Company No: 3613999 Charity No: 1071906
## **ADVOCACY FIRST**
**Trustees' Report and Financial Statements For The Year Ended 30 September 2021**
A company limited by guarantee
## **ADVOCACY FIRST**
## **CHARITY INFORMATION**
|**Trustees**|Mr I Radnor (Chairperson)|
|---|---|
||Ms A Massey|
||Mr S Shooman|
||Mrs K Marshall|
||Mr C Barber - appointed 4 October 2020 and|
||resigned on 30 April 2021|
||Mr S Ramdunne - appointed 20 July 2021|
|**Company number**|3613999|
|**Charity number**|1071906|
|**Charity's office**|Kingfisher House|
||21-23 Elmfield Road|
||Bromley|
||BR1 1LT|
|**Independent examiner**|Mr Clifford Chan|
||ProAccounts UK|
||Unit M228|
||Trident Business Centre|
||89 Bickersteth Road|
||LONDON SW17 9SH|
|**Bankers**|CAF Bank Limited|
||Kings Hill|
||West Malling|
||Kent ME19 4TA|
A company limited by guarantee
1
## **ADVOCACY FIRST**
## **CONTENTS**
||**PAGE NO**|
|---|---|
|**Trustees' Report**|3 - 4|
|**Independent examiner's report**|5|
|**Statement of financial activities**|6|
|**Balance Sheet**|7|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|8 - 11|
A company limited by guarantee
2
## **ADVOCACY FIRST Trustees' Report FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021**
The trustees, who act as directors for the purpsoe of the Companies Act present their annual report and the financial statements.Recommendedfor thePracticeyear ended"Accounting30 Septemberand Reporting2021.byTheCharities"trusteesissuedhave adoptedin Marchthe2006,provisionswhen preparingof the Statementthe annualof report and financial statements of the charity.
## **Company status**
The charity is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, and is therefore governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association.
## **Objectives and principle of the charity**
Advocacy First's team of Advocates and volunteers work in local hospitals with clients who are medically fit for discharge. Our role is to overcome for, and with, the client all non-medical barriers which prevent them going to the home of their choice.
The objective of the charity is to help and support as many of these clients as possible each year.
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees are required under Charity Law to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements, thetrustees are requiredto:
-select suitable accounting policies andthen apply them consistently;
-make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation; and
-state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The trustees are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are also responsible for the contents of the trustees' report and the responsibility of the independent examiner in relation to the trustees' report is limited to the ensuring that, on the face of the report, there are no inconsistencies with the figures disclosed in the financial statements.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
a) there is no relevant accounting informationof which the independent examiner is unaware; and
b) the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant accounting
## **Structure Governance and Management**
Advocacy First is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. The management of the charity is the responsibility of the trustees who are elected and co-opted under its constitution. The trustees are independent and receive no remuneration for their involvement.
The trustees oversee the day-to-day operations. The charity employs paid staffand volunteer Advocates.
The trustees are adequately trained and are regularly updated on all relevant issues pertaining to advocacy and trusteeship. Training courses are regularly attended.
## **Developments, activities and achievements**
The year has been operationally very challenging. As a consequence of our Hospitals being full of COVID patients for most of the year, our Advocates have hadto work remotely, rather than face-to-face with our clients as is normal.
The targets set by our funders were nevertheless achieved, as a result of exceptional work from our people, but we are very eager to return to full Hospital-based working as soon as it is safe.
## **Plans for the future**
We have strengthened our relationship with the Bromley NHS CCG and continue to explore further opportunities to work with agencies to provide much needed services within the Borough and surrounding areas. We are also looking at other areas of funding and continue with vigorous fundraising and grant applications. Plan are advanced to expand our service into one of the large hospitals in adjacent boroughs to Bromley.
A company limited by guarantee
3
## **ADVOCACY FIRST Trustees' Report FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021**
## **Risk Management**
The Trustees actively review teh major risks that the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining and increasing our reserves from the current levels, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and bsuiness risks faced by the charity and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate any
## **Public Benefit Statement**
The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice Accounting and Reporting by Charities (issued March 2006) and in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006
Signed on behalf of the trustees on
I Radnor Chairperson
A company limited by guarantee
4
## **ADVOCACY FIRST INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ADVOCACY FIRST**
We report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2021, which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
## **Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiner**
The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
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 2011 Act); and
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as 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
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met.
2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
Mr Clifford Chan - FCCA
ProAccounts UK Unit M228 Trident Business Centre
89 Bickersteth Road
London SW17 9SH
## ……………………….
## **Dated:**
A company limited by guarantee
5
## **ADVOCACY FIRST Statement of financial activities (income and expenditure account) for the period ended 30 September 2021**
|
**for the period ended 30 September 2021**||
|---|---|
|**Notes**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**_Contract Income_**
2
**_Voluntary Income_**
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
Costs of charitable activities
4
Governance costs
7
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Net incoming resources before**
**transfers between funds**
Gross transfers between funds
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**FUNDS AT 01.10.2020**
**FUNDS AT 30.09.2021**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Sept 2021**
**Sept 2020**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Total Funds Total Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
164
32,200
32,364
32,325
-
-
-
164
32,200
32,364
32,325|
||-
29,466
29,466
29,691
-
420
420
340
-
29,886
29,886
30,031|
||164
2,314
2,478
2,293
-
-
-
-
164
2,314
2,478
2,293
3,314
16,441
19,755
17,462
3,478
18,755
22,233
19,755|
The statement of financial statements includes all gains and losses in the year. All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
A company limited by guarantee
6
**ADVOCACY FIRST**
## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2021**
|**NOTES**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets
[08]
**Current assets**
Debtors
[09]
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
[10]
**Net current liabilities**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS OF THE CHARITY**
Restricted income funds
[11]
Unrestricted income funds
[11]
SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS|**Sept 2021**|**Sept 2021**|**Sept 2020**|**Sept 2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**
8,050
14,483|**£**
-|**£**
8,050
12,005|**£**
-|
|||-
22,233||-
19,755|
||22,533
300||20,055
300||
||||||
|||22,233||19,755|
|||18,755
3,478||16,441
3,314|
|||22,233||19,755|
The company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ending 30 September 2021.
No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:
(a) Ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with Section 386 of the Companies Act 2006, and
(b) Preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of each financial year, and of its profit and loss for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 396, and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the company.
These financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with ~~the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities effec~~ DIRECTOR - V SHAH tive April 2008.
## **ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD**
…………………………........
**Mr I Radnor - Chairperson**
Approved by the Board on
A company limited by guarantee
7
## **ADVOCACY FIRST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For The Year Ended 30 September 2021**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## _**Basis of preparation of financial statements**_
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Statement of Recommended Practice and Reporting by Charities issued in
## _**Depreciation**_
Depreciation has been providedto write off the cost of fixed assets on the following rates:
Office Equipment 25% straight line
## _**Income**_
Income is recorded as receivable whenever the amount is known, otherwise it is recorded on a cash received basis
Grants receivable are credited to income for the period for which they are given. Grants received in respect of future periods are treated as deferredincome.
## _**Expenditure**_
Expenditure is taken into accountwhen it is incurred.
Support costs are allocated to the charitable activities of the charity based on the estimated use of the support facilities as assessed by the Trustees.
Governance costs are those costs which relate to the general running of the Charity as opposed to those
## **2 CONTRACT INCOME**
|**Grants**
South-East London Clinical Commissioning Group - CCG
**Total grants for the year**
**Donations & Fundraising**
During the year the following donations and fundraising were received
to restricted funds
to unrestricted funds
**Total donations for the year**
**TOTAL VOLUNTARY INCOME**
to restricted funds
to unrestricted funds|**Sept 2021**
**Sept 2020**|
|---|---|
||**£**
**£**
32,200
32,200
32,200
32,200|
||-
-
164
125
164
125|
||32,200
32,200
164
125
32,364
32,325|
A company limited by guarantee
8
## **ADVOCACY FIRST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) For The Year Ended 30 September 2021**
## **3 INVESTMENT INCOME**
|**INVESTMENT INCOME**||
|---|---|
|During the year interest was received on unrestricted funds|**Sept 2021**
**Sept 2020**|
||**£**
**£**
-
-
-
-|
**4 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**
|**Restricted Funds**
Hospital services Bromley
Training Fund
Total restricted funds
**Unrestricted Funds**
General Fund
**Total Funds**|**Direct**
**activities**
**Management**
**costs**
**Sept 2021**
**Sept 2020**
**Total**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
28,392
1,494
29,886
30,031
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|
||28,392
1,494
29,886
30,031|
||-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
||28,392
1,494
29,886
30,031|
## **5 STAFF COSTS**
|Emoluments of employees:
Emoluments and expenses of employees|**Sept 2021**
**Sept 2020**|
|---|---|
||**£**
**£**
22,049
22,491
22,049
22,491|
During the period ended 30 September 2021 the average number of full time equivalent employees was 1.5 (2020: 1.5). No employees received emoluments in excess of £ 60,000.
## **6 PENSION SCHEME**
The charity operates a defined contributions pension scheme. Contributions payable for the year were charged to the resources expended. One current employee was a member of this scheme during the year.
A company limited by guarantee
9
## **ADVOCACY FIRST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
**For The Year Ended 30 September 2021**
|**7**
**GOVERNANCE COSTS**
Accountancy fees
Hall rental
Seminars
Subscriptions
Other costs
**8**
**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
**Cost**
At 01 October 2020
Additions
At 30 September 2021
**Depreciation**
At 01 October 2020
Charge for the year
At 30 September 2021
**Net book value**
At 30 September 2021
At 01 October 2020
**9**
**DEBTORS**
Debtors and prepayments
**10**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Creditors and accruals|**Sept 2021**
**Sept 2020**|
|---|---|
||**£**
**£**
420
300
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
40
420
340|
||**Office**
**Equipment**
**£**
24,188
-
24,188
24,188
0
24,188
-
-
**Sept 2021**
**Sept 2020**|
||**£**
**£**
8,050
8,050|
||**Sept 2021**
**Sept 2020**|
||**£**
**£**
300
300|
A company limited by guarantee
10
## **ADVOCACY FIRST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) For The Year Ended 30 September 2021**
## **11 FUNDS**
Restricted funds hold amounts received for specific activities and expenditure on those activities is set against those amounts. Unrestricted funds comprise donations and income received for general use of the Charity.
|use of the Charity.||
|---|---|
|**Restricted funds**
Hospital Advocacy Service
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Total funds**|**Balance at**
**01.10.2020**
**Transfers**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Resources**
**Expended**
**Balance**
**30.09.2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
16,441
-
32,200
29,886
18,755
16,441
-
32,200
29,886
18,755|
||3,314
-
164
-
3,478
19,755
-
32,364
29,886
22,233|
Further information on the activities undertaken with the resources of eachfund is given on page3.
## **12 STATUS**
The company is limited by guarantee and thus has no share capital. Each of the members has undertaken to contribute the um of £ 1 in the event of the company being unable to meet its liabilities.
A company limited by guarantee
11