Youth Talk Limited Trustees’ Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements Year ended 31 March 2025
Charity registration - 1063572 Company number - 03322319
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## Contents
|Reference and administrative details|4|
|---|---|
|Introduction|5|
|A word from our Chair and Chief Executive|5|
|About us|7|
|Structure, governance and management|8|
|Constitution|8|
|Objectives and activities|8|
|Organisation|8|
|Trustees and offcers|8|
|Trustee recruitment, induction and training|8|
|Public beneft|8|
|Risk assessment|8|
|Financial review|9|
|How we raised our money|9|
|How we spent your money|9|
|Staff remuneration|10|
|Reserves policy|10|
|The difference we’ve made|11|
|Our Youth Panel|14|
|The coming year|15|
|Our 2024-2025 accounts|17|
|Statement of Board of Trustees’ responsibilities|17|
|A fnal thank you|18|
|Independent examiner’s report|19|
|Statement of fnancial activities|20|
|Balance sheet|21|
|Statement of cash fows|22|
|Notes to the fnancial statements|23|
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## Reference and administrative details
## Charity number
1063572
## Company number
03322319
## Registered offce
64 London Road St Albans Herts AL1 1NG
## Trustees
Gaynor Cashin Christopher Clulow Teresa Dalley Gareth Evans (Treasurer) Jackie Fowler (Chair) Dr David Hemsi Alison Kiernan Gillian Targett-Adams (appointed 23rd May 2024) Carol Twidell (appointed 23rd January 2025) Margaret Thirlway (Secretary)
## Chief Executive
David Barker
## Independent examiners
Enaid Accountancy Ltd Units 24 & 25 Goodsheds Container Village Hood Road Barry CF62 5QU
## Principal Bankers
The Co-Operative Bank plc PO Box 101 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## Introduction
## A word from our Chair and Chief Executive
If I had not come to Youth Talk, I would have stayed isolated and still be severely struggling without anyone to talk to about it.
**Client of Youth Talk**
When you hear the words of a young person who now feels able to cope better, who can move forward with hope, confidence and greater self-knowledge, or perhaps even feels able to carry on living, you know that what Youth Talk provides for local young people is simply vital. We hear these words regularly through feedback from our young clients – and our counsellors witness young people making this progress every single day.
This is what drives us at Youth Talk. It is what motivates us when we face difficult times, it’s what helps us to overcome challenges and pushes us to find new opportunities to grow our capacity so we can help more young people and find new ways to develop our service.
And this is why we are so proud to have grown our counselling by over 20% this year, delivering 4,834 sessions to 423 young people. As well as one to one counselling, we continue to develop our groups work, with both talking and creative art therapy groups, which young people can join and leave at their own individual pace. It is a place where young people learn from each other, gain confidence, and find strength both from receiving and giving support.
We faced a significant challenge when we learned we would be losing our long standing Hertfordshire County Council funding of £72k (supporting 13–18-year-olds) in March 2025, followed by £63k (supporting 18–25-year-olds) in June 2026. The council has opted to work with a single mental health provider for the whole of Hertfordshire, and due to our size, income, and localised focus, Youth Talk no longer meets the eligibility criteria.
We are deeply concerned that this decision risks leaving many young people—particularly those who need local to home, face-to-face support—to fall through the cracks. We fear that young people will be pushed towards services that may not meet their needs, leaving some of the most vulnerable without meaningful, local, sustained support when they need it most.
Losing this funding was a blow - it is a large amount to lose - but as one door closes, others open, and we are determined to find new ways to build funding and partnerships to support our young people.
We were delighted to launch a new pilot with the HALO Primary Care Trust (PCT) - a brand new service where GPs in three local surgeries can book struggling young patients directly into a first meeting with a Youth Talk counsellor at the Harvey House surgery. This service provides fast, convenient access to a first step towards help many would otherwise be unaware is available to them. As we review learnings, we hope to develop this offer further across our area.
Our fundraising team are also determined to bring in more funds – and not just to make up the statutory funds we are losing but to grow. As our fundraising team develops, we are building corporate partnerships, community fundraising and relationships with individuals. It’s an ambitious plan but we must succeed. A huge thank you to all our supporters – it is your support that delivers these vital counselling sessions and changes a young life. If you know someone who could help, please let us know.
We particularly aim to develop more regular giving from new and existing individual donors – this reliable income is even more vital now our local authority funding has been cut. If you are able to consider a regular gift to support our local young people this would be fantastic and we’d love to hear from you.
In September 2024 we launched a new flagship fundraising event – The Great St Albans Challenge. As teams raced around St Albans enjoying a GPS treasure hunt, the fun, excitement and creativity were palpable and Youth Talk were everywhere – from the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Annie Brewster being snapped at the Clock Tower to the event finale in St Albans Cathedral. From visibility and engagement, to funds raised and new awareness and support, we were thrilled with this inaugural event and plan to grow it from here.
From this event came our partnership with local young Olympian Phoebe Gill – who spoke movingly of why young people’s mental health matters so much. She became our first Youth Talk Ambassador and we have since added a Schools
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Ambassador. More will come – this is another new way to boost awareness, build relationships and grow more support.
As always, we owe huge thanks to so many people. To our team, who deliver with purpose and passion; to each and every supporter (individual, community, corporate and grant-making trusts) who make the choice to support Youth Talk in whatever way; to our Trustees who give their time, skills, energy and dedicated oversight; and to all our other volunteers. Thank you to the Mayor of Harpenden, Cllr Pip Liver for choosing Youth Talk as one of her charities. And a particular thank you to our Youth Panel – your voices, ideas and opinions help shape what we do.
As we move into our 2025/26 financial year, we know that the challenges are great – especially the financial ones. But if we can continue to harness the power of our community - who believe that helping our local young people as they struggle in today’s very demanding world really matters - then we know Youth Talk will succeed, grow and help more young people to overcome the difficulties they face.
Once again, thank you.
## Jackie Fowler
**JACKIE FOWLER CHAIR**
**DAVID BARKER CHIEF EXECUTIVE**
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**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## About us
## Our vision
Every young person can talk to someone who can help with whatever’s worrying them.
## Our mission
To provide the best possible mental health support to young people in St Albans and surrounding areas.
## Our values
We are open and accepting
We listen without judgement and respond in confidence.
We always give our best
From clinical care to fundraising, we are passionate, professional and committed.
We are stronger together
We work collaboratively to make a lasting difference.
## Our message to young people
When you need help, you can contact Youth Talk directly for free, confidential counselling support. We’re here to listen, understand and support you.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## Structure, governance and management
## Constitution
The Company was incorporated on 21st February 1997. The governing document is the Articles of Association adopted from 12th December 2024 by Special Resolution of the same date. These replaced the original Memorandum and Articles of Association adopted on 21st February 1997, as amended.
## Objectives and activities
The charity’s primary objective is to improve young people’s mental health. This is delivered by one-to-one and group counselling, outreach and information services for young people.
## Organisation
The Company is under the control of the Trustees who usually meet 6 times a year. The Chief Executive reports to the Chair of Trustees, and is responsible for all members of the clinical team and administrative/fundraising staff.
## Trustees and officers
The names of the Trustees and Officers who have served during the year are shown on page 4 of this report.
## Trustee recruitment, induction and training
Trustees are appointed from people who have the necessary skills and experience to fulfil specific areas of need within the charity. In addition, we look for individuals who have experience of or an interest in dealing with young people and their welfare. New Trustees are provided with documentation to enable them to appreciate our objectives, organisation, method of operation and their responsibilities under the law. In addition, existing Trustees assist them in becoming fully conversant with their role.
## Public benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission General Guidance on Public Benefit, when reviewing their aims and objectives and in planning future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.
## Risk assessment
The major risks to the charity have been identified and documented for assessment. The Trustees and management have an ongoing process to review these risks via the charity’s risk register. Currently the Board works with a general organisational risk register and an additional safeguarding risk register.
There are policies for Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Lone Working, Data Protection, Equality and Diversity, Grievance/ Harassment, Whistleblowing and Use of Aritficial Intelligence. All policies are reviewed regularly and updated as appropriate. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are undertaken annually on each member of staff and our counsellors.
Clinical procedures are under the regular scrutiny of our regular Clinical Management meeting which includes our consultant Clinical Supervisors. All cases considered to be high risk are regularly reviewed and also discussed in counsellors’ supervision sessions.
The Trustees and management regularly review operational processes to ensure ongoing delivery of activities. Investment in these processes is made as appropriate.
If I had not come to Youth Talk it’s likely I would have kept going through aggressive mood swings and found no purpose in day to day life.
**Youth Talk Client**
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**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## Financial review
It is humbling to see the work that Youth Talk do, and it means a huge amount to see the direct impact we can have in supporting them to help young people in the area.
**Ben Walker – Men of Fields Fundraisers**
## How we raised our money
This year Youth Talk raised a total income of £577,039, a 23% increase on the previous year and slightly above our budget of £559,520. Despite a challenging funding landscape, our team worked hard to maintain financial strength while continuing to grow our impact.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supported Youth Talk this year – from individuals, local businesses, community organisations to charitable trusts and statutory funders. This year we achieved the following together:
**•** Community & Events £152,255 **•** Corporate fundraising £74,367 **•** Individual Giving £68,909 **•** Statutory Grants £134,721 **•** Trusts & Foundations £146,787
Over the year we were incredibly grateful to receive grants from the following organisations:
Amazon; All Aboard Shops Ltd; Batchworth Trust; Beds and Luton Community Foundation; Charlie’s Gift; Cherry Family Foundation; Childwick Trust; Co-op Community Investment Foundation; Dr Alan Stranders; Etauliers Charitable Foundation; Graham Rowlandson Foundation; Harpenden Building Society; Hertfordshire Community Foundation; Howden Foundation; M&G in the Community Fund; NFU Mutual; Souter Charitable Trust; St Albans City and District Council; Tanner Pharma (Rebourn); Tesco Community Grants; The Amateurs Trust;The Astor Foundation; The Harpenden Trust; The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust; The Wendy Thomas Youth Development Fund; Utility Warehouse Foundation.
In addition, we are greatly indebted for the support shown by a number of County Councillors who supported us and a large number of individuals, companies, local organisations, sports clubs and religious organisations across the District, all of whom have helped us to continue to be there for our local young people. This crucial funding has supported both the provision of our counselling services and our general operating costs.
## How we spent your money
Our total expenditure was £554,800 against a budget of £601,064, reflecting careful management of costs and some temporary staff vacancies. Expenditure included:
|**•**Direct costs of counselling|£310,935 (including £3,838 on ftting out the new premises)|
|---|---|
|**•**Direct costs of fundraising|£147,354|
|**•**Indirect costs|£96,511 (this includes rent, and management & administration costs)|
As part of our five-year strategy for growth, the Board of Trustees agreed to investment in the development of our fundraising team. These additional costs are monitored regularly against the overall performance of our fundraising, and the fruit of this is already showing with the 23% increase in income in year noted above.
Whilst at first glance it may appear that we have spent less this year on direct costs of counselling, the prior year included £87,233 on fitting out the new premises, compared to only £3,838 in the current year. Once this is taken account of, direct costs of counselling have increased 12% from £273,556 to £307,097.
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**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## Staff remuneration
Youth Talk is committed to ensuring a proper balance between (i) paying the people who work for us fairly so that we attract and retain people with the right experience, skills and qualities and (ii) careful management of our charity’s funds. In so doing we ensure the greatest effectiveness in delivering our charitable objectives and meeting the needs of the local young people who need our help.
Our work is dependent on voluntary donations and we act in an open and transparent way that respects the money, time and energy given by donors and volunteers. In our commitment to openness, we disclose information about senior staff salaries within our annual report. This is in line with recommendations and guidelines from the Charity Commission and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
## Reserves policy
The charity’s policy is to have sufficient resources to fund at least six months’ operations on hand at any given time. This is important so that in the event of the charity needing to cease activities we are able to operate for a period of six months in order to allow us to properly complete clinical programmes of counselling with existing clients. This is currently estimated to be around £200,000 and is based on six months of the current year direct costs of counselling (excluding the spend on the new premises) and indirect costs (totalling £403,608).
Free reserves comprise the total reserves available to the charity, less those reserves which are restricted or designated for specific purposes.
At the year-end our total reserves stood at £246,655 (2024: £224,416), with £nil (2024: £19,378) being restricted as to use and the remaining £246,655 (2024: £205,038) as general reserves. This is slightly above our current policy target but not deemed to be excessive by the Board of Trustees.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## The difference we’ve made
Last year in our annual report we set out some of the main priorities for the coming year.
So how have we done?
**----- Start of picture text -----**
What we said we’d do How did we do?
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**What we said we’d do**|**How did we do?**|
|---|---|
|||
|**Growing capacity and helping more**
**young people**
Specifcally:
**•**Grow our counselling sessions
and number of young people
helped
**•**Recruit additional counsellors
**•**Expand our advanced trainee
placement programme
**•**Recruit a new Clinical Lead
position
**•**Expand our Saturday Service|We’ve had a busy and rewarding year – supporting more young people than
ever before.
**•**We delivered 4,834 counselling sessions to 423 young people, a
20% increase on the previous year. This includes both 1:1 and group
counselling. We are pleased to report that this is in line with our fve year
strategy aspiration.
**•**We recruited two new counsellors to grow clinical capacity as well as
offset turnover.
**•**Our partnership with the Counselling Foundation continues to thrive,
with two advanced trainees now supporting our work.
**•**We re-evaluated the Clinical Lead role and instead appointed two
additional freelance Clinical Supervisors (making a total of three) to
enhance management, safeguarding and support for our counsellors.
**•**Our Saturday service has doubled in size, with two counsellors now
offering sessions all day – providing crucial fexibility for those with
school, work, or caring commitments.
**•**We also launched a new Primary Care Network (PCN) pilot project in
collaboration with the HALO PCN. Consultations are now being trialled
at Harvey House GP surgery and initial feedback has been positive. In
the coming year we will be exploring expansion to other practices.
If I had not come to Youth Talk, I wouldn’t have been able to push forward
in most aspects of my life and would have been left stagnant.
**Youth Talk client**
**•**100% of clients said they felt respected and comfortable with their
counsellor.
**•**Many described the service as life-changing, offering “a safe space to
explore what I was feeling and why.”|
|**Build further on our group therapy**
**counselling provision**
Specifcally:
**•**Further develop the creative
group in St Albans
**•**Identify ways to promote the
group counselling service
**•**Investigate the feasibility of a
new Harpenden group
**•**Investigate and pilot a new
university transition group|**•**Our weekly creative art therapy group in St Albans continued to run
with consistently high engagement. Many clients found this non-verbal
space transformative.
**•**We collaborated with the Youth Panel to develop new promotional
materials to help more young people understand the benefts of group
counselling.
**•**We delivered a pilot transition group for young people preparing for
university and are now reviewing how best to offer future support in this
area.
**•**Our talking group in Harpenden (for older clients) completed a 17-
week run. While this group came to a natural close, we are evaluating
the model as recruitment proved more challenging.
**•**Plans are in development to launch a creative group in Harpenden in
2025/26, in partnership with the Harpenden Trust.|
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Youth Talk Limited**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Annual report and financial statements
**----- Start of picture text -----**
What we said we’d do How did we do?
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**What we said we’d do**|**How did we do?**|
|---|---|
|||
|**Sustaining and grow our Income**
**•**Raise £160k from Trusts
**•**Strengthen community
fundraising
**•**Build Harpenden presence
further
**•**Build on brand awareness &
social media
**•**Expand corporate
partnerships
**•**Identify ways to grow our
awareness and individual giving
programme
**•**Prepare for the Big Give
Christmas Appeal
**•**Build on supporter
Communications and
redevelopment of our website.|Across the year it became apparent that our long-standing contract with
Hertfordshire County Council to provide counselling to local young people was
under threat. As a result of the Council’s desire to work with a single county-
wide provider it has meant the loss of £72k in the coming year and a further
£63k in 2026.
We are signifcantly concerned about the negative impact this move will have
on the provision of close to home, face-to-face and group counselling for young
people in St Albans, Harpenden and surrounding areas.
Despite the worrying loss of statutory funding from Hertfordshire County
Council we’ve seen huge effort and momentum across our income streams.
Some of our fundraising successes include:
**•**We raised £146,595 from Trusts – slightly under our £160k target, but
strong in a competitive climate.
**•**Community and events fundraising was strong, with highlights
including:
**•**The Men of Fields challenge (raising £40k+).
**•**Marathon runners, golf days and walkers.
**•**The Old Albanians Cricket Club World Lashings event.
**•**A range of challenge events - including our very own
fundraising manager Jim Lewis riding from Carcassonne to
Barcelona.
**•**The spectacular launch of the inaugural Great St Albans
Challenge event.
**•**Our Corporate fundraising grew signifcantly, supported by a new
programme of Business Breakfasts and securing some long-term
partnerships.
**•**While overall individual giving slightly declined, regular giving
increased by 9% and Gift Aid processing is now automated via Donorfy.
**•**We launched a successful Christmas appeal via the Big Give and were
proud to be one of the charities featured in the new St Albans Monopoly
edition.
**•**We set up a Marketing Strategy Group to begin to build an
organisational Marketing Plan for the charity.
**•**We paused our website development in order for it to align with the
current work that is underway on the development of an organisational
marketing strategy.
Our awareness within our local community continues to grow and we have
seen an increase in followers and engagement across our social media
platforms. None of this would of course be possible without the tremendous
hard work, creativity and determination of our fundraising team and our army
of fundraisers, donors, volunteers and supporters – thank you!|
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**----- Start of picture text -----**
What we said we’d do How did we do?
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**What we said we’d do**|**How did we do?**|
|---|---|
|||
|**Extending our reach – redressing the**
**balance**
**•**Focus on boys and young men
**•**Partner with Youth Panel
**•**Develop support during
university transitions|**•**Over the year 24% of referrals were boys and young men. We want
to better understand this area as we feel this current gender imbalance
shows there’s still more to do to achieve a more representative picture.
**•**At our annual team event, our full team refected on barriers boys and
young men may face in accessing support and how we might address
them.
**•**We engaged with our Youth Panel to begin to understand what some
of the challenges might be from a young person’s perspective (see next
section).
**•**A small research task group was formed to explore this issue further
and we are in early-stage discussions with an academic research partner.
**•**Over the summer period we delivered a pilot support group for some
young people who were experiencing anxiety about starting university
in the autumn. We are evaluating this work in order to identify how we
might best support university starters going forwards.|
|**Continued modernisation and**
**building of a robust infrastructure to**
**facilitate growth**
**•**Redevelop website
**•**Improve IT systems and
security
**•**Develop KPI dashboard
**•**Enhance clinical reporting
**•**Further develop CRM sytem
**•**Strengthen our volunteer
offer|**•**We welcomed Carol Twidell as a new Trustee, bringing signifcant
marketing and business expertise. Carol is now leading a Marketing
Strategy Task and Finish Group to guide our organisational marketing
strategy, messaging and future growth.
**•**We paused the website redevelopment so it can align with this wider
strategic work.
**•**We moved to a new IT provider, helping us review systems, improve
security, and streamline support.
**•**We developed a new safeguarding risk register (reviewed at each
Board meeting) and made improvements to our general clinical reporting.
**•**We have further developed our clinical insight, data gathering and
reporting. A KPI dashboard is in development and will support data-led
decision making across our operations and fundraising.
**•**Our CRM audit led to improvements in segmentation and automation
including integrations with Mailchimp and Eventbrite.
**•**An audit of our volunteering strategy has been conducted, and we are
currently implementing some new ways of working including updating
of our Volunteer training and handbook.|
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## Our Youth Panel
Our Youth Panel continues to be a vital part of Youth Talk’s identity and development. Made up of young people aged 13–25 from across our community, the Panel plays an active role in shaping the direction of our work and ensuring that young people’s voices remain at the heart of all we do.
Over the last year, the Youth Panel:
- Blogged for mental health awareness week about “movement”
- Created an application form for the Youth Panel
- Spoke at a variety of public events
- Provided feedback on website refresh
- Provided feedback on the new 3D virtual tour of our Counselling Centre, such as what links and notes should be
- added
- Helped in the production of videos for the Big Give
- Made videos to say thank you to supporters
- Provided voice overs for young people’s quotes and narration for new group counselling video
- Presented at the Youth Talk team annual meeting
- Volunteered for events (including future events)
We are especially proud of how the Panel has helped us to develop these strands of work and initiatives. Their energy, insight and honesty continues to inspire us.
Youth Talk is a great place to find someone who will listen to you. With a kind team and a welcoming atmosphere, it is a great place to start.
**Youth Talk client**
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## The coming year
Building on the momentum of the past year, our focus for 2025/26 is clear: to grow our service, increase access and further strengthen our foundations. Every priority outlined below supports our five-year strategy for expansion – with the exception of one exciting new area: investigating how we might support families and parents in the future.
## Growing Our Service
We aim to deliver 5,613 counselling sessions (a 16% increase) this year – our highest ever target. To achieve this, we will:
- Recruit two new counsellors and ensure we have the necessary capacity to deliver on our annual targets
- Expand our popular Saturday Service
- Explore the feasibility of offering 1:1 face-to-face counselling in Harpenden
- Continue to develop and expand our group counselling provision in St Albans and Harpenden
- Fully evaluate our Primary Care Network pilot and assess opportunities for future growth
## - Reaching Under represented Groups
We know that some young people are still not accessing the support they need. This year, we will launch a targeted research programme working with the University of Greenwich to better understand who we’re not reaching – with a particular focus on boys and young men. The findings will inform a new programme of work to address the gender imbalance in referrals.
## Supporting Parents
For the first time, we’ll begin exploring how we might in the future best support parents who have children who are struggling with their mental health. A new task and finish group, chaired by one of our clinical Trustees, has been established to scope a possible future strategy.
## Developing Our Advanced Trainee Programme
Our partnership with The Counselling Foundation has proven successful. This year we’ll look to further expand our advanced trainee counsellor placements (from 1 to 3) and also identify other possible partners to potentially work with in order to ensure we can grow this important area of work in the future.
## Creating a Marketing Strategy
A new Marketing Strategy Task Group, chaired by Trustee Carol Twidell, will begin shaping an organisation-wide marketing strategy to strengthen our brand, voice and supporter communications. This will inform our new website and wider awareness work.
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**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements Growing Our Income & Infrastructure
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
None of our ambitions are possible without robust, sustainable funding. With the confirmed loss of £134,000 in statutory funding over the next two years, our focus this year will be to:
- Launch a new regular giving programme
- Strengthen our individual giving strategy
- Deepen supporter stewardship and storytelling
- Build on the foundations of Donorfy – automating, analysing and communicating better
- Develop our key performance indicators and operational planning
We approach this year with energy, clarity and determination. With the support of our team, Trustees, funders and community – and the voice of young people guiding us – we are ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
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**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## Our 2024-2025 accounts
## Statement of Board of Trustees’ responsibilities
The Trustees, who are also directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companies Act, are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law they are required to prepare the financial statements in accordance with UK Accounting Standards and applicable law (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the excess of income over expenditure for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- make judgements and 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; and,
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the
- charitable company will continue its activities.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the charitable company and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. In addition, the Trustees confirm that they are happy that the content of the annual review on pages 4 to 18 of this document meets the requirements of both the Trustees’ Annual Report under charity law and the Directors’ Report under company law.
They also confirm that the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the accounts and comply with the Charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011, 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) second edition (effective 1 January 2019)’, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
## The Trustees confirm that:
**•** so far as each Trustee is aware, there is no relevant information of which the Charity’s independent examiner is unaware; and,
**•** each Trustee has taken all the steps that they should have taken as a Trustee/Director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant independent examination information and to establish that the Charity’s independent examiner is aware of that information.
## Preparation of the report
This report has been prepared taking advantage of the small companies exemption of section 415A of the Companies Act 2006, and the exemptions available for smaller charities under the Statement of Recommended Practice.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
17
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## A final thank you
As another year ends, we continue to be indebted, humbled and truly thankful for the tremendous support, encouragement, kindness and determination of so many amazing people, businesses and organisations.
We are brought together by a common goal – to help and support the growing number of young people who are struggling and need a safe and confidential space to talk and share their worries.
Our mission to provide the best possible mental health support to young people in St Albans and surrounding areas has never been more important. And with the support, talent, experience and determination that so many people bring to Youth Talk, we will ensure we continue to be there.
Words cannot express our most heartfelt thanks to our local community, businesses, staff, counsellors, Trustees and the army of supporters, volunteers, donors and funders who work tirelessly to ensure that we continue to change and save lives.
Thank you from all the team at Youth Talk for all you have done and continue to do for us. You should all be rightly proud of what we have achieved together.
This report was approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 3 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
## Jackie Fowler
## **JACKIE FOWLER**
## **CHAIR OF TRUSTEES**
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
18
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## Independent examiner’s report
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Youth Talk Limited (charity number 1063572, company number 03322319) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which are set out on pages 20 to 33.
## Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’). The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’) nor under Part 16 of the 2006 Act, and that an independent examination is needed. 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, it is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)
- (b) of the Charities Act; and,
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
This report, including my statement, has been prepared for and only for the Charity’s Trustees as a body. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity’s Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity’s Trustees as a body for my examination work, for this report, or for the statements I have made.
## Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## Independent examiner’s statement
Since the Company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, which is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 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 with those records; 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 102).
I have no concerns 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.
## **ANDREW PHILIP NASH FCA**
## **MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES – 2461833 DATED: 17 SEPTEMBER 2025**
Enaid Accoutancy Ltd
Units 24 & 25, Goodsheds Container Village Hood Road. Barry , CF62 5QU
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
19
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## Statement of financial activities
Incorporating the Income and Expenditure Account & Statement of Realised Gains and Losses
For the year ended 31 March 2025
|**Notes**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
5 & 6
Charitable activities
5 & 7
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
12 & 13
Total funds carried forward
12 & 13|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
Total
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
Funds
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
Year ended
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
31-Mar-24
**£**
**£**
**£**
£
354,341
57,880
**412,221**
327,492
134,721
-
**134,721**
133,924
30,097
-
**30,097**
9,429|
|---|---|
||**519,159**
**57,880**
**577,039**
470,845|
||178,385
-
**178,385**
137,449
299,157
77,258
**376,415**
431,753|
||**477,542**
**77,258**
**554,800**
569,202|
|||
||**41,617**
**(19,378)**
**22,239**
(98,357)
205,038
19,378
**224,416**
322,773|
||**246,655**
**-**
**246,655**
224,416|
The notes on pages 23 to 33 form part of the financial statements.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
20
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## Balance sheet
## As at 31 March 2025
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
9
**Current assets**
Debtors and prepayments
10
Cash at bank
**Total current assets**
**Creditors:**
Amounts falling due within one
year
11
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the charity:**
Restricted funds
12 & 13
Unrestricted funds
General funds
12 & 13
Total unrestricted funds
**Total funds**|**£**
44,726
237,155|**Total**
**Funds**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**961**
**245,694**|£
23,489
237,262|Total
Funds
31-Mar-24
£
1,624
222,792|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**281,881**
(36,187)||260,751
(37,959)||
||246,655||
205,038||
|||**246,655**||224,416|
|||**-**
**246,655**||19,378
205,038|
||||
||
|||**246,655**||224,416|
The notes on pages 23 to 33 form part of the financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with section 415A of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies and FRS 102 Section 1A.
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025, and the members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 under section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
They were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees on 3 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
## Jackie Fowler
## **JACKIE FOWLER**
## **CHAIR OF TRUSTEES**
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
21
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## Statement of cash flows
## For the year ended 31 March 2025
|**Cash fows from operating activities**
Net income/(expenditure) for period (as per SOFA)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation
(Increase)/decrease in accounts receivable
(Increase)/decrease in prepayments
(Increase)/decrease in rent deposit
Increase/(decrease) in accruals
Increase/(decrease) in rent free beneft
Increase/(decrease) in HMRC payable
Increase/(decrease) in deferred revenue
Increase/(decrease) in pensions payable
**Net cash used in operating activities**
**Cash fows from investing activities**
Purchase of computer equipment
**Net cash used in investing activities**
**Net cash used in fnancing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period**|**£**
663
(9,749)
(11,488)
-
700
(9,140)
4,486
-
2,182|**Total**
**Funds**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**22,239**
**(22,346)**|£
1,394
653
4,291
-
228
20,599
1,891
(9,856)
(929)|Total
Funds
31-Mar-24
£
(98,357)
18,271|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**-**||(1,679)||
|||**(107)**
**-**
**-**||(80,086)
(1,679)
-|
||||
||
|||**(107)**
**237,262**||(81,765)
319,027|
|||**237,155**||237,262|
The notes on pages 23 to 33 form part of the financial statements.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
22
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## Notes to the financial statements
## 1. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation of the financial statements
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with ‘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) second edition (effective 1 January 2019)’, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), including Update Bulletin 1, and the Companies Act 2006.
The effect of any event relating to the year ended 31 March 2025, which occurred before the date of approval of the financial statements by the Board of Trustees has been included in the financial statements to the extent required to show a true and fair view of the state of affairs at 31 March 2025 and the results for the year ended on that date.
The functional currency of the Charity is GBP and amounts in the financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.
## Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis as the Board of Trustees is confident that future reserves and future income is more than sufficient to meet current commitments. There are no material uncertainties that impact this assessment, and the ongoing economic environment has had no material impact on this assessment.
## Legal status
Youth Talk Ltd is a charitable company registered in England & Wales and meets the definition of a public benefit entity. In the event of the Charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member. The registered address is 64 London Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1NG.
## Fund Accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise of unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in note 12 of the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds that are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or that have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in note 12 of the financial statements.
## Income
Income is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance indicators attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.
Donations are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when entitled, receipt is probable and when the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Gift aid receivable is included when claimable. Client contributions are classed as donations as they are entirely voluntary and do not impact access to service.
Grant income is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when received or receivable whichever is earlier, unless the grant relates to a future period, in which case it is deferred.
Income from charitable activities and other trading activities is credited to the Statement of Financial Activities when received or receivable whichever is earlier, unless it relates to a specific future period or event, in which case it is deferred, except for tickets sales and bar revenue which are recognised on a cash basis.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
23
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## 1. Accounting policies (continued from previous page)
Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities.
Indirect costs, including governance costs, which cannot be directly attributed to activities, are allocated between activities proportionate to the direct costs incurred in those activities.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of expenditure for which it was incurred.
Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
All assets costing more than £500 are capitalised.
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their residual value, over their useful life, on a straight-line basis. The useful life used is:
|Computer equipment|3 years|
|---|---|
|Offce equipment|5 years|
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash in hand, deposits with banks and funds that are readily convertible into cash at, or close to, their carrying values, but are not held for investment purposes.
## Debtors and prepayments
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount is applied. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## Creditors and accruals
Creditors 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.
## Pensions
The Charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is administered by an external independent pension provider. Contributions are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities as they fall due.
## Financial instruments
Basic financial instruments are measured at amortised cost other than investments which are measured at fair value.
## Critical estimates and judgements
In preparing financial statements it is necessary to make certain judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts recognised in the financial statements. The treatment of tangible fixed assets is sensitive to changes in useful economic lives and residual values of assets. In the view of the Trustees in applying the accounting policies adopted, no judgements were required that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements nor do any estimates or assumptions made carry a significant risk of material adjustment in the next financial year.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
24
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## 2. Comparative statement of fnancial activities
|**Notes**
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
5 & 6
Charitable activities
5 & 7
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
12 & 13
Total funds carried forward
12 & 13|Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
£
£
£
199,849
127,643
327,492
133,924
-
133,924
9,429
-
9,429|
|---|---|
||343,202
127,643
470,845|
||137,449
-
137,449
259,998
171,755
431,753|
||397,447
171,755
569,202|
|||
||(54,245)
(44,112)
(98,357)
259,283
63,490
322,773|
||205,038
19,378
224,416|
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
25
**Youth Talk Limited**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Annual report and financial statements
## 3. Income from donations and legacies
|4. Income from charitable activities
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Donations
Trust income
Year ended 31 March 2024
Donations
Trust income
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Contracts for services
Year ended 31 March 2024
Contracts for services|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**£**
**£**
265,434
-
**265,434**
88,907
57,880
**146,787**|
|---|---|
||**354,341**
**57,880**
**412,221**|
||Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
£
£
£
134,662
15,917
150,579
65,187
111,726
176,913|
||199,849
127,643
327,492|
||**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**£**
**£**
134,721
-
**134,721**|
||**134,721**
**-**
**134,721**|
||Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
£
£
£
133,924
-
133,924|
||133,924
-
133,924|
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
26
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## 5. Total expenditure
|**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Year ended 31 March 2024
Raising funds
Charitable activities|**Direct staff**
**Direct other**
**Indirect**
**Total**
**costs**
**costs**
**costs**
**costs**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
108,300
39,054
31,031
**178,385**
105,371
205,564
65,480
**376,415**|
|---|---|
||**213,671**
**244,618**
**96,511**
**554,800**|
||Direct staff
Direct other
Indirect
Total
costs
costs
costs
costs
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
£
£
£
£
100,105
14,753
22,591
137,449
105,608
255,181
70,964
431,753|
||205,713
269,934
93,555
569,202|
Direct staff and other costs include costs that can be directly attributed to activities. Other direct costs relating to charitable activities includes clinical supervision costs, freelance counsellor costs, and costs relating to the clinical database. Indirect costs, including governance costs, which cannot be directly attributed to activities, are allocated between activities proportionate to the direct costs incurred in those activities.
As part of our five-year strategy for growth, the Board of Trustees agreed to investment in the development of our fundraising team. These additional costs are monitored regularly against the overall performance of our fundraising, and the fruit of this is already showing with the 23% increase in income in year noted in the annual report.
Whilst at first glance it may appear that we have spent less this year on direct costs of counselling, the prior year included £87,233 on fitting out the new premises, compared to only £3,838 in the current year. Once this is taken account of, direct costs of counselling have increased 12% from £273,556 to £307,097.
A breakdown of expenditure on raising funds between restricted and unrestricted funds can be found in note 6. A breakdown of charitable expenditure between restricted and unrestricted funds can be found in note 7.
An analysis of staff costs can be found in note 8.
Indirect costs consists of the following:
|Staff costs
Premises
Other people costs
Marketing and communications (including development of new website)
Administration
Governance|**Total**
Total
**Funds**
Funds
**Year ended**
Year ended
**31-Mar-25**
31-Mar-24
**£**
£
**19,381**
17,792
**47,432**
50,916
**5,298**
5,752
**8,220**
439
**14,170**
16,676
**2,010**
1,980|
|---|---|
||**96,511**
93,555|
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
27
**Youth Talk Limited**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Annual report and financial statements
## 5. Total expenditure (continued from previous page)
Governance costs includes:
|6. Expenditure on raising funds
Independent examination
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Total direct costs
Indirect costs
Year ended 31 March 2024
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Total direct costs
Indirect costs|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Year ended**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
108,300
39,054|**Total**
Total
**Funds**
Funds
**Year ended**
Year ended
**31-Mar-25**
31-Mar-24
**£**
£
**2,010**
1,980|
|---|---|---|
|||**2,010**
1,980|
|||**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**£**
-
**108,300**
-
**39,054**|
||**147,354**
31,031|
**-**
**147,354**
-
**31,031**|
||**178,385**|
**-**
**178,385**|
||Unrestricted
Funds
Year ended
31-Mar-24
£
100,105
14,753|Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Year ended
Year ended
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
£
£
-
100,105
-
14,753|
||114,858
22,591|
-
114,858
-
22,591|
||137,449|
-
137,449|
## 6. Expenditure on raising funds
As part of our five-year strategy for growth, the Board of Trustees agreed to investment in the development of our fundraising team. These additional costs are monitored regularly against the overall performance of our fundraising, and the fruit of this is already showing with the 23% increase in income in year noted in the annual report.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
28
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
7. Expenditure on charitable activities
|**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Total direct costs
Indirect costs
Year ended 31 March 2024
Direct staff costs
Direct other costs
Total direct costs
Indirect costs|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**£**
**£**
105,371
-
**105,371**
164,973
40,591
**205,564**|
|---|---|
||**270,344**
**40,591**
**310,935**
28,813
36,667
**65,480**|
||**299,157**
**77,258**
**376,415**|
||Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
£
£
£
95,608
10,000
105,608
110,852
144,329
255,181|
||206,460
154,329
360,789
53,538
17,426
70,964|
||259,998
171,755
431,753|
Whilst at first glance it may appear that we have spent less this year on direct costs of counselling, the prior year included £87,233 on fitting out the new premises, compared to only £3,838 in the current year. Once this is taken account of, direct costs of counselling have increased 12% from £273,556 to £307,097.
## 8. Staff costs
|Gross salaries
Employers NIC
Employers pension|**Total**
Total
**Funds**
Funds
**Year ended**
Year ended
**31-Mar-25**
31-Mar-24
**£**
£
**214,547**
205,434
**12,811**
12,350
**5,694**
5,721|
|---|---|
||**233,052**
223,505|
The average employed headcount during the period was 10 persons (2024: 10 persons).
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 (2024: Nil).
The total employee benefits paid to key management personnel during the year was £94,796 (2024: £89,078).
The Charity also works with a number of freelance counsellors and clinical supervisors on a freelance basis - these costs reflect within other direct costs in note 7 above.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
29
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## 9. Tangible fxed assets
|**Cost**
As at 1 April 2024
As at 31 March 2025
**Accumulated depreciation**
As at 1 April 2024
Charge in year
As at 31 March 2025
**Net book value**
As at 1 April 2024
As at 31 March 2025|**Offce**
**Computer**
**equipment**
**equipment**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
515
6,263
**6,778**|
|---|---|
||**515**
**6,263**
**6,778**|
||325
4,829
**5,154**
103
560
**663**|
||**428**
**5,389**
**5,817**|
||**190**
**1,434**
**1,624**|
||**87**
**874**
**961**|
## 10. Debtors and prepayments
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Accounts receivable
Prepayments
Rent deposit
Accruals
Offce lease rent free beneft
HMRC payable
Pensions payable|**Total**
Total
**Funds**
Funds
**31-Mar-25**
31-Mar-24
**£**
£
**20,976**
11,227
**12,325**
837
**11,425**
11,425|
|---|---|
||**44,726**
23,489|
||**Total**
Total
**Funds**
Funds
**31-Mar-25**
31-Mar-24
**£**
£
**2,960**
2,260
**24,668**
33,808
**6,377**
1,891
**2,182**
-|
||**36,187**
37,959|
## 11. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
30
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
12. Analysis of charity funds
|**ear ended 31 March 2025**
2. Analysis of charity funds|**Youth Talk Limited**
Annual report and fnancial statements|
|---|---|
|**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Restricted funds
Offce rent
Harpenden Groups Pilot
Counselling services
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Total unrestricted funds
**Total funds**|**Funds**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**Transfers**
**Funds**
**brought**
**in the**
**in the**
**between**
**carried**
**forward**
**period**
**period**
**funds**
**forward**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**Year ended**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
16,667
20,000
(36,667)
-
**-**
2,711
3,938
(6,649)
-
**-**
-
33,942
(33,942)
-
**-**|
||**19,378**
**57,880**
**(77,258)**
**-**
**-**|
||205,038
519,159
(477,542)
-
**246,655**|
||**205,038**
**519,159**
**(477,542)**
**-**
**246,655**|
||**224,416**
**577,039**
**(554,800)**
**-**
**246,655**|
Office rent restricted fund is a grant the charity has received to support the increase in rent costs as a result of the move to the new premises on London Road.
Harpenden Groups Pilot grant was awarded to support the groupwork pilot in Harpenden.
Counselling services fund consists of a number of grants provided to support the counselling services offered by the charity.
At the year-end our total reserves stood at £246,655 (2024: £224,416), with £nil (2024: £19,378) being restricted as to use and the remaining £246,655 (2024: £205,038) as general reserves. This is slightly above our current policy target of six months but not deemed to be excessive by the Board of Trustees.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
31
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
## 12. Analysis of charity funds (continued from previous page)
|Year ended 31 March 2024
Restricted funds
New premises
Offce rent
Harpenden Groups Pilot
Counselling services
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Designated funds
New premises
Total designated funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds|Funds
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Funds
brought
in the
in the
between
carried
forward
period
period
funds
forward
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
Year ended
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
£
£
£
£
£
57,364
43,917
(101,281)
-
-
-
20,000
(3,333)
-
16,667
6,126
17,000
(20,415)
-
2,711
-
46,726
(46,726)
-
-|
|---|---|
||63,490
127,643
(171,755)
-
19,378|
||209,283
343,202
(397,447)
50,000
205,038
50,000
-
-
(50,000)
-|
||50,000
-
-
(50,000)
-|
||259,283
343,202
(397,447)
-
205,038|
||322,773
470,845
(569,202)
-
224,416|
New premises restricted fund is funds the charity has received to support the refurbishment of the new premises on London Road.
New premises designated fund is funds the trustees have set aside to support the search for and fit out of new premises in the next financial year.
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
32
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Youth Talk Limited** Annual report and financial statements
## 13. Analysis of net assets
|**Year ended 31 March 2025**
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Year ended 31 March 2024
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**31-Mar-25**
**£**
**£**
**£**
961
-
**961**
281,881
-
**281,881**
(36,187)
-
**(36,187)**|
|---|---|
||**246,655**
**-**
**246,655**|
||Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
31-Mar-24
£
£
£
1,624
-
1,624
241,373
19,378
260,751
(37,959)
-
(37,959)|
||205,038
19,378
224,416|
## 14. Other fnancial commitments
On 31 March 2025, the Charity had annual future minimum lease payments under a non-cancellable operating lease for the office premises as set out below:
|Within one year
Within two to fve years|**Total**
Total
**31-Mar-25**
31-Mar-24
**£**
£
**45,700**
45,700
**77,641**
123,341|
|---|---|
||**123,341**
169,041|
## 15. Trustee remuneration
During the year, no Trustee received any remuneration (2024: £Nil). No members of the Board of Trustees received reimbursement of expenses (2024: £Nil).
## 16. Related party transactions
During the year there were no related party transactions (2024: £Nil).
Charity number 1063572 Company number 03322319
33