £973k and the actual level of free reserves at 31 March 2025 was £62k (2024 - £233k). As Big Life Centres merged with Self Help Services on 1st April 2025, the free reserves increased to £1,424k post merge. Some of the rationale for the merge was to improve cash reserves and fixed assets for the merged entity. In the Business Plan for 2025-30, we have set a target of 5% profit on all services so that the reserves target can be met.

At 31 March 2025 Big Life Centres held unrestricted funds of £3,070,588 (2024: £3,090,562).

The directors are of the view that all companies in the Group excluding Self Help Services Ltd 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 2025 (continued)

Our work is done in the Big Life Way namely:

• 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.

• First class : We believe all people deserve a first-class service which develops their resilience, is led by them, and responds to their priorities.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Tread new ground : We are not afraid to tread new ground and innovate to respond to new challenges.

• 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

• (1) To work with more people and places to create opportunities and inspire change:

• To work with more people to support them in all areas of their life.

• To have volunteer opportunities in every service.

• 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.

• To develop place-based plans for every area we work in and develop partnerships and integrated working.

• (2) We will be a ‘good’ business with our social mission at the heart of all that we do:

• 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.

• To increase feedback to continually improve the quality of what we do.

• To invest in our assets and technology and ensure we maximise efficiency and the quality of our data to drive service improvement.

• To reduce our carbon footprint and implement agile working.

• 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:

• To have management structures, IT systems and change processes that facilitate staff and services working together.

• To deliver our workforce strategy, ensuring we have diverse, trained and happy staff, as evidenced by achievement of Best Companies 3-Star accreditation.

• To have trained Multi-Modality Practitioners in every service and ensure all staff will be trained in strengthsbased approaches.

• To develop tools for people to have control of their own stories and data.

• To ensure Service user engagement shapes our services.

• To ensure all our services are informed by research and evaluation, and to measure the impact of our work.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Directors' and trustees’ report for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

Big Life Centres

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:

• 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

• 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 to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

The auditors, Menzies LLP, 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: 10 December 2025

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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:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);

• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed; subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• 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: 10 December 2025

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Big Life Centres

Independent auditor's report

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 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities (combining income and expenditure account), the Balance Sheet and the accounting policies in note 1. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended;

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

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of 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.

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Big Life Centres

Independent auditor's report

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:

• 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

• 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:

• adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

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

• certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

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

• the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities set out on page 8, 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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence.

• 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:

• making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud.

• 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:

• performed analytical procedures on income and salaries to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships.

• tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions.

• assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in note 1 were indicative of potential bias.

• 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.

[LL?] |[Mew] Signed by:

83F726A2B19F 426... Sue Hutchinson FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of

Menzies LLP Statutory Auditor Beever and Struthers One Express 1 George Leigh Street Manchester M4 5DL

Date: 16-Dec-2025

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Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Statement of financial activities (Combining income and expenditure account) for the year ended 31 March 2025

		Restricted	Unrestricted	Total	Total
	Note	funds	funds	2025	2024
		£	£	£	£
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies	2	334	75,414	75,748	84,478
Exceptional item - Donated leased asset	2	-	-	-	1,326,828
Charitable activities	3	118,334	11,511,306	11,629,640	9,592,548
Investments	4	-	34,727	34,727	49,705
		__	__	__	__
		118,668	11,621,447	11,740,115	11,053,559
Total Income
		__	__	__	__
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities	5,6,7	119,639	11,641,421	11,761,060	10,085,257
Exceptional item – cyber costs		-	-	-	100,000
		__	__	__	__
Total expenditure		119,639	11,641,421	11,761,060	10,185,257
		__	__	__	__
Net (expenditure) / income and net
movement in funds		(971)	(19,974)	(20,945)	868,302
		__	__	__	__
Total Funds brought forward at
1 April 2024		32,392	3,090,562	3,122,954	2,254,652
		__	__	__	__
Total Funds carried forward at
31 March 2025		31,421	3,070,588	3,102,009	3,122,954
		__	__	__	__

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All amounts relate to continuing activities.

The notes on pages 15 to 27 form part of these financial statements.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2025

Company number 03311884	Note	2025	2025	2024	2024
		£	£	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	11		3,008,308		2,857,708
Current assets
Debtors	12	2,584,634		902,990
Cash at bank and in hand		459,931		1,078,030
		__		__
		3,044,565		1,981,020
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year	13	(2,877,692)		(1,642,602)
		__		__
Net current assets			166,873		338,418
			__		__
Total assets less current liabilities			3,175,181		3,196,126
Creditors: amounts falling due after	15		(73,172)		(73,172)
one year
			__		__
Total net assets	16,17		3,102,009		3,122,954
					__
			__		__
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds	17		31,421		32,392
Unrestricted funds	17		3,070,588		3,090,562
			__		__
Total funds			3,102,009		3,122,954
			__		__

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 13 to 27 were approved and authorised for issue by the board on 10 December 2025 and are signed on its behalf by:

F Selvan

Trustee, approved and authorised on behalf of the Trustees

Date: 10 December 2025

The notes on pages 15 to 27 form part of these financial statements.

14

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

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.

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.

15

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

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 22 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 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 the life of the lease up to a maximum of 30 years.

• Office and gym equipment is depreciated on a straight-line basis over 4 years.

• Motor vehicles are depreciated on a straight-line basis over 10 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 maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

16

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (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 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.

17

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

2 Donations and Legacies

Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Donations £ £ Gifts and donations 334 75,414 Donated asset - - __ __ 334 75,414	Total Funds 2025 Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds Total Funds 2024 £ £ £ £ 75,748 - 84,478 84,478 - - 1,326,828 1,326,828 ______ __ __ ______ 75,748 - 1,411,306 1,411,306

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	Unrestricted	Total	Restricted	Unrestricted	Unrestricted	Total
		Funds	Funds	Funds	Funds		Funds	Funds
				2025				2024
Grants received		£	£	£	£		£	£
The Big Local Plan		70,110	-	70,110	86,428		-	86,428
Minor Grants		19,602	-	19,602	10,466		-	10,466
Heritage Project		28,622	-	28,622	-		-	-
		_	__	______	__	__		__
		118,334	-	118,334	96,894		-	96,894
		_	__	______	__	__		_
Services and recharges
Contract services		-	10,864,842	10,864,842	-	9,047,741		9,047,741
Room bookings and
external	service
charges		-	352,900	352,900	-	293,477		293,477
Sundry income and
recharges		-	293,564	293,564	-	154,436		154,436
		__	__	__	__	__		__
			11,511,306	11,511,306	-	9,495,654		9,495,654
		-
		_	__	__	__	__		__
Total income from		118,334	11,511,306	11,629,640	96,894	9,495,654		9,592,548
charitable
activities
		__	__	__	__	__		__
4 Investments					Unrestricted		Unrestricted
						Funds		Funds
						2025		2024
						£		£
Bank Interest						34,727		49,705
					__			__

18

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

5 Expenditure on charitable activities

Expenditure on charitable activities
	Services and
	recharges	Governance	2025	2024
	£	£	£	£
Staff costs	6,253,849	-	6,253,849	5,687,349
Depreciation	70,396	-	70,396	54,612
Sub-contractors	2,972,531	-	2,972,531	2,058,926
General	746,445	-	746,445	721,830
Equipment hire	7,673	-	7,673	6,869
Minor equipment	25,946	-	25,946	52,795
Property expenses	446,656	-	446,656	368,974
Recharges - group companies	1,229,900	-	1,229,900	1,127,902
Cyber costs	-	-	-	100,000
Governance costs: audit fees	-	7,664	7,664	6,000
	__	__	__	__
	11,753,396	7,664	11,761,060	10,185,257
	__	__	__	__
Restricted	119,639	-	119,639	99,047
Unrestricted	11,633,757	7,664	11,641,421	10,086,210
	__	__	__	__
	11,753,396	7,664	11,761,060	10,185,257
	__	__	__	__

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	2025	2024
	Depreciation	costs	Costs	Total	Total
	£	£	£	£	£
Services and recharges	70,396	6,253,849	5,429,151	11,753,396	10,179,257
Governance costs	-	-	7,664	7,664	6,000
	__	__	__	__	__
	70,396	6,253,849	5,436,815	11,761,060	10,185,257
	__	__	__	__	__
Summary analysis of expenditure and related income
			Income	Expenditure	Net
			£	£	£
Donations and legacies			75,748	-	75,748
Grants			118,334	-	118,334
Contract services			10,864,842	11,753,396	(888,554)
Room hire			352,900	-	352,900
Other			293,564	-	293,564
Interest			34,727	-	34,727
Governance: audit fees			-	7,664	(7,664)
			__	__	__
			11,740,115	11,761,060	(20,945)
			__	__	__

7 Summary analysis of expenditure and related income

19

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (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		2025 £ 34,556 7,664 70,396 _ 2025 £ 5,508,562 506,478 238,809 - __ 6,253,849 __ Number 170 __	2024 £ 11,083 6,000 54,611 _ 2024 £ 5,030,836 443,239 213,274 - _ 5,687,349 _ Number 163 _
	_

The salary costs are paid by the Big Life Company Limited and recharged to Big Life Centres.

The average monthly headcount was 196 staff (2024 - 193 staff).

The number of employees whose benefits (excluding employer National Insurance contributions and employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:

		2025	2024
£60,001	- £70,000	-	1
£70,001	- £80,000	-	-
£80,001	- £90,000	1	-
		_	______
TOTAL		1	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 £468,919, comprised of salary of £400,227, pension contributions of £19,109 and employer’s national insurance contributions of £49,583 (2024: £478,646 comprised of salary of £408,830 pension contributions of £19,128 and employer’s national insurance contributions of £50,688).

The salary of the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, a Trustee, is paid by The Big Life Company Ltd. Employee benefits of £116,356, comprised of salary of £99,049, pension contributions of £4,894 and employer’s national insurance contributions of £12,414 (2024: £111,807 comprised of salary of £95,350 pension contributions of £4,250 and employer’s national insurance contributions of £12,207) was paid by the Big Life Company Ltd during the year.

20

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

10 Trustees’ remuneration and expenses

During the year remuneration of £8,000 (2024: £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 2024 Additions At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024		Leasehold Leasehold Fixtures and property improvements Equipment £ £ £ 3,000,000 484,324 28,665 - 131,085 89,911 _ 3,000,000 615,409 118,576 _ _ _ 626,657 28,561 17,089 40,000 24,079 4,408 _ _ _ 666,657 52,640 21,497 _ _ _ 2,333,343 562,769 97,079 _ _ __ 2,373,343 455,763 11,576	Vehicles £ 19,095 - _ 19,095 _ 2,069 1,909 _ 3,978 _ 15,117 __ 17,026	Total £ 3,532,084 220,996 3,753,080 674,376 70,396 _ 744,772 _ 3,008,308 __ 2,857,708

21

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (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	2025 £ 668,478 1,688,989 40,198 173,253 12,058 1,658 2,584,634 __		2024 £ 170,630 514,392 32,111 157,903 11,573 16,381
			902,990 _

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)	2025 £ 371,198 1,152,320 30,206 225,037 1,098,931 __ 2,877,692	2024 £ 117,508 137,443 12,276 311,621 1,063,754 __ 1,642,602

All creditors fall due within one year.

Amounts owed to group undertakings are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.

22

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

14 Deferred income

Deferred income represents grant, services and recharge income received in advance.

Balance at 1 April 2024 Amounts received and deferred in the year Amounts released to incoming resources in the year Balance at 31 March 2025 Deferred income balance includes: Manchester City Council Rochdale Borough Council Greater Manchester Mental Health – Achieve Service Various small projects Greater Manchester Combined Authority Mental Health in Prisons	£ 1,063,754 1,178,233 (1,143,056)	£ 1,063,754 1,178,233 (1,143,056)
		1,098,931 1,500 333,641 132,906 46,177 497,519 87,188 1,098,931

15 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year Lease	2025 £ 73,172 __ 73,172	2024 £ 73,172 __ 73,172

16 Analysis of net assets between funds

	Restricted	Unrestricted	Total 2025	Total 2024
	£	£	£	£
Net current assets	31,421	62,280	93,701	265,246
Fixed assets	-	3,008,308	3,008,308	2,857,708
	__	__	__	__
	31,421	3,070,588	3,102,009	3,122,954
	__	__	__	__

23

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

17 Movement in funds

Movement in funds
	Balance at			Balance at
	1 April			31 March
	2024	Income	Expenditure	2025
	£	£	£	£
Restricted funds
Chisholm Memorial	6,250	-	-	6,250
Transition Fund	575	-	-	575
Manchester City Council / Other	4,644	-	-	4,644
Transformation Fund	5,595	-	-	5,595
Big Local Plan	1,741	-	-	1,741
Kirkholt Ride & Repair	-	200	(200)	-
Whisper Sisters	181	-	-	181
Community Doulas	7,499	-	(1,256)	6,243
Violence Reduction Programme	1,400	-	-	1,400
Social Prescribing – Doulas GM	-	1,025	(1,025)	-
Toy Sales	305	-	-	305
VCSE NIF	616	-	-	616
Mother Hubbard	3,586	-	(50)	3,536
Grants - ROIF Wigan	-	8,962	(8,962)	-
Grants - ROIF Tameside	-	7,554	(7,553)	1
Kirkholt Million - Big Local Grant	-	70,110	(70,110)	-
KLC Community Heritage Project	-	28,623	(28,623)	-
Comp therapies	-	334	-	334
Manchester Food Partnership	-	1,860	(1,860)	-
	__	__	__	__
Subtotal	32,392	118,668	(119,639)	31,421
	__	__	__	__
Unrestricted funds
General funds	3,090,562	11,621,447	(11,641,421)	3,070,588
	__	__	____	__
Total funds	3,122,954	11,740,115	(11,761,060)	3,102,009
	__	__	___ _____	__

At 31 March 2025 Big Life Centres held restricted funds of £31,421 (2024 - £32,392). 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, £181 for Whisper Sisters, £6,243 for Community Douglas, £1,400 for the Violence Reduction Programme, £305 for toy sales, £616 for VCSE NIF, £334 for Comp therapies, £3,536 for Mother Hubbard.

At 31 March 2025 Big Life Centres held general funds of £3,070,588 (2024 - £3,090,562).

The reserve level is considered sufficient to satisfy the reserves policy.

24

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

18 Related party transactions

In accordance with FRS 102, the charity discloses related party transactions that were recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities. The salary costs are paid by the Big Life Company Limited and recharged directly to Big Life Centres, as disclosed in note 9. 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.

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
	2025	2024 (restated)	2025	2024
	£	£	£	£
The Big Life Company Limited	4,683,442	2,034,827	2,893,212	2,203,562
Self Help Services Limited	126,100	113,683	7,878	4,911
Big Issue North Trust Ltd	-	-	20,358	10,000
	___	___	___	___
	4,809,542	2,148,510	2,921,448	2,218,473
	___	___	___	___
llowing amounts were owed by/to	group entities at the year-end:
	Amount owed by group entities		Amounts owed to group entities
	2025	2024	2025	2024
	£	£	£	£
The Big Life Company Limited	1,688,959	514,370	1,150,012	135,855
Self Help Services Limited	30	22	641	1,588
Big Issue North	-	-	1,667	-
	___	___	___	___
	1,688,989	514,392	1,152,320	137,443
	___	___	___	___

The following amounts were owed by/to group entities at the year-end:

19 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.

25

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

20 Commitments

Operating lease commitments

At 31 March 2025, 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 21 Capital commitments Authorised by the board, but not contracted	2025 £ 30,970 19,480 41,801 __ 92,251 _ 12,886 36,972 - __ 49,858 _ 2025 £ 1,207,749	_	2024 £ 3,916 13,569 51,536 _ 69,021 _ 3,208 9,679 - _ 12,887 _ 2024 £ -
		_ _
		_

Expenditure either contracted or authorised by the board of £1.2m relates to commitments for Zion Centre/ Kath Locke refurbishment projects over the coming years. BLC expects that these will be funded from a combination of forthcoming grant receipts, future operating surpluses and future additional borrowings from company’s existing loan facility line. Any future borrowings will be negotiated in line with our policies around having sufficient liquidity in advance of it being needed.

22 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

26

Docusign Envelope ID: 273F692A-5767-4EF3-B75F-7912BAA630E3

Big Life Centres

Notes forming part of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

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.

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 2025, is based on valuation data as 31 March 2024, updated to 31 March 2025 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 2025 reported a surplus of £195k (2024: surplus of £127k). 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 2025.

23 Post balance sheet event

It was decided to streamline the legal structures and merge the two charities, Self Help Services and Big Life Centres. From the 1st of April 2025, Big Life Services will be the renamed charity.

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