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← Surrey Welfare Rights Unit

2025-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 03335128 (England and Wales REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1062826 ortof he Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 for Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Bames Noble Ltd Unitec House 2 Albert Place London N3 1QB

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Page Reference and Administrative Details Report of the Trustees Independent Examinerfs Report Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet 10 to 11 Notes to the Financial Statements 12 to 19 Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 20 to 21

Surre Welfare Ri ht8 Unit Reference and Administrative Details for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 TRUSTEES Mrs J V Bourgeois-chair Mrs P L Fisher Mrs A C Haigh r R S Hurcombe- Interim Treasurer from 29.04.24 Mr K D O'Neill Mr S J O'sullivan - Treasurer to 29.04.24 (resigned 4.11.24) Mr J-P Oosterom Mrs A M Pirie Mrs S Sankarasubramanian Mrs M J Bussicott (appointed 4.11.24) REGISTERED OFFICE Unit 14a Monument Way East Woking Suirey GU215LY REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER 03335128 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1 C62826 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Bames Noble Ltd UniteG House 2 Albert Place London N3 1QB Page 1

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Re ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Chan'ties: 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 1021 (effective 1 January 2019). OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Objectives and aims Surrey Welfare Right8 Unit exists to provide a welfare rights advice service vlithin the county of Surrey and surrounding area. The service is accessed by voluntary and statutory sector professionals, who in most cases are the first point of contact for clients needing advice. The Unit provides an independent and confidential service. This independent ststus allows memb8r5hip of Citizens Advice (the operating name of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux) and the Unit abides by the Aims and Principles of the Citizens Advice servi￿. This also allows for flexibility to develop and change, and gives the freedom to benefit from joint working projects. Furthermore, independent charitable status gives the Board of Trustees the power to seek altemative sources of funding to protect the level of services going forward. This will ensure that the range of welfare rights seniices can be developed and improved for the future. The core tasks of the service are: To provide an advice line for the use of the professional staff and volunteers frorn our networf(s', To provide training courses on welfare benefits for, amongst others, Local Citizens Advice, statutory and voluntary organisations. To influence the development of social policies and services and to ensure individuals do not suffer through a lack of knowledge or an inabilty to express their needs effectively. To produce information and publicity on welfare rights issues for both professional staff and, when relevant, the people of Surrey., -To promote the take-up of welfare benefits especially among the frail and vulnerable. To provide a Sour￿ of expertise on social care Issues in Surrey. To take on a limited amount of casework as appropriate and provide Tribunal representation in complex cases,. and To be a focal point of welfare rights work across the region through support groups, seminars and informal talks, Social Policy work and networking. Page 2

Surre Welfare Rl hts Unit Re ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Continued During the 2024125 year the continued roll-out of the Univers81 Credit Managed Migration programme dominated our incoming enquiries. The transitional rules put in place to protect existing claimants at the point of moving onto Universal Credit are hugety complex and vulnerable to error and misunderstanding. We supported our partners to deal with Managed hAigration cases by providing training, peer support and taking on complex cases. Apart from Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance were the two benefrts that advisers mostly sought support on. The benefrts system is more complex for people with disabilities or long-term conditions due to the subjective nature of medical assessments. We delivered a number of projects during the year. Funding from the Household Support Fund allowed us to provide additional specialist support and training to the local Citizens Advice network, Our succes8ftJl Parent Carer Moving into Adulthood project ran for a third year. The delivery goals included a wrnprehensive web-based information resour￿ for Carers on young people aged 14-25 who have a disability or a heatth condition. We believe this to be the only resource of this kind.. https.'Ilwww.swru.orglmoving-intO-adulthoodl. We also were successful in securing a DWP-funded contract with Surrey County Council to deliver a new advi￿ Servi￿ for Work Wise. a county-wide project helping people with 8 disability or health condttion find paid employment. Although we held the main contract, we partnered with three local Citizens Advice for us to deliver not only benefits advice, but housing advice and financial capabilty. Our reseaTch and campaigning work continued during this year. We hosted policy teams from Citizens Advice and kept local politicians and officers up to date with our newsletter and briefings on welfare reforms. Surrey County Council continues to provide core financial support for the Unit, recognising the quality and cost effectiveness of work undertaken by the Unit. The Directors are very grateful for this support, and would also like to thank our landlords, Woking Borough Council. Within the County Council, we support the Care Leavers Teams, Financial Assessments and Deputyships team, Children with Disabilitie8, and the Home School Link Workers network. We also support the Housing Team at Reigate and Banstead Council, and the Refugee Support teams at Guildford and Waverfey Councils. A8 we head towards a huge reorganisation of all the local Councils we will strive to protect welfare rights support to vulnerable households across the whole county of Surrey. We continue to hold 100Yo passes in all areas of our Citizens Advi￿ Performance Quality Framework, including financial management and governance, and hold the Advi￿ Quality Standard (AQS) Quality Mark in Casework. We are also registered with the Financial Conduct Authority and the Immigration Advice Authority. Apart from grant funding, we continued to generate vital income streams from training courses, consultancy and subscriptions. 40 local organisations continued to subscribe to the Unit's services, and in particular, for our advice support on individual complex benefit cases. 57 courses were delivered during the year. Public benefit The Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on publlc benefit in deciding the activities undertaken by the Unit during the year. The Trustees are satisfied that the information provided in the report and accounts meets the public benefit reporting requirements. The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Page 3

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Re ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position Incoming resources in the year were £356,586 (2024.. £293,451). A surplus of £50,847 was made in the year (2024: £46,152). At 31 March 2025 total reserves were £295,699 (2024.. £244,783) of which £294,009 represented unrestricted general funds (2024: £243,162). The projected budget at the start of the 2024125 financial year showed a small deficit. The outturn was enhanced by unexpected additional grants from Surrey County Council, increased bank interest and training income, with reduced payroll costs because of sickness absence. Principal funding sources The trustees extend their gratitude to Surrey County Council and those Borough and District Councils who continued to support the core operating capacity of the charity. We should particularly like to thank Woking Borough Council for providing premises at no financial cost to the charty except for charges for utility and other office seNices. The charity did not have any borrowings from elther providers of funding or other sources at the statement of financial position date. We received further funding to continue the Parent Carer project "Moving into Adulthood" and funding for the Work Wise Project . We also received additional specific funding from Surrey County Council as detsiled in the statement of charitable activities. Reserves policy The Trustees have forecast the level of free reserves (that is those funds not tied up in fixed assets, designated and restricted funds) the Charity will require to sustain its operations. The Trustees consider that the most appropriate level of free reserves at 31 March 2025 is a minimum of six rnonths, running costs. VVTrilst the current level of reserves may Prove sufficient, it is the Trustees, view that it is prudent to ensure that there are sufficient free reserves to provide financial flexibility for future years and that identified needs in the County can continue to be adequately resourced. The budgeted expenditure for the forthcoming year is currently adequately covered by the agreed sources of income. As with previous years. efforts WIIS be made to secure additional funding. The current free reserves will be used if necessary to support the work of the Unit should they be needed in the unlikety event of change of cirCumstan￿s. When considering the level of free resenies the Trustees have considered the Charty Commission document "Charity reserves: building resilience (CC19)" and also the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee report "The collapse of Kids Company: lessons for charity trustees, et al" It is recognised that by far the greater part of the Charity's activity and expenditure is of an "essential. rather than of a "discretionary" nature. This requires a greater degree of financial resilien than for many other charities. The Trustees are also aware that no service level agreements or contracts are in place for more than one year and income that might be considered °core is in any case insufficient to provide a basic service to the community and reliance has to be placed on subscriptions, fundraising and Ihe securing of project income that can share the Charity's fixed costs. The Trustees are also mindful of considerable uncertainty regarding future funding from local government pending the outcome of the current reorganisation proposals. The reasons for holding particular reserves are outlined in note 13. Funds in deficit No fund5 were in deficit at the statement of financial position date. Page 4

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Re ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 FUTURE PLANS We currently are waiting to hear what the new Councll structures will look like, so that we can plan how our networks and stakeholders will engage with us into the future. For our clients, we know that there are significant changes coming to Universal Credit, notably for claimants who are unable to work because of poor health or a disability. Future changes to Personal Independence Payment have not been scrapped, bLrt instead are subject to a fundamental review by Stephen Timms MP. Further cuts to the welfare system will be devastating for low income families in our area, who have already had to cope with over a decade of cuts to benefits at a time when food prices and energy costs have skyrocketed. We will be delivering extra support with funding from the final year of Household Support Fund, and will be engaging with the emerging Connect to Work services that are currently being set up locally to support people moving into work. Our experience of delivering the Work Wise contract demonstrates that early advice in any employment support scheme, improves job take up and sustainability of work. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust. and constitLrtes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006, Suffey Welfare Rights Unit is a registered charity and 8 company limited by guarantee. The maximum liabilty of each member is limited to £1. At 31 Marth 2025 the company had 9 members (2024.. 9)- Surrey Welfare Rights Unit is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association as amended in 1999, 2005, 2011, 2019 and 2024. Surrey Welfare Rights Unit was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 18 March 1997. The charity commenced operations on 12 June 1997. Recruitment and appolntment of new trustees The Trustees have suitable policies to ensure the Board has adequate representation. They identify any need to recruit and what competences, backgrounds, personal or professional, are preferred so that the Unit's governance reflects the cornrnunities it setves. The Board takes account of equality and diversity issues and recognises that these rights are critical to the Unit's credibility and enhances the Unit's profile with stakeholders, funders and campaigners. The Board is made up of 6 female trustees and 3 males. Several Trustees are in paid employment, and the Board has representation from non-white, non-British Trustees. The Board is actively implementing an Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion plan which includes recru itment as well as Servi￿ deltvery. Newly appointed Trustees are provKled with a comprehensive induction to SU￿eY Welfare Rights Unit through the provision of training courses and mentoring by established Trustees, as well as provision of a bespoke Trustee Handbook. Page 5

Surre Welfare Ri s Unit Re rt of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Organlsatlonal structure A Trustee Board govems Surrey Welfare Rights Unit. The Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation and the policy of the charity. The Trustees carry the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of Surrey Welfare Rights Unit and for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations. Trustees meet as a minimurn quarterly and delegate the day-to-day operation of the organisation to senior management. The Trustee Board is independent from management. The Board has two supporting cornrnittees, for staffing and for finance, comprising three or four trustees. The committees meet at least quarterly before the main trustee meeting, and consider detailed relevant matters which are then referred to the Board for final decisions. The Trustee Board regularly conducts internal skills audits, and annually reviews its performance. It has updaled its approach to risk management and reviews critical risks at each meeting. The Trustees also meet separately to review the Charfrty's strategy, and before finalising this, seek input frorn the staff. The Board is independent]y as8es8ed by Citizens Advice using a comprehensive perfO￿nanCe Quality Framework that looks at areas of governance such as finance, strategic business planning and partnership working. Internal control The Board oversees the information security of all personal information of our clients, staff, funders and strategic partners that is processed. The Unit holds joint responsibility for client data that is held in the case management system, with the national Citizens Advi￿ service. An infoTmation assurance management team exists to ensure the confidentialily, integrity and availability of all personal and sensitive data is maintained to a level which is compliant with the requirements Df the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Register of interests The Unit holds a register of interests for all Trustees. This is referred to and checked at each Board Meeting. During the year there were no declarations that impaired Dr conflicted with any Board decisions taken. Related parties Surrey Welfare Rights Unit is a member of Citrzens Advice, the operating name of the National AssocSation of Citizens Advice Bureaux, which provides a framework for standards Of advice and casework management as well as monitoring progress against these standards. Operating policies are independently determined by the Trustee Board of Surrey Welfare Rights Unit in order to fulfil its charitable objects and comply with the national membership requirernents. The charity also c&operates and liaises with a number of other advisory seNices, Iccal charities and Council departments on behalf of clients. Where one of the Trustees holds the position of TrusteelDirector of another charity they may be involved in discussions iegarding that other charity but not in the ultimate decision-making pro￿sS. Page 6

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Re ort of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Approved ty order Df the l)oard of trustee5 on 20 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by.. Mrs J V Bourgeois - Trustee Page 7

Inde Surre endent Examinerfs Re Welfare Ri hts Unit ort to the Trustees of Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Surrey Welfare Rights Unlt ('the Company) I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025. Responsibilities and ba51s of report As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Cornpanies Act 2008 {'the 2006 Act,). Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act,). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act. Independent examIne￿S statement Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confimi that l am qualified to undertake the examination because l am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. which is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act,, or the accounts do not accord wlth those Tecords; or the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an Independent examination; or the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 1021). I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Romit Basu FCA The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Barnes Noble Ltd Unitec House 2 Albert Place London N31QB 20 October 2025 Page 8

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Statement of Financial Activities Incor oratin an Income and Ex enditure Account for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 31.3.25 Total funds 31.3.24 Total funds Unrestricted Restricted funds fund Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROIII Donations and legacies 257 257 206 Charitable activities Charitable activities 195,144 149,713 344,857 285,317 Investment incorne 11,471 11,471 7,928 Total 206,872 149,713 356.585 293,451 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Charitable activities 155,220 149,150 304,370 246.206 Other 805 494 1,299 1,093 Total 156,025 149,644 305,669 247,299 NET INCOME 50,847 89 50,916 46.152 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 243,162 1,621 244,783 198,631 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 294,009 1,690 295,699 244.783 The notes form part of these financial statements Page 9

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Balance Sheet 31 March 2025 31.3.25 Total funds 31.3.24 Total funds Unrestricted Restricted funds fund Notes CURRENT ASSErs Debtors Cash at bank 11 21.153 377,126 21,153 378,816 9,790 302,416 1,690 398,279 1,690 399,969 312,206 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 12 (104,270) (104,270) (67,4231 NET CURRENT ASSETS 294,009 1,690 295,699 244,783 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 294,009 1,690 295,699 244,783 NET ASSETS 294,009 1,690 295,699 244,783 FUNDS Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 13 294,009 1,690 243,162 1,621 TOTAL FUNDS 295,699 244,783 The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 hrt8rch 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otheNiise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charÈtable company. The notes form part of these financial statements Page 10 continued...

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Balance Sheet- continued 31 March 2025 These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable cornpanies subject to the small companies regime. The financial ststements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for Issue on 20 October 2025 and were signed on its behalf by: Mrs J V Bourgeois- Trustee The notes form part of these financial statements Page 11

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Notes to the Fin8nci81 Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of preparing the financial statements The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, hsve been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities". Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019),, Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Income All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. Expendlture Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefrts will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Tangible fixed assets Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated usefvl life. Taxation The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. Fund accounting Ljnrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can onty be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. Pension costs and other post-retlrement benefits The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. Page 12 continued...

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Notes to the Financial Statements- continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 INVESTMENT INCOME 31.3.25 31.3.24 Bank Interest Received 11,471 7,928 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Grant Income Surrey County Council Surrey Borough and District Councils Grants- COVID-19 Cit A BEIS Grants other 143,e34 33,622 2,000 177,256 2,000 209,857 10,000 300 22,190 29,091 29.091 143,634 64,713 208,347 242,347 Subscription Income Training Income Rent in Kind Consultancy WO￿ Wise 24,345 23,505 3.300 360 24,345 23,505 3,300 360 85.000 22,640 16,670 3,300 360 85,000 51,510 85,000 136,510 42,970 Total 195,144 149,713 344,857 285,317 Page 13 continued...

Surre Welfare Ri hts Untt Notes to the Financial Statements continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Unrestricted Restricted funds funds Total 2D25 Total 2024 Website costs Trade subscription Books and publications Computer services and maintenance Nominal rent Insurance Training programme costs Printing, postage and stationery Telephone and fax offi￿ and travel expenses Staff development and other staff related costs Trustee development Wages and salary costs Work wise partner payrnents 2,664 1,464 1,374 2,326 2,046 1,420 387 388 1,565 909 1,632 897 879 1,477 1,254 871 237 238 959 559 4,296 2.362 2,253 3,803 3,300 2,291 624 626 2,524 1,468 216 2,290 1,978 3,732 3,300 2,199 624 2,317 2,466 1,652 978 30 139,668 599 12 85,604 53,932 1,577 42 225,272 53,932 752 65 224,615 155,220 149,150 304,370 246,206 SUPPORT COSTS Governance costs Finance Totals other resources expended 120 1,179 1,299 Support costs, included in the above, are as follows.. Gov8mance costs 31.3.25 Other resources expended 31.3.24 Total activities Independent Examiners Fees Accountsncy fees Legal fees 945 200 34 960 13 1,179 973 Page 14 continued...

Surre WeKare Ri hts Unit Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 NET INCOMEI(EXPENDITURE) Net incomel(expenditure) is Stated after chargingl(crediting}'. 31.3.25 31.3.24 Independent Exarniners Fees 945 960 TRUSTEES. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no trustees, remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024. Trustees. expenses There were no trustees, expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024. STAFF COSTS The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: 31.3.25 31.3,24 Employees No employees receNed ernoluments in excess of £6D,OOQ. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted Restricted funds fund Total funds INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 206 206 Charitable activities Charitable activities 179,375 105,942 285,317 Investment income 7,928 7,928 Total 187,509 105,942 293,451 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Charitable actNities 140.615 105.591 248,206 other 635 458 1,093 Total 141,250 106,049 247,299 Page 15 continued...

Surre Welfare Ri hts Uni Notes to the Financial Statements - con for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 inued COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued Unrestricted Restricted funds fund Total funds NET INCOMEI(EXPENDITURE) 46,259 (107) 46,152 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought fO￿ard 196,903 1,728 198,631 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 243,162 1,621 244,783 10. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Computer equipment COST At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 18,543 DEPRECIATION At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 18,543 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2025 At 31 March 2024 11. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 31.3.25 31.3.24 Trade debtors Prepayments 19,443 1,710 9,790 21,153 9,790 Page 16 continued...

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Notes to the Financial Statements- continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 12. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 31.3.25 31.3.24 Trade creditors Social security and other taxes Accruals and deferred incorne Accrued expenses 12,940 6,515 59,245 25,570 1,252 7,599 40,007 18,565 104,270 67,423 13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Net movement in funds Transfers between funds At 31.3.25 At 1.4.24 Unrestrfctod funds General fund Designated 141,433 101,729 50,847 {3,324> 3,324 188,956 105,053 243,162 50,847 294,009 Restricted funds Restricted 1.621 69 1,890 TOTAL FUNDS 244,783 50,916 295,699 Nel movement in funds, included in the above are as foll<)ws: Incoming resources Resour￿8 expended Movement in funds Unrestricted funds General fund 206,872 (156,025) 5D,847 Restricted funds Restricted 149,713 (149,644) 69 TOTAL FUNDS 356,585 (305,669) 50,916 Page 17 continued...

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Notes lo the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued Comparatives for movement in funds Net movement in funds Transfers between funds At 31.3.24 At 1.4.23 UnrastriGted funds General fund Designated 123,260 73,643 46,259 (28,086) 28.086 141,433 101.729 196,903 46.259 243,162 Restricted f unds Restricted 1,728 1107) 1,621 TOTAL FUNDS 198,631 46,152 244,783 Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are a5 follows: Incoming reSoUr￿S Resources expended Movement in funds Unrestricted funds General fund 187.509 {141.250) 46,259 Restrlcted funds Restricted 105,942 (106,049) {107) TOTAL FUNDS 293,451 (247,299) 46,152 Redundancy fund - Redundancy rese￿eS have been designated by the Trustees for the purpose of covering potential redundancy costs in the event of a significant reduction in the income of the Unit that could result in closure. £3,324 has been allocated in the current year, making the total funds £58,053. Information Technology Fund An amount of £7,000 has been designated by the Trustees for the purpose of providing for replacement and upgrade of compuler systems approaching the end of their working life and for the development of a replacement website. Contingency Fund - An amount of £40,000 (2024 - £40,000) has been designated by the Trustees for the purpose of providing for possible relocation expenses and rental, business rates and service costs for one year should it be necessary to move from the existing offices currently provided at below current market rental values. The increase reflects the well-publicised fi'nancial pressures facing the current landlords. Page 18 continued...

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS Defined contribution pansion scheme The charity operates a defined contributlon pension scheme. The scheme is open to all employees at any time. The company contributes 6% of pensionable earning. The pension cost charge for the year represents contribulions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £10,910 (2024 £11,264). 15. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025. Page 19

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Detailed Staternent of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 31.3.25 31.3.24 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donations 257 206 Investment Income Bank I nterest Received 11,471 7,928 Charitable actlvltles Surrey County Council- Other Surrey County Council- Core Surrey Borough & District Coun Surrey County Council - Parent Grants Work Wise Training Income Subscription Incorne Consultancy Rent in Kind Grants BEIS 33,622 143,634 2,000 29,091 40,000 136,405 10,000 33,452 22,190 85,000 23,505 24,345 360 3,300 16,670 22,640 360 3,300 300 344,857 285,317 Total Incomlng resources 356,585 293,451 EXPENDITURE Charitsble actlvitie8 Wages Social security Pensions Insurance Telephone Postage and stationery Staff development and Other staff related costs Trustee Development Training Programme Office and Travel expenses Computer expenses Books & Publications costs Subscriptions Website Costs Carried forward 201,871 12,492 10,910 2,291 2,524 626 2DO,809 12,542 11,264 2,199 2,466 2,317 1,577 42 624 1 ,468 3,803 2,253 2,361 4,296 247,138 752 65 624 1,652 3,732 1,978 2,290 216 242,906 This page does not fonn part of the statutory financial statements Page 20

Surre Welfare Ri hts Unit Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 31.3.25 31.3.24 Charitable activities Brought forward Work wise partner payments Nominal rent 247.138 53,932 3,300 242.906 3,300 304,370 246,206 Support costs Flnance Bank charges 120 120 Governance costs Independent Examiners Fees Accountancy fees Legal fees 945 200 34 960 13 1,179 973 Total resources expended 305,669 247,299 Net income 50,916 46,152 This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements Page 21

Surrey Welfare Rights Unit Impact Report 2024/25

This year

Welcome to our 2024/25 Impact Report. Every year I wonder if I am going to be able to report a calmer, more settled year, but for all of us involved in benefits advice, you will know that this was another year of change, challenges and concern. Social Security continues to be one of the key targets for Treasury policy, despite a political change in the 2024 election. Already this year we have seen a huge campaign to protect PIP from sweeping cuts. The success of that challenge will be short-lived as significant cuts to sickness benefits are looming early in 2026. Managed Migration onto Universal Credit resulted in a rise in enquiries as the DWP extended the programme to ESA claimants. This was not plain sailing, and we are still seeing significant numbers of clients without the correct payments, and confusion around transitional rules that apply with their new benefit. We welcomed new advisers, Fernanda Tuozzo and Anna Kanisius, as well as our first volunteer Finance Officer, Qin Zou. We also said goodbye to Ray Savage, who had been the Unit Administrator for many years. We achieved Green outcomes across all governance areas in our year 3 Citizens Advice membership audit – a real achievement for a small team. I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work during this year, thanks to the paid and volunteer support that keeps the office going, and to the Trustees for their support to me and the charity of course – which I know is much appreciated by all those who use our services.

Maria Zealey Chief Officer

A few words from the Trustee Board

On behalf of our Trustee Board, I am pleased to report that Surrey Welfare Rights Unit has continued to deliver a successful service to all its users, during what continue to be challenging times, under the experienced and expert leadership of our Chief Officer, Maria Zealey and our team of dedicated staff. Between them they share a high level of expertise in welfare rights as well as delivering a much needed training service to all sectors. Our reputation for high quality support continues to grow with subscribers from areas outside Surrey. The Trustee Board extends its thanks to them all.

Our biggest challenge in the coming year, along with the whole voluntary sector in Surrey, is local government reorganisation and how our services will be impacted under the new unitary authorities. We continue to monitor developments and liaise with our primary funder, Surrey County Council and colleagues across Surrey.

Our Parent Carer project, Moving into Adulthood, funded by Surrey County Council sadly ends this year having demonstrated that this is a much needed service for Carers of young people. It has been an example of how the voluntary sector can provide preventative services to help alleviate the pressures on the statutory sector.

My congratulations go to our Trustee Board and Maria Zealey, CO, for successfully contributing to the success of our 3 year quality audit covering areas such as governance and operational delivery.

Thank you to our funders and subscribers for your continued support.

Jane Bourgeois Trustee Board Chair

We helped those most in need

Our case recording system, Casebook, captures housing status along with other profiling data. Compared to the previous year’s statistics we saw a rise in enquiries from households who were owner occupiers, and shared ownership clients. Social housing tenants still endure benefit problems far more than any other household type.

42% of our clients declared they had a disability or long-term illness and only 23% said they did not have an illness or disability. The remaining number preferred not to say. This is clear evidence of the enormous barriers faced by disabled residents and those coping with ill health when navigating the benefit system.

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Other
Homeless
~~ \ —— Own outright
Staying with family 7 Shared
or friends Ownership
Buying home
Private landlord
Social landlord
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10% of our clients self-declared as non-White British, and 21% were non- British.

Over 20 different nationalities were recorded.

We helped those most in need - continued

You can see from the adjacent chart that those unable to work due to disability or illness were the largest “occupation” group contacting us for help. We saw an increase in enquiries concerning Jobseeker’s Allowance, State Pension and Attendance Allowance. Queries relating to overpayments of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support increased by 58%. Predictably, Universal Managed Migration queries increased by 257% and enquiries concerning the EU Settled Status scheme were up by 56%, despite the scheme being in its 5[th] year.

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Primary Occupation
Full-time work Retired
Unemployed
Self-employed At home parent
Unable to work due to health Part-time work Carer Other Student
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For every client that contacted us about Personal Independence Payment , these were the other issues we helped the client navigate

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Complexity
of
enquiries
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Key benefit problems

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600
Issues 2024/25
500
400
300
200
100
0
Personal Universal Credit Employment Universal Credit Universal Credit Universal Credit Housing Benefit Carers' benefits Pension Credit Council Tax Community Care Benefit
Independence - Initial Claim and Support - Rent Support - Income and - Limited Support overpayments
Payment Allowance Capital Capability for
Work
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In total our advice had this much value

Financial Outcomes direct and indirect Headline figures: £3,368,025 £401,631 confirmed client benefit gain

Reducing use of NHS £61,929 Keeping people in work £81,885

Our Fiscal Benefit was £221,394 Fiscal Benefit: Avoiding cost of evictions and temporary housing, avoiding costs of unemployment, and reducing use of NHS services by resolving problems that cause stress and anxiety and depression.

Homelessness prevention savings £75,751

Fiscal benefit of supporting claimants with benefit debts £81,009

Our Public Value was £2,865,123

Public Value: Improvements in health, well-being, participation and productivity.

For every £1 of funding we received our clients gained £11.11 and we created £9.45 of public value

Citizens Advice help us calculate our value using a Treasury approved cost-benefit tool. Four key variables are considered.

In addition to our financial outcomes, we also try to record non-financial outcomes such as blue badges or a social care assessment, as well as “soft” outcomes such as a client reporting improved health, or resolution of a complaint.

The value of e-training is difficult to quantify. However, the more volunteers and staff are supported and have access to training, the more likely it is that they are satisfied at work, and will remain at the organisation. Each adviser that we train and support will, in turn, help hundreds more local residents.

Our research and campaigning work is equally important as helping individuals resolve their benefit problems. The value of this work is demonstrated when we successfully raise an issue with key parliamentarians or decision-makers, and see changes happen that help those struggling to navigate the social security maze.

Work Wise project

We were successful in bidding for a contract for a new advice service to support local employment support organisations delivering Work Wise – a DWP funded project being led by Surrey County Council, aimed at helping people with disabilities or a long-term condition with paid work options. We partnered with three local Citizens Advice to deliver benefits, housing and financial capability advice. The key aims of the service were to:

In just one year we helped:

What they said……..

“Excellent
service. I am
very grateful
for the
assistance that
you gave me,
and the effort
taken to
resolve the
situation”
Casework
Client		 “Service was
outstanding.
We were both
lost and
confused by
the
gobbledegook
in the benefits
application
forms. Can’t
thank you
enough”
Casework
Client		 “I would never
have been able
to get to this
stage of my life
without you! So
HUGE thanks and
gratitude to you,
I hope you realise
what a wonderful
service, support
and assistance
you give to so
many people!”
Casework Client		 “That's so
helpful - very
many thanks.
I do NOT know
what we
would do
without you
all”
Local Citizens
Advice
Supervisor		 “ I work with
asylum
seekers. I
would advise
anyone who is
referring
people
to attend this
training.”
Benefits
Overview
training
delegate

“I wanted to thank you for your prompt reply to my enquiry and your kind assistance in identifying the clients' options and next steps.” Advice Services Manager

I just wanted to say thanks again for another brilliant session on what is an incredibly complex topic. These benefits sessions are so beneficial to helping us help our clients.” National Charity

SWRU courses delivered 30 Local advice workers trained 266 Commissioned courses delivered 27 Local staff and volunteers trained 474

New courses included: Benefits for Refugees DLA for children – effective form filling Limited Capability for Work – the Work Capability Assessment

https://www.swru.org/training/

Working with others for better client outcomes

Local Citizens Advice in Surrey, Hampshire, Merton and Lambeth, Berkshire and Sussex HMCTS Jobcentre Plus Surrey District and Borough councils Citizens Advice –National Office No-One Left Behind Department of Work and Pensions

Surrey Welfare Advice Group SCC Adult Social Care Surrey Childrens Services Cost of Living Partnership Surrey Warm Hubs network SCC Staff Carers network Surrey Heartlands ICB Staff Carers network

Who we are

Staff

Maria Zealey – Chief Officer Brigid Caffyn-Parsons – Welfare Rights Adviser Karen Creeth – Welfare Rights Adviser Carol Gibbs – Senior Welfare Rights Adviser Lou Glencross – Parent and Carer Benefits Adviser

Helen Haws – Welfare Rights Adviser Anna Kanisius – Welfare Rights Officer Ken Lo – Finance and Business Support Officer Fernanda Tuozzo - Welfare Rights Officer Qin Zou – Finance Support Volunteer

We would like to thank Surrey County Council Woking Borough Council

Our subscribers

Trustees

Jane Bourgeois – Chair Melanie Bussicott Louise Fisher Anne Haigh Roger Hurcombe - Treasurer Keith O’Neill – Vice-Chair Jan-Pieter Oosterom Anne Pirie Suja Subramanian

Surrey Welfare Rights Unit aims to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives. We provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

We are a member of the Citizens Advice service.

Surrey Welfare Rights Unit Company Number: 3335128 Charity Number: 1062826 FCA Number: FRN 617760 IAA Registered AQS Standard in Welfare Benefits Casework